If you see yourself as a doctor of optometry who is dedicated to your patients and community, Pacific is your place.
Admissions
For starters, we look for intellectual ability—the strength and the breadth of your academic record, your Grade Point Average (GPA) and Optometry Admission Test (OAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores. We also ask: How many courses did you take per term? What other responsibilities did you manage while in school? Did you work, lead an organization or volunteer?
The most competitive applicants bring additional value to the Pacific University family. It may be a love of music, an athletic ability that takes our intramural basketball team to the top or a spirit of service that compels you to become president of Amigos EyeCare, our student-run international outreach organization.
Interview Days If we love you on paper, we want to meet you in person. You may be invited for an on-campus interview occurring during one of Pacific’s Interview Days. During this event, you can assess your fit with the program by having lunch with faculty, talking with students and sitting in on a class. At the same time, we can assess essential skills and traits, such as interpersonal skills, logical thinking, motivation for optometry, poise and verbal expression.
450
Average number of
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED each year
180
Average number of
APPLICANTS INTERVIEWED each year
3.3
AVERAGE GPA
25
AVERAGE AGE
20
Average states representeD
(And Canada)
12:1
Average Student TO FACULTY Ratio
A student is doing retinoscopy on a patient using a retinoscope. The patient is behind a phoropter.
Getting Ready Our admission decisions consider many factors:
Strength and breadth of the academic record
OAT or GRE Scores
Essay responses
Knowledge and motivation for the profession
Letters of recommendation
The quantity and quality of community service, honors, and extracurricular activities
The content of application forms and the care with which they have been prepared
Professionalism and communication
Application Evaluation
Getting Ready Want to join the Pacific University College of Optometry family? Your next step is to review the application on OptomCAS.
Prerequisite Coursework The College of Optometry faculty considers the following courses vital to your success in the professional curriculum. You must complete all prerequisite coursework with a C grade or above prior to enrollment. All science courses must be designed for pre-professional or science majors, and they must include a laboratory component.
If you have a question about certain courses, please email the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Grade Point Averages Pacific will review your overall cumulative GPA, your Biology, Chemistry and Physics (BCP) science GPA, as well as your most recent 45 semester credit GPA as calculated by OptomCAS. Pacific does not have a minimum GPA requirement, so all complete applications are considered.
OAT or GRE All applicants are required to take the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Your most recent set of OAT or GRE scores must be no earlier than two years (24 months) prior to the opening of the current OptomCAS session in order to be valid.
Observation Hours A minimum of 10 hours of observation with a non-relative optometrist in more than one setting is strongly encouraged.
Letters of Reference You are responsible for securing two letters of reference from individuals who can comment about your qualifications for the Doctor of Optometry program. It is required that one must be from a non-relative optometrist, and one must be from a professor who has taught you in college.
English Language Proficiency If your first language is not English, you must meet the English language proficiency requirement prior to admission by fulfilling one of the criteria available on our website.
Criminal Background Check Upon acceptance and prior to matriculation, students will undergo a criminal background check, at their own expense. A criminal background check is a condition of matriculation into the program.
12
Semester Credits
ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY
12
Semester Credits
CHEMISTRY
8
Semester Credits
PHYSICS
3
Semester Credits
CALCULUS
3
SEMESTER CREDITS
STATISTICS
3
SEMESTER CREDITS
GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
1
COURSE REQUIRED
ENGLISH
In a word, we look for strength—but not just off-the-chart achievement in one area. We look for candidates with proven academic ability, strength of character, personality and leadership experience.
