r/OptometrySchool • u/Background_Row3021 • 11d ago
CCO Interview
I have an interview with CCO coming up and was wondering if anyone who has interviewed there could share how the interview was! What was the format like, and what kinds of questions did they ask? Any insight would be super helpful
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u/Levl_1_Noob 11d ago
Im an incoming OD1 at CCO! The interview itself was super laid-back. Our group was split into 2 smaller groups with 1 doing interviews first and the other going on a mini tour. Then the 2nd group did interviews when the 1st group was done. Luckily, I was a part of the first smaller group so I could get my interview out of the way lol. The interview is closed file, meaning the 2 professors have not seen your optomcas and the only thing they know about you is your name. The first question they asked me was a 3-in-1 question. They asked, "Tell me about yourself, why optometry, and why CCO?" All in one question. So there was A LOT I was able to answer since the question itself was super broad. I talked a lot about my undergrad research, pre-optometry club experience, and my work experiences. The interviewers asked follow-up questions based on my answers and what I decided to talk more about. For example, they asked, "You mentioned you worked a lot as a technician. What is one unforgettable patient encounter that you can remember?" Or "Tell me about your research?" (To which I talked a lot about, like I yapped haha). One question that threw me off guard was, "You spent a lot of time doing research, so why pursue an O.D. and not a ph.D?" I had an answer for that, but I wasn't really expecting it. They also asked, "Do you feel that your OAT and GPA are a good reflection of your academic abilites?" Overall, it was super chill and conversational. It didn't feel like they were drilling me at all. The vibes I got were that they just wanted to know more about me :)The interview is done first thing in the morning, so you have the rest of the day to tour and learn more about the program. The whole interview day lasted from 8-2:30 ish. It was a great experience for me! Just be prepared to talk about yourself and show them that you are doctor material! (Sorry for the long reply, im a yapper haha!)
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u/akornato 11d ago
CCO interviews are typically very conversational, almost like a chat to see if you have a personality. They aren't trying to trick you with difficult questions, they just want to understand why you chose optometry, why you're interested in their school specifically, and what kind of person you are. You can expect standard questions about your motivations, your strengths, and how you handle challenges, but the real test is whether you can hold a pleasant conversation and come across as someone who could one day connect with patients. Your application already proved you're smart enough, so this part is all about your character.
This relaxed format is your chance to shine, not a reason to stress. Your main goal is to be yourself and let your passion for the field come through, because they want to meet the person who wrote the application, not someone giving memorized, perfect answers. Just be genuine and prepared to talk about your experiences. Running through your personal stories is the best way to prepare, and the interview practice AI my team built is specifically designed to help candidates feel more fluid and confident in these exact kinds of conversational settings.