By Addy Bomar
It is no secret that the life of a pre-optometry student can be packed to the brim. Between the looming thoughts around studying for and taking the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), collecting experiences that will “boost” your résumé, and trying to maintain a healthy balance, it can feel overwhelming. However, there are ways to streamline many of the areas of your pre-optometry life, which can make the process of applying to schools significantly easier once that time rolls around. To work toward accomplishing this, I have compiled what I would consider my top 5 tips for pre-optometry students:
STEP 1: FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH OptomCAS & ORMatch
To kickstart the proactivity, there are steps you can take throughout your undergraduate studies and during optometry school that can be beneficial when you open your application portal down the road. The Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS) is the cumulative portal that contains the applications to each of the optometry schools in the United States, Canada and U.S. Territories. Similarly, Optometry Residency Match (ORMatch) is the shared portal for applying to all residencies in optometry school. In these platforms, you will compile all of your experiences from your scholarly studies, your academic achievements, your hobbies and anything else you’d like schools to know about you when they read your application. What many students don’t realize is that these portals are free to access and can be opened even if you don’t plan on applying during the current application cycle. The structure of the OptomCAS and ORMatch applications stay very similar from year to year, so taking a look at the structure of the portal can help you get an idea of how to start compiling all the information you’d like on your application.
TAKE NOTE – When you start to compile your information for the portal, it is always a good idea to draft the text in a document that is synced to your device or to a storage cloud to then be transferred into the portal when you are ready. This is an imperative step, because once an application cycle closes (even if you didn’t submit anything), your progress is lost from the portal.
With this in mind, you can begin compiling experiences as you complete them! Keeping a running list of these components for your application will be especially helpful for your future self and save you a lot of time.
STEP 2: NAVIGATE UNDERGRAD AND OPTOMETRY SCHOOL WITH PURPOSE
While a student, there are many opportunities that you can take advantage of to make yourself a more competitive applicant. Being well-rounded can significantly strengthen your application. Getting involved in your school, local chapters of clubs or organizations, or holding positions that you are interested in can set you apart from many other applicants.
Throughout your time at your undergraduate institution, challenge yourself to try something new. Adding experiences, honors, jobs or service hours to your application will only strengthen it—so make the most of these opportunities that may arise throughout your studies. Similarly, during optometry school, be sure to try shadowing various types of practices and even invest in learning more about a specialty you haven’t considered pursuing in the past. Keeping your eyes on the prize is most important here; anything you accomplish is part of what shapes your personality and can be a boost to your résumé and application. A student with balance, drive and passion is a student who is proactively preparing for optometry school.
STEP 3: TAKE NOTES ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES
It is no secret that applying to optometry school requires a personal statement to be submitted with your application. A personal statement is a description of one’s achievements and interests that optometry schools and residency programs use to get a glimpse into your life and personality. No big deal, right?
Wrong. Drafting a personal statement can be extremely stressful, especially at the very beginning. Many students struggle choosing a topic for their personal statement and tend to spend most of their time with this portion of the application.
To prevent this, take notes about the experiences you accumulate during your time preparing for optometry school or residency. Tapping into a time that changed your life or built your passion for the field can be something that makes a strong backbone for a personal statement. It is easiest to recall the details of an experience right after it happens—so challenge yourself to write things down and save them for later when you open that blank document, so you aren’t starting from scratch.
With a “bank” of experiences recorded by your past self, you will have just compiled an awesome list of personal statement topics. Congratulations!
STEP 4: BUILD A STUDY SCHEDULE—AND STICK TO IT!
With that Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) and National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations looming over future you, it is important to try to find consistency in your academic habits. Easier said than done, but trust me, this is achievable. When it comes time to start studying for your OAT or Part 1 of NBEO, it can feel more manageable if encountered through a routine.
Not only do study schedules work wonders for your current courses, but they also are ideal for OAT studying. Tackling small chunks over time can make the process feel less daunting and can instill more passes over the material through the spaced-repetition study method. Challenge yourself to build a routine that works for you now while you are in didactic courses and strengthen your study methods to help with your future OAT and/or NBEO studying. Building disciplined study habits during your undergraduate years will also set you up for success as an optometry student.
STEP 5: BUILD CONNECTIONS
As I’m sure you’ve heard a time or two before, it’s a small world. Expanding your network during your time before optometry school can put you miles ahead when it comes time to apply for optometry school. Building connections can be valuable while gaining experience for your application, and these same contacts can continue to support you once you’re in optometry school. The world of optometry is small, and the connections you make as a student and future optometrist can last throughout your career. Becoming comfortable building relationships now will make networking in optometry school feel much more natural.
All that being said, there is not one right path to becoming an optometrist. However, challenging yourself to be a proactive applicant is a start to finding the path that will lead you toward reaching your goals. Congratulations on choosing to look into optometry and maybe even taking the next step to pursue a residency—enjoy your journey!
