1124 S. State Street
Big Rapids, Michigan
[email protected]
(231) 591-3700
38 (range in class size nationally for optometry is 28-169)
You can submit your application anytime after July 1st. Application files must be completed by February 1st of the year which admission is being sought. (Does not apply to MCO's Early Admission Program)
Yes; MCO has a “rolling admissions program”, which means that seats will be offered throughout the admissions cycle.
It is not necessary, nor is it suggested, to wait until your evaluators have responded to submit your application.
Yes. Please review the following information carefully:
The MCO Associate Dean's office will send a confirmation letter or email within a few days after we receive the application from OptomCAS.
Yes. We require a $500 nonrefundable deposit that holds your place in the class, as limited seats are available. This is applied to your tuition once you begin classes in August.
Depending on when you withdraw from the University, a refund will be given based on the following refund schedule.
Yes.
For the entering class of 2022, there were approximately 6.5 applications for each accepted student.
If accepted without a Bachelor of Science degree but you wish to seek the B.S. in Vision Science interim degree offered by the MCO you will be required to complete an advanced English composition course (ENG 321), Speech, a 200 level or higher course as a part of the 6 semester hours in behavioral science and a 200 level or higher course as a part of the 9 semester hours in humanities. You would then be awarded this interim degree after completion of the first year of the optometry curriculum.
The Early Admission Program is intended to identify and acknowledge qualified candidates who early in their college education are committed to optometry as their chosen profession and to attending MCO as their chosen professional school. MCO will offer to any Ferris applicant who meets the published requirements, an opportunity to complete their application and participate in the interview process 2-3 years prior to the regular admission cycle. Although most of the positions within any given class will be filled as a result of the regular admission process, a limited number of positions will be offered in advance as a result of being chosen in this early admission process. Complete information is available here MCO Early Admissions.
C (2.0)
A "Pass" or "Credit" grade in a required pre-optometry course meets MCO's admissions requirements, while "Fail" or "No Credit" grades do not. An applicant's GPA will be evaluated according to all relevant influences including "pass", "fail", and "credit", "no credit" grades. We prefer a letter grade if given the option.
There is no penalty for repeating classes; however, if invited for an interview, you will be asked to explain the reason for repeating the class.
Though course credit obtained from a four-year university is preferred, the Michigan College of Optometry (MCO) accepts Advance Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Examination Credits for the satisfaction of prerequisites similar to the policy of Ferris State University.
All AP, CLEP, and/or IB courses must appear on your official college transcript or letter from your registrar.
MCO, under certain circumstances, may request that a candidate replace an AP, CLEP, and/or IB course with one taken at a four-year university.
MCO accepts credit for courses taken online, however the laboratory component of some prerequisite courses, such as required in Biology, Chemistry and Physics either must be taken in a classroom/lab setting or be arranged so students are able to conduct experiments at home.
All courses, including science courses, that were moved online due to the pandemic with an online or otherwise adjusted laboratory component will generally count toward MCO's prerequisites, if credit has been awarded by a regionally-accredited institution.
MCO will accept your science prerequisite course if it did not offer either an online or face to face laboratory course due to COVID-19. However, this prerequisite is still required if an online or face to face lab is offered. Note that the absence of a laboratory will be considered along with all other relevant information when admissions decisions are being made.
Visit the Transfer Guides on our web pages (Colleges and Universities, Community Colleges). Schedule an appointment with our MCO faculty advisors to discuss course equivalencies. Or, write to Amy Parks at [email protected].
Yes. We consider both overall GPA and Pre-Opt GPA.
All parts contribute to the admission committee's ability to evaluate the applicant's clinical and academic potential. The committee balances the strength of the applicants overall GPA, Pre-Opt GPA and OAT results with the qualitative merit of the letters of recommendation, the applicants letter of intent and the applicant's communication and discussion skills as demonstrated during the Admissions interview.
Make an appointment with an MCO Pre-Optometry advisor (call Amy Parks at 231-591-3703) to evaluate strengths and concerns, and discuss your potential for admission in the future.
No; however, if you answer yes to a misconduct or disclosure question on the OptomCAS MCO application, you will need to provide an explanation.
Each year we rank applicants and assign each one a priority alternate number. The applicants on the alternate or wait list are notified as soon as possible after the initial class is accepted by the end of May. The alternate list remains active until just before classes begin near the end of August as some successful applicants have personal reasons for declining admission even up to the first day of classes.
MCO has a “rolling admissions process”, which means that seats are offered throughout the admissions cycle. So some applicants may learn within three weeks of their interview, and others not until the end of May.
No, there are not restrictions on non-Michigan applicants. Numerous students from across the United States, Canada, and other countries choose to come to MCO because of the many advantages it has to offer.
As of the class entering in the fall of 2017, MCO will have one professional tuition rate for all students, no matter the state or country of origin.
The average annual tuition rate for the 2022-2023 year is $38,958. The program is 10 semesters in length.
Information regarding residency rules and policies can be found on the Residency Requirements for Tuition Purposes webpage. Specific questions may be addressed to Eric Haner at the Office of Admissions and Records, Ferris State University, Phone 231-591-2805; E-mail [email protected]
No, in the past five years, MCO has accepted individuals from 44 different colleges and universities across the United States, Canada, and from other countries across the world.
No. You do not need to have completed all academic requirements for admission at the time of application. However, all academic pre-optometry requirements for admission must be successfully completed prior to entrance into the program.
We prefer all prerequisites be completed within 10 years prior to matriculation at MCO, however the admissions committee has discretion in special circumstances.
No, but a bachelor's degree is strongly recommended and preferred.
No
No; however, at FSU you will have many resources available to you including the Honors Program with an Honors Admission Interview Assurance to students who meet the minimum requirements, convenient pre-optometry advising from the College of Arts, Sciences and Education and the Michigan College of Optometry, and an active Pre-Optometry Club.
No; however, we recommend applicants score at least 300 average on the OAT and have an overall GPA of at least a 3.0. Click here for the most recent class profile.
Only OAT scores reported within the last two years are acceptable.
Unlimited, however an applicant must wait at least 90 days to be eligible to apply to retake the OAT.
Organic Chemistry II, Genetics, Cell Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Embryology and Accounting and Management and Speech.
The best opportunity to learn about optometry and the day-to-day life of those in the field is to “job shadow” several optometrists. MCO encourages all prospective students to contact and spend time with a Doctor of Optometry practicing in their area. This may be possible in the form of observation, volunteer work, internships, or employment. This experience will help you decide whether you can see yourself as an optometrist in the future.
MCO does not require applicants to log a specific number of shadowing or observation hours unless you are applying for the MCO Early Admission Program. The primary goal is to guarantee that you are confident in your career choice and to assure the Admissions Committee that you are making an informed decision.