FAQs

How do I apply for admission, and how difficult is it to get into SCO?

Morgan Hooker | Amarillo, TX | SCO Class of 2026

The application process for optometry school can seem overwhelming; however, getting started early allows you plenty of time to move at your own pace. The first step is to create an OptomCAS account. There are four sections to the OptomCAS application that include personal information, academic history, supporting information and program materials. The Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) is required for most applications and should be taken before or during the application process. Taking the OAT as early as possible allows you time to retake if you need to try for a higher score.

Once the application is completed and sent to your selected schools, you will receive an invitation for an admissions interview. The in-person interview process at SCO includes: a one-on-one meeting with a faculty member, a counseling session with our admissions department, a Memphis bus tour, a financial aid and housing information luncheon, a campus tour, a class sit-in, and a reception to wrap up the day. SCO wants to show each interviewee the full scope of what it means to be a member of our community.

SCO prides itself on academic excellence and hard work, and it shows with incoming class statistics. This past admissions cycle, the Class of 2026 had 771 applicants and 133 matriculants. The average undergraduate GPA was 3.69 with an average OAT score of 335. Don’t let these number intimidate you; the SCO admissions team considers many other factors when accepting applicants!

The biggest piece of advice I can give is to, again, start and submit your application as early as possible. Do not be afraid to reach out to the SCO admissions team if you have any questions. They are more than willing to help. Also, be yourself on your application and during your interview. The whole process can be intimidating, but SCO is very student-friendly and assists you along the way.

What are the similarities and differences between optometry and medical school?

Donnie Koonce | Charlotte, NC | SCO Class of 2024

Medical school and optometry school are similar in a lot of ways.

First, they both require prospective students to complete prerequisites in math and science courses (contact your desired optometry school to determine what you need to take).

Secondly, both schools require applicants to take an admissions test. Optometry schools often require the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), and medical schools often require the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Both of these tests ensure mastery of basic knowledge in Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Reading Comprehension; however, the OAT includes a Physics section, whereas the MCAT includes a Behavioral Sciences section. Both schools will have multiple applications and an interview round.

The overall structure is similar between medical school and optometry school once you are accepted into your respective programs.

Your first two years are comprised of didactic courses. Both schools will require higher level science courses such as Anatomy, Neuroanatomy, Biochemistry and Pharmacology; however, they differ in the material of some classes. Keep in mind that medical school requires students to learn about all parts and systems of the body in order to prepare them for any medical field. Optometry school places more of an emphasis on the ocular system and has several classes that might not be covered in the first two years of medical school.

The third and fourth years of both schools introduce students to the clinic. The third year is a mixture of clinical experience and a lighter course load. The fourth year is almost exclusively externships and rotations to ensure students get maximum exposure in patient care. The students will see their own patients under a staff doctor.

Throughout your time at both schools, you will be tested with national board exams. Board exams are taken in three parts, and both future ODs and MDs are required to pass all three before they can obtain their licensure and practice.

After you finish your four years of optometry school and pass your boards, you are free to begin practicing optometry. This differs from medical school in the sense that you are required to do a residency to specialize in a field of medicine before you’re able to practice.

A residency is further advancement in education in a concentrated area such as pediatrics or primary care. Medical residencies range anywhere from three to seven years, adding additional time to a future MDs medical training. Optometrists have the ability to do a one-totwo-year residency, and they’re becoming steadily more popular; however, a residency is not a requirement.

Even though medical school is a prestigious and worthwhile path to take, if you have a passion for vision and ocular health, optometry is the field for you!

How expensive is optometry school?

How will I finance my education?

Noah Linhart | Derby, KS | SCO Class of 2025 Optometry School, like any other Doctoral/Medical Program, comes with a high price tag. Between the tuition, fees, equipment, books, housing and cost of living, it is unlikely that many students will graduate without some form of student debt. However, by choosing to attend SCO, I have improved my financial security during and after optometry school.

SCO has a very robust program and runs one of the largest eye care centers in North America. As such, this allows them to offer tuition to students at one of the lowest prices of any school in the country, along with a world class education. SCO also makes a lot of scholarship money available to students, and a total of 90% of current students were awarded some form of financial aid. The cost of living in the Memphis area is also very competitive. It Is fully possible to find great, safe living accommodations for a fraction of the price that you might find in another major city.

The financial aid department also helps students put together a stellar financial aid package that considers scholarships, awards and student loans, as well as any specific financial budget. They make the process easy, intuitive and flexible should you need to adjust your award for any reason.

All of this together makes SCO one of the most budget friendly optometry schools available. I personally found that I could graduate from SCO with half of the student debt that I might expect at my second-choice school. However, even with all of these savings, you still need to careful with your money.

One of my best pieces of advice would be to create a budget! Consider your rent, groceries, gas etc. Make sure to factor in the expenses that you might not originally think about as well, such as fees for clubs you may want to join, or technology. Always make sure to budget in a little bit of money for fun as well. Optometry school will be challenging, so you want to make sure you give yourself a little grace in your budget for non-school related activities to help keep spirits high.

Optometry school will not be cheap, but hopefully your choice to come to SCO will help lessen your financial burden significantly. The amount of knowledge and skills you are going to obtain will be well worth the costs. Always remember, the money you spend while in optometry school is an investment in your future.

Do I need a degree in science?

Saniya Merchant | Wheeling, IL | Class of 2025

I came into SCO having completed my degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. That being said, you certainly do not need to have a degree in science to apply to optometry school. In our entering class, we have students from all kinds of undergraduate backgrounds, and that helps to diversify our program even more. There are specific courses that must be taken before applying to optometry school, and these can be taken in addition to your major. As these can vary by school, it is best to stay on track with the required classes with the help of an academic advisor. While this does increase the workload a bit, I would say having the ability to major in something I was personally interested in far outweighed the cost.

Students may think they will be at a disadvantage not coming in with a science background, but I would reassure these students that SCO does a great job at laying the foundation during your first-year classes and ensures everyone has the same level of understanding. As you are not limited to any specific degree that is required for a future in optometry, I would advise prospective students to pursue a major they are passionate about, whether that be in science or in another field.

Is optometry a career with a strong future? How will I find employment after graduation?

Noah Scoffield | Peoria (Phoenix), AZ | SCO Class of 2026

Optometry has an incredibly strong future due to its expanding scope of practice. As a legislative profession, optometry’s scope is dependent on the various laws of a particular state, but each year, more and more states are allowing optometrists to practice different specialties and new procedures. Due to this changing landscape, not only will there be more procedures to perform in the future, but there will be more patients for practicing optometrists to see, as well. All of this contributes to the increasingly bright future for optometrists.

There are many resources available to students to prepare them for employment. The Hayes Center for Practicing Excellence provides everything you’ll need, including networking events, interview practice and even contract review. The Center also compiles a list of all the open positions across the country, so that when the time comes, students will be able to take advantage of the opportunities available to them. With the Center’s help, students can feel at ease as they navigate their future after graduation and find the ideal start of their professional career.

How will The Eye Center enhance my education at SCO?

Weronika Przepiora | Sarasota, FL | SCO Class of 2024

Southern College of Optometry provides students with an exceptional didactic optometric education, but The Eye Center (TEC) is where SCO really shines.

Every day, TEC provides eyecare to over 350 patients coming from various backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses, which contributes to a majority of the 2,6002,900 patient encounters students will have before graduation. Many of our patients have ocular diseases and systemic conditions that we learn to treat early on. The 4:1 student to staff doctor ratio allows us to make clinical decisions ourselves, while also talking through each case, interpreting testing results and planning treatment ourselves, with the guidance of an experienced physician.

Along with general comprehensive eyecare, the specializations within TEC allow us to experience optometry to the fullest scope. From Pediatrics to Low Vision, Vision Therapy to Ocular Disease, students can gauge their interest and work with residency trained physicians in those specialties. To keep up with the expanding scope of practice, our new Optometric Surgical Services suite allows students to perform surgical procedures with ophthalmic lasers on live patients.

As a third-year student, I can honestly say that I’ve grown immensely in my clinical capabilities and knowledge of ocular conditions. I know our experience at TEC has equipped us well as we prepare for fourthyear externship rotations and ultimately our optometric careers.

How difficult is optometry school?

Will I have time for my family/ personal life?

Rafael Martinez | Sanger, CA | SCO Class of 2026

Optometry school can be like drinking water through a fire hose — this is no overstatement. The material being taught is similar to what is taught in undergrad, but the sheer volume of material differs immensely.

The key to success in optometry school is to learn how to manage your time, especially for a student with a family like myself. It is easy to get distracted. Being organized with a planner or a to-do list are simple ways to stay on track throughout each day. Falling behind is something that can happen quickly, so it is best to stay on top of your classes and your coursework. There are many resources available to students to help you succeed: tutors, recorded lectures and open labs, to name a few.

Something that I love about SCO is that all of the faculty are optometrists, and they are able to take the material they teach and relate it back to the relevance of the eye. This is great because it keeps you engaged. Another aspect that helps with the difficulty of optometry school is that all of your peers are working towards the same goal. Having classmates going through the same experience allows you to feel better supported.

Lastly, I feel it is important to set expectations for yourself and your friends and family. Explaining to your loved ones how busy you are, and how time-consuming school can be, will help them be more understanding. Some weeks, you will feel like you don’t have time for anything but school. Then, there will be stretches where you have plenty of free time.

Success does not come without sacrifice; my wife and two kids know this well, which is why when we do have free time, we make the most of it. Usually, our time together consists of going to the zoo, exploring Memphis and the surrounding areas, playing at Shelby Farms, and trying new restaurants!

Is it difficult to work while going to optometry school?

Jerbrea Powell | Byram, MS | SCO Class of 2026

That definitely depends on how busy you like to be!

Optometry school is comparable to working a full-time job with 40–80-hour work weeks. A typical day for me consists of going to the gym, attending three to four morning classes, attending one to two afternoon labs, practicing lab skills, and studying for courses in the evening. A schedule like this doesn’t allow much time for an additional job.

Fortunately, there are opportunities like federal work-study that are available to certain students who qualify. There are several work-study jobs on campus that are flexible and can be tailored specifically to a student’s schedule. Work-study positions include helping in different departments (i.e., Library, Institutional Advancement, Mail Center), tutoring first- and secondyear students, or being a teacher’s assistant. Another perk of work-study is that you can use any free time on the job to study.

Currently, I have a work-study position in the Financial Aid department. Since it’s on campus, I don’t have to drive out of my way, and I can pick up an hour or two between labs and classes. These 6-8 hours a week add up, and I believe the pay is comparable to retail part-time jobs. This extra spending money really helps me have more room in my budget

What activities are available to students at SCO?

Helen Zhong | Artlington, TN | SCO Class of 2026

When SCO students are not in lecture, clinic or studying, you can find them dispersed throughout the school in their various student organizations. Joining an extracurricular activity gives students the opportunity to learn more about the optometric profession, make connections with their professors and classmates, and even make an impact during their time at SCO!

SCO has multiple honorary organizations that have a focus on leadership and school involvement such as SGA, the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), the Student Ambassador program, Beta Sigma Kappa, Gold Key Society, and the Student Chapter of the American Academy of Optometry. These organizations provide students with a voice within the profession of optometry and SCO.

To help you select a specialty, SCO has many interest groups such as the Contact Lens Society, Low Vision Club, Ocular Disease Club, Sports Vision Society, NeuroOptometric Rehabilitation Association, and College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). During these meetings, students will get exposure to real patient cases given by guest lecturers as well as networking opportunities. These meetings are a great way to apply topics you have learned in lecture to real case patient scenarios.

Perhaps you may want to join an extracurricular that focuses on volunteering and giving back to your community. SCO offers Student Volunteers in Optometric Service to Humanity (SVOSH), Fellowship of Christian Optometrists, RAM, and Lion’s Club. These organizations provide opportunities for students to treat underserved populations throughout the community and the world.

A great way to destress from school and meet new people is by joining an intramural sport. You are allowed to create your own teams or participate in already established teams such as basketball, dodgeball, volleyball, and more. If you are into fitness, SCO also offers a variety of classes such as yoga and Pilates that meet every week.

SCO knows optometry school can be stressful at times, but they also know students need a balance of both social and academic activities. There are many social events held throughout the year for students to have fun! Omega Delta is our oldest and largest optometric fraternity that oversees events for students. Activities include our very own optometry school formal dance called the Eyeball, camping trips, Halloween parties on Beale Street, and jersey parties.

There are these choices and more to choose from when you’re deciding whether or not to join a student organization. No matter what, students do not just come out of SCO as great optometrists but also as wellrounded individuals!