Guides

Plain-language answers to the questions every optometry school applicant has, checked against the source each cycle.

• The OAT, explainedWhat's on the Optometry Admission Test, how it's scored, what it costs and the rules for retaking it.
• What's a good OAT score?Entering-class OAT averages for every school, and what score to aim for.
• The new federal loan capWhat the $200,000 limit on federal loans means for every school's cost.
• OptomCAS application timelineMonth by month, from the OAT to your first interview, with every school's deadline.
• Shadowing and optometry experienceHow many hours schools expect, how to find an optometrist to shadow, and what counts.
• Letters of recommendationHow many letters you need, who should write them, and every school's requirement.
• The personal statementThe OptomCAS prompt, the 4,500-character limit, and how to write an essay that sounds like you.
• PrerequisitesThe core courses nearly every school wants, and the extras that differ by school.