Before applying, optometry schools expect that applicants develop certain competencies. Students develop some of these competencies through undergraduate coursework, while they develop others through experiences outside the classroom. Optometry schools review your application, looking for indicators that you have developed these competencies. They will expect you to have completed certain coursework, maintained a certain GPA, and achieved a sufficient test score on the OAT in order to gain admission.
Choosing a major #
For pre-optometry students, your major doesn't matter nearly as much as the competencies you build. While you need to complete certain science courses, your choice of a major is quite open, and you don't even have to major in a science field.
Optometry school admissions officials usually say that they do not have a preference for one particular major over another. In fact, most of them say they do not even prefer science majors over non-science majors. Medical schools seek to admit students from all majors who have developed strong abilities in the sciences, as well as other skills.
Regardless of your major, optometry schools will expect you to complete a rigorous set of coursework in the natural sciences. Being a strong student in the sciences isn't enough though. You will need strong analytical and critical reasoning skills. Because good optometrists must be able to relate to their patients on a personal level, communication skills are important too.
For these reasons, there is no one major that is considered the best for optometry school applicants. You could become a strong applicant by majoring in a non-science field, as long as you excel in your science coursework and demonstrate that you are fully prepared for the demands of optometry school. You could also become a strong applicant by majoring in a science field while taking advanced-level coursework in the humanities and social sciences to develop your communication and critical reasoning skills. There is no one path to optometry school.
Pre-optometry coursework #
The course requirements for admission to optometry programs vary from school to school. Below is a chart listing course requirements for IU Bloomington students who plan to apply for admission to the Indiana University School of Optometry. We recommend that students who are Indiana residents follow this plan of preparation, and then consider including additional coursework that would help them meet the admission requirements for other optometry schools.
Students should also consult the prerequisite chart provided by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry or the school's individual websites on the requirements for each optometry school. In addition, the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry also provides a great deal of useful information for students considering a career in optometry.
Please also consult the Indiana University School of Optometry for further information on their programs.
The Indiana University School of Optometry offers a Doctor of Optometry degree (O.D.). There is no preference for a particular undergraduate major; however most candidates have a science background. Most admitted students have obtained a bachelor’s degree. Applicants must complete a minimum of 90 semester hours prior to the time they begin their professional studies, including the following courses.1
| IU School of Optometry Requirement | IU Bloomington course(s) that can fulfill the requirement |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | |
| General or Inorganic Chemistry 1 with lab | CHEM-C 117 and CHEM-C 127 (lab) |
| General or Inorganic Chemistry 2 with lab | CHEM-C 118, or CHEM-N 331 and CHEM-N 337 (lab) |
| Organic Chemistry 12 | CHEM-C 341 |
| Biochemistry | CHEM-C 383, or CHEM-C 483, or CHEM-C 4843 |
| Biology | |
| Introductory Biology with lab | BIOL-L 112 and BIOL-L 113 (lab) |
| Advanced animal or developmental biology | BIOL-L 211, or BIOL-L 312, or BIOL-L 318 |
| Microbiology with lab | BIOL-M 250 and BIOL-M 315 (lab), or BIOL-M 380 and BIOL-M 315 (lab) |
| Mathematics | |
| Mathematics | Any course or courses fulfilling IU's Math Modeling requirements4 |
| Physics | |
| Physics 1 with lab | PHYS-P 2015 |
| Physics 2 with lab | PHYS-P 2025 |
| Writing Skills | |
| English Composition | ENG-W 1316 |
| Intensive Writing | Any course marked as intensive writing |
| Psychology | |
| Introductory Psychology | PSY-P 101 or 155 |
| Statistical Techniques | |
| Statistical Techniques | STAT-S 303, or STAT-S 300, or alternative statistics course7 |
- A 'C' is the lowest acceptable grade in any of these courses. Biology, chemistry, and physics courses must be taken in-person.
- Completion of Organic Chemistry 2 (CHEM-C 342) and Organic Chemistry Lab (CHEM-C 343) are also highly recommended and the lab is required by many other Optometry programs.
- CHEM-C 383 is a course intended for non-chemistry majors and has a prerequisite of CHEM-C 341. CHEM-C 483 is a course intended for chemistry but non-biochemistry majors and has a prerequisite of CHEM-C 342 or CHEM-R 340. CHEM-C 484 is a course intended for biochemistry majors and has a prerequisite of CHEM-C 342.
- See https://gened.indiana.edu/approved-courses/. Many other optometry schools will explicitly require calculus courses for their math requirement.
- PHYS-P 221 and 222 will also be accepted.
- A minimum SAT Verbal score of 670 or ACT English score of 32 will exempt the student (without credit) from the composition requirement. The applicant will still need to complete the requirement for an Intensive Writing course.
- For example PSY-K 300 or SPEA-K 300 or MATH-K 310 or PSY-K 310 or ECON-E 370 or SPH-Q 381.
- IUSO will accept Pass/No Pass grading for prerequisite courses for the spring, summer, and fall 2020 semesters. Online didactic and laboratory credit will be accepted through summer 2021.
The IU School of Optometry strongly recommends the following courses:
| Recommended Course | IU Bloomington courses that can fulfill the requirement |
|---|---|
| Additional Advanced Biology | Whichever of BIOL-L 211, BIOL-L 312, or BIOL-L 318 not taken already |
| Vertebrate or Human Anatomy with lab/Histology | ANAT-A 2251, or ANAT-A 464 |
| Human Physiology with lab | PHSL-P 2251 |
- Or ANAT-A 215 and PHSL-P 215 prior to Fall 2024. Anatomy and physiology courses are also frequently recommended or required by other optometry programs.
The IU School of Optometry has additional recommendations for other elective courses that can help prepare you for a career in optometry which you can find on their website: https://optometry.iu.edu/admissions-academics/doctor-of-optometry/apply/prerequisites.html.
Early admission option #
The IU School of Optometry has an option to apply and attend without completing a bachelor's degree. If desiring to apply without a bachelors degree, a minimum total of 90 semester hours is required. The 90 hours must include the IU School of Optometry prerequisites, two Arts & Humanities courses, two foreign language courses, and two Social & Historical courses. Students who have completed two or more years of a single foreign language in high school with an average grade of C or above are exempt from a foreign language requirement. Students applying in this way must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher. Many other optometry schools offer similar options to apply early and their exact requirements will vary. Generally, only a small percentage of students admitted to optometry schools take this option and the vast majority complete a bachelor's degree before beginning optometry school.
Academic record and GPA #
Optometry schools review your undergraduate transcript and the grades you have earned in your courses as a way to measure academic competencies that you have gained. Grades are considered to be a reliable predictor of how you would perform in optometry school. Admissions committees look at your undergraduate transcript for indications of whether you will have the intellectual abilities and self-discipline to succeed in the demanding optometry school curriculum.
Your undergraduate GPA is one of the primary ways optometry schools will evaluate your application for admission. What is a competitive GPA for admission to optometry school? The average GPA of the 2024 entering class at the IU School of Optometry was 3.8, while the average GPA for all students entering optometry programs nationwide in 2024 was 3.55.
Optometry schools pay attention to grade trends and ranges also. A student who had a difficult first semester as a freshman but went on to earn A’s in rigorous science courses in future semesters could still be viewed favorably.
Thinking about retaking a course?
If the course is a prerequisite and the grade is high enough for it to count as fulfilling the prerequisite, generally many optometry school officials advise that students should not retake courses, but rather proceed to higher level coursework where they can show improvement. Still, some students may consider whether or not to retake a specific course in order to earn a higher grade.
If you are considering retaking a course to enhance your application to optometry school, you will want to carefully consider the impact of IU Extended-X policies, the centralized application policies, and the likelihood of obtaining a higher grade in the course. Make sure to consult information in this Guidebook on Repeated Coursework and Impact of ‘Extended-X’ Policies on Application to Professional Schools.
Before re-enrolling in a course, you will want to create a plan for success, including such elements as devoting additional time to the course, developing new study skills, attending instructor office hours, and using tutoring services.
Keep in mind that no matter how many impressive volunteering, extracurricular, or work experiences you have listed on your application, your transcript must present convincing evidence of your academic readiness for optometry school.
Calculation of GPA #
Applicants apply to optometry schools through a centralized application service called “OptomCAS”. This application service has its own method for calculating your GPA. The OptomCAS application service calculates standardized GPA’s for all applicants, so they can be compared more easily, regardless of the grading system used at the college or university the applicant attended.
When you apply to optometry school you will type information onto the application from the transcripts of all colleges and universities you have attended, including the title of each course, number of credit hours, and the grade earned for each course. This information will be used to calculate your GPA.
Building a strong transcript #
Building a strong transcript requires careful planning, excellent time management skills, and dedication. Make use of resources such as instructor office hours and tutoring. Tracking your study time and devoting about 25-30 hours per week to preparation outside of class times can enhance your success!
Parallel planning #
What is parallel planning? It's a smart strategy to ensure your success. There are many possible paths to your goal of a healthcare career! Some students convince themselves that there is only one career for them – but the truth is that you could potentially be successful in a wide number of fields. A parallel plan is a plan you create that you can pursue right alongside your first choice of a career. Pre-health science courses can be challenging, and parallel planning allows you to efficiently change paths at some point if you discover you do not like or no longer want to pursue your primary career path.
How could you create a parallel plan? Explore your interests, goals, and values. Meet with a career advisor. Think about other goals you would like to achieve alongside being an optometrist for instance, would you like to encourage healthy lifestyles, improve global health, or develop new treatments through research? Your answers to these questions may help indicate additional career paths through which you could find meaning and success.