Applying to the Illinois College of Optometry Beth Karmis Sr Dir Of Student Development

1. Applying to the Illinois College of Optometry Beth Karmis Sr Dir Of Student Development

2. Overview • The Profession of Optometry • ICO at a Glance • Chicago – Great city for students • Before You Apply • Application Process: Step-by-Step • Strengthening Your Application

3. What is an optometrist? A primary health care professional for the eye. Examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures. Identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye. - American Optometric Association

4. The Profession of Optometry Optometry is a wonderful profession Optometry offers career stability Dr’s schedules can be flexible and provide for a nice lifestyle Optometric opportunities are growing secondary to an aging population and increased awareness and emphasis on good health Optometrists play a key role in the comprehensive healthcare of their patients

5. U.S. News & World ReportMarch 5, 2007 Contact lenses have come a long way since 1887, when German physiologist Adolf Eugen Fick fashioned two 20-millimeter thick slabs from brown glass, doused them with a sugary solution, and plopped them onto his eyes.

6. U.S. News & World ReportMarch 19, 2007 Optometrists, for instance, typically work predictable hours, and they regularly watch patients walk out the door in better shape than when they came in.

7. Kiplinger.com7 Great Careers for 2007 – April 6, 2007 #2 Optometrist. Same deal: high cure rate, self-employment possibility and six-figure average compensation. Plus, aging boomers mean increased demand for optometrists.

8. Wednesday, June 4, 2008

9. “There's also a lot of satisfaction in this career, since most vision problems can be corrected with lenses or relatively minor surgery. “

10. Wednesday, June 4, 2008

11. The Profession of Optometry 2/3 OD’s are in private practice (2007 Avg. Net income $175,329) Employed OD’s average $97,874 OD’s must maintain their licenses to practice by taking Continuing Education yearly To become an OD you go to 4 years of professional school and pass national board exams

12. ICO at a Glance • Oldest and largest institution dedicated solely to the training of optometrists (founded 1872) • 20% of all practicing OD’s in the U.S. are ICO alumni • Renowned for strong focus on clinical education and on-campus Illinois Eye Institute (IEI)

13. ICO at a Glance • IEI incorporates 3 Primary Care suites, which simulate group practice settings, along with specialty suites including: Low Vision, Pediatrics, Contact Lens & Cornea, and Advanced Care • Diverse clinical patient base; over 90,000 patient visits each year in IEI • Cutting-edge diagnosis and treatment for complex and rare eye disorders & diseases

14. ICO at a Glance Four Years of Clinically-Focused Education 1st Year Foundational basic and human science coursework in addition to Clinically-related teaching approach & observations in IEI. Optional Summer - Private Practice Clerkship elective to learn practice management 2nd Year Coursework becomes more Clinically relevant along with continued observations in IEI. Opportunities for participation in dispensing area and vision screenings. Clinical Honors and Patient Advocate Programs.

15. ICO at a Glance 3rd Year Patient care begins in Primary Care suites of IEI Coursework focused on advanced disease, specialty areas and Clinical Medicine. Professional Career Development Counselor available to assist with identifying individual practice preferences and options – including access to On-line listings of practice opportunities, exclusively available to ICO students and alumni 4th Year Entirely clinical year. Community-Based Clinical Education (externship) program with over 130 clinical sites nationwide & internationally and exposure to all specialty areas Required rotation in hospital-based optometry and each specialty area. Upon graduation, each ICO student has conducted an average of 1,600 patient visits!

16. ICO at a Glance Student Life • Student Organizations • Private Practice Club • National Optometric Student Association (NOSA) • American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) • Student Association • The Tomb and Key Honor Society • Student Volunteers in Optometric Service to Humanity (SVOSH) • Events • ICOlympics • Quiz Bowl • Multicultural Night • Boo Bash • Red Cross Blood Drive

17. ICO at a Glance Convenient On-Campus Housing in the Residential Complex (RC) • Located across the street from the College/IEI • Shared suites and 1-3 bedroom apartments available • RC resident activities introduce students to Chicago • Modern, well-equipped Fitness Center located in the College • Computer lab, kitchen, recreation areas

18. Chicago – great place to study and live! • ICO is conveniently located just south of downtown Chicago – “The Loop” • Home to 2.9 million people—the big city with hundreds of neighborhoods • 560 parks 31 miles of lakefront 198 neighborhoods 200 live theaters

19. Chicago – Your Kind of Town! • World's largest modern art museum, food festival, aquarium, largest public library • Built along beautiful Lake Michigan – countless lakeside trails in the city • Cost of living very affordable compared to similarly-sized cities

20. Preparations Choosing Your Undergraduate Major Biological Sciences 76% Psychology/Social Science 8% Health Sciences 5% Chemistry 4% Other 7% (Business, Engineering, English, Music, etc.) (data from 2009 entering Class)

21. Preparations Choosing to Obtain Your Undergraduate Degree It is possible to enter ICO without an undergrad degree if you have 90 semester hours of credit, keep in mind: • Earning your degree can make you more competitive • Additional time for upper-level science coursework • 93% of First Year Students in 2008 entered the O.D. program with a degree

22. Preparations Required General Coursework • English (6 semester hours) • Calculus (3 semester hours) • Statistics (3 semester hours) • Psychology (3 semester hours) • Social Science (3 semester hours) Note: 1 quarter hour = 2/3 semester hours

23. Preparations Required Science Coursework • General Biology (6 semester hours) • Microbiology (3 semester hours) • Physics (6 semester hours) • General Chemistry (6 semester hours) • Organic Chemistry (3 semester hours) Note: Related lab required for all courses except organic chemistry

24. Preparations Recommended Coursework • Additional human-based biological sciences • Anatomy/physiology • Biochemistry • Cellular biology • Genetics • Additional psychology courses • Public speaking • Business management

25. The Competition Evaluating the Numbers 2009 Entering Class Averages • Average Cumulative GPA 3.44 • Average OAT (TS) 345

26. The Competition Evaluating the Numbers

27. Strengthening Your Application Strengthen Your Numbers • Competitive numbers indicate a strong educational background and can help the Admissions Committee to identify your potential early in the admissions process. …Are your numbers competitive? • There’s still time to improve your “number-side” if you want to apply for 2010!

28. Strengthening Your Application Your Academic Record • Complete additional upper-division biological science courses • Upper-division • Successful completion of your most recent coursework is especially important. • Competitive 4-year colleges/universities are desirable • Cumulative GPA vs. Pre-Optometry GPA

29. Evaluating the GPA Your Academic Record Cumulative GPA… it’s more than just a number • Rigorous course loads • Grade trends Pre-Optometry / Science GPA • Grades earned in science-based coursework • Trends in science-based coursework throughout college career

30. Preparations Optometry Admission Test (OAT) • Register online at www.opted.org • Exam is now taken on-computer at a Prometric Testing Center and scheduled at your convenience. • Last date to take the OAT and still qualify for 2010 Entering Class: March 15, 2010. • Scoring recalibrated as of May 1, 2009

31. Preparations Prepare for the OAT Don’t rush into taking the OAT • Courses in biology, physics, chemistry & organic chemistry prove to be helpful before taking the test Keep in mind that you do not need to wait until you take the OAT before applying.

32. Preparations Prepare for the OAT OAT Prep Courses – to take or not to take: Utilize OAT prep materials – based on your study habits, determine a method of study for you • Time your practice tests! • Be prepared on test day • Study, Study, Study!

33. Evaluating the OAT Your Academic Record Total Science Score… it’s also more than just a number • Quantitative Reasoning • Reading Comprehension • Physics • Biology • General Chemistry • Organic Chemistry

34. Preparations Numbers are important to get your foot in the door… BUT …Numbers alone do not indicate whether or not you will make a good doctor!

35. Preparations Enhancing Your Overall Application & Background • Develop strong communication skills • Enrich your knowledge of the profession • Determine your strengths & weaknesses • Acquire strong letters of evaluation

36. Preparations Knowledge of the Profession What do you know about optometry? • Explore optometry-related websites • Read journals & newspaper articles about optometry & healthcare in general Have you talked to, shadowed or observed an O.D.? • Find out what would be expected of you as an optometry student and as an optometrist • Ask lots of questions

37. Preparations Communication Skills Strong communication skills are very important • Optometry is a very interactive profession • Get involved in activities that will allow you to have interaction with various types of people & varied personalities • Good optometrists are good communicators! • Think about your favorite doctor…

38. Know Your Strengths… Determine Your Strengths… • What qualities of a successful optometrist do I already possess? • What is it about me that makes me say “I would make a great doctor!” • How can I demonstrate these traits in my application? During my interview?

39. Preparations …and Your Weaknesses … and Your Current Weaknesses • Is my academic record really representative of my ability? • What qualities of a successful optometrist do I still need to learn? • Have I really researched the profession of optometry? Do I have an idea about the new advances in the profession? Develop a plan and strengthen each of your weaknesses!

40. Preparations Letters of Evaluation Obtain Strong Letters of Evaluation • Choose both of your evaluators wisely: Can your evaluator say great things about your ability to become an outstanding O.D.? • Give enough time to complete the evaluation • Anything less than a positive evaluation usually means you have not done your job

41. Application Process • OptomCAS is the NEW Optometry Centralized Application Service • Applicants will be able to file one application and send it to multiple optometry schools • All 20 schools and colleges of optometry plan to participate in OptomCAS

42. Application Process Centralized Application for OptomCAS: • Complete the online, centralized application to OptomCAS • Submit a one-page autobiographical statement to OptomCAS • Send official transcripts from all institutions attended to OptomCAS • Send two Letters of Evaluation to OptomCAS (1) Optometrist Letter (2) Academic Letter • Send application fee to OptomCAS Supplemental Application for ICO: • Complete the supplemental application from ICO • The applicant will receive this once he/she completes the OptomCAS application • Send the Pre-Optometry Coursework Sheet to ICO • Send application fee to ICO

43. Application Process: Step by Step Interview Invitations Be sure that your application file is complete before submission so that it can be reviewed! Invitations for on-campus interviews are extended to selected candidates by the Admissions Committee from mid-September through April.

44. Application Process: Step by Step What We Will Do For You After you mail your COMPLETED Application, the Office of Admissions will: Notify you of receipt of application materials, Notify you of missing application materials, Review your application once we have received all required materials, Send you Admissions Updates and other periodic correspondence, Gladly answer any questions you may have!

45. Application Process: Step by Step Strengthening Your Application Be organized! Read and follow instructions! Keep copies of all of your application materials. Complete all steps of the process in a timely manner. Communicate with us! Update the Office of Admissions if there are changes in your application.

46. Application Process: Step by Step Interview Day Overview Interview Day! File Review Writing sample Student Financial Services Presentation One-on-one Interview Tour/Lunch with Current Students Guests are welcome!

47. Application Process: Step by Step Admissions Committee decisions are sent by mail in approximately two weeks from the date of the interview. Accepted Candidates will be asked to submit a $500 Deposit to hold their seat in the Class. Additional information is communicated as the year progresses.

48. Our Mission We believe that every student we accept can complete the program and become a GREAT OPTOMETRIST!

49. We’re Here to Help! admissions@ico.edu Teisha Johnson, M.S. Director of Admissions 312-949-7407 tjohnson@ico.edu Sarah Johnson, M.S. Admissions Coordinator 312-949-7604 sjohnson@ico.edu Michelle Cook Admissions Coordinator 312-949-7404 mcook@ico.edu www.ico.edu

50. UW Pre-Optometry - Thank you for the opportunity to be with you this evening! Bkarmis@ico.edu