Application Process and Requirements

Welcome to SUNY College of Optometry! Below you will find all the requirements for applying to the OD program. The admission cycle begins on July 1.

We strongly encourage you to apply as early as possible. You do not need to have completed all requirements to submit your application. Prerequisite courses for admissions can be finished before enrolling at SUNY College of Optometry in August. Keep in mind that providing your OAT scores, at least 2 out of the 3 required letters of recommendation and having most of your prerequisite work finished at the time of application will avoid delays in the processing of your application.

Application

SUNY College of Optometry participates in OptomCas, the centralized application system for all colleges of optometry in the United States and Puerto Rico. All application materials must be submitted through OptomCas’ Common Application found at optomCAS.

Transcripts

Official transcripts of all college courses taken to date must be submitted by the institutions through optomCAS.

GPA

Although SUNY Optometry does not have a minimum GPA requirement, competitive students will have a minimum GPA of 3.2.  For more information see Entering Class Profiles.

Letters of recommendation 

A letter of recommendation must be prepared and sent by the Pre-professional Committee at the undergraduate school where you completed the majority of your pre-professional courses through optomCAS. If a committee exists and cannot submit a letter of recommendation, a letter from that committee indicating why they cannot provide the information is required.

If there is no such committee at your undergraduate school, you must submit 3 letters of recommendation of your choice. Two of the 3 must assess academic performance in the science areas.

OAT scores

The Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) is an assessment of your academic ability and knowledge in 6 sections: biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, math (quantitative) and reading comprehension.  The OAT is offered throughout the year at Prometric Testing Centers. You should plan ahead for taking the OAT and schedule a testing date several weeks in advance. Information about registering for the test can be found at: ADA.org.

We strongly recommend that applicants take the OAT before sending their applications. Ideally, applicants should take the OAT in July, August or September of the application year. OATs written after February 28 of the calendar year you wish to enroll will not be accepted. Request OAT scores be sent directly to SUNY College of Optometry. The OAT must have been taken no earlier than two years (24 months) prior to the opening of the current OptomCAS session. For example, if you are applying for the 2013-14 application cycle, you must have taken the OAT prior to July 1, 2011.

SAT/ACT scores

An official report of all scores achieved on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) if taken in high school should be submitted directly to the College. We accept scores submitted on an official high school transcript. Canadian students who have not taken the SAT are not required to take it.

Interview

After your application has been submitted through OptomCas, it takes about 4 to 5 weeks for your application to be reviewed by SUNY Optometry’s Admissions Committee. Applicants who meet our admissions requirements will be invited for an interview on our campus. On the day of the interview you will be required to write a short essay about a topic that will be disclosed to you on that day. The interview is conducted by 3 members of the Admissions Committee and is an opportunity to get to know you better, to further learn about your academic and personal achievements, your leadership potential and gauge your communication skills.