Optometry
Overview of the Field
Recommended MUC Curricula
General Admittance Requirements
Application Process
Overview of the Field
"Doctors of optometry (ODs) are the primary health care professionals for the eye. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye." (From the American Optometric Association website.)
To receive the O.D. degree, you must attend an accredited College of Optometry for four years of post-Baccalaureate work.
You can get a lot more information by clicking here. You can also get answers to Frequently Asked Questions about optometry.
For more information, please contact:
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
http://www.opted.org/default.cfm
General Admittance Requirements
Academics requirements
Schools of optometry generally require courses in biology, general chemistry, calculus, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, statistics, physics, English, and psychology. Anatomy and physiology is highly recommended. Here is a list of specific requirements for all schools of optometry.
You must take the OAT as a standardized test.
Non-academic requirements
Schools look for well rounded individuals with the ability to communicate, good interpersonal skills, leadership experience, a record of service, and some clinical experience. Specific knowledge and motivation for Optometry is important. There is generally a requirement of 10 or more hours observing in 2 or more optometry practices.
Successful applicant profile:
Osteopathic Colleges are competitive. In the year 2005-2006, there were 2,585 applicants for approximately 1500 seats nationwide. Here is a general profile for students who were accepted to O.D. schools in 2006:
- OAT: 330 (200-400 scale)
- Overall GPA: 3.5
You can also view all school profiles.
Recommended MUC Curricula
Not all optometry schools require a bachelor's degree, but 90% of students entering optometry school have completed an undergraduate degree. Optometry schools will accept students from any major. There are better paths than others, however. Below is an alphabetical list of majors that are suggested for Mount Union College Students. Click a major to get a detailed four year plan to help you fulfill requirements for optometry school.
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
Application Process
Centralized Application Service
Optometry schools have no centralized application service. You must contact individual schools for applications.
Admissions Tests
To be admitted to Optometry Schools, you must take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT.) The OAT is administered by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO.) The OAT contains sections on Biology/Chemistry, Reading Comprehension, Physics, and Quantitative Reasoning.
- Registering for the OAT. The OAT is administered year round in a computerized version. Plan ahead for a time that fits you best, and then register online early.
- Cost of the OAT. The OAT costs approximately $189.
- When should I take the OAT? Because the OAT tests your basic knowledge of science, you should complete as many of your science courses as possible prior to taking the exam. At the same time, you must complete the exam prior to applying to your schools of interest. For most students, this means the end of your Junior year. It may also be possible to take the OAT after your Junior year, but this may be too late to apply to some schools for admittance in the following year.
Recommendations
The recommendation is a very important part of the application to Optometry School. At Mount Union, you may choose to use the committee letter system. It is also possible to apply through personal recommendations, but you should consult with the school of interest to see what they prefer.
Personal Statement
You will need to make a personal statement in your application. A good personal statement is essential to your application. You can get help in writing a statement from resources found on reserve in the library. Members of the Pre-Health Professions Committee are also willing to read and comment on your statement.
Deadlines
Deadlines for application are between December of the year prior to admittance and April of the year of admittance. Specific application deadlines for Optometry Schools can be found here.
Schools of Interest
There are 17 Optometry Schools in the United States and Puerto Rico. Many of our students apply to The Ohio State University College of Optometry. For contact information for this school and others, see the contact list.
Reciprocal Agreements
There are currently no reciprocal agreements between Mount Union College and Optometry Schools.
