Written by: Chris Nguyen | 🕗 8 minute read

The road to optometry school is long and winding, and as we’re taken along for the ride, we all have seen that blaring question “How can I beef up my application for optometry school?”

Well, as someone who’s been through it all from the applications to the interviews and now completing my first year of optometry school, I will tell you that optometry schools are always looking for well-rounded individuals who are academically strong in their O.A.T. score and GPA, as well as knowledgeable in the optometry field. Optometry schools want to see motivated students who partake in extracurricular activities like joining clubs, working part time jobs, shadowing, and/or volunteering. Now this doesn’t mean you need to sign up for 100 events with a hundred different clubs/organizations to make your C.V. run 10 pages long. It means you’ve got to select specific organizations that you are actively contributing to and helping grow (this can be as a member or in a leadership position).

You are a book and your academics and your extracurriculars are the content that optometry schools want to read. The more interesting content that you have in that book of yours, the more admissions committees will remember you. So what I’m trying to say is that you guys should take the time during your college years to participate in a lot of extracurricular activities like volunteering, joining clubs, shadowing, and working part time while you balance your academic and social life. Find the number that’s right for you and stick to it. Some people may have more than you, other people have less - but trust me, admission officers can see when an applicant is biting off more than they can chew vs. when they’re not doing enough. They want people who know what they can handle early on so they’re not admitting someone who’ll just stress out and drop out.

So, if you guys have read up to this point, whoo------! Let’s get down to the nitty gritty.

① The O.A.T. Score  

For optometry school admissions, the OAT score is a significant aspect of your application. Scoring at least a 330-340 out of 400 is the minimal zone where optometry schools will consider students. But, if guys want to be in the safe zone to be considered strong applicants, make sure you’re aiming higher to score at least a 350 and above because those scores are considered strong scores. If you score below a 330, then I advise that you retake the O.A.T. because the likelihood of you getting into optometry school will be narrow to none if any other parts of your application is weak. Not too sure how to prepare for the O.A.T.? Read my blog How to Prepare for the OAT where I show you some tricks to score high!

② Joining your Pre-Optometry Professional Society (POPS) 

I already mentioned this in my previous blog of this series Joining your Pre-Optometry Organization. I talk about why it’s SUPER beneficial to join a pre-opto org if your school has one. But, long story short, they help provide shadowing opportunities, volunteering events, and more! There’s no cutting corners to a strong application so I HIGHLY suggest reading it. Remember: nobody likes someone who’s lazy! 

③ Shadowing an Optometrist/Working as a Optometric Assistant

Optometry schools want to see that you’re willing to put in the time and effort to stick around for 4 (maybe more) long years and become an optometrist. Shadowing an optometrist or working as an optometric assistant can help! Although it’s not required, it’ll definitely stand out on your application. IF YOU PUT IN THE WORK! 

Shadowing gives you the opportunity to see what an optometrist does daily. BUT! Take note. Just because you’re following them around doesn’t mean you’re in the safe zone yet! Observe and jot down notes on how the optometrist interacts with patients, how they manage the office, and how they handle certain situations. Remember this is going to be YOU one day! You wanna know what you’re getting yourself into! But most importantly, get to know the optometrist you’re shadowing! They can be a great connection (aka letter of recommendation) and who knows, they might be your closest friend. Like me and my optometrist! 

As an optometric assistant, you’ll earn some side money as well as learn how to do preliminary exams. You’ll have the opportunity to work the machines! Sounds exciting right?! These hands-on experiences will help admissions remember you better, making your application stronger!

④ Personal Statement (PS) 

Remember those dreaded personal statements you had to write for undergraduate? Well you’re not out of the hole just yet! Every application requires a personal statement (PS). Start writing your PS early! If you don’t quite have any ideas on what to write or you’re too busy studying for the O.A.T., start brainstorming and planning out the structure!

➥ Pro tip: Write your PS as a story instead of the usual argumentative essay that you would usually write in your English class. The admissions teams want to know more about you when they read your PS; they want to see the REAL you. Remember when I said to partake in more extracurricular activities? THIS IS WHERE THOSE EXTRACURRICULARS CAN HELP! Partaking in extracurricular activities can give you more ideas for your PS. Once you’ve finished writing your first draft, run it by someone. They can help revise and edit so it sounds even better! Or maybe they can give you ideas on what to write about! Don’t just have one person look at it though. Keep asking around to the people who you know will give you constructive criticism. That way your PS can productively get better! Your PS is just like a gem in a rock. You got to keep polishing it until it’s good enough to be presented to the admission teams of each optometry school.

⑤ Letters of Recommendation 

Letter of recommendations are required for applications. You need 3 but 4 letters will strengthen your application! However, even if you have people to write rec letters for you, doesn’t always mean they will write you a solid one. Ask your doctors and professors who you’re close to and on good terms with to write your letters of recommendation. They basically know you! They’ll have more things (good things hopefully) to say about you in their letter. If you ask someone who barely knows you, they will probably write you a generic letter of recommendation that he/she uses for any student, making your application just like their rec letter: generic.

➥ Pro tip: Have your resume and personal statement ready for your recommenders to read. This will give them more thorough understanding of you and more talking points in their recommendation letter. Also, give them enough time to write about you! The more time they have to think, the better the letter will be AND your application!

Alright you aspiring pre-opt students! I gave you the keys to build your application and hopefully yourself for optometry school. But it’s up to YOU to take the bull by the horns! Now, as you are about to finish reading this post, stop what you’re doing and think about where you’re at on your own optometric journey. Once you’ve figured that out,  plan out the rest of your journey so you can get into the optometry school of your dreams!