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Optometry Interview Question Bank

Free practice questions, grouped by interview format. Say them out loud, record yourself, or trade them with a friend.

These are practice prompts we wrote. They aren't real questions from any school, and no school has seen or approved them. Interviewers ask different things. Use these to build the habit of answering clearly, not to guess a script.

Last checked Nov 2, 2026.

One-on-One and Open-File

A single interviewer, who may have read your whole application. This is the most common setup.

Why Optometry

  1. What first made you think about eye care as a career?
  2. What did you see in shadowing that you couldn't have learned from reading?
  3. Why optometry and not another health profession?
  4. What would you say to someone who thinks optometry is just glasses and contacts?
  5. What part of the job do you expect to find hardest?

Your Experience

  1. Walk me through the experience that mattered most on your application, and what you'd do differently.
  2. Tell me about a patient interaction you remember and what it taught you.
  3. Describe a time you were wrong and how you found out.
  4. Which grade or semester would you explain, if asked?
  5. What have you done outside school that shows you can handle the workload?

Character and Judgment

  1. A patient insists on a service you think they don't need. What do you do?
  2. How do you handle feedback you disagree with?
  3. Describe a time you worked with someone who was hard to work with.
  4. What does professionalism mean to you, in one example?
  5. How do you decide when to ask for help?

Fit and Goals

  1. Why this school, beyond its location?
  2. Where do you picture practicing in ten years?
  3. How will you manage the costs of the program?
  4. What would you do if you weren't admitted this cycle?

Closing

  1. What question would you like to ask me?
  2. Is there anything about your application you'd like to add?

Closed-File and Blind

The interviewer hasn't seen your scores, so the conversation depends on what you choose to bring up.

Opening the Conversation

  1. Tell me about yourself in two minutes.
  2. What should I know about you that a transcript wouldn't show?
  3. What's something you've changed your mind about in the past year?

Going Deeper

  1. Describe a project you're proud of and your exact role in it.
  2. What's a problem in eye care or health care you've noticed, and what would you do about it?
  3. How would your friends describe how you handle stress?
  4. What do you do when you don't know the answer?

Panel

Two or three interviewers taking turns. Make eye contact with whoever is asking, and include the others as you finish.

Common Panel Prompts

  1. Introduce yourself to the three of us and tell us why you're here.
  2. Each of us will ask a question; start by telling us about a time you led a group.
  3. If you could change one thing about how eye care is delivered, what would it be?
  4. Explain a scientific idea you enjoy to a patient with no science background.
  5. What would your lab partner or coworker say is your biggest weakness?
  6. How do you plan to balance clinic work and study during the program?

When Interviewers Disagree

  1. One interviewer pushes back on your answer. How do you respond?
  2. You realize mid-answer that you've misspoken. What do you do?

Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)

A rotation of short stations, each with its own scenario. Few optometry schools use it, but practicing helps with any interview. Spend the first moments clarifying, then give a clear answer.

Scenario Stations

  1. A coworker tells you they made a mistake with a patient's records and asks you not to say anything. What do you do?
  2. You're a student in clinic and your supervisor gives instructions that you think are wrong. What do you do?
  3. A patient arrives 40 minutes late, and others are waiting. How do you handle the next hour?
  4. A patient cannot afford the lenses their doctor recommends. What should the practice do?

Ethics and Policy Stations

  1. Should an eye clinic share patient reminders by text? Discuss both sides.
  2. Should schools limit the number of times someone can retake an entrance exam? Why or why not?
  3. A new screening device is cheaper but slightly less accurate. How would you decide whether to use it?

Communication Stations

  1. Explain to a younger relative why they need glasses, in two minutes.
  2. Describe a diagram or object I'll show you to someone who can't see it, and have them draw it.
  3. Give your partner bad news about a missed deadline, then respond to their reaction.

Personal Stations

  1. Tell me about a time you let someone down.
  2. Describe a long-term goal and the first step you took toward it this month.

Recorded Video Responses

Some schools ask for a recorded video before or instead of a live interview. Check each school's instructions for time limits and retake rules.

Short Prompts

  1. In ninety seconds, tell us why you've chosen optometry.
  2. Describe a challenge you overcame and what you'd do differently.
  3. What is one quality you bring to a classroom of future doctors?
  4. Tell us about a time you disagreed with a team and how it ended.
  5. What would you like us to know that isn't on your application?

Questions to Ask Them

Bring two or three that you couldn't answer from the website.

For Faculty and Admissions

  1. How early in the program do students see patients?
  2. How are clinical rotations assigned, and can students request sites?
  3. What support is available for students who struggle on a board exam section?
  4. How do you help students plan for loans and costs beyond tuition?
  5. What do students say they wish they'd known before they started?

For Current Students

  1. What does a typical week look like in your year?
  2. What surprised you about the program?
  3. How easy is it to find housing, and what does it cost?

How to Practice

Which Format Will You Get?

It depends on the school, and some offer more than one. See every school's interview format and seat deposit.