Interview Process
Invited applicants will participate in a unique interview process in optometry designed specifically for the Scholars Program. Unlike the traditional one-on-one interview, applicants will participate in six to eight multiple mini-interviews (MMI), each lasting five to eight minutes.
Conducted by program faculty mentors, College administrators, as well as members of the Salus community, each mini-interview presents the applicant with a scenario aimed at assessing one or more attributes deemed to be essential for success in the Scholars Program. (For more information on MMI: New York Times article and an overall description of the process of the MMI).
The Scholars Program multiple mini-interviews are designed to assess critical thinking skills, diversity and cultural sensitivity, collaboration and communication skills, as well as time management. Collaboration and team building are key features of the Scholars Program. For this reason applicants also take part in a group exercise to further evaluate the applicant’s abilities in these areas. The invited applicant’s participation in the MMI process does not require that an applicant have specific scientific knowledge on a particular topic to be successful during the interview process.
Mentorship is another important feature of the Scholars Program. Students in the program will work closely with carefully selected faculty mentors who will supervise the program’s students through each aspect of this curriculum; as group discussion leaders, clinical problem solving coaches, and supervisors of the intense and diverse patient care experiences Scholars Program students will encounter. Throughout the interview day, applicants will be interacting with the dean of PCO and the associate dean for the Scholars Program, as well as the core faculty members who will serve as mentors to the Scholars Program students.
During the interview process each applicant has multiple opportunities to fully demonstrate his/her suitability, as well as his/her willingness, to participate in the Scholars Program. Additionally, during the invited applicant’s day on campus, each applicant learns about the program and has the opportunity to reflect and assess his/her own abilities in relation to the program’s demands. As with the traditional four-year program, Scholars Program applicants also have the opportunity to tour the Elkins Park campus and The Eye Institute, meet current PCO students, as well as obtain information about the University, housing opportunities, and financial aid.
Please note, it is an applicant's responsibility to respond promptly to an interview invitation, either to accept or to decline. Information will be shared with all schools and colleges of optometry if an applicant is a "no show" for a scheduled admissions interview. Please contact the Office of Admissions with any questions regarding the interview process.
Notification of Acceptance
Upon receipt of acceptance, an applicant is required to pay a $1,000 matriculation fee to the University prior to the start of classes, payable as follows:
- Return the matriculation form along with a $500 deposit within 14 days of the date of the acceptance letter.
- The balance of $500 for the matriculation fee is due March 15.
- If accepted after March 15, the offer of acceptance will detail payment requirements.
- All monies received above are non-refundable and will be applied toward first term fees.
Please note that all applicants are to respond promptly to all offers of admission. Once an applicant has accepted an offer, it is the applicant’s obligation to immediately notify and withdraw any outstanding applications or to decline offers of admission from other schools and colleges of optometry. Salus University participates in
Shared Acceptance Reports during the OptomCAS cycle.
Students will be required to meet University
compliance requirements upon matriculation.
Deferment of admission
An accepted student with an unforeseen, extenuating circumstance prohibiting them from matriculating may request a deferment of admission in writing. The request must be directed to both the Dean of Student Affairs and the Dean of PCO, and made via the Office of Admissions.
For deferment consideration, the following is required:
- A deferment request submitted in writing by April 1st, before the July start of the academic year. Please note, submission of a deferral request by the deadline does not guarantee approval.
- Official documentation verifying the extenuating circumstance.
- All non-refundable deposit fees and the matriculation supplement must be received (as directed in the University’s official Letter of Acceptance).
If deferment is approved:
- Admission will be extended to August matriculation of the next academic year.
- A deferment will not extend beyond one admission cycle.
- The student must contact the Office of Admissions, in writing, by February 1st of the deferred admission calendar year regarding his/her intention to resume enrollment.
- The student will be required to meet with a member of the Admissions Committee prior to matriculation (this may be done in person or via phone/online).
If a deferral request is denied:
- A student has the option to withdraw acceptance from the Program, and reapply through OptomCAS for future admission.
For questions regarding this policy, please contact the Office of Admissions at
admissions@salus.edu.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Enrolled students who withdraw or are dismissed from the University will be responsible for the payment of tuition in accordance with the institutional refund schedule.