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CCO considers for admission those students who possess the academic, professional, and personal qualities necessary for development as exemplary optometrists. CCO uses multiple criteria to select the most qualified candidates including cumulative and science grade point averages (GPAs), admission test scores, personal experiences and character, ability to communicate, familiarity with the profession, volunteer/community involvement, research experience, and other considerations. CCO uses a rolling admissions process.
Students seeking admission to CCO must submit the following documented evidence:
Course | Sem Hrs | Qtr Hrs |
Biology with lab | 8 | 12 |
Anatomy* | 3 | 4 |
Physiology* | 3 | 4 |
General/Inorganic Chemistry with lab | 8 | 12 |
Organic Chemistry with lab | 4 | 6 |
Biochemistry | 3 | 4 |
Physics | 6 | 9 |
Calculus | 3 | 4 |
Microbiology | 3 | 4 |
Statistics | 3 | 4 |
Psychology | 3 | 4 |
English | 6 | 9 |
*The Anatomy and Physiology requirements may also be fulfilled by taking Anatomy and Physiology I (3 Sem/4 Qtr credit hours) and Anatomy and Physiology II (3 Sem/4 Qtr credit hours).
The Doctor of Optometry degree program is rigorous and challenging. The Admissions Committee will therefore assess the quality and rigor of the pre-optometry academic records presented by applicants. When assessing an application, the Admissions Committee will view with concern applicants with:
An international student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or from a recognized post-secondary Canadian institution that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation. Of the 30 semester hours, 15 hours must be in the sciences, 6 hours in non-remedial English composition, and 3 hours in speech/public speaking.
Applicants who wish to receive credit for prerequisite coursework completed outside the U.S. or at a Canadian institution that does not use English as its primary language of instruction and documentation must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation obtained from one of the following evaluation services:
International applicants who do not provide documentation of acceptable U.S. or Canadian course/degree equivalency will not receive credit, and will be required to complete all prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university in the United States, or at a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation.
For clarification about recognized post-secondary institutions in Canada that use English as a primary language of instruction and documentation, international applicants should contact the Midwestern University Office of Admissions.
Click here for more information on International Student Financial Services
The Technical Standards set forth the nonacademic abilities considered essential for students to achieve the level of competence required by the faculty to obtain the academic degree awarded by the College. The health care provider must be able to perform tasks in an efficient and timely manner to diagnose, treat, and manage patients.
Therefore, the following abilities and expectations must be met by all students admitted to the College with reasonable accommodation. Candidates must have abilities and skills in five areas: 1) observation; 2) communication; 3) motor; 4) intellectual, conceptual, integrative, quantitative; 5) behavioral and social. Technological compensation can be made for some limitation in certain of these areas but the candidates must be able to perform in a reasonably independent, timely manner.
1. Observation: The candidate must be able to accurately make observations at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision, hearing and sense of touch and is enhanced by the functional use of all of the other senses.
2. Communication: The candidate must be able to communicate effectively, efficiently and sensitively in both oral and written form and be able to perceive nonverbal communication.
3. Motor: Candidates must be able to coordinate both gross and fine muscular movements, maintain equilibrium and have functional use of the senses of hearing, touch and vision. The candidate must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination to perform profession-specific skills and tasks.
4. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: The candidate must be able to problem solve, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, record and synthesize large amounts of information in a timely manner. The candidate must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand spatial relationships.
5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: The candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the consistent, prompt completion of all responsibilities, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically, mentally and emotionally taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. The candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, willingness and ability to function as an effective team player, and interest and motivation to learn are all personal qualities required during the educational process.
Candidates are required to certify that they understand and meet these Technical Standards. Candidates must provide such certification prior to matriculation. Candidates who may not meet the Technical Standards must inform the Director of Admissions, who will then contact the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students, in consultation with the College Dean, will identify and discuss what accommodations, if any, the College would need to make that would allow the candidate to complete the curriculum. The College is not able to grant accommodations that alter the educational standards of the curriculum. Students must meet the Technical Standards for the duration of enrollment at the College.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early in the cycle. Applications are considered on a first come first served basis only until all seats are filled.
1. OptomCAS Application
Applicants are required to submit online applications and application fees to OptomCAS by April 1, 2021. In addition to the online application and application fees, an applicant must forward to OptomCAS official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended by the April 1st date. OptomCAS will begin the verification process as official transcripts are received, however an application will not be considered complete until all official transcripts are received.
Students must apply for admission via OptomCAS at www.opted.org or www.optomcas.org. Please refer to the OptomCAS application instructions for specific details about completing the OptomCAS application, required documents, and processing times. OptomCAS applications are available starting Summer 2020 for applicants seeking admission in August of the following year. Due to the large number of applicants and the limited number of seats available, students are strongly encouraged to complete their OptomCAS application early in the cycle. CCO will consider completed applications on a first-come, first-served basis until all seats are filled.
2. Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
CCO prefers the OAT, but will accept the MCAT, DAT, PCAT, or GRE test scores as an alternative. Applicants must arrange for scores from the admission exam to be sent directly to Midwestern University. Only test scores received directly from the testing agency will be accepted. Any of these admission exam scores must be earned no more than five years prior to the planned enrollment year.Additional information on the OAT may be found at www.opted.org or in writing to:
Optometry Admission Testing Program
211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 600
Chicago, Illinois 60611-2637
800/232-1694
email: oatexam@ada.org
3. Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from professionals to OptomCAS (www.optomcas.org). One letter must be from a practicing optometrist. The other letter must be from a prehealth advisor, a professor, an employer, or extracurricular activity advisor. Letters of recommendation from relatives, personal and/or family friends are not acceptable.
4. Completed Application
All application materials, including the OptomCAS application, OAT scores (as reported to Midwestern University), and two letters of recommendation (as submitted to OptomCAS) must be received by the Office of Admissions on or before April 30, 2021. Only completed applications received by the Office of Admissions on or before the deadline date will be reviewed for potential entrance into the program.
Please Note: Applicants are responsible for tracking the receipt of their application materials and verifying the status of their applications on the University website. The Office of Admissions will send qualified applicants instructions for checking the status of their application materials online.
Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address or e-mail address.
Midwestern UniversityCCO uses a rolling admissions process in which applications are processed and reviewed during regular intervals in the admissions cycle until the class is filled.
Before an invitation is issued to attend an on-campus interview, applicants must meet the admission requirements listed previously. After the Office of Admissions receives all required application materials, applicant files are reviewed to determine whether an applicant merits an invitation for an interview. Applicants may also be placed on a waiting list pending possible openings in a later part of the admissions cycle. Interviews are typically held between September and May of a given admission cycle. Invited applicants must attend an on-campus interview to achieve further consideration in the admissions process.
The on-campus visit, which includes an interview session, generally takes six hours. Applicants will be evaluated on verbal communication skills, understanding of the optometry profession, commitment to patient care, and other elements as determined by the College. Applicants will also learn more about Midwestern University, CCO, financial aid programs, student services, and campus housing, as well as tour the Midwestern University Downers Grove Campus and Eye Institute.
Following the interview, an applicant's file will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review. The committee may recommend accepting, denying, or placing students on an alternate list. Recommendations are then forwarded to the Dean for final approval. The Dean, via the Office of Admissions, notifies applicants of their status within two weeks of their interview date, provided that the file is complete.
Any request for withdrawal of an application must be made in writing.
After receiving either denial or end-of-cycle letters, or after dismissal from the College, applicants may reapply for the next enrollment cycle. Before reapplying, however, applicants should seek the advice of a MWU admissions counselor.
The matriculation process begins after students receive notification of their acceptance. To complete the matriculation process, students must:
Students who fail to satisfy these matriculation requirements or who omit or falsify information required on official admission documents automatically forfeit their seat in the program. Any individual accepted for admission to the College/Program who does not comply with stated timelines for submission of all required materials will be notified by the College regarding materials and the potential forfeiture of his/her seat.
CCO may elect to accept transfer students from other U.S. accredited schools of optometry who are currently enrolled, are in good academic standing, have no ethics or professionalism violations, and provide acceptable reason(s) for seeking transfer. These transfer students must have the minimum qualifications for admissions as all other applicants to the CCO program. Typically, students will transfer at the beginning of the second year of the curriculum.
Students requesting transfers must meet the College's general requirements for admission. They must also submit the following:
Following receipt of these materials, a decision by the Dean is made regarding whether or not the student merits an on-campus interview. If the student receives an invitation, he/she interviews with an appropriate interview team. The interview team then makes an admissions recommendation to the Dean, who is responsible for approving both the student's admissions status and class standing.
The transfer application must be received sufficiently early to allow for processing of the application, interview, and moving of the student prior to the start of the next academic term.
The Dual Acceptance Program (DAP) is an early acceptance program for selected students who successfully complete the specified pre-optometry coursework. The Dual Acceptance Programs are currently in effect with Benedictine University, DePaul University, Elmhurst College, and Arizona Christian University.
Benefits of the DAP:
To receive consideration for the Dual Acceptance Program with Benedictine University, DePaul University, or Elmhurst College, one must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Track 1:
This track is available to high school students who apply by March 1 of their senior year of high school. To receive consideration for the Dual Acceptance Program, Track 1, students must meet the following requirements:
Track 2:
This track is available to students who have recently enrolled at their undergraduate institution. To receive consideration for the Dual Acceptance Program, Track 2, students must meet the following requirements:
After the Midwestern University Office of Admissions receives all completed application materials, applicant files are reviewed to determine whether applicants merit invitations for an interview. Qualified applicants must complete an on-campus or video teleconference (for out of state students) interview at CCO.
Following the interview, their completed applications are forwarded to the CCO Admissions Committee for review. The committee may recommend to accept or to deny applicants for admission. These recommendations are then forwarded to the Dean for final approval. The Dean-via the Office of Admissions-notifies applicants of their status within two to four weeks of their visits. Accepted applicants will be ensured a seat at CCO upon successful completion of the program requirements:
Students who are not accepted to or fail to complete the Dual Acceptance Program may apply to CCO using the standard procedures.
To receive consideration for the Dual Acceptance Program with Arizona Christian University, high school senior students must meet the following eligibility requirements:
After the Midwestern University Office of Admissions receives all completed application materials, applicant files are reviewed to determine whether applicants merit invitations for an interview. Qualified applicants must complete an on-campus or video teleconference (for out of state students) interview at CCO.
Following the interview, their completed applications are forwarded to the CCO Admissions Committee for review. The committee may recommend to accept or to deny applicants for admission. These recommendations are then forwarded to the Dean for final approval. The Dean-via the Office of Admissions-notifies applicants of their status within two to four weeks of their visits. Accepted applicants will be ensured a seat at CCO upon successful completion of the program requirements:
Students who are not accepted to or fail to complete the Dual Acceptance Program may apply to CCO using the standard procedures.
Students enrolled at Benedictine University must successfully complete the following courses listed below with a grade of “C” or higher:
REQUIREMENT |
UNDERGRADUATE COURSE |
MINIMUM SEMESTER HOURS |
Biology with lab |
BIOL 1197, 1198, 1199 |
7 hrs. |
Genetics with lab |
BIOL 2250, 2251 |
4 hrs. |
Anatomy |
BIOL 3203 |
3 hrs. |
Physiology |
BIOL 3258 |
3 hrs. |
General/Inorganic Chemistry with labs |
CHEM 1113, 1114, 1123, 1124 |
8 hrs. |
Organic Chemistry with lab |
CHEM 2242, 2243 |
4 hrs. |
Biochemistry |
CHEM 3261 |
3 hrs. |
Physics |
PHYS 1113, 1114, 1118, 1119 |
6 hrs. |
Calculus |
MATH 2200 or 2210 |
3 hrs. |
Microbiology |
BIOL 3208 |
3 hrs. |
Statistics |
BIOL 2229 or MATH 1150 or PSYC 2250 |
3 hrs. |
Psychology |
PSYC 1100 |
3 hrs. |
English Composition |
WRIT 1101, 1102 |
6 hrs. |
Total Hours |
|
56 hrs. |
Students enrolled at DePaul University must successfully complete the following courses listed below with a grade of “C” or higher:
REQUIREMENT |
UNDERGRADUATE COURSE |
MINIMUM QUARTERS HOURS |
Biology with lab |
BIO 191,192,193 |
12 hrs. |
Anatomy |
HLTH 301 |
4 hrs. |
Physiology |
HLTH 302 (HLTH 301 and 302 are integrated anatomy and physiology classes) |
4 hrs. |
General/Inorganic Chemistry with labs |
CHE 130,131,132,133,134, and 135 |
12 hrs. |
Organic Chemistry with lab |
CHE 230,231,232,233,234, and 235 |
6 hrs. |
Biochemistry |
CHE 340 |
4 hrs. |
Physics |
PHY 151, 152, 153 |
9 hrs. |
Calculus |
MATH 147 or MATH 150 |
4 hrs. |
Microbiology |
BIO 210 |
4 hrs. |
Statistics |
Multiple options available |
4 hrs. |
Psychology |
Multiple options available |
4 hrs. |
English Composition |
WRD 103, 104 |
9 hrs. |
Total Hours |
|
76 hrs. |
Students enrolled at Elmhurst College must successfully complete the following courses listed below with a grade of “C” or higher:
REQUIREMENT |
UNDERGRADUATE COURSE |
MINIMUM SEMESTER HOURS |
Biology with lab |
BIO 200, 201 |
8 hrs. |
Anatomy* |
BIO 207 |
3 hrs. |
Physiology* |
BIO 208 |
3 hrs. |
General/Inorganic Chemistry with labs |
CHM 211, 212 |
8 hrs. |
Organic Chemistry with lab |
CHM 311 |
4 hrs. |
Biochemistry |
CHM 315 |
3 hrs. |
Physics |
PHY 121 or 111, 122 or 112 |
6 hrs. |
Calculus |
MTH 151 |
3 hrs. |
Microbiology |
BIO 221 or 321 |
3 hrs. |
Statistics |
MTH 345 or 346, or PSY 355 |
3 hrs. |
Psychology |
Any Psychology course (other than PSY 355) |
3 hrs. |
English Composition |
ENG 105, 106 |
6 hrs. |
Total Hours |
|
53 hrs. |
CCO will accept MCAT, DAT, PCAT, or GRE test scores as an alternative to OAT scores for currently enrolled students in the Midwestern University Biomedical Sciences degree programs (Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences, Master of Biomedical Sicences), who wish to apply to CCO. Any of these alternative admission test scores must be earned no more than 5 years prior to the planned enrollment year at CCO.
CCO will offer guaranteed interviews to students enrolled in Benedictine University's Master of Science in Integrative Physiology (M.S.I.P.) Program who apply as a traditional applicant to CCO and who satisfy these requirements:
CCO will offer guaranteed interviews to students enrolled in DePaul University's Pathway Honors program who apply as a traditional applicant to CCO and who satisfy these requirements: