| Optometry as a Career | Optometry Schools | Optometry School Admissions: Student Profile | Important Web Addresses |
"Doctors of Optometry are independent primary health care providers who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures as well as diagnose related systemic conditions " (AOA, 1997). A Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) is trained through a 4 year program at one of the 17 schools of optometry to examine, diagnose, and treat conditions of the vision system. He or she also detects diabetes, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and other diseases of the body as well as glaucoma, cataract, and serious vision problems that require referral to other health care practitioners for treatment. The mean GPA for entering students is 3.30 and the mean OAT is 320. In addition to standard premedical prerequisites many optometry schools require or recommend biochemistry, microbiology and statistics. In 2002 at Southern College of Optometry there were 117 entrants from an applicant pool of 505.
| University Name |
State Contracts |
University City(State) |
University Type |
| Big Rapids(MI) |
Public |
||
| PR |
Hato Rey(PR) |
Private |
|
| AR, IL, MO, ND, WV |
Chicago(IL) |
Private |
|
| IN, MN, NE |
Bloomington(IN) |
Public |
|
| Boston(MA) |
Private |
||
| AR, OK |
Tahlequah(OK) |
Public |
|
| AR, FL, KA, KY, LA, MO, NE, NC, TX |
Fort Lauderdale(FL) |
Private |
|
| OH |
Columbus(OH) |
Public |
|
| OR |
Forest Grove(OR) |
Private |
|
| AR, DE, MD, NJ, NC, PA, VA, WV |
Elkins Park(PA) |
Private |
|
| AK, AZ, CA, CO, HA, VA, MT, NV, NM, ND, OR, UT |
Fullerton(CA) |
Private |
|
| AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MC, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV |
Memphis(TN) |
Private |
|
| NY |
New York(NY) |
Public |
|
| AL, GA, KY, LA, MD, NC, SC, VA |
Birmingham(AL) |
Public |
|
| Berkeley(CA) |
Public |
||
| AR, FL, KA, KY, LA, MD, NE, NC, TX |
Houston(TX) |
Public |
|
| AR, KA, MO |
Saint Louis(MO) |
Public |
Optometry School Admissions: Student Profile
This link to the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry contains information on Applicants to Optometry School, Statistics on students admitted to Optometry school and the prerequisites for the 17 U.S. Colleges of Optometry.
Association of Schools & Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)
American Optometric Association (AOA)
Interview Questions in Optometry
- What do you know about our school of optometry?
- What do you know about the field of optometry?
- How much money do you think optometrists make?
- How difficult do you expect optometry school to be for you?
- How will you pay for your education?
- Compare the various optometry schools to which you are applying.
- With your science background, are you interested in research?
- What do you consider your major weakness?
- What is a good personality trait for an optometrist to have?
- Where did you get the information that helped you decide on a career in optometry?
- What values have you obtained from your work experiences?
- What values have you obtained from your extracurricular activities on campus?
- What is your justification for taking the courses you did?
- Why did you choose Furman University as the place for your undergraduate education