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Prospective Students

Like any endeavor worth pursuing in life, it takes careful preparation to become an optometrist.

Request Information
  • About Optometry
  • Admissions
    • Academic Information
      • Prerequisite Courses
      • Recommended Pre-Optometry Course Sequence
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      • Video Tour of The Eye Center
  • Contact Student Services
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  • Request Information
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Current Students

Students are at the heart of our mission.

Student Resources
  • Official Academic Calendar
  • Externship Program
  • Financial Aid
    • Applying for Financial Aid
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    • Financial Aid Deadlines
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    • Admission to Residency Programs
    • Online Residency Application
    • Our Residency Programs
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        • Program Supervisor
        • Program Information
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        • AppelbaumVision.com
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        • Vision Therapy & Sensory Integration Specialists
        • Comments from Past Residents
      • Bond-Wroten Eye Clinic
        • Staff Physician
        • Program Policies
        • Program Supervision Policy
        • BWEC Residency Brochure 2020 (PDF)
        • BWEC Residency Brochure Flyer (PDF)
      • Bowersox Vision Center, PSC
      • Child and Family Eye Care
        • Welcome Video
        • Practice Website
        • Program Policies
      • Children's Hospital Colorado
        • Supervision Policy
      • Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc.
      • Draisin Vision Group
        • Draisin Vision Group Residency Handbook
      • Duke University
      • Eye Specialty Group/Southern College of Optometry
        • Program Policies
        • The Eye Center
        • SCO Supervision Policy
        • Residency Supervisors
        • Directions to Facilities
        • On Call Manual
      • Eyecare Professionals, P.C.
        • Residency Website
        • Program Policies
        • Program Description
        • Stipend and Benefits
        • Facility Photos
        • Background Reading
        • Testimonials
        • Video
        • Eyecare Professionals, P.C. Brochure (PDF)
      • Family Eyecare Associates, P.C.
        • Program Policies
        • Resident Supervisors
        • About This Residency
        • Background Reading
        • Publication
        • Program Description
        • Featured in Visual Performance Today
      • Gainesville Eye Associates
      • Georgia Eye Partners
      • Greenville VA Outpatient Clinic
        • Program Policies
      • James H. Quillen VA Medical Center
        • Program Policies
        • Facility/Area Description
        • Photos
        • Directions to Facilities
        • Interactive Area Map
        • James A. Quillen VAMC Facility
        • James H. Quillen VA Medical Center Brochure (PDF)
      • Louisiana Family Eyecare
      • Memphis VA Medical Center
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        • Interactive Area Map
        • Memphis VAMC Facility Site
        • Resident Manual 2016-17
      • Moyes Eye Center
      • Neuro-Vision Associates of North Texas
        • Dr. Shidlofsky Vision Training Partnership News
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      • Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center
        • Program Policies
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        • Contact Ralph H. Johnson VAMC
        • Ralph H. Johnson VAMC Facility Site
      • Paul Vision Institute
        • Paul Vision Institute Brochure (PDF)
      • Salem VA Medical Center
        • Program Policies
        • Official Salem VAMC Site
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        • Salem VA Medical Center Program Brochure (PDF)
        • Salem Optometry Residency Program 2020 (PDF)
      • SouthEast Eye Specialists
        • Residency Program Supervision Policy
        • Program Policies
        • Quality Assurance Protocol
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        • Program Policies
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      • SCO, Residency in Vision Rehabilitation, with Emphasis in Brain Injury Rehabilitation
        • Video Tour of The Eye Center
        • Video: SCO's Pediatric/Vision Therapy & Vision Rehabilitation/Brain Injury programs
      • The Eye Center at SCO Pediatric Optometry, with Emphasis in Vision Therapy and Vision Rehabilitation
        • Program Policies
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        • SCO Supervision Policy
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      • The Eye Center Primary Care Optometry, w Emphasis in Family Practice Optometry and Ocular Disease
        • Program Policies
        • Program Description
        • Residency Supervisor
        • The Eye Center Facilities
        • SCO Supervision Policy
        • Directions to Facilities
        • Interactive Area Map
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      • The Eye Center at SCO & Christian Brothers University
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Alumni

Get involved in our thriving alumni community.

Alumni Services
  • Give to SCO
    • Give Now
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    • Tribute Gifts
    • Donor Impact
  • Alumni Achievement Awards
  • Alumni News
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  • Continuing Education
    • Online CE Course Library
      • Online CE Instructors
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    • Upcoming Events
  • EYE See You Pins
    • EYE See You—Support this Program
  • Hayes Center for Practice Excellence
  • Online Alumni Directory
  • SCOnline Alumni Newsletter
  • Visions Alumni Magazine

About SCO

SCO is one of the nation's leading optometry schools.

Our Campus
  • Who We Are
    • Mission Statement
    • Department Directory
    • Leadership
      • Board of Trustees Bios
      • President
      • Organization Chart
    • Our Clinics
    • Community Engagement & Outreach
    • Strategic Plan
      • Strategic Plan Booklet
    • Student/Graduate Achievement
      • Retention and Graduation Rates
      • NBEO Passage Rates
      • Career Placement and Residency Rates
    • Graduate Attributes
    • Consumer Information
      • Licensure Disclosure
  • Accreditation
    • Compliance & Security
  • Campus Store
  • Contact Us
    • Records Requests
      • Credential Request
      • Curriculum Hours Verification
      • Transcript Request
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Event Calendar
  • Honorary Degrees
  • Human Resources
    • Career Opportunities
    • Faculty/Staff Resources
      • ADP
      • Counseling Services
      • Faculty/Staff Webmail
    • Live Local
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    • Catalog Search
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    • Library Hours
  • Meet Our Faculty
  • Our Campus
    • Activity Center
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  • Research
    • Research at SCO
    • Research Faculty
    • Summer Research Fellowship
    • Posters
  • SCO News
    • COVID-19
      • Testing Instructions
      • Student, Extern, and Resident COVID-19 Resources
      • COVID-19 Resources for Practicing ODs
      • COVID-19 Virtual Event Listings
      • SCO COVID-19 News & Updates
  • Title IX
  • Values
  • Visit SCO
    • Transportation Options
    • Interactive Tour

Milestone Events

Take time to recognize these significant achievements.

Event Schedule
  • Heart of America
  • SECO
  • Spring CE Weekend
  • Commencement
    • Celebrating the Class of 2020
    • SCO’s 35th Annual Senior Awards Ceremony Program
    • Honor a Member of the Class of 2020 with a Gift Today!
    • 2020 Legacy Graduates
  • 50-Year-Class Reunion
  • Residents' Weekend
  • AOA - Optometry's Meeting
  • Orientation
    • Orientation Schedule
    • Important Information and Links
    • Moving Services
    • Student Organizations
    • Class of 2024 IRIS
    • COVID-19 Testing
    • Welcome to SCO & Memphis
  • White Coat Ceremony
    • Student Instructions
    • SCO Memorabilia
    • Student Optometric Oath
  • Homecoming
    • Class of 1980
    • Class of 1990
    • Class of 1995
    • Class of 2000
    • Class of 2010
    • Class of 2015
  • Convocation
    • Convocation 2020 Program
    • Convocation 2020 Program for Mobile Devices
  • American Academy of Optometry
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Student Life

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  • Prospective Students
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Many prospective students become familiar with the various aspects of student life during the undergraduate experience. Attending optometry school is different, but many aspects of student life remain the same: "Where do I live? How do I get to know other people in my program? What clubs can I join? What is there to do in Memphis?"

By using the information found throughout the different areas of our Student Life section, we think you'll get a clearer picture of all that SCO has to offer.


Housing

According to the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association, Memphis has the lowest cost of living in the nation among cities with populations of more than 500,000. Entering students are able to find high-quality accommodations in and around the city that allow living costs to be kept reasonably low, especially when they choose to live with a roommate or two.  A few apartment complexes that are popular with SCO students are within walking distance of SCO.  Rental homes are also available, and some SCO students choose to invest in the purchase of a home.

For those interested, the Office of Student Services maintains housing information, including a city map, apartment guide, apartment locator services, and realtor recommendations.  Admissions staff are also happy to provide personalized advice to students about where to live and how to handle the housing search process. The office also maintains a roommate search forum for those interested in sharing expenses with another entering student. Contact the Office of Student Services at (800) 238-0180 for further information.


Student Life Blogs

Expose yourself to optometry. Embrace the culture. Experience Memphis.

Our Student Life blogs allow you to gain insightful perspectives directly from our students. Many blog posts highlight our student’s service activities in the community. Other posts highlight clinical and externship experiences student organization and social activities, or simply life as a student at SCO. We believe these blogs help prospective students envision their futures.

Our students are excited to share their stories. We hope you are excited to learn more about them.

Student Life Blogs

Student Testimonials

We have students from across the country—and across the globe. They enjoy sharing about their experiences, goals and community involvement.

On our Student Testimonials page, you can watch many of our current students and alumni discuss their time at SCO. These students and graduates share because they were once in your position, nervous about applying to optometry school or deciding where to attend optometry school. They want to give you a better understanding of the processes, expectations and experiences awaiting you at SCO.

Student Testimonials

Living in Memphis

Big city. Small-town feel. This is Memphis.

Memphis is a city full of terrific food, incredible live music, festivals of all sorts, powerful historical museums and more. Memphis takes pride in its history and holds dear to Southern hospitality, all while boasting a low cost of living.

Do you want to learn more about the city? Visit below.

Living in Memphis

See Yourself at SCO

A look at the students, programs, and campus life that make SCO the top choice for the nation's best qualified optometry students:

 

View SCO’s previous recruiting video, See the SCO Difference.


Hear from an SCO student about optometry school:

 

Student Life

  • Living in Memphis
  • Student Life Blogs
  • Student Organizations
  • Student Testimonials
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Southern College of Optometry

1245 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104

(901) 722-3200

The Eye Center

1225 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104

(901) 722-3250

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