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Optometry Centralized Application Service
OptomCAS Applicant Data Report – A National Snapshot
2018-2019
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 420
Rockville, MD 20852
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Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Participating Institutions for 2018-2019 ...................................................................................................... 3
Table 1 ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
OptomCAS Trends .............................................................................................................................. 4
Applicants and Applications .......................................................................................................................... 4
Table 2 ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
Designations .................................................................................................................................................. 4
Table 3 ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
Demographic Information on the Doctor of Optometry Applicant ............................................................ 5
Gender .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 1 ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
Age ................................................................................................................................................................ 6
Figure 2 ..................................................................................................................................................... 6
Race/Ethnicity ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 3 ..................................................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 4 ..................................................................................................................................................... 7
Citizenship ..................................................................................................................................................... 7
Figure 5 ..................................................................................................................................................... 7
State of Residence ........................................................................................................................................ 8
First Generation College Student .................................................................................................................. 8
Military Experience ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Influences ...................................................................................................................................................... 8
Academic Information on the Doctor of Optometry Applicant .................................................................. 8
Major ............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Institution ...................................................................................................................................................... 8
GPA ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Accepted Profile of the Doctor of Optometry Applicant ............................................................................ 9
Gender .......................................................................................................................................................... 9
Figure 6 ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
Age ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Race/Ethnicity ............................................................................................................................................... 9
Figure 7 ................................................................................................................................................... 10
GPA .............................................................................................................................................................. 10
For More Information ...................................................................................................................... 10
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Introduction
OptomCAS is the centralized application service for the Association of Schools and Colleges of
Optometry (ASCO) and is administered by Liaison International Inc., an education information
technology company located in Watertown, MA. 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.
OptomCAS began its first year on July 15, 2009 for Admissions Cycle 2009-2010. Since its
implementation, all eligible schools and colleges of optometry have participated in the
centralized application service. OptomCAS provides validated numbers for the optometry
application process.
This report will focus on Admissions Cycle 2018-2019. This cycle opened on June 28, 2018 and
closed on June 3, 2019. The application fee was $175 for one institution and $70 for each
additional institution.
Participating Institutions for 2018-2019
As noted in Table 1, twenty-three schools and colleges of optometry participated in OptomCAS
in Admissions Cycle 2018-2019.
Table 1.
Arizona College of Optometry, Midwestern
University
Salus University Pennsylvania College of
Optometry
Chicago College of Optometry, Midwestern
University
Southern California College of Optometry at
Marshall B. Ketchum University
Illinois College of Optometry
Southern College of Optometry
Indiana University School of Optometry
State University of New York College of Optometry
Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of
Optometry
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of
Optometry
MCPHS University School of Optometry
University of California, Berkeley School of
Optometry
Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State
University
University of Houston College of Optometry
New England College of Optometry
University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg
School of Optometry
Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of
University of Missouri at St. Louis College of
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Optometry
Optometry
Nova Southeastern University College of
Optometry
University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of
Optometry
The Ohio State University College of Optometry
Western University of Health Sciences College of
Optometry
Pacific University College of Optometry
OptomCAS Trends
Applicants and Applications
The number of OptomCAS individual verified applicants to the twenty-three schools and
colleges of optometry for 2018-2019 was 2,472. These applicants submitted a total of 11,746
applications for an average of 4.75 applications per applicant. See Table 2 below for a
comparison to previous cycles.
Table 2.
2013-2014
2014-2015
2015-2016
2017-2018
2018-2019
Verified Applicants
2,604
2,732
2,812
2,527
2,472
Verified
Applications
13,164
13,261
13,620
12,293
11,746
Total Verified
Applications per
Applicant
5.06
4.85
4.84
4.86
4.75
There was a 2% decrease in the number of applicants compared to the previous cycle. The total
verified applications decreased by 4%.
Designations
The top three designations for applicants to the Doctor of Optometry program were: Salus
University Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry and Nova
Southeastern University College of Optometry (reference Table 3). Please note these are
OptomCAS applicant numbers and some institutions have a supplemental application that must
be completed before an applicant will be considered for their program.
Table 3.
State
School
Total
Applicants
AZ
Arizona College of Optometry, Midwestern University
558
IL
Chicago College of Optometry, Midwestern University
536
IL
Illinois College of Optometry
935
IN
Indiana University School of Optometry
458
PR
Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry
174
MA
MCPHS University School of Optometry
568
5
MI
Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University
221
MA
New England College of Optometry
806
OK
Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
242
FL
Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
890
OH
The Ohio State University College of Optometry
498
OR
Pacific University College of Optometry
516
PA
Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry
973
CA
Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
483
TN
Southern College of Optometry
754
NY
State University of New York College of Optometry
417
AL
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
354
CA
University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry
184
TX
University of Houston College of Optometry
568
TX
University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry
460
MO
University of Missouri at St. Louis College of Optometry
280
KY
University Pikeville, Kentucky College of Optometry
457
CA
Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry
414
Demographic Information on the Doctor of Optometry Applicant
OptomCAS demographic data are captured on the OptomCAS application. This information
cannot be verified by Liaison staff.
Gender
Figure 1.
As shown in Figure 1, females comprised 70% of the OptomCAS applicant pool with males at
29%. Less than 1% of the applicant pool’s gender was unknown. This was the same as last
application cycle.
70%
29%
OptomCAS Applicants by Gender
2018-2019
Females Males Unknown
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Age
Figure 2.
Figure 2 shows that the majority of applicants were in the 20-25 age range followed by the 26-
30 age range. The average age for all applicants was 23.2 with a median age of 22. The
youngest applicant was 18 and the oldest was 61. There was no significant change from the
previous OptomCAS admissions cycle regarding age.
Race/Ethnicity
Figure 3.
As shown in Figure 3, the majority of applicants were White (46%) with the other applicants
reporting Asian (32%); Hispanic/Latino (11%); Black/African-American (5%); Two or More Races
84%
11%
3%
OptomCAS Applicants by Age
2018-2019
Up to 19 20-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46 and Up
3%
5%
3%
11%
32%
46%
OptomCAS Applicants by Race/Ethnicity
2018-2019
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander American Indian or Alaska Native
Two or More Races Black/African-American
Did Not Report Hispanic/Latino
Asian White
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(3%); American Indian/Alaska Native (less than 1%); and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
(less than 1%). Three percent of applicants did not report a race.
Figure 4.
As shown in Figure 4, the only major shift from last application cycle was with the Did Not
Report category, which decreased to 3% this cycle.
Citizenship
Figure 5.
<1% <1%
3%
4%
6%
9%
30%
47%
<1% <1%
3%
5%
3%
11%
32%
46%
OptomCAS Applicants by Race/Ethnicity
2017-2018 vs. 2018-2019
2017-2018 2018-2019
5%
5%
2%
<1%
88%
OptomCAS Applicants by Citizenship
2018-2019
Non-Resident
Did Not Report
Permanent US Resident
Temporary US Resident
US Citizen
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As shown in Figure 5, the majority of applicants in 2018-2019 were US citizens at 88%; 5% were
non-residents; 5% did not report; 2% were permanent US residents; and less than 1% were
temporary US residents.
State of Residence
The top five states where OptomCAS applicants claimed their state of residence in 2018-2019
were: California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois. There were 212 applicants from Canada.
In the 2017-2018 Admissions Cycle, the top five states were the same with 205 applicants from
Canada.
First Generation College Student
In 2018-2019, 64% of OptomCAS applicants had a parent who attended/graduated from
college, while 32% of applicants are first generation college students. Four percent declined to
answer the question. There was not a significant change from last year.
Military Experience
Less than 1% of OptomCAS applicants had previous military experience, which was the same as
the last admissions cycle.
Influences
The top five influences on why an applicant chose to apply to a Doctor of Optometry program
were: non-relative optometrist, a parent who is a non-optometrist, relative optometrist, other
health professional and friend. These influences were the same as last admissions cycle.
Academic Information on the Doctor of Optometry Applicant
Major
The most selected major on the OptomCAS application was Biology. Biology was also the top
major last year.
Institution
The top five spots for feeder institutions for OptomCAS applicants in 2018-2019 were:
University of Houston; University of Texas; The Ohio State University; University of California,
Los Angeles; and University of Central Florida. In 2017-2018, the top five feeder schools were:
University of Houston; University of California, San Diego; University of California, Los Angeles;
University of Texas; and University of California, Irvine.
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GPA
OptomCAS calculates a standardized GPA to aid the schools and colleges of optometry in
evaluating applicants using uniform and consistent criteria. The overall cumulative GPA for all
applicants was 3.36 – for males it was 3.35 and 3.36 for females. The GPAs were similar in the
last admissions cycle – 3.31 for males and 3.35 for females.
Accepted Profile of the Doctor of Optometry Applicant
Gender
Figure 6.
For Admissions Cycle 2018-2019, 69% of accepted applicants were female and 31% were male.
This was the same in the 2017-2018 application cycle.
Age
The median age for accepted applicants was 22 years old. It was the same last cycle.
Race/Ethnicity
As shown in Figure 7 below, American Indian/Alaska Native had the highest rate of acceptance
at 100%, followed by White at 84%; Two or More Races at 82%; Asian at 79%; Did Not Report at
75%; Hispanic/Latino at 69%; Black/African-American at 61%; and Native Hawaiian/Other
Pacific Islander at 40%.
69%
31%
OptomCAS Accepted Applicants by Gender
2018-2019
Females Males
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Figure 7.
All races/ethnicities except Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander increased the rate of
acceptance from 2017-2018.
GPA
For 2018-2019, the average overall GPA for accepted applicants at the twenty-three schools
and colleges was 3.44.
More Information
Please submit any questions or comments you have on the OptomCAS Applicant Data Report –
A National Snapshot to:
Paige Pence, Director, Student and Residency Affairs
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
[email protected]
American
Indian or
Alaska Native
Asian
Black or
African-
American
Did Not Report Hispanic/Latino
Native
Hawaiian or
Other Pacific
Islander
Two or More
Races
White
2017-2018
80% 74% 55% 74% 59% 100% 77% 80%
2018-2019
100% 79% 61% 75% 69% 40% 82% 84%
80%
74%
55%
74%
59%
100%
77%
80%
100%
79%
61%
75%
69%
40%
82%
84%
OptomCAS Comparison of Accepted Applicants by Race/Ethnicity
2017-2018 vs. 2018-2019
2017-2018 2018-2019