SUNY- 10/16/2008

Dr. Johnston SUNY- State University of New York
-Fewer course req. than most
-OAT deadline February 1st of the year you enter
-letters of req. 2 from professors (in math or science)
-GPA not very important; want to see TRANSRIPT (3.0 at UCSD better than 3.0 at a JC, TRENDS important)
-if didn’t do well in lower classes, take an upper division and get an A or B
-national OAT avg. 300 but SUNY wants >320.
-ex: B student from decent school with 320 OAT
-treat A and B students same in admissions process b/c they can both make it
-OAT no more important than grade
-2.8 GPA then OAT score need to be higher than 320
4 things VERY IMPORTANT:
1-Good communicators = interpersonal skills, something that makes people feel comfortable with you
2-What have you done to explore the optometry field? 2-3 different optometric fields; don’t have to work or volunteer but at least shadow; would they have gone back and done optometry all over again? What does the optometrist think about the field? Be familiar about different terms.
3-what have you done to volunteer outside of optometry? Tutoring? Hospital volunteering?
4-Why have you chosen optometry???????
-Go into interview with a question; it shows the committee that you’ve done some investigating and are serious about considering their school;
-At SUNY it’s a group decision
-Do not discriminate out of state people
-DO discriminate in tuition… in state residency last 3 years
-March 1st deadline to apply
-Can slowly turn in things, if seem strong applicant

-{Common application up July 1st for entering class of 2010.
-Requirements of each school shouldn’t change
-Check websites starting in Feb to see if all final decision have been made}

-$500 to save place once admitted have one month after decision has been made
-get all money back until April
-8 people apply for every seat
-five interviews to about 50% of applicants
-accept 2/3 of applicants from interviews
-Largest on-campus clinic, with the largest diversity of ocular disease
-SUNY rotates students through all 10-12 specialty areas 3rd and 4th year. In a given quarter!!! MWF in one specialty TuThu in another
-In first year lab and lecture with practice screening
-end of 2nd year doing routine full exams
-work by yourself 3rd and 4th year
-pick 2 out of 4 specialty areas in 4th year rotations
-Monday Tuesday Wednesday morning are interviews in SUNY with an essay prompt. With committee for 30minutes.