Minutes from Berkeley-10/14/2008

Why optometry?
-Gatekeeping for eye heath care.
-Right now… od can Rx for glaucoma as of two weeks ago
-Important to remain vigilant to push career forward.
-Think about the caliber of the student’s you’ll be joining at any graduate school
-Be open to other places because it’s only 4 years of your life

Optometry at Berkeley…
-Class size of 66
-Strong sense of community
-Diverse backgrounds
-Empowered student government
-EVERYONE receives financial aid
-Collaborative learning environment
-Equipment purchasing run by students
-Start practicing on day 1
Year 1
- 180 hrs of preclinic laboratory + unlimited independent practice sessions outside of class
-Fall/Spring Semester clinical proficiency exams
Year 2
-FREE EXAMS so waitlist of patients waiting to be examined by 2nd year students in groups of 3
-End of 2nd year white coat ceremony
20 Complete examinations summer after 2nd year
-Meredith Morgan Eye Clinc
-See over 75, 000 patients per year
-By graduation will have at least 2,000 individual patient encounters
Year 3
-NBEO: Basic Science
Year 4
-100%time in direct patient care
-2000 patient encounters
-Advanced clinics (e.g. pathology, low vision)
-External rotations—at least 3, each 10-12 weeks long
-Students self-manage rotation locations
-Old Home Week
- NBEO—Part II: Clinical Science
-NBEO—Part III: Patient Care

ADMISSIONS
FOR THE ENTERING CLASS OF FALL 2009 ONLY!!! (Common Application for the Year After!!)
-3.0 GPA
-Bachelors Degree
-OAT by December 1
-“Self-Manage” your application
-Apply to both Grad Division and Optometry
Qualitative Considerations
-Every application read by 2 staff members
-2 Essays
-Statement of Purpose: Why Optometry?
-Personal Statement: Who are you? What is unique about you?
-3 Letters of Recommendation (optometrist, professor, community member)
-Very serious!! Flat letters of recommendation are not good.
-Give a resume, cheat sheet, anything to help person writing your letter of recommendation
-DO NOT WRITE YOUR OWN LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION!
-Give feedback to people who do not get into Berkeley
-Make sure to have other people proofread your essays
-Interviews by invite only
-Need to be a people person
-Interviewing day on the Berkeley campus
-Either being interviewed, participated in a mock classroom, school tour or onsite essay all on Interview Day
-No scripted questions
-Get back at least 3 weeks after interviews
-For entering class of 2008
-High GPA 4.00 Low 3.01
-OAT High 390 Low 300