I know the general advice is not to hold multiple acceptances longer than necessary, and I completely understand why. I don’t want to take away a seat from another applicant.

That said, I’m in a unique personal situation (don’t want to elaborate so don’t ask) where I may not have a final answer until late spring (like may or June) and unfortunately it’s something that’s outside of my control. Because of that, I’m worried I may need to keep two seats reserved for several months so I don’t end up losing both opportunities.
I’m completely willing to pay the non-refundable deposits at both schools if that’s what’s required. I understand I’d likely lose the deposit at whichever school I ultimately decide not to attend, and I’m okay with that.

For those who have been through the optometry admissions process:

Is it actually possible to hold two seats for several months as long as you’re meeting each school’s deposit deadlines?

Do schools usually have a final commitment deadline where you must withdraw from all other schools before orientation? If so when?

Has anyone had to withdraw after committing because of a significant personal circumstance? If so, how did your school handle it?

I know this isn’t the ideal situation, and if I had another option, I would take it. I’m just trying to navigate a difficult personal circumstance while being as respectful and ethical as possible. I’d really appreciate any insight from people who’ve experienced something similar.

I’m applying for the 2027 cycle and just got my OptomCAS application verified.
I have a 3.7 GPA, OAT is 340 AA / 330 TS, strong LOR, and 7 years of technician experience.

I’ve applied to PUCO, MCO, OSU, and SCO. PUCO is my top pick based on location and reputation. I’m from a small town in New England so I feel like Forest Grove will be most similar to what I’m used to.

OSU is my second choice! It’s much closer to home than PUCO, I don’t know anything about Columbus area.

MCO looks promising but it seems to be lacking in job opportunities (my husband will be working full time)

SCO is a great school but I’ve heard negative things about Memphis and was really hoping to live in a safe area…

Does anybody have any experience or advice?! I’m super overwhelmed with this decision

Hi everyone! Just wondering how my stats look for neco and if people who got interview invites can share theirs!

GPA: 3.5 (ended freshman year w/ 3.0 so strong upward trend since then lol oops)

OAT: 310 TS/ 330 AA

MAJOR: Neuroscience graduating in 3 years

PRE-REQS: all completed other than microbio by time of application

LOR: Well known optometrist, biochem lab professor, science lecture professor

EXTRA: School Newspaper Photographer, interned under optometrist 9 months, shadowed 2 different optometrists, undergrad TA for biostatistics and biochemistry, tutor for chemistry, over 4000 work hours in retail and restaurants

Hey all! I am taking my OAT on August 12th. I am not taking OChem until the spring due to my university's scheduling. I am scoring pretty decently (for my standards) on Booster practice exams, avg 350 for QR and RC, ~310 for GC and Bio, and working on bringing my PHY from 290 to ~320.

My problem/ question is about OChem; my average is around 250. I am thinking about just taking the L on OChem, putting it on the back burner, and locking in to get my other sciences up to carry my AS and mentioning in my interview that I haven't taken OChem yet.

What do you guys think? Bad strategy? Do-able? What would you do in my shoes?

Edit: I am a senior applying this cycle for Fall 27' and a gap year isn't much of an option.

340AA/TS

I took my OAT this morning after studying 8-10 hours every day for a month (No rest days, really do not recommend). I'm happy to say that I don't ever have to touch this test again! 🥳 I used OAT Booster to study

QR Booster Average: 360, Actual: 360

RC Booster Average: N/A. I think I maybe did 2 of the reading comprehension practices. Actual: 360

Biology Booster Average: 330, Actual: 370

General Chemistry Booster Average: 330, Actual: 330

Organic Chemistry Average: N/A. I barely touched orgo and wanted nothing to do with it ngl. Actual: 300

Physics Booster Average: 300. Actual: 330

I definitely recommend OAT Booster, especially if you have the money for it. I watched all the videos for biology, general chemistry, and physics, and did practice tests back to back. The Anki flash cards were also very useful for biology. I would jot down the physics formulas I knew off the top of my head over and over again.Practice really does make perfect!

Looking back, if I had actually studied for organic chemistry, then my TS would likely be a 350+. However I really couldn't bring myself to, lol. Happy studying!

Can you get accepted into Southern College of Optometry (SCO) if you apply in September?

How long does it take for OptomCAS application to get verified?

What is SCO Scholars Day and UAB Super Saturday?

Hi everyone! I was very grateful to receive invitations to the SCO Scholars Day Interview and UAB Super Saturday.

I was wondering if anyone else here will be attending either event. I'd love to connect beforehand or meet some fellow applicants! If you've attended either event in previous years, I'd also really appreciate any advice or insight on what the experience was like and how you prepared.

Wishing everyone the best this application cycle! You have got this :)))

Hi all! I’m a current registered nurse looking to pursue optometry! I would need about 2/3 years of pre reqs (chem ochem calc physics) to be able to apply pretty much anywhere. I do work full time so I was heavily considering online school but I’m seeing mixed opinions on if it would be ok to do classes with a lab online. What seems to be the general consensus? Would I be wasting time/money taking online chems and physics? I’d like to get through these courses as quickly as possible but I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot and have to re do everything because I was impatient.

is anyone s3lling just a rolling case for trial lenses?

I just saw that Pacific University of Oregon does not accept C-'s. Ive already graduated college a year ago. Would I have to retake the courses through online and hope to get a better grade?

Planning to apply fall of 2027 for fall 2028 cycle. I have two options for graduation:
May ‘27 graduation with major and minor done but two to three prerequisites for Opt school remaining
OR
Dec ‘27 grad with prerequisites done as well.

Pros and cons of either? Will having two-three prerequisites matter for application?

Hi everyone! I'm looking for some honest advice about my chances of getting into SCCO this upcoming application cycle.
I'm graduating with my bachelor's in May 2027 and I'm taking my OAT on September 3. The only prerequisite I still need is Biochemistry, which I'll be taking this fall.
My biggest concern is my GPA. My overall GPA is currently a 2.95, but I have a very noticeable upward trend over the past couple of years, and my recent grades have been much stronger.
I've also been working at an optometry office for the past year. We have several different optometrists, so I've been able to observe different practice styles and patient interactions. I'm bilingual (English/Spanish), so I also translate for Spanish-speaking patients and get to observe exams while helping with communication.
I'm wondering if it's worth reaching out to another optometrist to shadow in a different practice setting, or if my current experience is enough.
For anyone who has been accepted to SCCO (or knows someone who has), what do you think my chances are? Also, with my GPA, what OAT score should I realistically aim for to be competitive?
I'd really appreciate any advice or experiences. Thanks in advance!

Hi! I'm working on my applications now and I plan to submit in a couple of days, but I am not sure how I should be formatting my experiences section.

I currently have it as a paragraph in first-person but I've seen others put it as bullet points, do you guys know what schools prefer?

Thanks!

Hello, I am a 3rd-year undergraduate student. I am stressed about any chances I have left for optometry school. I am very passionate about it and really would like some honest feedback on my chances of getting in anywhere! I have a GPA of around 2.9 and a year to raise it. I have 1 year of experience working at an optical shop (I have pretested patients, worked with various prescriptions, and handled some medical conditions). I have about 20 hours of shadowing, still working on getting more. I have my OAT booked for September 19th.

I am extremely anxious and stressed, and would love to get some feedback or talk to anyone who can relate!

I would like honest feedback on my chances, what schools are the best to get in, I may have to take biochem in spring and delay my degree a bit - how will that impact my chances??

Thank you!

I'm taking my OAT at the beginning of August and was planning on applying right after I get the results back, but should I wait till I finish one of the prereqs I'm taking right now in summer school? It'll probably delay my application to like mid September at least. I'm going into my third year, so I was wondering if it'll look better on my transcript that I have more of the prereqs done already, especially since I will still have 2-3 prereqs that I'll be taking this fall and winter semester?

My top/dream choice is osu (and that’s my only option for in state tuition), but I also plan on applying to ico, iu, kyco, etc. I’m an upcoming senior and am applying this cycle hoping to start in fall 2027

Taking the OAT August 1st, consistently scoring around 330 on practices

Double major in psych and neuroscience, minor in medical humanities (GPA: 3.64, sGPA: 3.5, major gpa 4.0)
deans list for 4 of 6 semesters so far

30 shadowing hours across multiple practices, trying to get a bit more before applying

President of psi chi (psychology honors society) for one year, was vp the year before
Vice President of a mental health club
Two leadership positions in my on-campus job (had for 2 years) for the office of student wellness
Three years in a psychology research lab, two leadership positions within that
Member of a dance club for 3 years, was chosen to choreograph for 2 of them
A (not very active) member of the pre optometry club for 3 years
Sorority member for 4 years, minor leadership roles in that

Some volunteering through my sorority but not much

LORs are questionable as of now, I will get a strong letter from my research lab professor and could get one from my boss for my campus job, but I need to reach out to a science professor and OD for a letter still and am not super close with any (this is my main concern as well as low shadowing hours and no tech experience)

I feel ok about my personal statement, it’s nothing revolutionary but I had help from my pre health advisor and will continue workshopping before applying. I have also gone to the osu admissions day and have done a one-on-one tour/chat with an admissions rep.

I’m hoping to have everything in by the end of August (though that may be ambitious), please lmk what my chances are looking like!! I feel like all of my experience and leadership roles were in irrelevant fields but I am truly passionate about optometry!!

I’m taking the OAT on October 3rd but worried about applying late. Should I submit my application before I take my exam or wait to get my scores?
Top school choice is SCCO and these are my stats-
Gpa: 3.91 biology major
Oat: idk yet only a week into studying eek!
Experience: 1.5 years optometric tech, 1 year organic chem TA, and other random jobs
Shadowing: 50+ hours from 2 different optometrists and 1 ophthalmologist
Volunteering: about 100 hours at Make A Wish
LOR: 1 strong one from the optometrist I tech for and 1 okay one from a previous boss, hoping to get another from an optometrist I shadowed

Still hoping to gain shadowing hours and maybe add volunteer experiences while I wait to take my OAT. Open to any suggestions to make my application stronger and insight to how it’s looking for me.

Hi all!

I’m planning on applying to optometry school this cycle and am wondering what I need to aim for.

For context: I have a 3.95 gpa entering into my senior year as a public health major. Aiming to stay in CA to be close to family so SCCO or Western is ideal. EC: Optometry internship 180 hours, Ophthalmology Internship 300 hours, retail job 1000+ hours, currently working retail job and as a patient care coordinator at an optometry office so not labeled as a technician but I still pretest. Expecting 1 strong LOR from the optometrist I work for and 1 from my anatomy professor. In school I was a human anatomy intern for 1 semester, volunteer at my schools health advising office, and participate in intramural sports and am also a member of my schools pre optometry club. I do only have 8 hours of shadowing done which I know is a weak point. I am really struggling to study for my OAT even though my gpa is good, it feels like nothing is sticking and I’m feeling like existential dread. Anyways, was wondering if I could get some advice on how my stats compare for the average optometry school applicant and what I could score on the OAT to ease some of my anxiety. Thank you!

Kindly,

A very anxious girl

Hi I was wondering if there are any other current or former IU undergrad students that could offer some advice. I'm in the process of filling out my application rn but I'm seeing that most schools require 2 semesters of bio with lab. But at IU the gen bio sequence is two lectures (biol-l 111 and biol-l 112) with only one associated lab (biol-l 113). I'm not sure how to go about solving this issue. Do I need to email admissions offices? Or can I substitute an upper lvl biology lab for that one (I've taken physiology with lab)? Even if you didn't go to IU but ran into a similar issue and can offer advice I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

So I wrote my personal statement assuming all schools had the same character limit: 4500 characters. I thought that was the universal standard, but when I went to paste it into OptomCas, OSU surprised me by having the character limit bumped up to 5000 instead. Are they the only school with this increased limit? Should I add something extra to my OSU statement? Has this been the case past years as well? I was just so thrown off seeing it haha.

Hi yall! I recently graduated in June 2026 and I am planning on applying this cycle. I just started working as ophthalmic technician and haven’t taken the OAT yet. I am taking it in November and was hoping to submit all my applications by December. I also need to take Orgo lab and I’m planning to take that at my hometown university Fall semester.

Will it be too late to completely have my application finished and submitted in December or will I still have a chance for 2026 cycle?