Thank you for your interest
in Southern College of Optometry (SCO)!
This brochure is designed to give you a complete overview of the admissions process and cover necessary information, such as:
• Pre-Professional/Pre-Requisite Courses
• How to Be a Competitive Applicant
• Application Materials
• The Admission Interview
• Financial Aid/Scholarships
• Living in Memphis
If ever you should have any additional questions that are not covered in this brochure, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@sco.edu or call (800) 238-0180.
Overview
SCO’s 2024-2025 application window opens on June 27, 2024 and closes on March 1 of 2025. Because applications are processed as they are received, and acceptances offered on a rolling admissions basis, it is advantageous to submit applications and supporting documents early in the cycle. SCO only enrolls new students in the Fall; students applying in the 2024-2025 application cycle enter the program August 2025.
Acceptance is based on:
a. Competitive undergraduate academic performance.
b. Competitive scores on the admission test.
c. Letters of recommendation from a pre-professional advisor/ natural science professor and non-relative optometrist.
d. Admission interview.
e. Amount of direct exposure/experience in diverse optometry settings.
f. Factors such as motivation and goals, professionalism, communication skills, consistency in achievement and extracurricular performance.
Pre-Professional | Pre-Requisite Courses
All SCO applicants are required to present at least three years of undergraduate work with a minimum of 90 semester (or 135 quarter) hours. A minimum of 30 semester (or 45 quarter) hours must be completed at a four-year college or university. The following courses or their equivalents must be completed prior to enrollment:
English
One year (or two semesters) of Composition or Literature will satisfy this requirement. (Speech/Oral Communication will not fulfill this requirement.)
Psychology
One course in General or Introductory Psychology will satisfy this requirement. Additional courses in Perception and Learning will be helpful in the study of optometry.
Social Science
One year (or two semesters) of courses in any of the Social Sciences is required.
Mathematics
One Calculus course is required. If a student has successfully completed a Calculus course, they will not have to take any other lower-level undergraduate math courses for our requirements (i.e., Algebra, Trigonometry, etc.).
Statistics
An introductory course in Statistics is required. Statistics courses taken in any department (Psychology, Education, Biology, Business, etc.) are acceptable.
Biological Science
One year (or two semesters) of college-level General Biology or Zoology is required, plus
one course in Microbiology or Bacteriology. Each course must include a lab component. Additional courses in Comparative Anatomy and Physiology are highly recommended.
Chemistry
One year (or two semesters) of General Chemistry and one course in Organic Chemistry are required. Each course must
include a lab component. One course in either Biochemistry or Molecular Biology is also required.
Physics
One year (or two semesters) of General Physics with appropriate laboratories is required. SCO accepts algebrabased, trigonometry-based and calculus-based courses.
Submit your application early. Since we grant acceptances on a rolling admissions basis, competition becomes much more intense later in the process.
Submit all supporting documents as soon as they are available. An admission interview will not be offered until all application documents are submitted. Refer to “Submitting your Application” for a list of required documents.
Complete your bachelor’s degree. While a degree is not required for admission, only 5% of SCO’s students have been accepted without a bachelor’s degree. Having one makes for a stronger application.
Become familiar with the profession. Learn about the different modes of practice by shadowing in multiple offices, reading optometric journals, and researching legislative procedures for state licensure. Your level of experience in the field is very important in the admissions process, especially during the interview.
Volunteer or join service organizations. Active participation in worthwhile causes and demonstrated leadership abilities are all important factors in the admissions process.
Complete your application thoroughly. OptomCAS can answer questions about application items submitted to them; however, feel free to contact SCO’s Admissions Office regarding the supplemental application or your application status.
Be a Competitive Applicant
Submitting Your Application
SCO participates in the centralized application service OptomCAS. We also have a required supplemental application that can be accessed via sco.edu/apply. Applications open on approximately June 30 of each year and close on March 1. OptomCAS charges a $187 application fee to apply to one school, and a $80 fee for each additional school. SCO’s supplemental application fee is $50.
Application materials for SCO are submitted in two ways: through OptomCAS and directly to SCO.
Documents Submitted Through OptomCAS:
• Official transcripts from all previous colleges attended.
• Two letters of recommendation:
— One from a pre-health advisor or natural science professor.
— One from a non-relative doctor of optometry with whom the applicant has worked or shadowed.
• Official Optometry Admission Test (OAT) Scores. (Pleasenote:Allexams mustbeadministeredbytheapplicationdeadline.)
Documents Submitted Directly to SCO:
• SCO supplemental application and fee.
• Certification of State Residency (if applicant is from a state participating in the SREB Contract Program).
— A list of residency certification officers will be provided upon receipt of a student’s complete application. The list is also available on our website at sco.edu/stateresidencycertificationofficers.
If a candidate reflects either of the below circumstances, they should contact the Admissions Office before applying:
• GPA of less than 2.50.
• Previous enrollment in another optometry school or health professions school.
The Admission Test | Interview
The OAT
SCO’s standardized test preference is the OAT (Optometry Admission Test).
It is our professional opinion that this exam is the best predictor of an applicant’s academic success in optometry school.
The OAT is conducted by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and is used by all optometry schools. It is a multiple-choice test covering six areas: Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Quantitative Reasoning and Reading Comprehension.
The OAT scoring scale ranges from 200 to 400 in all six areas, along with an Academic Average score and Total Science score. While there are no strict passing or failing scores, an Academic Average of 320 signifies average performance. The OAT averages for SCO’s entering classes have consistently been around 340. Anyone with an Academic Average below 310 and/or inconsistent subscores should contact the Admissions Office for individual counseling.
SCO applicants may take the OAT an unlimited number of times; however, after the third attempt, a school or college of optometry must recommend a retake. Although we will review all scores, we place the greatest significance on the exam with the highest academic average. Scores more than two years old are not acceptable.
Candidates can register to take the OAT online at ada.org/en/oat.
While the OAT is the most preferred test for the admissions process, SCO will accept MCAT and/or GRE scores in certain circumstances.
A candidate who has taken the OAT cannot use any previous or subsequent MCAT/GRE scores to “replace” an OAT score. In other words, your OAT will be given preference over any MCAT/GRE scores, and the MCAT will be given preference over the GRE.
The Interview
An integral part of the admissions selection process is the admission interview.
Once a student’s application is completed via OptomCAS, and the SCO supplemental application is submitted, SCO will invite them for an admission interview. Interview invitations are based upon a student’s GPA, OAT scores, letters of recommendation, optometric exposure and extracurricular activities. Interviews are conducted on a rolling admissions basis.
Interviews are in-person and held “one-on- one” with an SCO faculty member. The interviews are “blind”, meaning faculty do not have access to applicants’ files before or during the interview.
Sessions covering a student’s file, financial aid and housing — in addition to a campus tour and a tour of Memphis — are held on the same day as the admission interview.
SCO encourages applicants to come prepared to ask questions by researching the college, as well as the field of optometry.
Regional Contract Seats | Forgiveable Loans
SCO is one of the most regionally diverse optometry schools in the nation. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the student population represented 47 states and Canada.
Limited contract seats/ forgiveable loans are available for applicants from states participating in the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) contract program, or other types of state supported tuition assistance programs.
As of the 2024-2025 academic year, SCO partners with the following states for regional contract seats/forgiveable loans:
• Arkansas
• Georgia
• Kansas
• Kentucky • Louisiana • Mississippi • North Carolina • South Carolina
Tennessee
West Virginia
To be eligible, the applicant must be a bona fide resident of that state and be so certified by the appropriate state authority. Residency certification instructions are provided after the Supplemental Application is completed.
Please note:
• Residency certification does not guarantee a contract seat.
• Contract positions are limited, competitive and awarded on a first-come basis.
The state of residency may not be changed for contract seat consideration once admitted to SCO. For example: if your state of residence is Wyoming prior to enrollment, you will still be ineligible for a contract seat when you move to Tennessee.
Financial Aid | Scholarships
Approximately 90% of SCO students are financing at least a fraction of their education through student loans. The Financial Aid Office works individually with students to provide the best possible program, including the various Federal Loan Programs and Federal Work Study options. Our students also receive extensive counseling on how to control student indebtedness through the college’s debt management program. SCO awards numerous academic scholarships to students who have demonstrated exemplary achievements through their transcript, OAT scores, leadership and service experience.
Living in Memphis
Memphis is a city known for its music, restaurants, parks, museums, hospitality, history, culture and — important to all students — its affordability. Having one of the lowest costs of living in the nation, Memphis allows our students a chance to enjoy the amenities of bustling city life without the high expense associated with other major cities.
Although SCO does not provide on- or off-campus housing, we actively help entering students find living accommodations through information, resources and a Spring Housing Fair. The majority of our students live in apartments close to the college, and we match entering students with current students to field questions about the city and where to live. The college also provides a roommate list for accepted students interested in sharing an apartment.
For more information about the admissions process here at Southern College of Optometry, please visit sco.edu or contact the Admissions Office at admissions@sco.edu or call (800)-238-0180.
