About the School
Demographics
Indiana University School of Optometry
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[Who we are] | [What we offer] | [Who gets admitted] | [Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action]

Who are we?  

The Indiana University School of Optometry has a long history of excellence in Optometric education and research having been founded in 1951. 

The School of Optometry is located on the main campus of Indiana University in Bloomington.  Nestled among the rolling hills of south central Indiana, Bloomington has been known for offering big city excitement while maintaining a quaint Midwestern charm. Bloomington’s diverse and welcoming community will make you feel right at home as you discover things you never expected to find in Indiana.  Bloomington offers unique shops, incredible restaurants, art galleries, comedy and music venues, festivals, Indiana’s largest lake, the state’s only national forest, oldest and largest winery, an abundance of hiking, biking, canoeing and spelunking opportunities, and don’t forget the Little 500!

(Explore both the city and the university via the Web at www.indiana.edu and www.bloomington.in.us.)

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What do we offer?
  1. The Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree prepares students to diagnose and treat optical defects and eye diseases by using glasses, contact lenses, and medications.

  2. The degrees of Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Vision Science is for optometry graduates and those in other fields who wish to pursue vision research and teaching careers.

  3. The Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in Optometric Technology prepares students for careers as optometric technicians or opticians.
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Who gets admitted?

Profile of the OD Class of 2013

The class entering in August, 2009 consists of 77 students from an applicant pool of 459.  There are 35 Indiana residents, 42 nonresidents from 20 states, and 2 Canadians.  There are 30 men and 47 women.  The median age is 22 years old and the age range is 21-30 years old.

Academic Statistics: The cumulative undergraduate mean* GPA is 3.50. Ninety-three percent of the class earned a bachelor’s degree prior to entering the School of Optometry.

OAT Means:** Biology: 326, Physics: 326, General Chemistry: 327, Organic Chemistry: 341, Total Science: 336, Reading: 337, Quantitative: 353, Academic Average: 336.

*Medians and means are used in this profile. The median is the middle measure; one-half of the scores are above and one-half are below this number. The mean is the average measure.
**OAT scores range from 200 (low) to 400 (high). The national median is 300.

Profiles of previous incoming OD classes: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003

How the selection process works

  • We encourage ALL qualified persons of both sexes and all racial and ethnic groups to apply.
  • Applications are due by February 1st.
  • Applicants do not need to have finished all of the pre-optometry requirements in order to apply for admission. The pre-optometry requirements must be complete by the time the applicant hopes to enter.
  • All application materials, including OAT scores must be received by February 28th of the year of entry.

Applicants are also evaluated on:

Academics: college grades and the OAT test scores. Each section of the OAT is evaluated separately. College grades carry slightly more weight.

Personal attributes: character recommendations, accounts of participation in extracurricular activities, work experience, recognitions received, and the application narrative.

Results of admissions interview: An admission interview is required for admission. This interview is held at the School of Optometry, and the interviewers are faculty members. The faculty interviewers submit written evaluations to be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

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Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy

Indiana University pledges itself to continue its commitment to the achievement of equal opportunity within the university and throughout American society as a whole. In this regard, Indiana University will recruit, hire, promote, educate, and provide services to persons based upon their individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on arbitrary consideration of such characteristics as age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Indiana University will take affirmative action, positive and extraordinary, to overcome the discriminatory effects of traditional policies and procedures with regard to the disabled, minorities, women, and Vietnam-era veterans.

An Affirmative Action office on each campus monitors the university's policies and assists individuals who have questions or problems related to discrimination.

The School of Optometry complies with this policy of nondiscrimination in all its admission decisions.

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URL: http://www.opt.indiana.edu/about/demograp.htm
Revised: December 2, 2009
IU Optometry home page: http://www.opt.indiana.edu/
Comments: Web Administrator
Page design and coding: Terri Greene
Copyright © 2009, The Trustees of Indiana University