Ophthalmologist / Optometrist
There are different types of professionals who play important roles in eye care. The levels of training and expertise are the major difference between the types of eye care provider. An ophthalmologist is a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) who specializes in eye and vision care. An ophthalmologist diagnoses and treats all eye diseases, performs eye surgery and prescribes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems. An optometrist (OD) is a healthcare professional who provides primary vision care ranging from vision testing and correction to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision changes. An optometrist is not a medical doctor.
Ophthalmologists complete 12 to 14 years of training and education including medical school and are licensed to practice medicine and surgery. Typical training includes a four-year college degree followed by at least eight years of additional medical and surgical training. Ophthalmologist may choose to specialize further in a specific area of medical or surgical eye care. This person is referred to as a subspecialist. Subspecialty requires one or two additional years of school, a fellowship with more in-depth training in one of the main subspecialty areas such as glaucoma, retina, cornea, pediatrics, neurology, oculo-plastic surgery or others.
An optometrist receives a Doctor of Optometry degree after completing 2 to four years of college level education, followed by four years of optometry school. Optometrists are licensed to practice optometry, which primarily involves performing eye exams and vision tests, prescribing and dispensing corrective lenses, detecting certain eye abnormalities, and prescribing medications for certain eye diseases.
Many ophthalmologists and optometrists are board certified. A board-certified ophthalmologist or optometrist has passed a rigorous examination given by the American Board of Ophthalmology or Optometry designed to assess their knowledge, experience, and skills.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors, so graduation from medical school is required. However, it is important to keep in mind that there is no one major that is required for medical school. While many choose to major in the biology, chemistry, physics, math, or an area within health professions, some students choose to major in non-STEM fields as medical schools seek increasingly well-rounded applicants.
A major in the biological sciences is preferred by most students who apply and enroll in medical school, according to the Association of American Medical Sciences. In biology and similar programs, it is possible that many of the prerequisites for medical school might be satisfied through traditional completion of degree requirements.
The bottom line is that a particular major is not expected or required for medical school admissions. As long as medical school prerequisites will be completed, the priority should be on majoring in an area of interest, one in which you feel you could do very well.
Schools of Optometry also DO NOT require a particular major for admission. Students should select a major that suits their academic and personal interests. Many aspiring optometrists will purse bachelor’s degrees in health care or one of the sciences. Candidates are encouraged to choose a major which allows them to demonstrate strong academic performance while focusing on developing a strong background in the sciences. Some of the more popular undergraduate majors for admissions into optometry programs include, but are not limited to, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health Science, Kinesiology, and Exercise Science.
The AAMC web site lists the following courses as prerequisites for medical school admission.
- One year of biology.
- One year of English.
- Two years of chemistry, through organic chemistry.
However, prerequisites vary from school to school. Most medical schools will require additional courses to those listed by the AAMC. You are encouraged to seek out minimum requirements for each medical school for which you have an interest in applying. School specific course recommendations may include:
- Biology: two semesters of lecture/one semester of lab.
- General chemistry: One semester of lecture/ One semester of lab.
- Organic chemistry: Two semesters of lecture/ one semester of lab.
- Biochemistry: One semester of lecture.
- Physics: Two semesters of lecture/ one semester of lab.
- Math: Two semesters of lecture, including calculus and statistics.
- English: two semesters of lecture.
As with the undergraduate degree, prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrolling in medical school. You may apply to medical school with some requirements outstanding as long as they are completed prior to matriculation.
The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) web site lists the following courses as general prerequisites for optometry school admission.
- One year of Biology or Zoology.
- One year of General Chemistry.
- One year of General Physics.
- One year of College Math.
- One year of English.
However, prerequisites vary from school to school. You are encouraged to seek out minimum requirements for each optometry program for which you have an interest in applying.
Grade Point Average
Most medical schools don’t publish a minimum grade point average (GPA) requirement for admission. Although schools tend to utilize “holistic admissions,” whereby an admissions committee can assess unique individual experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement such as test scores and grades, successful applicants tend to have GPAs well above a 3.5. According to the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Applications Services (TMDSAS), students who matriculated in 2021 to medical schools in the state of Texas had an average GPA of 3.81. It is much more difficult to get accepted into medical school with a lower GPA, so it is important to always remain mindful of grades.
MCAT
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is traditionally required for medical school admission. For a vast number of medical schools, the MCAT score is valid for three years from date of the exam. If your MCAT score is older than three years, the test will have to be retaken.
The earliest students begin to take the MCAT exam is the summer after their sophomore year. The latest it is recommended for a student to take the exam is April of application year. Students should plan to allow for 3-4 months of study and preparation time for the exam to maximize their score. The average MCAT score for students who matriculated in 2021 to Texas medical schools, according to the TMDSAS, was a 506.2.
Resume Building
With medical schools seeking to admit well rounded applicants, students should obtain skills and competencies through activities outside of the classroom. In a competitive admissions process where most applicants tend to have strong grades and MCAT scores, admissions committees will carefully assess how students spent their time outside of class. Some activities that could prove helpful in the medical school admissions process may include:
- Shadowing: observing physicians in a professional setting.
- Clinical experience: experience volunteering in a clinical setting with exposure to patients.
- Community Service: any volunteerism in a non-clinical setting based on interests which could include work with charitable organizations, schools, community service, and the like.
Faculty Recommendations
Requirements for letters of recommendations vary from medical school to medical school. The following guidelines are suggested:
- Two letters from a science professor, undergraduate or graduate professor.
- One letter from a non-science professor, undergraduate or graduate professor.
- Two or three letters from individuals who have supervised you in an extracurricular setting.
The quality of a letter of recommendations is far more important than the quantity. You should build relationships with your instructors and ask for recommendations from those individuals that can speak best on your behalf.
All schools and colleges of optometry participate in OptomCAS – Optometry’s Centralized Application Service. OptomCAS opens the end of June/first of July for each application cycle. For more information about OptomCAS and to access the application, please visit the OptomCAS website at optomcas.org.
OptomCAS allows optometry applicants to use a single web-based application and one set of materials to apply to multiple schools and colleges of optometry. Applicants who apply through OptomCAS submit a completed web-based application comprised of biographical data, colleges and universities attended, academic course history, letters of recommendation, work experience, extracurricular activities, honors, and a personal essay. It is the applicant’s responsibility to read and follow specific instructions for OptomCAS and the schools and colleges of optometry.
Optometry schools look for well-rounded candidates who have demonstrated excellence in the classroom and beyond. Candidates are often evaluated on factors including GPA, extracurricular activities, volunteerism, work experience, leadership, professional potential, personal interview, and performance on the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT).
The OAT is a comprehensive exam that enables optometry education programs to assess the knowledge and preparedness of program applicants. The OAT consists of multiple -choice questions in a battery of four tests:
- The Survey of Natural Sciences (Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry.)
- Reading Comprehension.
- Physics.
- Quantitative Reasoning Tests.
First Year
- Research & determine if medical/optometry school is for you.
- Adjust to college life academically & socially.
- Map out plan to complete medical school prerequisites and degree requirements with an advisor.
- Develop study skills & strategies.
- Focus on earning good grades.
- Research pre-med, pre-ophthalmology/optometry and other student organizations; consider joining one.
Second Year
- Build relationships with faculty for letters of recommendation.
- Continue to build your resume; work, volunteer, seek clinical & shadowing opportunities.
- Begin planning and preparation for the MCAT/OAT.
- Research medical/optometry schools.
Third Year
- Take the MCAT (summer prior to or during third year.)
- Research and decide to which schools you will apply.
- Prepare and submit primary applications for admissions; will include personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation (spring third year.)
Fourth Year
- Prepare and submit secondary applications for medical school (summer prior to or during early fall fourth year.)
- Prepare for admissions interviews.
- Wait for admissions decisions.