The Interview 
Shadowing and the Interview: Build Your House with Bricks!(0)
To prepare for the interview, shadowing is the single most important experience you will need. The story you tell about your shadowing experience should be the key element of your response to that first interview question, “Why do you want to be an optometrist?” I see it year after year: the single biggest reason applicants… Read More ›
An Interviewer’s Perspective: Dr. Julie Schornack, SCCO’s VP of Clinical Affairs
Dr. Julie Schornack has been interviewing applicants at SCCO for more than 25 years. She is the Vice President and Dean of Clinical Affairs and also has the title of Assistant Professor. I interviewed her a few years back about what she looks for in an interviewing applicant. Since she continues to facilitate many interviews… Read More ›
Reflections on Interview Day
Today is an Interview Day at SCCO. I am always so proud of applicants who have made it all the way to this leg of their journey. Often times, even family and friends do not appreciate what degree of sacrifice it took to receive an interview invitation. It’s a day to “rest on your laurels”… Read More ›
The First Interview Question—It’s Always the Same!
Wouldn’t you like to start every exam by knowing the first question ahead of time? Of course you would! When it comes to the applicant interview, I know what the first question will be —best of all, I can tell you ahead of time so you can prepare. It’s not enough just to know what… Read More ›
Smile, Eye-Contact, Handshake–Essential Ingredients
There are three things that anyone can do to make any human interaction go more smoothly: smile, make eye contact, and offer a firm handshake. I thought about ending this article after that first sentence because it seems self-explanatory. Apparently it’s not because I see so many applicants who fail to supply these basic ingredients—so,… Read More ›
Filmed Applicant Interview
Still our most popular video on SCCO’s YouTube channel, the Applicant Interview (five part series) is a great resource for those preparing to interview. It is a reenactment of an actual interview with two of SCCO’s faculty who are regular interview panelists. It is unscripted; interviewing faculty are engaging the applicant in an authentic exchange…. Read More ›
Elevator Pitch–You Need One!
You’re kicking back at a backyard BBQ, enjoying leisurely time with friends and family. Your uncle sits down next to you and asks, “So, what are you doing with yourself nowadays?” Your mind jolts into high gear and your heart pounds as you think about your busy and stressful summer: studying for the OAT, shadowing… Read More ›
Interview Infographic: Concise & Accurate Advice
There’s not much I need to add. It’s all here: concise, accurate and complete. Even though this is about job interviewing, so much of the information translates to applicant interviewing: Here’s the link to the article: “What You’d Wish You’d Known Before Your Job Interview”
Taking a Break Between Undergrad and Optometry School: A Student Perspective
Hello Readers! Have you considered taking some time off after graduating from undergrad or are you already in a full-time position? If so, we’re here to provide you with some insight. Both of us were in the same boat a few years ago and decided to enjoy the real world before applying to Optometry school…. Read More ›
Interview Day: A Student Perspective
I remember my interview day at SCCO like it was yesterday. I woke up three hours before my interview time, ate a big delicious breakfast, and arrived to SCCO half an hour early. So you’re probably wondering how I prepared for the interview for me to be this calm. The answer to this is to… Read More ›
