Coursework & Experience

The following coursework satisfies the required and recommended courses for admission to optometry school. Note this represents general guidelines and requirements vary from one school to the next. It is your responsibility to verify the requirements of the individual schools by perusing their websites.

The course prerequisites for the Optometry program at Pacific University in Oregon can be found here.

Here’s also a full list of Optometry programs and their requirements.

To gain insight into the competitiveness of the optometry school admissions’ process, please review the student profile statistics published by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. The Southern California College of Optometry’s (SCCO) Director of Admissions created “Ten Steps to Becoming a Competitive Applicant” and offers insight into how SCCO views potential applicants, their academic profiles, and experiences.

Experience

Nearly all students who apply to optometry school will have outstanding grades and OAT scores. Therefore, the admission offices at optometry schools will evaluate how you fill your spare time with meaningful co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. Working to support yourself, volunteering in an appropriate healthcare setting, and undergraduate research are the most common activities noted on the application. Participation in student government and/or athletics offers opportunities where you can develop and practice important leadership skills and teamwork abilities. Even serving as a laboratory  teaching assistant or being a supplemental instruction leader can become a meaningful learning opportunity.

Job Shadowing
All health professions schools strongly recommend, require really, applicants to shadow. Optometry school is no different. The point is threefold:

1. To gain a real-world understanding of what people in the profession actually do
2. To affirm that optometry is the right path for you
3. To help you prepare for the admissions interview, during which you’ll definitely be asked to explain why you want a career in the field

Not every school or college of optometry mandates a certain number of shadowing experiences or hours (although some do), but all of them consider it best that you shadow several optometrists who are practicing in different settings. This gives you a wider view of the many different ways it’s possible to practice optometry. However, the more time you spend volunteering, shadowing or employed with healthcare professionals, the more convinced you will become that optometry is (or is not) the right path for you.

Shadowing is more than “following an optometrist around,” but instead provides an opportunity to begin the learning process that will extend throughout your education and your career as an optometrist. It is  also important that you consider what you’ve learned during your time shadowing. When you complete your application, you will need to be prepared to discuss your experiences with optometry in detail as well as communicate that information during your school interviews. Thus we recommend that you keep a journal throughout your undergraduate years in which you record your experiences as this will help you prepare for this crucial stage of the application process.

General Community & Volunteer Involvement
Optometry schools also look for students who show dedication to causes and/or communities. These do not necessarily have to pertain to the healthcare industry, but should demonstrate that you are capable of deep involvement and making a long-term commitment.

As an optometrist, you will serve the needs of others, and community or volunteer involvement indicate that you are devoted to that cause. Consider some type of volunteer experience, such as helping out at a food bank or soup kitchen. There are endless opportunities for you to volunteer your time, many of which you can find out about through your college, local churches, community newspaper/bulletin, or personal acquaintances.