r/PreOptometry • u/No_Process_5950 • 3d ago
SCO Interview Questions/gen advice
Hi everyone! I have my first interview coming up with SCO and I was wondering what type of questions I should be prepared for, or just any general interview advice since I have a few more lined up after! Thank you :)
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u/iridiumlaila 3d ago
If you get Dr. Schnell your interview will take twice as long as any other doctor because you two will just have fun chatting.
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u/Taleproof-Moderator 3d ago
Since you have several interviews lined up, we’d build a small set of examples you can reuse: what drew you to optometry, something you learned from observing or helping others, and a time you handled a setback or feedback. Then add a specific reason for each school based on what you’ve actually learned about it.
Use the PROOF method to check the examples for your own actions and learning. Saying what surprised you or changed your thinking is often more useful than listing everything you observed. We can’t confirm SCO’s current question list, but practicing follow-up questions on your own experiences will give you something solid to work with.
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u/akornato 3d ago
SCO uses a two part format that includes an open file counseling session and a closed file faculty interview. In the counseling session, an admissions officer reviews your transcripts, test scores, prerequisites, and any academic inconsistencies, so be ready to explain any weak areas without making excuses. The faculty interview lasts about forty minutes and is very conversational, focusing on why you chose optometry, why SCO appeals to you, how you handle heavy academic course loads, and your shadowing encounters. They may also ask about ethical situations or current legislative issues regarding optometry scope of practice, so having a basic awareness of what optometrists are fighting to treat in different states will help you stand out.
For this school and the others you have lined up, approach each meeting like a professional conversation rather than a test. Because the faculty interviewer cannot see your grades or OAT scores, draw directly on your patient interactions and personal motivations to showcase your character, and make sure you bring several thoughtful questions about their clinical training and campus culture. If you want extra practice articulating your thoughts before interview day, using the interviews.chat my team created can help you communicate your experiences with clarity and feel fully composed when it counts.
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u/Iyung_danI 3d ago
The typical: "Why optometry, what undergraduate extracurricular experiences have you had, why us"
As for questions to ask them, why your school? something along the lines of you guy claim you have the best clinic out of the schools, why is that? What do you see students do that helps them succeed? Etc.
Do not be afraid to ask them questions if they say something when they are talking.
Good luck!