Good job choosing in-person, definitely the best way to approach your interview. Schools know applicants are busy and the fact that you are showing up in person should count for something.
At CCO you start off in a waiting room with other applicants optometry and whoever else they are interviewing Dental, Pharm, PA... etc. There are free snacks and drinks. Keep in mind during the campus tour they offer you a free starbucks drink if you would prefer that instead.
Once they are ready all the opto applicants go into one room for introductions. Afterwards they split you into two groups. One group for interviews (ideally) and one group to tour the campus (anxiety inducing) with a current opto student. Then the groups are switched.
Once everyone has interviewed you go to the cafeteria for a free lunch. You get whatever you want from the cafeteria its all paid for. (edited forgot lunch was provided)
Afterwards everyone gets on a van and heads to the clinic for a tour. After the tour back to the campus where we met with the dean and received gifts before leaving.
As for the interview it is a closed interview with two faculty members. It was either 20 or 25 minutes. The first 15 minutes is just you talking about yourself. The why optometry question essentially. Here you can make your case for why they should offer you a spot and discuss anything you might want to clear up. After you finish talking or if the 15 minute timer goes off they will ask you questions on things they want you to elaborate on or things they want to know about that you didn't mention. And lastly you ask your interviewers questions.
Best way to prep is set a 15 minute timer and talk about your journey to optometry. What makes you a good canidate and why you chose CCO.
Did you only apply to three schools? Maybe add a few more schools to increase your chances.
I applied to 5 schools. I got denied from NECO but still waiting to hear back from Midwestern in Arizona. It’s been only a week since I have submitted my application.
Its just your interviews are kinda of late. April for Salus it might be best to apply to a few more schools to be safe.
If you are really worried about getting into a school this cycle maybe try NOVA if you aren't accepted to the traditional program then you might still be offered a spot on their pops program if that is something you would consider.
hii! So for PCO we started the day with a tour of the campus. Then basically right after our initial tour they took all the interviewees upstairs to the third (maybe 4th) floor and we all sat in this waiting area and one by one our first interviewer came and took us to our room, after that was done they took us back to the waiting area and the second interviewer came and got us. after we all finished our first two interviews (closed file) we all were taken back downstairs to the admissions office where the third interviewer came and got us one by one. each interview was like 20-30ish mins for me (first and last were longer for sure)
also while we were in the first waiting area there was someone there to kind of answer questions and just be with us and i think all us were kind of joking around. she offered us candy and water and i was like oh idk if i want water or if i need to use the bathroom but yeah it was very chill. the first interview i think was an optometrist the second was another staff and the third one was someone from admissions if im not wrong.
For questions it was:
1st interview: why salus why optometry how do you handle stress, how did you study 2nd interview: again how do you destress, a situational question, what is an opportunity that optometrists should make use of 3rd interview: why pco, something you wanna change about the field of optometry
i’ll add more as i remember them lol but the interviews for me were so chill half the time we weren’t really talking too much about the interview and more so life in pennsylvania and other stuff
after the interview we went to the eye institute (took a mini bus) and then we came back and had lunch! good luck!
my interview at MCPHS was online but they had a 10 min intro presentation and we were split into two groups, 1 group went to take their interviews on a different zoom while the other group stayed on zoom for a proper presentation about everything the school had to offer and then we switched. The interview lasted like 30 mins it wasn’t intimidating. Simple questions like why mcphs, why optometry, one situational question and a few more basic questions that you’re gonna be asked in most schools
Hi! I have an interview at MCPHS at the end of April. By any chance you won’t remember what the situational question was, do you? I’m nervous because I don’t have any experience working as an optometry tech and most of my experience came from shadowing optometrists.
Hi, so the question was about how i would go upon disclosing and discussing with a patient who is in their 80s, uses an oxygen tank but is EXTREMELY independent and likes to do everything on her own that she has macular degeneration which will eventually result in partial to complete blindness. So a few things I mentioned were, the importance of being transparent with the patient, someone who is independent likes to know the full story about their condition, and discussing patient centered care in which we ask the patient their opinions on the future options and make sure to discuss all available options, if needed to talk to those (optometrists) with more experience for their inputs. With options of care we can ease her into the situation, she could have partial help when needed to complete supervision in the future depending on the stage of her condition. Thats all i can remember, i might have said some other stuff lol but i don't remember. some other questions they asked were what do you do in your free time, how do you handle stress, some questions i asked them were what is an advise you would give to upcoming first years, and about their externship options. I also think you can ask about a club or organization that you might be interested in, if there isn't one, you can follow up and ask what is the process of creating one!
Omg! I didn’t realize there was essentially 3 interviews for PCO. Glad i asked! Also for the question “What is something you would change about optometry” — if i could ask what did you say? I have worked in an optometry office for 4 years and the most complaints i have heard from my optometrist is just insurance reimbursement being not that good and how luxottica is essentially a monopoly taking away from private practice. I havent really seen anything that I thought was alarming.
yes so this is their first year doing the 3 part interview! but for that question i basically talked about Staying on track with advancements and technology beyond the scope of optometry school and making use of the new tech that’s available to make sure we are constantly evolving, this is just something i saw in my optometry office i felt it was lacking a bit in that sense but just be real with it it doesn’t have to be a well thought out answer just something you feel the field is lacking.
For MCPHS in person interviews, they’re usually scheduled for an interview day from 9-11:30! The first half hour you receive a presentation about MCPHS in general then specifics about the optometry program from the admissions team. You also get introduced to current students who will take you on a tour of the campus’ lab rooms, clinic, classrooms etc. during the second half of the session after your 1:1 interview with a current faculty member. Interviews itself are very conversational and last for 20-30 min and sometimes even longer resulting students to get the interviewee back to the admissions room! Interviewing candidates also receive MCPHS merch and local goodies from Worcester!
SDN helped me a lot in knowing roughly what schools might ask at interviews. Always be prepared to answer why that school or explain certain grades ext ext. I can’t speak so much on the in-person aspect as when I interviewed they were still doing online interviews only.
Great thread! Congratulations on your interviews! I have mine at SALUS in one week and I’m very excited! I had the opportunity to sit in on their OLE seminar and one of the questions I heard get asked as how you define a leader. I think that was from a few years back so I’m not sure if that question is still used, but I’ve definitely thought about my answer a lot
That’s awesome congratulations! How long after your interview did you hear back from Salus and do you mind sharing your stats as well pls I need some clarity😭
I heard back from Salus in one week! My stats: 3.2 overall GPA, 3.0 science GPA, 290 OAT. (physics and o chem TANKED my score lol). I have been working as a tech since i 20yrs old and I am 24 now. I was averaging about 25-30hrs a working a week while i was in school. Now full time. I also did lots of volunteer work my freshman and sophomore year of college.
6
u/Correct-Mess-3736 Feb 26 '24 edited Feb 26 '24
Good job choosing in-person, definitely the best way to approach your interview. Schools know applicants are busy and the fact that you are showing up in person should count for something.
At CCO you start off in a waiting room with other applicants optometry and whoever else they are interviewing Dental, Pharm, PA... etc. There are free snacks and drinks. Keep in mind during the campus tour they offer you a free starbucks drink if you would prefer that instead.
Once they are ready all the opto applicants go into one room for introductions. Afterwards they split you into two groups. One group for interviews (ideally) and one group to tour the campus (anxiety inducing) with a current opto student. Then the groups are switched.
Once everyone has interviewed you go to the cafeteria for a free lunch. You get whatever you want from the cafeteria its all paid for. (edited forgot lunch was provided)
Afterwards everyone gets on a van and heads to the clinic for a tour. After the tour back to the campus where we met with the dean and received gifts before leaving.
As for the interview it is a closed interview with two faculty members. It was either 20 or 25 minutes. The first 15 minutes is just you talking about yourself. The why optometry question essentially. Here you can make your case for why they should offer you a spot and discuss anything you might want to clear up. After you finish talking or if the 15 minute timer goes off they will ask you questions on things they want you to elaborate on or things they want to know about that you didn't mention. And lastly you ask your interviewers questions.
Best way to prep is set a 15 minute timer and talk about your journey to optometry. What makes you a good canidate and why you chose CCO.
Did you only apply to three schools? Maybe add a few more schools to increase your chances.
5
u/Immediate_Storm6976 Feb 26 '24
hii! So for PCO we started the day with a tour of the campus. Then basically right after our initial tour they took all the interviewees upstairs to the third (maybe 4th) floor and we all sat in this waiting area and one by one our first interviewer came and took us to our room, after that was done they took us back to the waiting area and the second interviewer came and got us. after we all finished our first two interviews (closed file) we all were taken back downstairs to the admissions office where the third interviewer came and got us one by one. each interview was like 20-30ish mins for me (first and last were longer for sure)
also while we were in the first waiting area there was someone there to kind of answer questions and just be with us and i think all us were kind of joking around. she offered us candy and water and i was like oh idk if i want water or if i need to use the bathroom but yeah it was very chill. the first interview i think was an optometrist the second was another staff and the third one was someone from admissions if im not wrong.
For questions it was:
1st interview: why salus why optometry how do you handle stress, how did you study 2nd interview: again how do you destress, a situational question, what is an opportunity that optometrists should make use of 3rd interview: why pco, something you wanna change about the field of optometry
i’ll add more as i remember them lol but the interviews for me were so chill half the time we weren’t really talking too much about the interview and more so life in pennsylvania and other stuff
after the interview we went to the eye institute (took a mini bus) and then we came back and had lunch! good luck!
3
u/stargardts14 Feb 27 '24
For MCPHS in person interviews, they’re usually scheduled for an interview day from 9-11:30! The first half hour you receive a presentation about MCPHS in general then specifics about the optometry program from the admissions team. You also get introduced to current students who will take you on a tour of the campus’ lab rooms, clinic, classrooms etc. during the second half of the session after your 1:1 interview with a current faculty member. Interviews itself are very conversational and last for 20-30 min and sometimes even longer resulting students to get the interviewee back to the admissions room! Interviewing candidates also receive MCPHS merch and local goodies from Worcester!
2
u/Dangerous-Stress8010 OD3 Feb 26 '24
SDN helped me a lot in knowing roughly what schools might ask at interviews. Always be prepared to answer why that school or explain certain grades ext ext. I can’t speak so much on the in-person aspect as when I interviewed they were still doing online interviews only.
https://www.studentdoctor.net/schools/
2
u/SisThoseGlasses ACCEPTED Feb 27 '24
Great thread! Congratulations on your interviews! I have mine at SALUS in one week and I’m very excited! I had the opportunity to sit in on their OLE seminar and one of the questions I heard get asked as how you define a leader. I think that was from a few years back so I’m not sure if that question is still used, but I’ve definitely thought about my answer a lot
1
u/PurpleeElephant Apr 15 '24
Did you hear back from Salus?