Citizenship
Applications are accepted from candidates who are Canadian citizens or from legal residents of Canada who have held Permanent Resident status for at least 12 months prior to registering for the Fall term. Proof of Permanent Resident status must accompany the application. In special circumstances a limited number of foreign students (one or two) may be admitted, i.e., those on student authorization.
Prerequisites
Applicants should satisfy the Admissions Committee that they are well prepared academically for entry to the School of Optometry and Vision Science. Successful applicants must have attended University for at least three years (15.0 credits ) prior to acceptance into the Doctor of Optometry (OD) program.
The following courses represent the required prerequisites for admission to the School of Optometry and Vision Science:
General Biology (with lab) – two terms:
BIOL 130/130L Cell Biology
BIOL 211 Vertebrate Zoology
General chemistry (with lab) – one term:
CHEM 120/120L Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter
Physics (with labs) – two terms:
PHYS 111/112, 111L/112L, or 121/122, 121L/122L General Physics
Calculus – one term:
MATH 127 Calculus
Introductory Psychology – one term:
PSYCH 101 Introductory Psychology
English – one term:
any one term course
Physiology (Human or Mammalian) or (Human Anatomy & Physiology) – two terms:
BIOL 273 Principles of Human Physiology 1
BIOL 373 Principles of Human Physiology 2
Introductory Ethics – one term:
PHIL 110B Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics and Values
PHIL 218J Ethical Theory
PHIL 219J Practical Ethics
PHIL 220 Moral Issues
PHIL 221 Ethics 1
PHIL 226 Ethics and the Life Sciences
Organic Chemistry – one term:
CHEM 266 Organic Chemistry
Microbiology – one term:
BIOL 240 Fundamentals of Microbiology
Biochemistry – one term:
CHEM 237 Biochemistry
Statistics – one term:
STAT 202 Statistics
Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
The OAT must be written by all applicants. For September 2015 admission, OAT scores from August 31, 2012 to and including August 31, 2014 will be accepted. Candidates are responsible to ensure that their OAT scores are sent to the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science. ALL inquiries regarding this test should be addressed to:
Optometry Admission Testing Program
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. 60611
Applications for the OAT can be made on-line.
Selection Factors
Applicants are selected on a competitive basis considering scholarships, interest, motivation, general qualifications for the profession, and recommendations.
If selected for an interview, the Admissions Committee uses the following criteria in determining an applicant’s academic and personal qualifications for admission:
- Academic requirements
- Undergraduate academic record - academic aptitude and performance
- OAT scores
- Non-academic requirements
- Interviews
- Academic awards
- Non-academic awards
- Work experience
- Volunteer experience
- Optometry-related experience – job shadowing
- Confidential Assessment Forms (References)
From these requirements, the committee is looking for:
- Evidence of ability to handle a course load of five courses (plus labs) per term, throughout their undergraduate education
- Service to the community and university, work experience and interpersonal skills
- To ensure an understanding of the profession of Optometry, we strongly encourage job shadowing with an optometrist which means observing eye exams.
- Proof of academic ability and achievement as well as personal qualities, leadership, integrity, motivation, initiative, social awareness, well-rounded background, personality, ability to work with others and knowledge of the profession.
All offers of admission are conditional upon successful completion of the current academic year and requirements. Students admitted must maintain their level of academic performance. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to deny admission to an already admitted student if their academic performance falls below acceptable standards.
Application Procedures
Specific instructions, including deadlines, will be outlined in the application procedures accompanying the Application.
The deadline for receipt of final academic transcripts is May 31, 2015. Upon entrance into Optometry, students will be required to submit documentation of up-to-date immunization for measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, tetanus, a tuberculin skin test, and hepatitis B. Students are not allowed to participate in the optometry clinics without this documentation.
Students granted admission to the first professional year who have taken courses equivalent to those required in the professional program may apply for exemptions from these courses after acceptance into Optometry.
Advanced Standing Offers of Admission
We do not offer advanced standing.
Application Fee
A $120 non-refundable Optometry application processing fee must be submitted with the completed on-line application.