Southern California College of Optometry

Contacts

Website: http://www.scco.edu/news/index.html
Phone: 800-829-9949 or 714-449-7444
Admissions e-mail: admissions@scco.edu

Program Information

• Doctor of Optometry (OD)
• 4 years in length

Admission Requirements

Course and Degree Requirements

• Degree: A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university is required for admission.
  • A student may apply during his/her senior year of college and supply documentation certifying that they will be receiving their degree prior to the start of the first-year classes in August.
  • Students may apply during their junior year in college for an early decision. If accepted, their enrollment will be guaranteed for the following year after the completion of their bachelor's degree. **n early decision acceptance implies a commitment on the part of the applicant to not apply to other programs during the year they are completing the bachelor’s degree.
• Prerequisite Courses:
  • Calculus (Analytical Geometry/Calculus also acceptable): 3 credits
  • General Biology or Zoology, including laboratory: 8 credits
  • General Microbiology or Bacteriology, including laboratory (No substitutions are allowed): 3 credits
  • Human Anatomy, including laboratory: 3 credits
  • Human Physiology, including laboratory: 3 credits
  • General Physics (the one year sequence of), including laboratory: 8 credits
  • General Chemistry (the one year sequence of), including laboratory: 8 credits
  • Organic Chemistry: 3 credits
  • Biochemistry: 3 credits
  • Psychology (Statistics will not meet this requirement): 3 credits
  • English Composition or Literature: 6 credits
  • Statistics: 3 credits
• Note: The aforementioned courses must be completed at a regionally accredited institution, in the United States or Canada with a grade of "C-" or better prior to enrollment.
• Click here for more information.

OAT

• The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) must be taken by all applicants.
• The test is given by the Optometry Admission Testing Program.
  • Click here for more information.
• The Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) is being offered as a computerized test at Prometric Testing Centers in both the United States and Canada.
  • Applicants will be allowed to take the exam an unlimited number of times, but must wait at least 90 days between testing dates.
  • The OAT must be completed by March 15 of each admissions season.
  • Click here for more information.

Supporting Documents

• Complete online application through OptomCAS.
  • OAT scores.
  • College transcript.
  • Application essay.
    • For an advance copy of the essay questions, email Dr. Munroe at jmunroe@scco.edu.
• A high school transcript is necessary and must be sent directly to SCCO.
• Supplemental application fee must be paid.
• All pre-requisite coursework must be completed before the start of SCCO’s fall classes.
  • Note: It is not necessary to have completed all requirements for admission, such as Prerequisite Requirements and the OAT at the time of application.To be eligible to apply:
  • Applicants must take the OAT by March 15th, and
  • Finish all prerequisites by the end of Summer term just prior to beginning Fall classes as SCCO.
• Letters of recommendation:
  • Required from three different sources. All LORs MUST be submitted through OptomCAS:
    • Mandatory Source: An optometrist who can state through documented experience that you know what the profession of optometry entails and possibly a statement about your suitability to be a healthcare provider, specifically a doctor.
    • Recommended Source: A professor with whom you have done personal work (such as assisted on a specific project or served as a TA or reader), or with whom you took a course.
    • Recommended Source: An employer or extracurricular activity advisor who can comment about your maturity, diligence and conscientiousness.
• For more information, click here.

Timeline

• July 15, 2010: Beginning of new application cycle through OptomCAS. The online application can be accessed at optomcas.org.
• March 15, 2011 at 9:00 p.m. PDT.: The deadline for submitting the application through OptomCAS.
• Note: Since SCCO uses rolling admissions, it is best to apply early. You do not need to have taken the OAT to apply. OAT scores will be reported directly to SCCO from ASCO (OAT test administrator).

Tuition 2010-2011

Click here for a detailed list of costs for each of the four years of study.