OPTSTUDENT.COM - Undergrad Prep: Applications

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	Undergrad Prep Learn the steps of becoming a successful optometry school applicant!
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Undergrad Prep:
- A Typical Timeline
- Undergrad Focus
1) Academics and OAT
2) LORs
3) Shadowing
4) Extracurriculars
- Applications
- Interviewing

Application Time
Applying to optometry school is almost as time consuming as taking a class. Even worse – there is no centralized application service. So you’ll probably find yourself inputting the very same information for each school…yes, it’s more tedious than watching grass grow, but just remember that your pre-optometry peers are doing the same exact thing too.

When to Apply
Repeat these two words with me in a mantra: APPLY EARLY!!! Trust me, you are at a HUGE advantage if you do so. Applications for the next year’s entering class are usually available during the summer, and you can apply online.

Where to Apply
There are only 17 optometry schools in the U.S. For a full list, go to http://www.opted.org/info_links.cfm. And as far as I know, there is no “official” ranking of optometry schools (i.e. U.S. News and World Report). However, some people like to compare schools by looking at the board exam pass rates. I don’t know of any reliable source that compares all of the data, so just look around in each of the schools’ websites and compare the rates that way.

The Application File
The optometry application process usually requires only one application, unlike med school, which has secondaries. A complete application file typically has the following items:

The completed application, either paper or online
Personal statement and/or essay questions
Undergrad transcript(s)
Letters of recommendation (some schools require a form to accompany the letter)
OAT scores (submitted directly to the school per your request on the OAT application)
An application fee (range from $31-$75)

Some schools (e.g. SUNY) require high school transcripts and SAT scores as well, so pay close attention to the application requirements.

Essay Questions
Most schools require you to answer essay questions as part of the application. Along with the personal statement, the essay questions give you an opportunity to stand out, particularly if your academics and OAT score are only average. My school’s advising site has a list of sample application essay questions of some optometry schools:
http://advisingservices.ucdavis.edu/advising/hsa/handouts/sample_essay_questions_preoptometry.html

Writing the Personal Statement
The personal statement, again, is a good place to stand out above your peers. This is more of a reason to put a lot of effort into writing it; I personally started writing it as early as my Junior year. Starting the personal statement early is also handy because you can give it to an LOR writer to help them with ideas. My school’s advising website contains great tips on writing your personal statement:
http://advisingservices.ucdavis.edu/advising/hsa/handouts/writing_personal_statement_application_health_
profession_school.html

Here are some points of my own that I think are important:
First, I've read dozens of personal statements as a writing tutor, and I almost always see an excessive use of generalized words. Example of a generalized sentence: "I know I can face the challenges of optometry school because I can balance school and work very well." If you truly want to be different, every paragraph in your personal statement should have specifics, including:

Names of people
Names of organizations you were involved with
Specific places
Numbers/statistics
Dates (at least the month or school term)

Example of a specific sentence: "I know I can face the rigorous demands of optometry school because I was able to maintain a X GPA on top of working X hours a week as a writing tutor."

Second, make your personal statement clear and easy to read! I cannot overemphasize this enough! Admissions committees are reading hundreds of these letters and they will be exhausted. You are doing them a favor if your statement is coherently written...but I'm not saying to write at a grade school level though. Also, if you do know anything about writing, avoid passive voice as much as possible because this tends to make reading your statement very tedious!!! Trust me on this – many people do this often!

What is "passive voice?" In very rough terms, just avoid using any form of the "to be" verb (is, are, was, were, etc.) They are very weak verbs. Scan your essay and try to reword the sentences that have those "to be" verbs. You don't have to avoid them entirely, but just use them sparingly.

Third, fireworks need to be shooting out of your concluding statements! You really need to emphasize that the optometry school NEEDS you or otherwise they would be at a great loss without you. Remember, a personal statement is pretty much an advertisement that needs to grab the admission committee's attention. You are literally trying to "sell" yourself to them!

Lastly: PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD! I submitted an essay to NOVA and discovered a major typo in it afterwards. Have your friends read it over; sometimes student advising offices offer a personal statement review service, so look into that too.