Application Process: Traditional OD Program

To be considered, an applicant must:

Please note: The admissions process for Traditional OD Program now includes a supplemental application process. Please review all listed requirements thoroughly.  (updated: 5/03/23)
 

• Submit a properly completed application to the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS) at www.optomcas.org. Detailed instructions regarding the completion of the application and the essay are provided on the OptomCAS website.
• Complete the required supplemental application process (Traditional OD Program applicants only) by arranging to take the online Casper Assessment Test (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics). For detailed instructions, please click on the Required Supplemental Application Process drop down below. Taking the Casper between July and December of the application cycle is highly recommended. 

• Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (or currently attending) directly to OptomCAS.

• Complete admissions prerequisites (listed below) at the college level with a grade of ‘C-’ or better. Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the program, not prior to application.

• Arrange to take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) prior to June 1 of the desired entering year; taking the OAT between July and December of the application cycle is highly recommended.
  • Information and registration for online testing: www.opted.org
  • Applicants now have the option to take the General GRE (Graduate Record Exam), MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), DAT (Dental Admission Test), or PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test) in lieu of taking the OAT.  Please contact the Office of Admissions with any questions.
    • If taking the GRE, scores can be sent directly to OptomCAS, using Designated Institution (DI) Code: 4566.
  • The admission exam must be taken within three years, prior to the start of the OptomCAS application cycle to which you are applying. Score reports past three years will not be considered. For example, if you are applying for the 2023-24 application cycle, you must have taken the OAT or approved substitute on or after June 30, 2020.
• Three letters of evaluation are required and should be forwarded directly to OptomCAS. Any three of the following options will be accepted in order to fulfill the letter requirement:
  • A Pre-Professional Committee letter of evaluation (consult with your college/university pre-professional advisor regarding the policy for providing letters of recommendation for pre-professional applicants).
    • one committee letter will fulfill the entire letter requirement.
  • Letter from a teaching faculty member who has taught you in a course (science teaching faculty letter is strongly recommended).
    • letter from a teaching assistant only accepted if co-signed by faculty member.
  • Letter from your pre-professional or faculty advisor. 
  • Letter from practicing optometrist for whom you have shadowed or worked.
  • Letter from a healthcare professional or work supervisor who is able to assess your qualifications for professional education and future career in optometry. 
  • Additional letters outside of the above options will enhance the file but will not fulfill our required letters of evaluation.

• Complete a minimum of 25 hours shadowing/observation in the field of optometry or ophthalmology. 
• International Students, please review for any additional requirements in the drop down section below.

• All credentials submitted on behalf of an applicant become a part of that applicant’s file with the University and cannot be returned.
• Students will be required to meet University compliance requirements upon matriculation. 

It is recommended that applicants with less than a 2.5 (C+) overall grade point average should consult the Office of Admissions prior to applying.

Prerequisites

An applicant must have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours of credit from an accredited undergraduate college or university. These credits must include the pre-optometry courses listed below completed with a 'C-' or better.

An applicant need not have completed all prerequisites prior to filing an application but must be able to complete all outstanding prerequisites prior to enrolling. 

Prerequisite credits completed ten or more years prior to the anticipated entrance date will be reviewed for approval on an individual basis.

• General Biology or Zoology (with labs) - one year
• General Chemistry (with labs) - one year
• Organic Chemistry (with labs) - one year  or
  • ½ year Organic Chemistry with lab, plus ½ year of either Biochemistry or Molecular Biology (lab highly recommended)
• General Physics (with labs) - one year
• Microbiology or Bacteriology (lecture only) - ½ year  
• English Composition or English Literature - one year
• Mathematics - one year
  • ( ½ year Calculus fulfills math requirement; however, one year Calculus highly recommended)
• Psychology - ½ year  
• Statistics (Math, Biology or Psychology) - ½ year

We highly encourage, but do not require, additional upper level science coursework in such areas as Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, Histology, and Experimental and Physiological Psychology. Anatomy and Physiology course work is highly recommended.   

The Admissions Committee has established policies that include the selection of applicants best qualified to serve the public and the profession in the years to come. Many factors are considered in selecting students for our program, including:

• academic performance
• motivation
• extracurricular activities and interests
• related and unrelated work experience
• personal achievements
• essays
• letters of evaluation
• communication skills, including a demonstrated command of the English language, both written and oral

When evaluating academic performance, the applicant’s overall and science grade point averages, performance in prerequisite courses, number of college credits completed, degree status and results of the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) are carefully considered. Please note: the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Dental Admission Test (DAT), or Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) will be accepted in lieu of the OAT.

When evaluating non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics the Casper Assessment Test (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics), is considered, among other criteria, as listed above.  We believe these characteristics are important for successful students and graduates of our program, and in implementing Casper, we are attempting to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process. 

Admissions Selection Process - OD Traditional Program
 

Interview Process

Individuals successfully meeting the required admissions selection criteria may receive an invitation to visit our campus for an interview, which provides further insight into the applicant’s character and motivation, and allows an applicant the opportunity to meet with an Admissions staff member to discuss his or her application, tour our campus and meet with faculty and students. The option for an online interview may be available upon request. 

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 and Matriculation Fee

An applicant may be notified of his or her acceptance as early as October, prior to the desired year of enrollment. 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 April 1.
• If accepted after April 1, 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. 

SCHOLARSHIPS

Available internal Optometry Scholarships
Available external Optometry Scholarships
 

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 May 15th, before the August 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 April 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.
 

• University Policies
• Refund Policy