Optometry FAQs

What is Optometry?

Doctors of Optometry are the primary care doctors for the eye. Students attend a four-year program to become a Doctor of Optometry. During a residency in optometry, physicians can enhance their knowledge in different optometry specialties such as pediatric optometry, vision therapy, family practice, geriatric optometry and low vision rehabilitation. 

What are Optometry programs looking for? 

Optometry programs are looking for candidates who have a strong academic background and intellectual potential as evidenced by strong grades, particularly in the sciences. They seek students with qualities of leadership, compassion and good character, and who have demonstrated that they are motivated to play a vital role as front-line health care providers, typically through shadowing in an optometry setting. 

What are the course requirements?

Optometry schools require similar basic prerequisite courses as medical schools. Swarthmore students take: Bio 1 and 2; Chem 10, 22, 32 and 38, Physics 3 and 4; Stat 11 and one year of English. Most schools either strongly recommend or require anatomy and/or physiology. It is best to contact the schools or colleges directly by visiting their websites to confirm prerequisite courses. 

How can I obtain clinical experience?

Applicants are expected to have shadowing experience with an optometrist at the point of application.  Swatlink is a networking, mentoring and community building resource managed by the College where you may be able to locate other optometrists. 

What standardized tests are required?

All optometry schools require the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT). Testing appointments are available year around at Prometric Testing Centers. The test costs $505. There are a limited number of partial financial waivers per calendar year. Candidates must wait at least 90 days from their last attempt before retaking the OAT. 

The OAT is approximately 5 hours long and has four sections: quantitative reasoning, physics, reading comprehension, and a survey of the natural sciences (biology, general chemistry and organic chemistry). 

Many schools will accept the GRE or MCAT. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to the schools and colleges for their exam requirements. 

What kind of grades will I need to be accepted to optometry school? 

Currently, applicants with a 3.4 average and an OAT score of 330 can be reasonably confident that they will get into optometry school. 

How do I apply to optometry schools? 

OptomCAS is the centralized application service for all 24 optometry programs in the United States. OptomCAS is a secure on-line service that simplifies the optometry application process by allowing applicants to apply to multiple programs with only one application.  OptomCAS does not determine if applicants meet the requirements or if applicants are eligible for admission. Each college independently makes this decision. 

When entering information, how do I handle my course units? 

You must convert your course units to semester hours. Please use the following conversion table. 

.5 unit equals 2 semester hours

1 course unit equals 4 semester hours

2 course units equals 8 semester hours.