Memphis, TN: The Bluff City

Memphis, TN is SCO’s hometown and the secret behind why our student experience is so enjoyable. A big city with a small-town feel, Memphis has one of the lowest costs of living in the nation. This allows our students to enjoy many of the things a major metropolis has to offer, yet at an affordable price.

Music

Sitting on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, Memphis is known for its rich musical heritage. SCO students have many opportunities to enjoy the sounds of Memphis and visit historical and cultural hubs such as:

• Graceland, the home of Elvis.

• Beale Street, birthplace of rock ‘n roll.

• Numerous musical clubs ranging from blues to gospel.

• An array of music festivals throughout the year.

Culture

Memphis is world-renowned for its culture. The Memphis in May International Festival, the city’s premier cultural experience, annually hosts and celebrates another country’s culture, music and cuisine. This festival also sponsors the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and the Beale Street Music Festival. Memphis features several unique and award-winning museums, such as the acclaimed National Civil Rights Museum. Memphis also hosts a diverse range of touring musicians, performers and Broadway productions at the historic Orpheum Theatre, in addition to our very own Ballet Memphis, Opera Memphis, the Collage Dance Collective and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. The city is also home to a great selection of locallyowned restaurants with a broad range of cuisines, most of which are well within a student’s budget.

Conveniently, many of these attractions are located in or near the city’s rejuvenated Downtown area, just minutes from SCO.

Family Friendly

Students with families find Memphis a great place to live. Because the city offers such a low cost of living in a reasonable housing market, about 10% of SCO students are able to own a home. The city is also home to the wonderful Children’s Museum and the Memphis Zoo and Aquarium, both of which offer family discounts.

Memphis features several immersive shopping venues, including one of the largest retail stores in the world, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid. The massive destination experience offers something for everyone, from serious outdoor enthusiasts to fun-loving families.

Sports

The Memphis sports scene is very active. The city is home to several professional teams and tournaments, such as:

• The Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

• The Memphis Redbirds (AAA Baseball)

• The 901FC Soccer Team (USL Championship)

• The FedEx St. Jude Invitational (WGC)

If you prefer college sports, the city not only has the University of Memphis, but it is also in the heart of the Southeastern Conference.

Many of these major sporting events are held at either the FedEx Forum or AutoZone Park –voted one of the best baseball venues in America – both centrally located in Downtown Memphis.

Due to the moderate weather we have in Memphis, our students enjoy all of the music, culture, sports and outdoor activities this city has to offer year-round.

3.69 |

Admissions

SCO participates in the centralized application service known as OptomCAS. The service collects student information, official transcripts, Optometry Admission Test (OAT) scores and letters of recommendation, then forwards them directly to optometry schools. SCO accepts applications June 30 through March 1 of each year; however, applying in the early stages of the cycle is strongly encouraged. SCO utilizes a rolling admissions process and offers of acceptance begin in August.

or university. Strong preference is given to applicants with baccalaureate or higher degrees. The required pre-requisite courses are as follows:

• General Biology w/Labs (1 year)

• Microbiology w/Lab  (1 course)

• General Chemistry w/Labs (1 year)

• Organic Chemistry w/Lab (1 course)

• Biochemistry (1 course)

• General Physics w/Labs (1 year)

• Calculus (1 course)

• Statistics (1 course)

• General Psychology  (1 course)

• Social Science (1 year)

• English (1 year)

SCO requires a minimum of two letters of recommendation: one from a pre-health advisor or natural science professor, and one from a non-relative optometrist with whom the applicant has worked or shadowed. OptomCAS accepts up to four letters of recommendation, but be sure these two are among those submitted.

Before an interview invitation can be extended, SCO must receive all application and supplemental documents, as well as the official OAT scores. Interview invitations are only extended to the most promising applicants based on academic performance, OAT scores and experience in optometry.

A minimum of 90 semester (or 135 quarter) hours of undergraduate work is required for admission, with at least 30 semester (or 45 quarter) hours completed at a four-year college

For the 2023-2024 academic year, non-regional tuition is $41,536. A limited number of regional seats are available for competitive applicants from states that support contracts with SCO. The contracts provide eligible students with significant reduction in tuition. For more information on regional seats, please contact the Admissions Office or visit sco.edu/state-residency-certification.

SCO attracts students nationally and internationally, and it recruits directly from close to 100 campuses every year. Updated listings of campus visits or presentations are found in the Events for Prospective Students section of the SCO website.

Prior to application, prospective students are encouraged to schedule a campus visit to meet with an admissions officer and receive a tour of SCO. For more detailed information or to schedule a campus tour, contact the Student Services Office at admissions@sco.edu or call (800)-238-0180. More information can also be found on our website at sco.edu.

24

# OF YEARS OUR GRADUATES HAVE MAINTAINED A 0% DEFAULT RATE ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION