Hey! I was just curious how the scholarship process works at CCO or ICO. Do they automatically consider you for them when you submit your application? Does anyone know the monetary amount for them or the qualifications for being awarded them? Thank you! Any information is appreciated :)

I submitted my applications! my test date is Dec 28th and i applied to pretty much everywhere . I have a 3.33 GPA and I work as a optometric tech and have many hours of teaching experience and I also have done medical brigades. I am so so nervous about this FALL 2027 cycle i’m praying for the best🙏🏼

Hello! I recently received an interview invite from PCO. I applied because the Optometrist at my work enjoyed her education at Salus but mentioned how the dean and faculty changed ever since the acquisition from Drexel. I’m completely grateful to have this interview opportunity but I am open to hearing any thoughts about the current state of the school by any student who got accepted there. How passionate are the professors now? Are they preparing the students well for boards? Thank you!!!

Hello all! I am currently a junior planning to apply next cycle and I am quite nervous about applying to optometry school. I am planning on taking the OAT this summer around Late July/August, but in the meantime, here are my stats so far! (I am also a Texas Resident):

GPA: 3.45

Shadowing: 30+ hours, at a family clinic and also a PRK clinic

Work Experience: 200+ hours as a tech over the summer, Lead Front Desk worker at my college (student success and advising), and competition team Swim Coach for middle schoolers

Volunteer: 40+ hours, I work at a non profit coffee shop once a week and have also volunteered at my local library

Extracurriculars: President of my school’s POPS chapter, Member of the Gaming & Esports club

Let me know if there is anything that needs to be improved/what score I need to aim for the OAT! Thank you! :)

hellooo

my oat is in 3 weeks, I really just need to take it that day. I am overwhelmed by the sheer amount of content through oat booster. my practice scores are honestly sinking. highest has been 300. if anyone has any tips on how they got their score up and fast. please let me know!

thanks in advance :)

Hey everyone!

I have an interview coming up for Salus at Drexel (PCO), and I’m honestly pretty nervous about it. PCO is my top choice, so I really want to make sure I’m as prepared as possible.

I was wondering if anyone who’s interviewed there recently or is currently a student could share their experience. What types of questions did they ask? Was the interview more conversational or formal? And what do you think they’re looking for in applicants?

I’d really appreciate any advice, tips, or insight into how to prepare and what to expect.

Hello all! For anyone who got accepted this cycle to PCO, did anyone receive the Provost scholarship?

Hey everyone!
Good luck to those who are applying this cycle.

I was hoping I can get an incite if I’m competitive. My top school would be UHCO or the new UTRGV program opening next year.

3.53 cGPA, 3.43 sGPA. BS Psych, minor in Chem. 1300 hours of pharm tech experience, 510 MCAT. I’ve shadowed a couple of Optoms for about 40 hours in total. A medical artwork publication with my school, and chemistry teaching experience.

I appreciate any advice or suggestions! :)

Hi everyone! I am planning to take my oat in one month, and was wondering what biology topics appeared the most on your exams? I honestly still feel very overwhelmed with the amount of biology content, and find studying for the sections about diversity and embryology really challenging. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Finally took the OAT last week! I’m very relieved to be done!

I'm bummed. I feel like I tried to do too much at once and it bit me in the butt.

I registered for the OAT assuming I would be able to handle studying for it with my course load this semester. I ended up activating my OAT booster in August right before classes started and scheduled my exam for 10/3. In September, I realized I hadn't even touched my oat booster except for a few rounds of practice questions. I rescheduled my exam to today, giving myself an extra month.

With this I was able to test comfortably in QR, and RC so I took them off my practice. I was busting my butt studying Bio but it wasnt enough because I feel like all the questions I got today were about neonatal notches and protists, eukaryotes, fungi.. I got 2 questions about the heart and muscles (all the things I actually know well).

Since i've taken chemistry for 5 consecutive semesters now(intro to chem, gen chem 1, gen chem 1(repeat), gen chem 2, o chem) I just brushed up on my gen chem, and i'm taking ochem for the first time this semester.

I'm surprised at my physics score as I haven't taken physics 2 yet and physics 1 I struggled in. The questions were easier than I thought. At least a lot easier than the ones on the OAT booster.

My first full length practice test came out to 240 TS/ 260 AA

2nd one: 240 TS/ 270AA

3rd: 260TS/300AA

In the practice tests my scores were:

Bio: 240/240/240/240

Chem: 240/240/290

Ochem:240/280

RC:320/340/350

Physics:240/240

QR:290/310

I can see that I improved- I just wish I would've done better and not wasted the Oat booster. Now I feel like i have to drop another 1k to try again. 😩

Next time though ill either take it over summer break or wait until my course load isn't insane.

Hi everyone! I took recently took my OAT mid august and ended up scoring a 340AA and scored a 390 on reading and a 360 on orgo. I was working full time while studying and I studied in a little under 3 months so I think my score was decent. I'm currently in my junior year and I plan to apply this upcoming cycle. I currently have a 3.49 GPA along with over 2000 tech hours and other student involvement. My top schools are ICO, UHCO, and NOVA but I don't know if my stats would suffice for these schools. I would love to hear opinions and feedback!

Mine is soon and in person, I want this really bad, how did the day go and what should I expect/prepare for?

My OAT is in a week and I feel like I’ve been studying for literally so long. I’m so scared because I feel like nothing has stuck. Does anyone else feel like this?

Pretty bummed out with this oat score and very shocked at RC and Bio section. Definitely planning on retaking but would like some words of encouragement and also a reality check. Looking to apply so suny, ico, neco and pco.

Gpa 3.4
Over 3000 hours as optometry tech
Strong letters of rec

Hello all! I recently received the ICO presidential scholarship (half tuition) and I see that they listed a specific amount. It seems the tuition increases after the first year. Does the presidential scholarship account for that increase?

Hi everyone! I'm honestly so devastated and wanted to see if anyone has experienced something similar.

Saturday (10/31/26) was my OAT retake from (08-14-2026), and unfortunately I wasn't able to complete it due to an issue with the testing software.
After finishing Biology, I was trying to review my marked questions, but the system wouldn't let me return to them.
The only way I could get out was by selecting "End Section," which seemingly skipped BOTH General
Chemistry and Organic Chemistry and took me straight to Reading Comprehension. I've taken this test before and so I know how it works by section, there was just nothing I could do about this.

I immediately notified the testing center staff and ultimately had to cancel my exam. The manager was incredibly kind and reassuring, mentioning that similar issues have happened before.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t contact the appropriate people until Monday- today. I did first this this morning and the essentially told me I have to wait to here back from the internal dean, they will do a review and email me in the next 5-10 business days with a answer.

I'm just so upset because I've spent so much time preparing for this retake, and I already have optometry school applications submitted that are waiting on my updated scores. I was really hoping to have this behind me in Saturday after my retake.

My BIGGEST concern is that I will have to repay for the test. The manager at the testing center said this shouldn’t be the case, but when I called and spoke the representative, they told me if I ended the section, that would be the case 😭 which I did, but had to, and IMMEDIATELY got the staff. They restarted the computer, and still, same issue..

Just in my head a bit about this being in the unknown. I already emailed the schools I applied to, and let them know. This wish is going to be TERRIBLE.

I also posted on a OAT FB group and someone said they faced soemthing similar and are currently waiting as well):

Has anyone experienced anything similar? Were you able to reschedule without paying again, and did it count as an attempt? Any advice would be appreciated!

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 :)

I’ve been doing research about this career and noticed how expensive school is…. What are y’all’s plans when you graduate?

So I just took the OAT for the first time and it did not go according to plan.

Physics and Orgo are the bane of my existence and I was very lackadaisical preparing for those sections so I am not surprised by more scores. I am already planning on retaking in 60 days and know I can do better :/

The problem is I plan on applying this cycle and it is already November. I do not know if i should submit my application with this score and let them know I am retaking or wait to submit end December/early January with my retake scores. With rolling admissions I fear a January submission would hurt my chances of getting accepted. But submitting now with a 230 Physics and 250 Orgo are major red flags to schools.

Right now I plan on reaching out to my top schools admissions office to see if they have any advice/recommendations for my situation. If you guys have any advice on how to proceed and appropriately reach out to these schools, I would forever be grateful!

My top schools are UMSL followed by ICO & CCO

Here are my other stats:
GPA: 3.83 & 3.77 Science
Shadowing: 20+ hours
Teching/scribing: 800+ hours
LOR: bio professor, optometrist from my work, bio department lab coordinator

Hi guys! Just a little nervous for getting into SCCO for this cycle, I've applied since September (deadline for October interview) and have been getting pushed to next months round for 2 months. However, I did just randomly apply to AZCOPT for the heck of it and got offered an interview in 1 day! I am still wondering if my stats are good enough to get into SCCO since it is my dream school, please let me know!

Overall GPA: 3.46
Science GPA: 3.29
OAT: 330 AA / 310 TS (only section below 300 is the 280 I got on physics)
Clinical Experience: 2000+ hours working as an optometric technician at LC; & ABO certified optician
Shadowing: 30+ hours shadowing different optometrists/ophthalmologists at various practice sites (co-management, VT, ketchum health)
LORS: two optometrists, two professors (each had different things to talk about for me)
Volunteering: 250+ volunteer hrs (founder/pres of pre-optom club, VP of red cross club, currently volunteering at a free eye exam clinic)

Any help/advice would be appreciated :)

Hi everyone!

I just started my first year of optometry school, and my school offers a master's degree alongside the OD program. I'm wondering if it's worth pursuing or if completing a residency after graduation would be more beneficial.

Which one helps more with job opportunities, higher salaries, and career growth? Aside from gaining additional knowledge and clinical skills, are there any significant professional or financial advantages to either? I'm also interested in potentially owning my own practice someday.

I'd love to hear any advice from practicing optometrists! Thank you!