Application Checklist
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Southern College of Optometry
accepts applications between August 1st
and March 1st (postmarked) of each academic year, and classes begin the
following August. Since we process applications as we receive them and offer
acceptances on a rolling admissions basis, we strongly encourage early
application.
For an applicant to receive complete consideration, all of the following must be
submitted:
-
Properly completed application (signed and
dated, or completed online)
-
Non-refundable application fee of $50 (checks
made payable to Southern College of Optometry)
-
Official transcripts from each
college/university attended must be sent directly from
the issuing institution to SCO
-
The mailing address is:
Southern College of Optometry
Office of Records and Admissions
1245 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
-
SCO requires two letters of
recommendation: one from a pre-optometry advisor/advisory committee or science
professor, and one from an optometrist. Additional letters are welcome, but
these two are required.
- SCO requires two letters of
recommendation: one from a pre-optometry advisor/advisory committee or science
professor, and one from an optometrist. Additional letters are welcome, but
these two are required.
-
The OAT measures general ability and comprehension of
scientific information. All applicants are required to take
the OAT no later than March 1 of the year they apply, however, we strongly
recommend taking the test no later than the fall of the year they apply.
OAT scores must be sent
directly to SCO from the OAT testing program and registration information for
the exam may be found on the web site for the
Association of Schools and Colleges of
Optometry. Registration books may also be obtained by contacting SCO or
directly from:
Optometry Admissions Testing Program
21 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-2693
-
Two essays are required with
an application. No specific format is preferred, and there are no minimum or
maximum lengths required. The topics for the essays include answering the
following questions:
1. Please list your activities since high school. Include jobs held,
extra-curricular activities, service and volunteer activities, honors and
awards, any military or other service to the country and any significant periods
during which you were neither employed nor enrolled in school. Also, explain in
detail any two of the activities that were most meaningful to you.
2. Please compose an essay that includes answers to the following questions: a)
Why do you feel you would be a successful optometry student at Southern College
of Optometry and eventually a successful optometrist? b) How did you first learn
about Optometry? c) What experience or exposure have you had to the field?
After the application and all supporting documents have been received in the
Office of Records and Admissions, an initial review is completed by the
admissions committee and interview invitations are mailed to those candidates
with competitive applications. SCO begins interviewing the first Friday of
October and continues through the end of April of each application cycle.
Please note that all pre-requisite courses must be completed before a student
can begin classes at SCO. However, an application may be submitted prior to the
completion of the required courses. If an applicant is in the process of
completing a degree and/or pre-requisite courses, updated transcripts should be
submitted to SCO after each semester or quarter.
It
is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure all documents are submitted
and received by the SCO Office of Records and Admissions. Please call us at
(800) 238-0180 or (901) 722-3224, or email us at
admissions@sco.edu if you have any
questions.
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