Preoptometry students must complete 80 semester hours of preprofessional courses prior to admission to optometry school. In addition to the courses in the preprofessional concentration, preoptometry students should also take English Composition (6 cr), Humanities (8 cr), Behavioral Science (8 cr) and Statistics (2 cr). Most preoptometry students receive a B.S. in biology prior to entering optometry school.
Optometry Admissions Test
All schools and colleges of optometry in the United States and Canada require the Optometry College Admission Test (OAT).
The OAT consists of four tests: Quantitative Reasoning, survey of the Natural Sciences (biology, general chemistry,
and organic chemistry), reading comprehension, and Physics. The OAT is administered locally at Wayne State University.
The test dates this year will be February 1 and October 25, 1997. Students are advised to take the OAT in the spring of their junior year. Some
students retake the OAT in the fall semester, thus getting two opportunities to take the OAT exam while submitting applications to school. Applications for
the OAT can be obtained from Dr. Keith A. Berven or by contacting:
Optometry Admission Testing Program
211 E. Chicago Ave. - Suite 1846
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
(312) 440-2693
Application Procedures
Beginning optometry students are admitted in the fall term only, so applications should be submitted in the summer following the junior year or one year prior to anticipated enrollment. Applications for optometry schools can be obtained by contacting each school directly. Addresses of Schools and Colleges of Optometry can be found in the OAT application material, or from Dr. Keith A. Berven.
Obtaining a Committee Letter of Recommendation for Optometry School
Preoptometry students should visit with Dr. Keith A. Berven, Preprofessional Advisor, in his/her sophomore year and initiate the process for his/her evaluation by the Preprofessional Advisory Committee. The professional schools prefer to receive an overall evaluation from O.U. concerning each undergraduate health sciences professional school applicant. Each student will be provided recommendation forms for evaluations by his/her professors. These letters of recommendation along with an autobiographical essay, transcripts of all undergraduate work, and scores from OAT will be used by the professional committee to prepare a committee letter. The committee letter will be kept on file until requested by the optometry admissions committees.
In-State Optometry School
Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University
1310 Cramer Circle
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(616) 592-2100
www.ferris.edu
Additional Preoptometry Information:
