International

International students help diversify the campus, allowing for different cultures, ideas, and values to be shared with other students and faculty. When applying to optometry programs in the United States, international students go through a relatively similar application process non-international students, with only a few differences. Even though the process of applying is very similar, there are some key differences that should not be overlooked when you are applying. Some of these include:

An increased tuition fee (for non-residents)
A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if your first language is not English
An English translation of your transcript if you pursued your undergraduate studies at an institution where English was not the primary language of instruction
Verification of your transcript by a third-party agency (such as World Education Services) is recommended

Optometry schools usually have an international student tab on their websites where you can find more specific requirements that that institution may require. If you have any questions regarding pursuing your studies abroad in the States, do not hesitate to reach out to the admissions advisors at the schools you are applying for! They will be able to help you and answer any and all questions you might have.

Choosing a School

When choosing which schools you want to apply to, it is important to not only check the prerequisite requirements but to also check the school's profile for the entering class. This will give you a better idea of what grades and other requirements you will need to be a competitive applicant at different schools. The link below contains the profiles of the entering classes for all optometry schools in the United States, and it also notes the number of international students admitted to each institution. https://optometriceducation.org/student-profile-prerequisites/profiles-of-the-entering-classes/

Some other great resources to look into are the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and OptomCas. The ASCO and OptomCas both have lots of great information on the different schools, and it’s all in one place! This is especially helpful when trying to compare different schools, as all the information is right at your fingertips and there is little digging to do. More information on the ASCO can be found in the first link below, and more information on OptomCas can be found in the second link.
https://optometriceducation.org/
https://www.optomcas.org/

Helpful Links

Here is a page full of helpful links for international students! As always, if you are unable to find the information you need on a school's website, do not hesitate to reach out the that institution's admissions crew! They are there to help you, and they can get you the information you need and clarify areas of concern that you may have quickly and effectively.

Helpful links: