DIY Pre-Optometry Student Planning Guide
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Pre-Optometry Student Planning Guide & Self Assessment document provides important resources for UT Austin students planning on applying to Optometry School.
Prerequisites & Time Line
- Optometry Prerequisite Courses
- Pre-Optometry Time Line
- Taking Courses Away from UT
- Other courses of interest to health professions students
Stress Management Resources
SELF CARE IS IMPORTANT:
- CMHC Managing Stress
- Mind & Body Lab
- Thrive - app from UT Healthy Horns to help you tackle your toughest and most ambitious goals, explore new ideas, and make difficult decisions
- Calm - app for Sleep, Meditation and Relaxation, breathing programs, stretching exercises, and relaxing music. Calm is recommended by top psychologists, therapists, and mental health experts.
- Insight Timer - app for sleep, anxiety and stress and general mediation and mindfulness
- The Smiling Mind - this app is a unique tool developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to your life. We suggest 10 minutes a day.
A note from us: Do something you enjoy each day, even if it's only for 5min
CAMPUS RESOURCES:
- UT Student 24-Hour Crisis Line (24/7) 512-471-2255
- CMHC Counseling and Mental Health Center 512-471-3515
- Individual walk-in support M-F, 8-5 pm at the SSB on the 5th floor or by phone
- Counselors in Academic Residence (CARE) Counselors
- CMHC Diversity Coordinators Hold Drop-In Hours for Undergrad & Grad Students
- CMHC Groups
- Student Veterans Counseling Services
- Student Emergency Services in the Office of the Dean of Students
- Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) 512-232-5050
- Student Ombuds: 512-471-3825, SSB G1.404
- Campus Climate: to report a bias incident that you’ve experienced or observed on campus
- Incident Online Report Form
- Other Resources for our Campus Community
OTHER RESOURCES:
- Mental Health and Wellbeing for College Students
- Student Guide to Surviving Stress and Anxiety in College and Beyond
- The Mind/Body Connection for Students: Reaching & Staying in the Zen Zone while in school
- How to Balance Student Stress
- Importance of Sleep for Students
- College Student Mental Health Resources
- Preventing Drug Abuse and Alcohol Addiction
- The College Student's Guide to Stress Management
- Sleeping Well in the Digital Age
OAT Exam
COURSE CONTENT TESTED ON THE OAT
- BIO 311C, BIO 311D, BIO 205L or 206L (Biology)
- BIO 325 (Genetics)
- CH 301, CH 302, CH 204 (General Chemistry)
- CH 320M, CH 320N, CH 220C (Organic Chemistry)
- E316L or E316M or E316N, or E316P (Literature)
Any of the physics sequences below:
- PHY 302K, 102M & PHY 302L, 102N
- PHY 317K, 117M & PHY 317L, 117N
- PHY 301, 101L & PHY 316, 116L
- PHY 303K, 103M & PHY 303L, 103N
Starting FALL 2021, PHY 105M/N will replace lab numbers PHY 102M/N, PHY 103M/N, and 117M/N. The new sequences will be:
- PHY317K + PHY 105M and PHY 317L + PHY 105N OR
- PHY302K + PHY 105M and PHY 302L + PHY 105N OR
- PHY 303K + 105M and PHY 303L + 105N OR
- PHY 301 + PHY 101L and PHY 316 + 116L
Research Optometry Schools Before You Apply!
- The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry has an Optometry Programs Admissions Directory. Check it out before you apply.
- List of Texas Optometry Schools
- Consider the National Board of Examiners in Optometry Performance Report when researching programs
Application Services
Application Services
- OptomCAS & OptomCAS Quick Start Guide
- For any school NOT using OptomCAS, see individual school admission web pages for application instructions
Acceptance Statistics
- Longhorn Optometry Acceptance Statistics Entry Year 2019
- Association of Schools & Colleges of Optometry National Statistics
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation are critical to the review of your application. Applicants should not send letters directly to OptomCAS; all letters should come directly from the Recommender to OptomCAS via the OptomCAS online portal. OptomCAS will not accept paper copies of references.
Enter up to four (4) evaluator names on your OptomCAS application. OptomCAS will not determine if you have met the letter requirements for a particular optometry program. Therefore, please review programs’ individual websites to determine the number and type(s) of letters required by each institution for which you wish to be considered for admission. Review OptomCAS Letter Types list.
You will provide the name, email address, and phone number for a maximum of four (4) people providing letters. OptomCAS will send an email evaluation request to the Recommender with information on how to electronically submit their letter.
Personal Statements
The personal statement is a critical component of your application to Optometry school, as the personal statement can either significantly help or harm your chances for success, it is important to take it seriously. The statement must be personal. This is your chance to let the Admissions Committee hear from you and understand who you are. Take advantage of the opportunity to express your commitments, motivations, and values
- HPO Personal Statement RESOURCES
- Texas schools and out-of-state schools use OptomCAS. Check application instructions for the essay prompt.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Prevent Blindness Texas
- Texas AHEC East
- AIDS Services of Austin
- Austin State School
- Department of Health Services (DSHS)
- American Cancer Society
- American Red Cross of Central Texas
- Project Transitions, Inc.
- El Buen Samaritano
- Any Baby Can
- Austin Volunteer Match
- The Care Communities
- Austin CommUnity Care
- Muscular Dystrophy Association
- The Wright House Wellness Center
- Bastrop County Longterm Recovery Team
- Kids Visions for Life
- Texas School for the Blind and Visually impaired
UT-AUSTIN VOLUNTEER RESOURCES
Pre-Optometry Resources
- Occupational Outlook
- The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) has developed a website that provides a wealth of information about optometric professional programs.
- American Optometric Association contains general as well as specific information on the optometry profession, clinical care, ethics, and values. Also has some useful links and a broad discussion on events and current issues.
- Texas Optometric Association
