Preparing for admission to optometry school
The need for well-trained doctors of optometry (OD) is increasing. Admission committees for four-year programs leading to the doctor of optometry degree consider the following factors:
- Strength and breadth of your academic record
- OAT scores
- Evidence of work (paid or volunteer) under the supervision of a professional optometrist
- Extracurricular activities and community service
- Strength of recommendations and on-campus interviews
Consult each optometry school鈥檚 website for its admission prerequisites. Enrollment in optometry schools is limited, and admission is selective. All pre-optometry courses must be completed before entering a college of optometry.
The following list of courses represents a minimum pre-optometry program:
- General Biology (15 credits)
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II and Microbiology (15 credits)
- BIO 2129 and BIO 2130 and BIO 3351
- General Chemistry (10 credits)
- Introductory Inorganic Chemistry (5 credits)
- Organic Chemistry (15 credits)
- Mathematics (10鈥�15 credits)
- Including a course in calculus
- Statistics (5 credits)
- Physics (15 credits)
- HY 1101, 1102, 1103 or 1121, 1122, 1123
- Psychology (5 credits)
- Other Social Sciences (5鈥�10 credits)
- English (6鈥�9 credits)
- Must include a course in expository writing
Total: 106鈥�119 credits
While some optometry programs admit students with prerequisites complete and no bachelor鈥檚 degree, the most competitive applicant has a completed degree. Check the requirements of the individual schools that interest you.