Clinical experience #
Before you apply, optometry schools will expect that you have explored the profession through observing in an optometry environment.
Job shadowing is an excellent way to explore the daily life of an optometrist and find out if a career in optometry is the right fit for you. Many students are able to arrange shadowing initially through a family optometrist. If you do not know of any optometrists you could ask to shadow, you may wish to send a letter of introduction to some local optometrists asking for the opportunity to shadow. Many pre-optometry students are also able to obtain experience by working in an optometrist's office over the summer breaks.
For more suggestions, consult the shadowing page.