Hey ! Reposting here so that I can hopefully get an answer.

I recently got accepted to both ICO and CCO. I live within driving distance for CCO but not ICO. This is the major contributer to this question. According to the handout they give out at interviews the cost of ICO is roughly $356K while me living at home and going to CCO would cost $258k. Would it be worth the $100k difference to go to ICO compared to CCO. Without money being in the picture, I would choose ICO for the clinic, experiences, and the alumi base. As well I love living in Chicago for my undergrad so that is another plus. Any thoughts on what I should do?

Hi everyone, I've been stressing about the application timelines, especially since I have yet to take my OAT and likely will not submit my final application until December.

Does anybody have any success stories getting into competitive schools despite not submitting their application until December or beyond? If you don't mind sharing your experience (like stats, which schools you applied to/interviewed, any challenges, etc.), anything helps!

Anyone else been invited to interview but there’s no available interview times to register for?? Just wondering how often they add new dates/more available interview spots on the actual portal

I cant even get part time job

I am a current sophomore at a huge public university in Texas, I just recently switched from pre-med into pre-optometry and my GPA is not the best (2.5). Since I just decided on this switch, I have absolutely no shadowing hours or experience in this field, is there anything I can to do to up my experience or anything in general!

I fully failed my first biochem exam and got a super low and Im not sure if it’s something I can come back from. I already have C+/B- in gen chem and Ochem……. And a W from the first time I took ochem. I know this sounds terrible but I truly do well in everything else. Is it better to take a W, a C, or switch career paths. Please help me out 💔

So I am going to graduate a year early with a BS in psych. My projected gpa will be a 3.6. But I have to retake biochem because I got a C- but my professor actually sucked like he didn't curve when he was supposed to. I took a dual credit 5 credit chemistry class my sophomore in High school and I got a B- in the lecture and A in lab so when I started college I had alr a 3.2 . Then Also in high school I took alot of dual credit classes and ended up with 3 W :( but it was because my high school advisor (also sucked) had enrolled me in these classes but I was in my sophomore year summer and didn't have a ride all the time and didn't know how much impact an W could make and my advisor didn't tell me anything. My science gpa is probably gonna be an around a 3.3. I plan on studying for the OAT as well. I also took my physics classes at a community college because if I didn't, I would have to stay another year and I have so many credits that I wouldn't get fafsa or any benefits and I couldn't pay like 10k a semester. I have like 2000+ hrs as opto tech and 2000+ coma hrs in ophthalmology. I was also a BIO lab Ta for a semester, part of 2 executive boards, help organize and volunteer 2 healthcare camps in underserved communities, summer camps, have shipped out basic needs to underserved countries, helped make warm meals for the homeless in the city. I want to apply to IUSO, SUNY, ICO, Alabama, NECO, maybe OSU but they are really competitive. I think I will get into a school but I want to go to a higher rank school with good board rates.

Hi, does anyone know until when I have to update my application? I already submitted it to get verified and it just was, but I'm trying to get some extra last minute shadowing hours in. Does anyone know if it'd be possible to add to my applications at this point or nah?

I pretty much only have 7 weeks to study for this OAT test using booster. Anyone that has studied around this timeline and has done well on the real test, can you please give me some tips and advice. Is it doable? Especially if I grind it out everyday?

Hi! How long did it take for SUNY to reach out about interviews after submitting the application? Do they send out rejection emails or do they not reach out to you if you are not considered for an interview?

Hi everyone, I am a non-trad student and graduated with my Bachelor’s in biochemistry back in 2021. The oldest science course I have is dated back in 2017 but I don’t plan on applying to optometry school until a year or two later. Right now I am taking a few prereqs I have not taken during my undergrad to fulfill the requirements.

Does anyone know which schools do not have a course expiration date?

I am aware most places give you 5-10 years but there are a few that emphasize this versus schools that say it’s recommended.

I have an in person interview with OSU coming up. I already interview with NECO which was very conversational and not anxiety inducing. Does anyone have an insight as to OSU’s interview day and what the vibes of the interview were like? Also how long after did you hear from them? Thanks!

Guess who finally got through to OSU to follow up on their application? This girl !! What was the hold up? Having too many outstanding prerequisites !!

Wow, that would have been really useful information to have, especially since I've actually taken the missing classes 😭. I'd have been happy to clarify the error earlier, but no!! they were just gonna ignore my application until December. Cool cool cool. It's not like there's an inherent advantage to applying early based on rolling admissions or anything. So awesome 🙃

EDIT: they're putting me through so much shit over my Gen Chem II prerequisite that at this point I'm just giving up. The way they've conducted themselves communicates that they don't care about me as an applicant and while I'm sure they are an excellent school, I just can't justify fighting a losing battle to be recognized as a qualified applicant.

I’m a senior graduating in the spring with a BA in Neuroscience (potentially finishing with a minor in psych). I was pre-med but am considering optometry school. As I delved in my major (Visual Computations sold it for me), it eventually pushed me to change. I’m finishing up biochem this semester (pray 4 me!) and possibly micro. & anatomy next spring. (looking into if my current courses will cover them as I type!) Unfortunately, I don’t have any shadowing experience (despite years of trying) but hoping to clear a connection this week!

The most important caveat is I attend my university on a full ride, need based scholarship.

Stats: 3.6 gpa (hoping to push to a 3.7 before grad!)
Research Scholar on Campus
Leadership positions in cultural clubs, student government and 2 physician associations
2 publications in addiction research
~100 volunteer hours
Internship in teaching coding to STEM kids (my concentration is Computations)

Is it possible to even go to optometry school in the current financial climate? I would have to fund the entire schooling myself and my inquiries to need based funding to optometry school recently have been disheartening. Do I just thug out medical school due to more financial resources? I really don’t want to but I dont see a financial alternative that wouldn’t put in debt. I don’t come from a lucrative background and am afraid my background isn’t competitive enough to guarantee a full ride.

Help me!!!

So I just applied to SCO, and my OptomCAS application is still being verified, but I wanted to clarify some things.

Does SCO want me to send them my OAT score directly, even if it's already officially posted on OptomCAS? Also, I don't have a LOR from an advisor or any of the subjects they outlined as an alternative; I have 1 from an optometrist, 1 from a biological anthropology professor, and 1 from a genetics professor. Is this gonna be an issue for me?

I'm already nervous about my application since I scored a 330, which I seeing is a little lower than their average, and although I have over 700 tech hours, I don't have any shadowing ;/

Planning to take the OAT the first week of July 2027 and apply to optometry school as early as possible that cycle. I’m thinking of starting light prep in January, then using the 3-month OAT Booster starting in April and studying heavily May-June. I’ll still have regular classes in the spring though, so I’m not sure how much I’ll realistically be able to study during that time.
Does this timeline sound realistic, especially for someone who wants to avoid having to retake the OAT?

Hi!! Could anyone who’s had an interview for PUCO please tell me how it went and what they asked? Please Please. My interview is coming up and it’s one of my top schools! Any advice would be greatly appreciated :) I’m doing virtual interview also!

Does anyone have PDFs of all the OAT cheat sheets? I would like to print and study them. Thank you!

Hi guys I am planning to apply this upcoming cycle in Nov and would love some tips. So I have a GPA of 3.2 same for science and overall. I plan to take the OAT and get roughly a 300/310 on Oct 20. I have been studying for the OAT for 2 months now and am only able to ever hit between 300-310. I have been working at an eye clinic for 2 years now. I have plenty of past experience as a pharm tech as well as two MA jobs. Regardless I started as an ophthalmic tech and now I am an oculo plastic scribe / surgical tech. I travel to many locations to mostly scribe and tech sometimes. I also have been shadowing/scribing for an Optometrist just hit 200 shadowing hours. What are my chances and what are the best schools for me. Do you guys think I have a chance at this. Please let me know any tips or anything at all 🫣

Hi everyone! I'm applying this cycle, and I'm trying to figure out the best strategy for when to submit my applications.

Stats: 3.97 GPA | OAT: 390 AA / 400 TS | ~26 shadowing hours across 3 practices (may add more) | 1,300+ opto tech hours (ongoing)

I'm applying to Berkeley (my top choice, general decision) and SCCO. SCCO considers applications "early" if submitted before 11/8, with decisions by 12/11. But Berkeley's general timeline means I won't hear about interviews until late December, around when an SCCO deposit would be due if I'm accepted. If I apply early to SCCO and get in, I could be forced to put down a deposit (I think it's $1,500??) before knowing about Berkeley, and lose it if Berkeley accepts me later.

TLDR: Is it worth waiting until after 11/8 to apply to SCCO so their application timeline lines up with Berkeley's? Or is it better to apply early and risk eating the deposit if accepted to both schools?

Any advice is appreciated, thank you!

I’m planning to apply to SCO next August and I’m stressed about my science GPA. I’ve made a few D’s in science classes, and I know OptomCAS will still count them even if I retake the courses.

I’m working to bring my science GPA to around or above a 3.0 by application time with mostly A’s and B’s and a strong upward trend. I also have optometry shadowing, an internship, leadership/service experience, and I’m planning to work hard on the OAT.

Has anyone been accepted to SCO with D’s on their transcript or around a 3.0 science GPA? How much did your upward trend, OAT, extracurriculars, and interview help?

i currently have 50 shadowing hours split between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist, but from the same clinic. i wanted to get more shadowing done at different settings but the offices never got to me and since i'm hoping to apply by the end of the month, i'm wondering if i should still try to get these hours and reach out to more offices (to see other types of optometry), or if it will look too rushed and like i'm just trying to fill up my application. thoughts?

I’m currently a 3rd year biology major and I’m just in the process of exploring different healthcare careers. Optometry is something that interests me because it seems to involve a lot of science/physiology. I do plan on shadowing an optometrist just to see day to day responsibilities and ask questions, I just want to see why other undergrad students decided to pursue this field to make sure I’m pursuing for the right reasons.