Meeting Minutes 9/12/19 Informational Meeting

Honored Representatives: J. Daxon Caudill

Important Key Points?

• Why Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO)?
  • It is located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, and the Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) is the only college of optometry in Kentucky. 
  • Students become part of a community of medical professionals providing vision care to those who need it most, and learn in an environment built with the future of optometry in mind. 
  • At KYCO, faculty, staff and administration embrace the expanded scope of optometric practice in Kentucky with unique clinical experiences and a challenging curriculum. 
  • KYCO students are afforded an abundance of rewarding clinical opportunities serving patients in need.
  • All equipment, textbooks, and technology are provided at no additional cost to students.
  • Students serve patients from the blindest region in the U.S. in community clinics and hospitals.
  • Practice with new and advanced equipment and technology in KYCO's innovative 103,000 square foot facility.
• What is needed to apply? 
  • Completed OptomCAS Application 
    • Submit all transcripts from undergraduate, post-baccalaureate and graduate programs attended only through OptomCAS.
      • Tip: Request transcripts be sent to OptomCAS early in the application process to ensure receipt prior to the application deadline.
  • Letters of Evaluation 
    • All have to be submitted by using OptomCAS
    • Although OptomCAS allows up to four letters of recommendation to be entered into the online application, KYCO requires and will only review two letters of recommendation.
      • One recommendation should be from a healthcare provider (preferably an O.D. who is a member of the AOA)
      • One recommendation should be from any of the following:
        • Pre-healthcare professional committee member
        • Pre-healthcare advisor
        • Science faculty member
  • Students are also required to take one of the following professional exams: 
    • Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
    • Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
    • Dental Admission Test (DAT)
    • Pharmacy Admission Test (PCAT) 
    • Information can be found at http://www.ada.org/en/oat.
  • Students must also submit Office Score Reports
    • Make sure to designate the Kentucky College of Optometry as an official OAT, MCAT, DAT or PCAT score recipient.
  • An essay for your application is not required, but if you desire to add one to your file, you may add it as an additional document when applying. Additionally, KYCO does not have a secondary application and charges no additional application fees beyond those charged directly by OptomCAS.
• How is the selection process? What are some things that Admissions looks for in their applicants?
  • In order to apply for admission to KYCO, each applicant must have: 
    • Successful completion of a minimum of 90 semester hours of college coursework from an accredited institution of higher learning; a grade of “C” or better must be achieved in all prerequisite courses
    • A recommended minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale
    • A recommended minimum overall Optometry Admission Test score of 300
  • At KYCO, the Admission Committee considers many factors in determining the students who will be selected for our program. They evaluate the following: 
    • Academic performance
    • Grade Point Average (GPA)
    • The results/scores of either the OAT, MCAT, DAT, or PCAT
    • Performance in Prerequisite Courses
    • Number of College credits completed and Degree Status
    • Personal Characteristics like: 
      • Character
      • Dedication to Service
      • Genuine Interest in Optometry
      • Interpersonal Skills
      • Leadership 
      • Motivation 
      • Work and Extracurricular Activities 
  • An important component of gauging these non-academic qualifications is through our interview process.
• Who can students get in contact with if they have questions? 
  • Information about the Honored Representative
    • J. Daxon Caudill, Senior Recruiter 
      • Email: daxoncaudill@upike.edu
      • Cell: (606) 422-1766
      • Direct Line: (606) 218-5309
      • For further information, please follow the link: https://www.upike.edu/optometry/

Honored Representative: David Parkinson

Important Key Points

• Why UAB School of Optometry?
  • They are a very urban campus that occupies almost 90 to 100 city blocks close to downtown Birmingham.
  • UAB has a huge hospital that helps offer multiple services. They also have a children’s hospital close by!
  • They are one of the few optometry schools that is part of an academic medical center. 
  • 62% of the students are out-of-state!
  • They see up to 22,000 patient visits annually!
  • They were ranked 2nd nationally in vision research funding in 2019! 
  • They are the only optometry school offering an OD/MBA dual degree program!
• School Information
  • Due to having integrated into an academic health center, classes typically have no more than 50 students. 
  • They offer graduate degrees in optometry, vision science, three dual degree programs (OD/MBA, OD/MPH, and OD/MS), and offer six affiliated residency programs for additional optometry training. 
  • They focus on teaching their students how to provide comprehensive, evidence-based eye care and help student’s think outside the box to help discover new principles of vision science. 
  • They admit a target class size of 50 highly qualified students each year, out of about 300 applicants. 
  • UAB School of Optometry has had about 1,154 students enroll in medical schools. 
  • The program to become a Doctor of Optometry is a four-year program. 
• What is the four year schedule for students? 
  • The typical four year curriculum for the OD degree begins with an emphasis on basic science, vision science, and transitions to clinical content. 
  • Students are introduced early to patients. As time goes by, the students get more and more patient responsibilities. 
  • In the final year, students tend to devote their entire academic timeframe to clinical rotations, both on-campus and off. 
    • Externships are very important in the final year. They help ensure that the student is exposed to a diverse amount of clinical experiences in order to be prepared for various cases.
  • All students are required to have coursework done in the following materials in order to properly complete the program: optics, neuroscience, gross anatomy, eye movements, public health optometry, glaucoma, pediatric optometry, contact lenses, low vision rehabilitation, and binocular vision. 
  • For specific course numbers and titles, please refer to the following link: https://www.uab.edu/optometry/home/academics/doctor-of-optometry/curriculum
    • UAB reserves the right to change the curriculum periodically to help ensure that students are gaining important knowledge that meets the demands of the profession. 
  • Other programs, such as the dual degree programs, function differently and thus can have different schedules than the OD degree program. Below is some basic information about each dual degree program: 
    • OD/MBA Program
      • Is offered with the UAB Collat School of Business
      • Allows students to understand the fundamental principles of both optometry and business coverage 
      • This program, which also has a four-year timeframe, starts students off with business courses in the summer prior to starting off optometry school. From then on, the rest of the business courses are completed in the remaining four years. 
    • OD/MPH Program
      • This program allows students to focus their MPH in any of the following areas: environmental health science, epidemiology, health behavior, health care organization. 
      • MPH focus courses may be scheduled to help suit the needs of the student. 
      • Some of the degrees offered are: 
        • MPH/MBA: Public Health/Business Administration
        • MPH/JD: Public Health/Juris Doctorate 
        • MPH/MD: Public Health/Medicine
        • MPH/PharmD: Public Health/Pharmacy
        • MPH/OD: Public Health/Optometry
        • MPH/DVM: Public Health/Veterinary Medicine
        • And many more! Here is a link to the full list, plus specific information for all of them: https://www.uab.edu/soph/home/graduate/programs/coordinated-degrees
    • OD/MS Program
      • This four-year program prepares students for careers that involve both clinical optometry and clinical and/or basic research in vision science. 
      • Made solely for students who have outstanding scholastic qualifications and are highly motivated to pursue careers as clinician-scientists!
      • Students must have a 3.0 GPA and be enrolled or accepted into the UAB School of Optometry professional degree program in order to join this degree program. 
      • Timing is very important in this degree program. The following is a simplified breakdown of what the first three years will hold:
        • Year One
        • Fall: Search for lab/mentor (3)
        • Spring: Search for lab/mentor and select by end of semester (3)
        • Summer: Select project by end of term and form graduate committee (3)
        • Year 2
        • Fall: Work on proposal (3)
        • Spring: Defend/present proposal (3)
        • Summer: Collect data (6)
        • Year 3:
        • Fall: Write thesis (4)
        • Spring: Write thesis (4)
        • Summer: Defend thesis (4)
    • Here is a link to the dual degree programs: https://www.uab.edu/optometry/home/academics/doctor-of-optometry/dual-degree-programs
• What is needed to apply? How much is tuition and other possible costs?
  • UAB College of Optometry has rolling admissions. 
  • Prospective students must have a minimum of 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours, prior to matriculation. 
  • All credit hour courses must be taken at a fully accredited institution and must be acceptable to that institution for major requirements.
  • Applicants must have completed all prerequisite courses needed with a grade of C or better. 
    • One year of biology with labs, one course of microbiology, one course of biochemistry, one year of general chemistry with labs, one course of organic chemistry with a lab, one year of physics with labs, one course of calculus, one course of statistics, one year of English, one course of psychology, one year of social and behavioral science
  • Most students admitted have an average GPA of 3.66. 
  • Prospective students must also take the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT).
    • It is suggested that the exam be taken during the spring/early summer of the year preceding anticipated application. 
    • It is not necessary to take the OAT before applying, but Admissions can not make a final decision without a set of scores. 
    • In order to go on into the interviewing process, students must have at least a 300 score. 
  • The student will need letters of recommendation or a composite evaluation.
    • If possible at the applicant’s undergraduate institution, a composite evaluation by a pre-health professions advisory committee is preferred. 
    • If a composite evaluation can not be obtained, three letters of recommendation will be fine. Two should be from faculty members, or professors, who understand your academic skills and strengths. The last letter should be from an optometrist whom the student has shadowed. 
  • Prospective students must also submit transcripts of all courses taken at colleges and universities. 
    • The transcripts must be forwarded to OptomCAS by the institution, not by the student. 
    • Supplementary transcripts must also be forwarded to OptomCAS following completion of courses not included on the original transcripts. 
  • For out-of-state students, the cost of attendance for the 2019-2020 year was approximately $54,012 if no merit financial aid is applied; if students have at least a 3.4 GPA or a 300+ score on the OAT, tuition can decrease all the way to $38,012
  • For in-state students, the cost of attendance for the 2019-2020 year was approximately $27,039.
  • There are multiple scholarships available to help lower the cost of tuition for all students. 
    • Ex. Health Professions Scholarship Program and the Armed Forces Scholarship
    • For questions about scholarships specifically for optometry students, students can contact the Optometry School Student Affairs
• What are some things that Admissions look for in their applicants?
  • Admissions look at the following characteristics: 
    • Scholastic Aptitude/Performance
      • Admissions wants to see that the student is able to take in a large amount of knowledge and be able to apply it to real life situations. 
      • They also want to make sure the student maintains or improves in performance as they make progress in a program. 
    • Extracurricular Activities
      • Admissions wants to see that the student was reasonably involved in extracurricular activities. 
      • They also like to see that the student was involved in community service projects and displayed leadership qualities in some organizations. 
    • Optometry-Related Experience
      • They want to see that the student has completed at least 50 hours of shadowing/volunteer experience or paid employment in an optometry workplace. 
    • Personality, Character, and Motivation
      • Admissions want to get to know the student! 
      • UAB wants students that have personal and social traits because those traits are just as important as having intellectual characteristics. 
      • Admissions looks for those three traits in the letters of recommendation. 
• UAB Student Life
  • There are at least 348 student organizations on campus, and six specifically attractive for the optometry students. 
    • Ex. Beta Sigma Kappa, American Optometric Student Association, Student Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity, and more!
• UAB Faculty
  • Various faculty members are recognized internationally in optometry, vision science and in teaching styles. 
  • Faculty has written more than 30 textbooks!
  • Most classes have up to 50 students, each with a faculty mentor. 
• Who can students get in contact with if they have questions?
  • Honored Representative: David Parkinson
    • Student Recruiter 
    • dep@uab.edu
    • (205) 975 - 0739
  • Other Representatives for the Optometry Program at UAB
    • Gerald Simon, OD
      • Director, Student Affairs
      • gsimonod@uab.edu
      • (205) 996 - 4923
    • Reginald Kinsey, MPA
      • Administrative Support Specialist
      • kinseyr@uab.edu
      • (205) 975 - 0739
    • Connie Wright
      • Program Manager
      • cswright@uab.edu
    • (205) 975 - 0739

Honored Representatives: Kait Guthrie and Eurie Nam

Important Key Points

• Why Berkeley College of Optometry?
  • They emphasize immediate focus on OD training.
  • They offer comprehensive clinical training.
  • They have an outstanding student body and incredible faculty and staff members.
  • They offer a multitude of research opportunities
  • In 2019, they had a graduation rate of 91.3%.
• School Information
  • They are a four year institution.
  • They admit approximately 66 students each year.
  • They focus on having a combination of didactic coursework along with clinical training for their students.
  • They offer more clinical field courses rather than university stereotype research
  • Berkeley doesn’t emphasize past coursework, meaning they don’t focus so much on overviews of coursework → They understand that students did the work and now they have to put it to work. Students should already know the fundamentals! 
• What is the four-year schedule for students? What will happen after graduation?
  • First Year
    • Pre-clinical training begins on day one
    • More than 180 hours and clinic observations are done
  • Second Year 
    • Team patient care starts
      • Attending is there with four other students and the patient is relying on the students primarily.
      • In the spring semester, students will be divided into pairs for more responsibilities → Students will be eased into this.
    • 1:1 patient care begins in the summer after the second year
      • In the second year, as a team care unit, an average of 6 complete patient care examinations take place.
    • A business class can also be taken this year or the upcoming year
  • Third Year 
    • Clinic time is increased: 3 to 5 days are spent in direct patient care
    • More than 500 patient encounters are done and more than 50% of time spent by the student is in the clinic
      • In the summer of the third year, an average of 20 complete patient care examinations take place.
  • Fourth Year
    • Clinic Rotations Begin: in house, satellite clinics and externship locations 
      • Rotations begin during the summer after the third year and are done heavily in the fourth year
      • Rotations are based on what the student is interested in, meaning they are not given/scheduled based on GPA or class rank 
    • More than 2,000 patient encounters are done per student
    • Diverse patient populations and clinical encounters take place 
  • A more in-depth look at the curriculum can be found following this link: https://optometry.berkeley.edu/academics/curriculum/
  • After Graduation
    • 50% of respondents completing a residency (in-house) program have an 80% placement rate 
    • 40% of respondents end up in accepted positions in a private practice or an OD/ophthalmology practice
    • 7% of respondents end up in accepted positions in a corporate setting
    • Students have moved to 48 states for employment → yes, many students stay in California but many end up all over the nation
• What is needed to apply? How much is tuition and other possible costs?
  • For the application, you must: 
    • Complete Three Essays
    • Have Three Letters of Recommendation (one from an optometrist, another from a supervisor, and one from a professor) (they won’t read more than three letters) 
    • Have One Standard Test (the test can be the OAT, MCAT, PCAT, DAT, or the GRE)
    • Have Official Transcripts Ready
    • Have Extracurriculars 
    • Be Ready with the Supplemental Fee (it is approximately $66) 
    • There is no set minimum or maximum requirement for shadowing hours but a good number would be about 60 shadowing hours → Be diverse in your shadowing experience!
  • Other Requirements for Admission
    • You must have a Bachelor's Degree (by the time of matriculation).
    • Prerequisites coursework must be completed. 
      • Note: Berkeley does ask for an immunology course to be taken in a student’s undergraduate career
  • For out-of-state students, the cost of attendance for the 2019-2020 year was approximately $50,139 → this was the approximate total for the fall and spring semesters combined 
  • For in-state students, the cost of attendance for the 2019-2020 year was approximately $38,452 → this was the approximate total for the fall and spring semesters combined 
  • Another cost that students need to take into consideration are summer sessions, which are taken in the second and third year of the program. The cost of attendance for summer sessions, which involve students registering for 10 credit units in 2020 was $5,622 
    • The summer sessions total was the same for out-of-state and in-state students in 2020
  • Other Possible Yearly Expenses
    • $17,332 for Housing
    • $7,902 for Food
    • $4,000 - $6,000 on Books/Supplies (some supplies can be used even after graduation)
    • $2,678 on Personal Expenses
    • $3,110 on Transportation
  • Fee Reductions do exist and help many students 
    • After the 1st year, students can become a California resident and pay in-state tuition
    • Health insurance (if applicable) can help students save $2,300 a semester 
    • In Absentia Registration allows students the chance to save up to approximately $6,000 for a semester
    • There are also many scholarships and fellowships available to students 
• What are some things that Admissions look for in their applicants?
  • They look for a vast amount of characteristics, both quantitative and qualitative. 
  • Quantitative Characteristics 
    • Cumulative GPA → the highest admitted are students with a 4.0, but the lowest admitted seen has been a 2.67
    • BCP GPA (Science Coursework GPA) → the high can be a 4.0; the lowest seen has been a 2.71
    • OAT AA → the high can be a 400 and the lowest seen was a 290
    • The numbers above help Admissions understand if you will be successful if admitted. Make sure you aim high!!!
  • Qualitative Characteristics 
    • Berkeley wants students that have experience and knowledge in the field of optometry.
    • They look at personal statements and letters of recommendation .
    • They want to see that students engage in activities and have high achievements.
    • If the student has special academic conditions or considerations, such as a gap year, they want to hear the student explain why those conditions are present → Be ready to explain!
    • Prospective students will go through interviews (usually the student interviews with one faculty member). Prepare!
    • Lastly, they want to know what the student has done in their life up to that point.
• Berkeley Student Life
  • Students are considered some of the brightest and most talented individuals 
    • They all contain very diverse backgrounds, interests, skills and aptitudes
  • Students tend to have possess leadership skills and initiative 
  • Students are committed to patient care and love to emphasize a culture of collaboration and support.
  • Students engage in:
    • Fellowships
    • Travel to provide patient care in different areas around the globe
      • There are opportunities to help provide care in China, Nicaragua, Japan and more!
    • Travel to patient homes and provide care too!
• Berkeley Faculty 
  • They have a faculty to student ratio of 1:4. 
  • Berkeley faculty members lead the way in numbers and in dollar quantity in regards to the amount of research grants.
  • Many clinical faculty members have outside positions that broaden their experiments and knowledge.
  • Faculty are always actively conducting clinical trials and research.
• How can you visit Berkeley?
  • There are Friday visitation programs 
    • The three hour program features a tour of the school, tour of the clinics, and a chance to shadow first-year students in the labs!
  • There is also a camp, called Opto-Camp in which prospective students can get involved in!
    • More information about the camp: https://optometry.berkeley.edu/admissions/opto-camp/
• Who can students get in contact with if they have questions? 
  • Information about the Honored Representatives
  • Kait Guthrie 
    • Helps with academic, financial, and 1st year connection advising 
    • Email: kait.guthrie@berkeley.edu
  • Eurie Nam
    • Helps with admissions and student affairs
    • Email: eurie.n@berkeley.edu

Honored Representatives: Shanae Johnson

Important Key Points

• Why Pennsylvania College of Optometry?
  • They house leading hospitals, academic medical centers for clinical practice, and more. 
  • They are located at the center of the Northeast Metropolitan corridor. They are close to D.C, New York, Baltimore, and New Jersey beaches.
  • They were founded in 1919 as the nation’s first non-profit, independent College of Optometry.
  • Interesting fact: the word “Salus” is the latin word for health and well-being!
• School Information
  • They place a focus on having an innovative curriculum to reflect an evolving profession.
    • Emphasize small group learning experiences
    • Introduce visual systems and The Eye Institute in the first semester of the first year
    • Increased focus on neurology and managing traumatic injuries
  • They try to give students early exposure to patients and integrative primary eye care by offering early clinical experiences.
  • They have an array of facilities available for their students. 
    • The Eye Institute
      • It is about 10 minute drive from campus
      • Helps care for a diverse population of patients - from infants to the elderly 
      • Approximately 43,000 patients visit each year at the Oak Lake location, compared to approximately 85,000 patient visits per year across all 4 facilities
        • Patient visits include screenings and visits to the optical department. 
      • Students are introduced to the institute during the first semester of the first year. In the second year, students are expected to complete modules involving clinical problem solving. 
    • The Virtual Reality Lab
      • The virtual lab is one of many new introductions to Salus made in recent years. 
      • The lab features state-of-the-art VRmagic equipment that helps students practice how to conduct examinations.
      • The lab includes eight stations for indirect ophthalmoscopy and four for direct stations for ophthalmoscopy.
      • This lab is also great for students to learn in groups, which allows students to review and better understand the concepts being learned
    • The Clinical Procedures Lab
      • This lab holds a huge capacity to help students. It has multiple stations that each have the equipment that would be used by a practicing optometrist
      • This lab is used to help students ease into their transition into working at the Eye Institute. 
      • The lab also includes 34 fully-equipped optometric bays, video camera slit lamps for demonstration, and mounted live feed video camera for learning purposes. 
    • Learning Resource Center (Library)
      • This center has a coffee/tea bar, collaborative study rooms, areas for individual studying, 20 public desktop computers, and a 50 person classroom. There is also access to printers in this center. 
      • The center also includes multiple health science journals and other printed materials that can be provided to the students to help with their academics and research. 
• What is the four-year schedule for students? 
  • There are several different programs that each have different schedules. 
    • Traditional Program
      • Four-year degree program 
      • Includes early clinical experience, extensive externships, small group learning experiences, traditional semester breaks, and a curriculum where you apply knowledge from lecture in the lab and then later with the patients
      • This program can be enhanced by choosing to take advanced courses and by involving some characteristics of the residency program. 
      • Follow this link for a Curriculum Overview: https://www.salus.edu/ODtraditional-curriculum.aspx
    • Accelerated Scholars Program
      • Accredited 36-month campus-based program
      • Starts on July 1st and students earn the same credit equivalency as the students taking the traditional program
      • This program emphasizes guided independent learning, case-based learning, and online and web enhanced instruction. 
      • Follow this link for a Curriculum Overview: https://www.salus.edu/Colleges/Optometry/Doctor-of-Optometry-%e2%80%93-Accelerated-Scholars-Program/Curriculum-Overview.aspx
    • International Optometry Programs
      • Has an advance placement option
      • Some countries worth noting are Saudi Arabia and China
      • This program specializes in helping with the improvement of optometry practice standards, advancement and improvement of optometric legislation, and advancement and improvement of optometry’s role as a primary health care profession. 
    • Residency Programs
      • Is offered at The Eye Institute
      • In-House Programs include: Primary Eye Care/Ocular Disease, Pediatric Optometry/Vision Therapy, Low Vision Rehabilitation, and more
      • The application pool is very competitive but the program is highly regarded and recognized. 
    • Here is a link to all the programs: https://www.salus.edu/Colleges/Optometry.aspx
      • Here is a link comparing the Traditional and Accelerated Programs: https://www.salus.edu/News/News-Stories/Which-to-Choose-Traditional-vs-Accelerated-Schol.aspx
• What is needed to apply? How much is tuition and other possible costs?
  • The application process can differ between the traditional program and the accelerated scholars program.
    • Traditional Application Process
      • Processing of applications begins at the end of June.
      • The application that students need to submit is the Optometry Centralized Application (otherwise known as OptomCAS).
      • Students must have between 90 to 135 credit hours from an accredited institution.
      • 3 Letters of Recommendation are needed → make sure they are diverse!
      • They would like a minimum of 25 shadowing hours. 
      • They accept OAT and GRE scores → try to take the exams prior to June first!
        • It is recommended that students score a 300 or above in each section of the OAT.
        • It is recommended that students are at or around 50% percentile in each section in the GRE.
        • Each exam must be taken within two years of submitting the OptomCAS application.
      • All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of C or higher 
    • Accelerated Scholars Program
      • Students must indicate interest in the OptomCAS application.
      • Students must have a bachelor's degree.
      • 3 Letters of Recommendation are needed → make sure they are diverse!
      • All prerequisites coursework must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
      • They accept the OAT, but not the GRE.
        • It is recommended that students score a 330 or above in each section. 
      • The recommended GPA is 3.5 or higher.
      • Students interested in this program should have at least 100 hours of experience in the healthcare field (can be volunteered or paid). 
  • Tuition can also  differ based on which program a student chooses. Here are some approximations for either: 
    • Tuition: $42,150
    • Student Service Fees: $380/year
    • Laboratory Fee: $85/term
    • Technology Fee: $160/term
  • There are loan options available, as well as scholarships and fellowship opportunities
  • There is no on-campus housing, so students will need to consider those expenses too. The Office of Student Affairs can help with finding affordable housing.
• Student Life at Salus
  • There are many clubs and organizations that students can get involved with.  
  • There are two Honor Societies that are involved with optometry.
  • There are eight student organizations dedicated to optometry solely. 
    • Ex. Contact Lens Club, College of OPtometrists in Vision Development (COVD), American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), and more.
  • There are also two service organizations, the Lions Club and the Student Optometric Service to Humanity (SOSH). 
  • Admitted students can also get involved in the Salus Student Council!
• How can prospective students visit Salus?
  • Students who are interested can submit pre-application forms so that Salus can help assist students with planning their career.
  • During visits, students can have their undergraduate transcripts assessed and Salus staff can help discuss future courses that can be taken in the student’s current program of choice. 
  • Also, the admissions staff will help students in understanding the “rolling admissions” process, and they can help address financial questions. 
• Who can students get in contact with if they have questions?
  • Contact Information for the Admissions office is below: 
    • Phone number: 800-824-6262
    • Local: 215-780-1301
    • Fax: 215-780-1336
    • Email: admissions@salus.edu
    • Address: 8360 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027
• Link to the presentation powerpoint: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/2/#search/pennsylvania/KtbxLzGHdGWQfDTjQVMdtlKFHgnHSDpDHg?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1

Honored Representatives: Dr. Joseph H. Hauser and Dr. Bill Ballinger

Important Key Points?

• Why Southern College of Optometry (SCO)?
  • They have a low 9:1 student to faculty ratio.
  • They have cutting edge technology and interactive instructional methods. 
  • They have some of the highest academic standards, as well as a personal commitment to servicing the community. 
  • They are the largest optometry school in the south! They are approximately two to three miles away from downtown!
  • They offer instructional methods that help students take advantage of the vast amount of technological resources available. 
    • They offer the usage of Tegrity, a comprehensive classroom recording system that records class so students can rewatch lectures. 
  • They place a huge emphasis on putting their students into clinics early on.
  • Current students and faculty offer a family feel on campus and love to represent their school. 
• School Information
  • SCO offers a four-year curriculum that helps students learn the necessary components to earn a Doctor of Optometry (O.D) Degree. 
  • SCO has state-of-the-art facilities to help students with as many resources as possible to aid in their learning experiences. 
    • Some facilities they have are biomedical labs, renovated optometry labs, laser instruction, and biomedical and clinical research areas. 
    • They also have an Activity Center that features basketball, volleyball, and racquetball courts. The center also has fitness equipment, aerobics, and a recreation area. The center is free to use!
  • They also have a specialized center for eye care called The Eye Center.
    • The Eye Center offers examination rooms with electronic health record management systems, 14 individual spaces for advanced technology-based testing, a retinal laser center, conference rooms for group learning, a patient simulation lab, practice suites, and more. 
      • The center helps provide students the opportunity to be introduced to clinical exposure early. 
  • They also have a mobile eye service, called MobilEYES, that helps take service care directly to patients across the community. 
• What is the four-year schedule for students? What will happen after graduation?
  • First Year
    • Students are often given schedules that can be rigorous, but they help students review some undergrad subjects and learn new knowledge.
    • During this year, students will be expected to learn how to do a retinoscopy exam, determine a patient’s prescription, look at the optic disc at the back of the eye, examine presbyopic patients, and much more.
  • Second Year
    • During the second year, you have to take a summer minimester prior to taking courses during the fall and spring semesters. 
    • In the second year, students will be able to observe different forms of patient care in the clinic.
    • Students will have labs after lecture frequently to help with learning new information. 
    • Students will also get the opportunity to interact with the MobiEYES clinic. 
  • Third Year
    • Prior to the fall and spring semesters, students have to take some courses for an entire summer semester. 
    • Students are in the clinic at least three days a week and begin to see their own patients.
    • Classroom lecture is given roughly around 8AM to 10AM every morning, with lab or clinic hours following afterwards (lab is only twice a week - one “free” day)
    • Clinic assignments are assigned the other three days students are not in lecture. 
      • Clinic days are divided into: one day in optical, one day in Adult Primary Care, and another day in rotations. 
    • National Boards are a HUGE component for third year students. 
      • Student Blog about National Boards: https://www.sco.edu/student-life-blogs/posts/boards-part-1-is-done
  • Fourth Year
    • Prior to the fall and spring semesters, students have to take courses for an entire summer semester again. 
    • Overall, the fourth year is concentrated in doing lots of rotations. It is also mainly off-campus.
    • It is typically divided into three semesters: summer, fall, and spring. Each semester deals with one specific set of rotations that each are about four months long. 
      • One rotation has to be at The Eye Center at SCO, one in a private practice environment, and another in a more hospital-like environment. 
  • After Graduation
    • At SCO, they offer a comprehensive placement service to their graduates. 
    • They also offer career counseling, which begins in the first year and continues all the way to the end of the fourth year. 
    • They also offer an online placement service listing. Students who use this service typically receive four to six practice opportunities. 
  • SCO has student blogs that really help reflect their schedules and their academic experiences. Here is a link to the blogs: https://www.sco.edu/student-life-blogs
  • For a better understanding of how much each semester will have courseload-wise, please follow this link to the curriculum: https://www.sco.edu/curriculum
• What is needed to apply? How much is tuition and other possible costs? 
  • In order for students to apply, they must have: 
    • Official transcripts from all colleges attended - sent in by using OptomCAS
    • Two letters of recommendation - sent in by using OptomCAS
      • One from a Pre-Health advisor or a Natural Science professor
      • One from a Doctor of Optometry who the student has shadowed
    • Official OAT scores which must have been administered by the application deadline - these are also sent in by using OptomCAS
    • Money to pay the SCO supplemental application and fee (it is typically $50)
    • Certification of State Residency 
  • Acceptance also depends on the following criteria:
    • Competitive undergraduate academic performance
    • Competitive scores on the OAT
    • Admission Interview
    • Amount of direct exposure/experience in diverse optometry settings
    • Factors such as motivation and goals, professionalism, communication skills, consistency in achievement, and extracurricular activities 
  • Prerequisites that are required include:
    • At least one year of college level English courses
    • One course in calculus
    • An introductory course in statistics
    • One year of of college-level general biology or zoology plus one course in microbiology or bacteriology (each course should have appropriate lab work) 
    • One year of inorganic (general) chemistry and one course in organic chemistry, 
    • One course in either biochemistry or molecular biology (neither have to have a lab) 
    • One year of general physics (with appropriate lab work) 
    • One level of general or introductory psychology 
    • One year of courses in any social sciences
  • The cost of attendance for non-regional students for the 2020-2021 academic year is $38,292. 
    • Students from the states of Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia are able to apply to become regional students. 
      • For the states of Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina, the regional tuition for the 2020-2021 academic year is $19,092. 
    • To become a regional student, the student must be a bona fide student of that state and be certified by the appropriate state authority. 
  • Because SCO is a private institution, students that do not officially reside in Tennessee at the time of submitting the application can NOT at any point during enrollment change their residency information to receive in-state tuition. 
  • There are many scholarships and awards available to lower student costs. 
    • Approximately $550,000 was scheduled to be awarded to the entering class of 2019 through the endowed scholarship fund. 
    • In 2019, five students received $20,000, ten students received $15,000, fifteen students received $10,000, ten students received $7,000, ten students received $5,000, and another ten students received between $1,000 to $4,000 in annual scholarship aid. 
  • Other expenses could include: 
    • Textbooks: approximately $770 for the first year
    • Equipment: $2,790 approximately for the first year
    • Required Fees: $405
  • Housing 
    • There are multiple options available for student housing. 
    • The Office of Student Services helps students in searching for appropriate housing. 
    • There is also a roommate search available, as well as a housing fair that is held each spring. 
    • Contact information for the Office of Student Services is available. To contact them, the appropriate number is (800) 238 - 0180. 
  • Statistical Numbers based on the entering class of 2019
    • Total Applied: 762 Total Accepted: 135
      
    • Mean Overall GPA: 3.69
    • Mean Prerequisite GPA: 3.55
    • Mean OAT: 336
    • Regional Students: 43
    • Non-Regional Students: 92
    • Minority Students: 36
    • Age Range: 21-34
    • Students that had a Bachelor’s degree or higher: 135
    • Male Students: 39
    • Female Students: 96
    • Single: 117
    • Married: 18
    • Mean Age: 23.1
    • States Represented: 31
      
  • If accepted, students will have to go through an interview process. 
    • Interviews are one-on-one with a SCO faculty member and will cover topics in optometry, academics, and extracurricular activities. 
      • They also want students to talk, tell stories, speak about their own unique experiences in the interviews!
    • The interviews are “blind” interviews, meaning that the faculty member does not have access to the applicants’ files. 
    • After the interview(s), the student will go through sessions that will cover the applicants’ file, financial aid and housing, and the student will also be given a tour of the campus.
      
• What are some things that Admissions looks for in their applicants? 
  • They want to see a multitude of things.
  • Since they have rolling admission, they want to see that students submit their application early.
    • Earlier applicants get recognized first and are among the first to hear back. Make sure you have your OAT and GPA ready to send in early!
  • They want applying students to send in all supporting documents as soon as possible.
  • Although it’s not a requirement for admission, they like to see students with Bachelor’s degrees.
  • SCO Admissions want students to become familiar with the Optometry profession. They would like to see students talk with multiple optometrists, shadow diverse environments, read optometric journals and other professional literature, and conduct their own research about the profession. 
    • Shadow both rural and suburban optometrists!
  • Volunteer or service work is highly encouraged. This can help show leadership characteristics and skills. 
  • While having a high GPA and high OAT scores is important, SCO works on a sliding scale. This means that if a student has a high GPA, but low OAT scores (or vice versa), they will still be considered fairly. 
  • Students are encouraged to research the college, as well as optometry, before going to interviews and to ask questions during the interview itself. 
• Student Life
  • Approximately 90% of SCO students are active members in at least one student organization. 
  • Student government helps oversee intramural programs that are open to all students, faculty, and staff. Some sports include basketball, softball, golf, flag, football, racquetball, and volleyball. 
  • There are at least 22 student organizations on campus. 
    • Ex. Beta Sigma Kappa, Contact Lens Society, Remote Area Medical, National Optometric Student Association, Student Volunteers in Optometric Service (SVOSH)
    • For in-depth descriptions about each student organization available, please follow this link: https://www.sco.edu/student-organizations#:~:text=Low%20Vision%20Club,Omega%20Delta%20%E2%80%93%20social%20fraternity
• Faculty
  • SCO faculty want their students to succeed. 
  • Many faculty members are easily accessible for one-on-one classroom and/or clinical instruction. 
  • Faculty members love to engage in many research projects. They also enjoy working in collaborative summer research programs with the students. 
  • Faculty members help push student classroom experiences by contributing to basic and visual science literature and research. 
• How can students visit SCO?
  • Campus tours are great ways to meet up with admissions officers and what the school is like prior to beginning optometry school. 
  • SCO recommends that students try to attend a year or two prior to when they would like to apply. 
  • Tours of SCO are done by the SCO Student Ambassadors. 
    • Tours are done Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 4:30PM by appointment only. 
  • If a student would like to schedule an appointment with an admissions officer, they should contact the Office of Student Services. 
    • Office of Student Services
      • Phone Number: (800) 238 - 0180 or (901) 722 - 3224
      • Email: admissions@sco.edu
      • Website for further information: https://www.sco.edu/visit-sco
• Who can students get in contact with if they have any questions? 
  • Information about the Honored Representative
    • Dr. Joseph H. Hauser, M.B.A: Vice President of Student Services
      • Email: jhauser@sco.edu
    • Dr. Bill Ballinger
      • Email: whb3@jervey.com
  • For further information about Student Services: please follow the link: https://www.sco.edu/contact-student-services

Click here to see the NSU Presentation that was shared with the Club for this meeting! 

Click here to see the Berkeley Slides Presentation that was shared with the club for this meeting! 

Click here to see the Kentucky College of Optometry Slides Presentation that was shared with the club for this meeting!

Click here to see the Southern California College of Optometry Slides Presentation that was shared with the club for this meeting!

Click here to see the Southern College of Optometry Slides Presentation that was shared with the club for this meeting!

Click here to see the University of Houston College of Optometry Slides Presentation that was shared with the club for this meeting!

Click here to see the Allied Health Roundtable: Virtual Interview Tips Presentation done by Clemson University's Alpha Epsilon Delta! 

Click here to see Western University's College of Optometry Slides Presentation that was shared with the club for this meeting!

Click here to see New England College of Optometry's Presentation that was shared with the club for this meeting!