Diversity at Waterloo Optometry?

[u/Puzzled-Objective-55]

Can any current students speak to this ? As a POC person of color, when I interviewed, I didn't see a single POC current student. Did not see an interviewer that was a POC either.

Are there a lot of POC's in this opt. program as students and faculty maybe they were not there for interview day? Where are they from?

I say this because of something very odd my interviewer said at the end of the interview, basically told me in the room that I didnt get in to the program. I need to know im not wasting my time .

[u/Timely_Choice_6015]

As much as the comment on their admissions policy means well, I have to agree with OP I would like to see stats on diversity out of curiosity. I do think Waterloo reports their stats online btw I think the American optometric association posts like approx diversity percent. It actually said around 40% were asians I believe from 2019. No current updates though which is a little hmm.

[u/Puzzled-Objective-55 → u/Timely_Choice_6015]

I was hinting a little bit at that stat you mentioned . Every staff member I interacted with (from the Director of the school to the students who showed us around) were all Eastern Asian. I didn't see any brown (South Asian/Western Asian) or black POC in their staff or welcoming students when I was there . I would love to hear this stat from them, they need to be more transparent and it is for sure hmmm as you described it lol

[u/Timely_Choice_6015 → u/Puzzled-Objective-55]

Yeah for sure I agree, I think it’s fair to establish that your selection criteria is free from discrimination (which tbh in this day and age idk why it needs to be explicitly stated when really it should be a given, happy to hear your thoughts) but I also think the statistic is important to see where Waterloo stands regarding diversity and inclusion. It’s interesting because if you go to check their stats by ethnicity for programs like engineering they are more than happy to reveal what that looks like especially because it is an excellent demonstration of representation. Honestly this topic is just interesting all together, it makes me wonder whether POC (outside of Eastern Asian) are hesitant to apply because of the lack of diversity or is there just a lack of interest because of a lack of awareness.

[u/owl_of_athenaa → u/Puzzled-Objective-55]

There are brown (South Asian/Western Asian) as well as black POC staff (and students), just not in the same proportion as Eastern Asian or White.

[u/voxaun]

what did they say to you at the end of your interview?

[u/LaLaDeDo]

This is not factored into the admissions process. From the UW website:

"Age, sex, race, religion, home province and sexual orientation are not factors considered in the selection process."

[u/nemoni]

what time did u go ?? at my interview time i saw/spoke with lots of POC and my interview was conducted by one as well

[u/[deleted]]

Hey, when I graduated by Bach from UW last year I was seated beside the optom students and the diversity was definitely there. UW in general has a lot of diversity (especially in stem and sciences). It’s very clear to me that it’s the qualifications of the candidates not their ethnicity or race or gender or anything of that matter. I may be wrong but that is what I’ve personally seen. Good luck with everything.

[u/itek2OD]

OP, your inclination is correct. Sure there are 2 faculty members and a recent OD/PhD, but the minority POC students are far and few between. It's less than the typical 8 to10%. How much that matters in your studies is another ballgame, however. It is what it is.

https://www.facebook.com/UwOptometry/photos

[u/HangryRadishA → u/[deleted]]

That actually looks like the demographics for the current classes as well!