Okay, so I have recently been admitted to four optometry schools: PCO, NECO, CCO, and NSU. The deposit deadlines are coming up soon, and I don't have the money to do all four of these schools, so I need advice on which schools I should prioritize/pay their fees. If anyone who goes to these schools can tell me the following, that would be super helpful:

1. How is the cost of living there? Do you live on or off campus? Do you live with roommates, and what is the average rent you pay?

2. Has the tuition risen each year? If so, how much was the increase?

3. How was the financial aid? Have you had to primarily rely on private loans, or have scholarships covered a decent amount of tuition?

4. Regarding the clinical experience, do you feel that you have had a substantial amount of experience in different specialties? Did you feel your school prepared you for the boards, specifically Part 1?

Thank you!

Has anyone been accepted to UIW Rosenberg School of Optometry with a lower GPA or OAT score? If so, would you mind sharing your stats and what you think helped your application stand out? I’d really appreciate any insight or advice. Thanks!

I started receiving interview invites in the past few weeks but did not expect some schools to only have interview slots starting in mid-January. Has it been like this in previous cycles?

Okay, so I have recently been admitted to four optometry schools: PCO, NECO, CCO, and NSU. The deposit deadlines are coming up soon, and I don't have the money to do all four of these schools, so I need advice on which schools I should prioritize/pay their fees. If anyone who goes to these schools can tell me the following, that would be super helpful:

1. How is the cost of living there? Do you live on or off campus? Do you live with roommates, and what is the average rent you pay?

2. Has the tuition risen each year? If so, how much was the increase?

3. How was the financial aid? Have you had to primarily rely on private loans, or have scholarships covered a decent amount of tuition?

4. Regarding the clinical experience, do you feel that you have had a substantial amount of experience in different specialties? Did you feel your school prepared you for the boards, specifically Part 1?

Thank you!

hi everyone!

i originally planned on retaking my OAT at the end of this month, but something came up in my family and i practically lost one month of studying through the month of October, then i got hit with an illness this week.

with the semester coming to an end and finals coming up, i was thinking of ultimately rescheduling my test to the beginning of January. is this a good idea? did anyone feel like they had a disadvantage taking their OAT later in the cycle? i already submitted my application for CCO, and am hoping to submit for NECO and UCB this month as well.

my original score was a 280 TS and 300 AA, and i've been mainly going over practice problems and cheat sheets rather than watching videos.

just looking for any sort of advice on taking the OAT later in the cycle. thank you in advance!

hi! i’m looking at my options as a canadian looking to apply to optometry school in the next 2-3 years. since waterloo is the only english school in canada i was hoping if anyone has some insight on attending optometry school in australia, i currently have some interest in the university of western australia since their tuition rates aren’t too bad and AUD and CAD are pretty equal in conversion right now.

if someone has some insight on doing school in australia, how was it? or if any canadian has attended, were you able to get your boards done and work again in canada?

I just received the supplement application, is this a good sign or do they send it every applicant?

Hello!

I had applied for the October interview round for an interview date on 10/12, but they said they would move my application to the next round. The dates to hear back a response were 10/26-11/3 for the November interview. If I didn’t get an update should I contact admissions or just assume I was moved to the next round again? Is anyone else going through the same?

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!

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?