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UND offers excellent preparation for any optometry school. The Pre-Optometry
Program offered through the College of Arts and Sciences sets
guidelines and timetables for UND students
to successfully complete the prerequisite coursework and other requirements
relating to optometry schools.
This program is not a major and
does not lead to a degree from UND! Pre-Optometry students planning to complete an undergraduate degree at UND must choose a major and meet the University Graduation Requirement of 125
semester credits. These credits are to include:
| 1. |
General Education Requirements(GERs) for freshman students entering UND before Fall 2008 and transfer students entering UND before Fall 2009
OR
Essential Studies Requirements for freshman students entering UND in the Fall of 2008 (or later) and transfer students entering UND in the Fall of 2009 (or later) |
| 2. |
36 upper divisional credits |
| 3. |
Specific requirements of a major
as determined by the department responsible for that major |
| 4. |
Any prerequisites for optometry
school(s) as outlined by the Pre-Optometry Program |
We encourage you to meet with the Health
Sciences Advisor, Mrs. Kimberly Ruit,
as
early in your UND undergraduate education
as possible. Mrs. Ruit can help in all aspects of your undergraduate
preparation for optometry school: from scheduling to study skills,
to OAT preparation, to interview preparation. Together, you can plan
the undergraduate curriculum that is right for you.
Competitive
Applicant Profile
No matter what optometry school
a student chooses to attend, there are 5 areas that will be scrutinized
by any Admissions Committee when reviewing applications. It is therefore
very important that the student is well prepared in order to present his/her
best possible application. The table below summarizes these areas:
| Academics |
Degree needed? Most schools require 90
semester hours - a few require or prefer a degree.
Major? For schools requiring a major, any
is fine as long as prerequisite coursework is done.
GPA? National average is 3.10 - 3.60. |
| OAT Scores |
Must be equal to or above national average (currently
about 305). |
Letters of
Recommendation |
Required, although numbers and authors vary from
school to school. |
Relevant
Life Experiences |
Essential!!!!! Especially experiences that
include contact with patients or clients in an optometrist's office or
optician setting. |
| State of Residency |
Because North Dakota does not have a school of
optometry, the state has made arrangements with several schools to take
our students either as WICHE students, or on a contractual or reciprocal
agreement. The state also has a limited amount of funds (through
PSEP) with which it can support several optometry students each year.
You need to apply for these when you apply to optometry school. Check
with the Health Sciences Advisor about this early in your undergraduate
education. |
| Legal Record |
Keep your legal record and personal image squeaky clean!!
1. Background checks
a. More and more health professional schools are now doing background checks on all matriculants and/or applicants.
=> If you have been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor of a violent or sexual nature, you will be prohibited from professional health care practice in many states, so health professional schools will not accept you.
=> All other misdemeanors (underage drinking, drug possession, etc.) will also show up on background checks (even if they happened before you were 18). Having just one of these can definitely hurt your chances of acceptance into a health professional school!
b. UND's medical school will ask you to list any violations beyond a simple parking ticket on their application! You will have to disclose everything – no matter how old you were!!
The legal drinking age in North Dakota is 21. Illegal drugs are just that – illegal at any age. Stay away from alcohol and illegal drugs and any activities or instances where they may be present!! Why risk it? Is it worth ruining your future?
2. MySpace, Facebook, etc.
a. As more and more companies and schools use the internet to research potential employees and students, it is essential that you make sure comments posted by you and about you are wholesome, reflect good character, and show maturity.
=> Limit visitors to your site to friends only.
=> Regularly check and remove any unwanted postings by others
b. Be sure pictures are in good taste and not incriminating.
=> Regularly check and remove any unwanted postings or tags by others.
=> At UND, students may be written up by their RA's for university conduct violations with evidence provided by just a picture!
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Sample
Pre-Optometry Schedule
All optometry schools have required
coursework that must be completed successfully by prospective students. While only a few optometry schools require students to finish a degree
before matriculating, the vast majority of students accepted into these
schools do have a degree. The following table suggests a schedule
for the most commonly required classes, as well as the best time for taking
the OAT for the first time. This schedule spreads these requirements
over 4 years so students will be able to finish a bachelors degree as well. Classes in parentheses may be required/allowed by certain schools.
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Freshman |
Sophomore**** |
Junior |
Senior |
| Fall |
Bio 150, 150L
Chem 121, 121L
Math 103
Engl 110 |
Chem 341, 341L*
Anat 204, 204L
Psych 111
Math 146**
(or begin
the Math 165/166 sequence)
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Physics 211, 211L
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| Spring |
Bio 151, 151L
Chem 122, 122L
(Math 105?)
Engl 120*** |
Chem 342, 342L*
(or take
Chem 240, 240L)
Physio 301
Psych Stats 241 or Soc
Stats 326 |
Physics 212, 212L
Biochem 301
OAT
(late spring/early summer)
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MBio 302, 302L |
*Some optometry schools will allow
1 semester of Organic Chemistry (in most cases it has to be Chem 240/240L in the spring semester),
instead of the whole year sequence.
**Some optometry schools require
a full year of calculus, so the student should take Math 165/166.
***Pacific University requires
9 credits of English, so a student may take Engl 110, 120 and 125 to meet
that requirement.
****Please note: your second year classes will differ from those listed if you plan to be a biology or chemistry major.
Be sure to check the ASCO
Prerequisite Course Comparison Chart for Optometry Schools for
more details on specific course requirements.
Remember...admission
to optometry school is highly selective and competitive.
Funding for your optometry
schooling through WICHE and PSEP is also based on academic quality.
It is imperative that
you take your studies very seriously from the first day of your freshman
year!!
Bulletin
Board
Welcome New and Returning Students!
Don't forget to check in with Mrs. Ruit this year to make sure you are on track with your program!
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Freshman Pre-Health Student
Orientation Meeting
Date: August 25, 2008
Time: 7:00pm
Place: Reed Keller Lecture Hall, UND Medical School
Come meet Mrs. Ruit, the Health Sciences Advisor, and find out what you need to know to be a successful Pre-Optometry student! |
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OAT Information
A computerized version of the OAT is now available, and the written test has been phased out. The computerized version is the same test that had been available in a written format, however testing is available year round and an examinee can select the date, time, and place to test. In addition, examinees receive their scores immediately after the completion of the test at the test center.
Information about the computerized OAT is available at:https://www.ada.org/oat/OAT_Guide.doc
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Occasionally, Optometry Schools send representatives to UND each fall to recruit students.
Dates and times of these visits will be posted
as soon as details are worked out.
All Pre-Optometry students are welcome!
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Pre-Optometry
Links
Check out
these links to sites of interest for pre-optometry students:
ASCO (Association
of Schools and Colleges of Optometry)
This site contains:
- Contact information and links to the schools and colleges of optometry
Access to the optometric faculty directory
Answers to frequently asked questions about optometry A profile of optometry students and applicants Information about optometric residencies & postgraduate programs
- Links to related sites
Prerequisite
Course Comparison Chart for Optometry Schools (as compiled by ASCO)
AAO (American
Academy of Optometry)
The mission of the AAO
is to promote the art, science and research of vision care. This
site contains info on the organization itself, as well as numerous links
to optometry organizations, publications, schools of optometry and optometrists.
Scholar
Ware (OAT Preparation)
Source for OAT review
materials and sample OAT tests.
WICHE
This site contains information
on the WICHE programs and opportunities for students. |
Mrs. Ruit's Office Hours for 2008-09
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August 25, 2008 -
December 19, 2008
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January 12, 2009 -
March 13, 2009
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March 23, 2008 -
May 15, 2008
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Summers
(Out of the office) |
Tuesdays |
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Wednesdays |
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Thursdays |
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Mondays
(During Early Registration dates) |
9am - 12pm
(Nov 4-26, 2008)
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Pre-Health Advising is by appointment only.
Appointments with Mrs. Ruit can only be made by calling 701-777-2749 during regular weekday business hours.
No e-mails for scheduling appointments please!
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