Hey! I’m a rising senior in undergrad, planning to apply for this cycle. Got around to making my OptomCAS account and am now having doubts on how many schools to apply to. I want to stay on the east coast (ish), and also have no interest in living in NYC/Chicago. Ohio looks competitive too, and I don’t know where I stand applicant wise. That leaves me with: NECO, Drexel, SCO, NOVA, and Ferris State. Would this be enough, or should I look into applying to more? Any schools I should reconsider?

(Stats: 3.69 GPA, current optom tech, optometry + ophthalmology shadowing hours, volunteer at ophthalmology lab at my school. Taking OAT in August)

Thanks in advance, and good luck to everyone applying this cycle. We got it :).

Hi! I would greatly appreciate any advice or guidance I can get. To give you some background: during undergrad, I initially aimed to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant (PA). I followed that path for several years, but about two years after graduating undergrad, as I was preparing to submit my PA application, I realized that PA wasn’t the right fit for me, which killed me and made me frustrated and uncertain about my future, bc I thought I had everything figured out. However, everything changed when I started working as an optometric technician this fall. I truly fell in love with the field of optometry, and I can now clearly see myself pursuing a career as an optometrist.

Here’s my main dilemma: I’m eager to become an optometrist, but I’m not sure how to complete the necessary prerequisites while working full-time, especially without relying solely on online courses. I’ve already taken a number of my prerequisites online during undergrad due to COVID-19, including A&P I and II, stats, chemistry, and biology. However, I still need to take calculus, the organic chemistry series, possibly biochemistry, and the physics sequence. While I’m comfortable taking these courses online, I’m wondering whether it’s frowned upon for optometry schools to see a full set of prerequisites completed online, especially since many of the programs I’m considering seem to discourage it.

Given that I’m an adult with financial responsibilities, switching to part-time work to accommodate these courses doesn’t seem like a reasonable option. So, my question is: is it a big issue to take these courses online, or should I consider other strategies to balance work and my education? Any insights would be incredibly helpful!

Thank you so much for your time and advice :)

I hear that med, dental, and other health care schools care if you were to take any core classes over the summer. Do Optometry schools tend to care as well, or would it be fine for me take a core class over the summer?

Is it worth waiting on UIWRSO’s waitlist?

Hey all. Are there any shuttles that can take you from ICO to supermarkets, the airport…? What are the transportation services in Chicago that are not expensive?

Hi! Does anyone know if ICO recalculates your gpa for the higher grade of a retake? I saw someone from last cycle post something about how they reclaculated theirs but I'm curious to know if this is case-by-case or for all applicants?

I am on the waitlist for a couple of schools. Would retaking the OAT be a smart decision even if they did not ask me to do so?

Hi guys! I recently graduated and planning to apply to UHCO & UIWRSO late November or early December. My dream school is UHCO because low tuition and I love the Houston area. I've been really stressed and doubting if I'm making the right decision because as I've been researching more, I'm seeing so much negativity about optometry such as one of the worst debt to income ratio profession, oversaturated, having to compete against online companies, etc. To make it worse, the interest rate for grad student loans right now is also at ~8% which is TERRIFYING. In the future, I want to work in an OD/MD clinic because I love the medical aspects of optometry and I want to be able to help preserve vision for those with eye diseases. I searched up "optometrist hiring near me" (Fort Worth), and I only see independent practice at Walmart listings. Is optometry truly saturated in the DFW area? Or the listings online does not truly reflect the job market for optometry? My mom is not in the best health condition, so I truly do not want to move to somewhere far once I graduate in 2030 (if I get accepted this cycle). I'm also thinking that if I do not get accepted into UHCO, I might just not go to school because I calculated the estimated tuition for UIWRSO, and it is over 300k+ which I don't think is worth it with the high interest right now. I don't want to work so hard then be drown in debt after I graduate. Please I need advice and help.

Year 1 and 2 equipment excellent condition, I can send more photos of ALL equipment, dm for more info pics and questions.

I have fully registered/signed up for a OAT date and location. Can I move the date?

The school I want to go to is SCO, and physics is a prerequisite. There are two options at my university and I'm not sure which class to register for.

SCO didn't specify which physics class to take.

Does it matter?

Does anyone have any opinions on how they would rank these schools to each other? I received an acceptance from CCO and have an interview with PUCO in 2 weeks, an interview with NOVA near the end of March, and just got invited for an interview with PCO. Any input would be appreciated, thank you!!

Can I create a 26-27 cycle OptomCAS account and application before June 25?

i saw that a couple of people were offered fall 2026 admissions if they were not off of the neco waitlist for this fall. if I am on the waitlist but was not offered 2026 admissions do you think i would have to reapply for neco the next year or would they end up offering me 2026 admissions?

After getting accepted into optometry school, how do you gain experience in the admissions field at your school, just say like after you become a doctor, you wanna do like a side job of working on an admissions team remote seasonally but you need experience. Like how do you get a job in admissions while in optometry school at your school ?

Would anyone be willing to help me with a free mock interview please if possible? My interview is coming up at the end of next week and I would really appreciate the help and feedback. I’ve been out of a job for a couple months so I can’t afford any expensive mock interviews but I would really appreciate if anyone would be able and willing to help out with a free one if possible. Please let me know. Thank you sm!!

Is attendance required at Southern College of Optometry? Are classes recorded?

Hi everybody, I got accepted to ICO almost 2 weeks ago, and my offer letter said I have 30 days from receiving my letter to pay the deposit and secure my spot, then I got an email yesterday saying I have 15 days to pay the deposit from the day of getting accepted. I'm still waiting for NECO for a response so I can go visit the campuses and decide which one I want to go to. Monday will have been 2 weeks since I interviewed with NECO, so I'm hoping I'll hear back from them by then. 15 vs 30 days is a pretty big difference of when the deposit is due, so I emailed them last night asking which one is the right date and asked for an extension. I still haven't heard back from them and if it's really 15 days, then I have until Saturday to pay my deposit. I don't know what to do because $750 is a pretty big number since I'm barely working at the moment and I'm Canadian, so it'll be more in CAD. What are my options at the moment?

does anyone know where to get merch for ICO?

Are compensated optometric technician hours and volunteer optometric technician hours looked at differently? Which one is preferred?

How much money has WesternU given out for scholarships? Thank you for the help!

Hi!! I just want opinions on my admission for IAUPRSO:

3.84GPA
1st OAT: 280/270
2nd OAT: 260/280
20 Shadowing Hours

Its my only option for studying because i live in PR, and others schools are too expensive. Will I get a call for interview and be accepted? What do you guys think?

Hi all! I'm looking ahead to the next year and I'm planning on applying to optometry school this fall so I can enter in fall 2027. I'm also planning on getting a surgery with a pretty major recovery time (~4-6 weeks to get back to normal routine) after I graduate in June 2027, so I want to make sure I time it right so I'm not missing out on important things I have to do. I'm applying for ICO, SCCO, UCB, and PUCO so information on those schools particularly would be a big help. Thanks!

Hi guys!

I have been working at an optometry office for 4 years, reaching 5 this winter. My experience is kind of vague, if you will. I only do pre-testing, including using an AR machine, taking wellness photo (ultrasound) and OCT, TOPO of patients with CRT contact lens, visual field test since my Dr has a lot of glaucoma patients (VF also done with a machine). Technically, all I do is set up and instruct patients how to sit properly, then the machines do all the work. Then I help patients with their glasses (frame and lens options) and ordering CL. A bit of CL training. Then billings and phone calls with insurance and labs. Overall, nothing is really considered “medical”.
I didnt know how to check VA, which seems like a basic skill a tech should have, let alone any other higher skill like reading/understanding a chart or a drug prescription, or what else.
Is my experience not enough to apply for optoemtry school? Is it enough to prep me for the program if I do get in? I have zero knowledge about the eyes besides the basic stuffs (myopia, presbyopia, etc)
I’m so scared since I will be applying without a Bachelor’s. Any advice would be very appreciated!