A series of articles written by SCCO Student Ambassadors.

How I Explored Optometry Schools as a Canadian Applicant

by SCCO Student Ambassador, Brooke Dobko

CoBalancing a full-time job while applying to optometry school feels like reading a book with the chapters all out of order – you’re often left woLast fall, I began the optometry school application process. Since Canada only has one English speaking optometry school, I wanted to explore the possibility of attending school in the US. At the beginning of the cycle, I knew very little about the optometry schools in the US. It was daunting to decide which schools to apply to when faced with so many options. To make an informed decision I chose four factors that I would look for in an optometry school:

1. High pass rates for the board exam indicate a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum.

2. I wanted a school that prioritizes early clinical experience since I know I learn best by getting hands-on experience.

3. Moving to a new country is scary enough, so I wanted a welcoming campus community which would help smooth the transition.

4. I was looking for a location I would genuinely enjoy living in for the next four years (aligned with my lifestyle).

I interviewed at four different optometry schools across the United States. All great schools, but I felt like SCCO had everything I was looking for and more, especially once I used the comparison criteria above. SCCO consistently has high board exam passing rates and a notable reputation for producing brilliant optometrists. Additionally, I was happy to hear SCCO values early clinical experience and allows for mentorship between upper- and lower-year students. This includes completing full eye exams on your peers by the end of your first year!

Furthermore, students and faculty alike have been welcoming and kind. The close-knit community at SCCO has become more apparent the longer I have been here. The faculty support everyone’s success and there is no competition between peers to be on top. The free tutoring provided by SCCO is just one example of this support.

In terms of location, Southern California is seemingly a perfect fit for my lifestyle, as someone who loves spending time outside and staying active. Also, getting away from the cold is a huge bonus!

Moving to a new country is a huge risk, with its fair share of hurdles to overcome, but I can say definitively that I made the right decision to attend SCCO. If you’re in a similar situation to me, I hope this article can help make your process of deciding on an optometry school a little bit less stressful. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions: brookedobko.scco28@ketchum.edu.

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