In today’s meeting, we had a presentation from Southern College of Optometry. Here are comprehensive notes about the school, taken by Becca Roffe.
SCO Meeting Notes
- Stand alone private institution
- Only optometry
- Memphis, TN
- 97% of entering students graduate
- Clinically focused, though do have active research
- Passing boards required to graduate
- Non-Regional Tuition: about $38,292
- Supportive, tight-knit community
- Eye Center: clinic
- Largest of its kind in US, second largest in world
- External Clinic Sites
- University of Memphis clinic
- MobilEyes
- All lectures recorded and provided to students
- 20 student organizations and state clubs
- Encourage advocacy and networking
- Students from all over the country and internationally, many from Ohio
- Average GPA: 3.61
- Average OAT: 335
- Apply 762/135 admitted
- More than 100 scholarships or currently enrolled students
- Entering Student scholarships: $1,000 to $20,000 a year (only offered to entering students and no application process)
- Student loan repayment:
- Average debt: $130,000
- Offer financial support
- Mandatory online financial literacy course (free before starting)
- Mandatory Courses:
- General Bio with lab (1 year)
- General Chem with lab (1 year)
- General physics with lab (1 year)
- Micro with lab (1 course)
- OChem with lab (1 course)
- Biochem with lab (1 course)
- Calc (1 course)
- Stats (1 course)
- Psych (1 course)
- Social Studies (1 year)
- English (1 year)
- Recommend:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Cell Bio
- OChem II
- Immunology
- Histology
- Rolling admissions
- July 1-March 1
- OptomCAS
- Essay
- Transcript
- Letters of Rec:
- 1 OD and 1 pre-professional advisor or science professor
- Supplemental App: $50 app fee
- TIMELINESS PUTS YOU AHEAD! APPLY EARLY
- Require OAT/MCAT/GRE
- Interview:
- Fridays
- Encourage exploration of Memphis
- Blind interview: one on one. All they know are name and home state to ensure more relaxed and personal experience
- Housing: no dorms but apartments close by
- How to be competitive:
- Apply early
- Submit all docs
- Take OAT early
- Gain diverse exposure to opt
- 30 hours at two different settings (preferably with two different modalities)
- Have a commitment to service
- Ask questions
- Mike McKeever: mmckeever@sco.edu
Additionally, here is a link to the recording of the meeting, in case you missed it! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1du63wgHP1xm7FMIN1oxtjsaOnqTAOWuO/view?usp=sharing