After completing an Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree with a major in Science Specialization: Pre-Medical, you will continue your pre-optometry study by transferring to a four-year school. Most optometry colleges prefer candidates to have a bachelor’s degree. You can declare a major in any subject at a four-year school to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree, which will require an additional two years of college. Your chosen major does not determine your success in being accepted to an optometry college. After being accepted, it typically takes four years to earn a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.).
Early in your academic career, you will need to research some of the optometry schools you are interested in attending in order to ensure you will meet all their criteria for admission. Some basic factors are:
It is the Optometry Admission Test. It is a standardized test taken by students who are applying to optometry colleges. It will be similar to the ACT® or SAT®. It is a measure of your general academic ability, quantitative reasoning skills, and scientific information— all skills developed during your two years at SWCC. It consists of four tests: Survey of the Natural Sciences, Reading Comprehension, Physics, and Quantitative Reasoning.
As in other health-related occupations, empathy, understanding, and a desire to help others are good qualities for effectively dealing with patients. They also need great communication skills, a desire to learn, and interpersonal skills. Optometrists must have manual dexterity and attentiveness to detail and accuracy.
The student should shadow optometrists and ask questions about the profession. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and injuries of the eye. They also identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye. Optometrists improve patients’ quality of life.
There are 21 optometry colleges in the United States.
Abigail Mitchell is attending the University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Optometry.
She is the daughter of Christopher and Angela Mitchell of Pounding Mill, VA. Ms. Mitchell is the first Southwest graduate to be accepted into the University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Optometry through the reserved student placement program.