Pre-Optometry Handout

Pre-Optometry is a career interest, rather than a major or formal program. Most people complete a bachelor’s degree before entering optometry school. Although most requirements are sciences, you can choose any major.

Optometry schools require two semesters of English, math, and:
• Biology & Lab, for example, BIOL 150 and BIOL 152
• Chemistry & Lab, e.g., CHEM 184 and CHEM 188
• Physics & Lab, e.g., PHSX 114 and PHSX 115, OR 211 and 212

Most schools also require one semester of:
• Calculus, e.g., MATH 115 (Berkeley and New England require 2 semesters)
• Microbiology & Lab, e.g., BIOL 400 & 402
• Psychology, e.g., PSYC 104 General Psychology (Missouri requires 2 semesters)
• Statistics, e.g., MATH 365 OR BIOL 570 (Texas wants research methods)
• Organic Chemistry & Lab, e.g., CHEM 622 & 625 (Michigan and New York require 2 semesters: 624, 625, 626 & 627)

Some schools require, and most recommend one semester of:
• Anatomy & Lab, e.g., BIOL 240 & 241 OR 242, 440, OR 510
• Physiology & Lab, e.g., BIOL 646 & 647, OR 246 & 247
• Biochemistry, e.g., BIOL 600

For much more, including requirements for specific optometry schools, see ASCO Student Information at www.opted.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3343.

Here is one way of sequencing the science courses required for Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee:

If you're a prospective student, you can contact the Office of Admissions & Scholarships, (785) 864-3911, www.admissions.ku.edu, to schedule a tour and information meetings.

If you're a KU student, you can call 864-3500 to schedule a meeting with the Premedical Advisor, and you can add the pre-optometry interest code in 109 Strong Hall to receive messages about club meetings and other information.

For more information, see our pre-optometry web site at www.medadvising.ku.edu/optometry.

Career Information. For a well-written introduction, look at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook at: www.bls.gov/oco/ocos073.htm.

Interview and shadow optometrists in different kinds of practices to find out what they do, what they like and dislike about their jobs, and what advice they have for people preparing to enter the profession. Most successful candidates have experience working in an optometry office. For more information on getting experience, see www.medadvising.ku.edu/optometry/optexperience.shtml.

Optometry School Admissions. Your probability of admission to optometry school will depend on your academic performance, Optometry Admission Test (OAT) scores, experience working with optometrists and other activities, recommendation letters, ability to communicate both in writing and in an interview, and your legal state residency.

The Kansas Board of Regents has an Optometry Service Scholarship available for some of the seats at the University of Missouri-St. Louis School of Optometry, Northeastern State University of Oklahoma College of Optometry and Southern College of Optometry.

Applying. If you plan to enter optometry school immediately after your senior year, you should begin the application process in your junior year!

1. Application Meeting. In the spring of your junior year, call 864-3500, and schedule an application meeting with Paul Crosby to talk through the entire process.

2. Optometry Admission Test (OAT). Register for the OAT at https://www.ada.org/oat/index.html, and thoroughly review and practice for the test. Most people take the OAT in late May, immediately after their junior year. If needed, you can retake after 90 days.

3. Optometry Central Application Service (OptomCAS). The OptomCAS application will be available in July at www.optomcas.org. You will have your recommendation letters and transcripts sent to OptomCAS. Different optometry schools have different deadlines. It would be ideal to complete this stage of the application by August 1st.

4. Supplemental Applications. Some optometry schools will let you complete their supplemental applications independently from when you submit your OptomCAS application; Others will want to review your OptomCAS information before inviting you to complete their supplemental. It would be ideal to complete these by mid-August, so you can be considered for September interviews.

5. Interviews. In the fall and winter of the senior year, optometry schools invite you for interviews. For more information, see www.medadvising.ku.edu/interviews.shtml. You can call 864-3500 to schedule a practice interview with the premedical advisor.