optometry school personal statement examples

Optometry Admissions Blog

Southern california college of optometry at marshall b. ketchum university, do’s and don’ts of writing a memorable & winning personal statement.

Maggie Francisco, OD, FAAO from SCCO’s Class of 2016

For all optometry school applicants who are in the process of writing their personal statements, this article will help. I highly endorse its wisdom.

After Maggie shares tips on how to write a memorable and winning essay, included at the end of this article is the very essay she submitted with her application. It is a perfect example of how to “show and not tell,” revealing through its narrative her unique personality, her professionalism, preparation, and passion for optometry.

Article and Personal Essay Written by Maggie Francisco, Optometry Student, SCCO, Class of 2016

According to Dr. Munroe, the goal of the personal statement is to show the admissions team mainly three things; 1) your personality, 2) your commitment to optometry, and 3) your passion and motivation that will help guide you through optometry school—the “fire in your belly.” Your GPA and OAT scores will speak for themselves, but the personal statement is your one opportunity to show them who you are and what sets you apart from the sea of applicants they are wading through each day. What makes you different? What makes you… you?

Welcome Back BBQ: pictured here with Dr. Jane Ann Munroe, left, along with Bridget Anderson, and Maggie Francisco, both from Class of 2016

Welcome Back BBQ, pictured here with Dr. Jane Ann Munroe (left), Bridget Anderson (center), and Maggie Francisco (right), both from Class of 2016

These are often tough questions to answer, especially when many of us in the application phase are at the age when we are just starting to figure that out for ourselves. That is why people typically come up with the same or similar, slightly monotonous story—they got glasses when they were little, their grandmother had glaucoma, they liked their optometrist, they had a lazy eye, etc.—and they discovered, “Hey, optometry is pretty cool…” Which leads me to my first “don’t” for writing a memorable and winning personal statement:

1. DON’T Be Generic

Yes, these stories are important to how you discovered optometry and why it is so important to you. So don’t leave them out completely! But don’t focus too much on it because everyone has glasses or a grandma with glaucoma or a cool optometrist or a lazy eye or something that inspired them to pursue optometry. Use this opportunity to write about your UNIQUE experiences and don’t feel like you have to linger on your back-story. Just mention your story briefly and move on to the good stuff—what have you done to learn about or invest yourself in the optometric profession? What are your goals? Your dreams? That is what they care to read and what makes your story unique.

2. DON’T Tell Them; Show Them

Telling your story seems like it should be the main goal of a personal statement, but you don’t just want to tell them a story—you have to show them! Paint them a picture, something they can relate to and that tells them more about you than do the words alone.

Personal Statement Example One:

“When I was a child, my pediatrician inspired me to become a doctor because she was smart, nice and always made me feel better. I vowed to be just like her.” (1)

Personal Statement Example Two:

“I remember the first time I went into my pediatrician’s office: pure fear. Like most kids, the doctors was the last person I wanted to see. The interesting thing is that over the years I started to like Dr. Green because she was not only smart but able to relate with me and explain things in a way I could understand. She made scary experiences much more tolerable. I later went on rounds with Dr. Green at the hospital and felt my desire to be a doctor increase. I saw how hard she worked and what was required to be a good physician. The exciting thing is that I found these high standards didn’t scare me; rather, they motivated me to excel in school and become a physician just like her.” (2)

Example one simply tells the reader who inspired them and why, but in an extremely generic, unemotional and lackluster fashion. Example two, however, shows passion and humanity, all while showing her understanding of what a good doctor does and what type of doctor she would like to be.

This is the goal! Show, don’t tell.

3. DON’T Accentuate Your Flaws

One question applicants always ask is, “should I explain why I got those C’s?” or volunteer some information of that sort. The simple answer is just this: don’t do it.

The personal statement is a venue to show the admissions team what would make you a great asset to an optometry program,

Maggie at the Class of 2016 White Coat Ceremony being congratulated by MBKU President, Dr. Kevin Alexander

so why would you waste a precious word on something that you did wrong? If there is really a valid explanation for a slump in your GPA or a strange gap in your academic transcript—there was a death, illness or injury in your family or something of a similar, serious nature—there are other ways to express this. Some schools will have a “If there is anything else you would like the admissions office to know…” section on the application, or in the case of SCCO, you can email [email protected] an official letter (pdf/doc) to go into your file that can disclose details that did not fit within the rest of the application. Feel free to explain yourself in this manner, but definitely don’t feel like you have to. The admissions officers understand that sometimes life happens or a class was particularly hard, so just stick to talking about why you rock!

4. DO Be Genuine

The worst thing you could do in a personal statement is to lie or misrepresent yourself. Admissions officers read hundreds of letters each season—they can pick up on insincerity from a mile away. So maybe you didn’t do as much community service or extracurriculars as the next guy. That’s fine! Accentuate the things you did do—your shadowing, your passion. Don’t try to fool anyone with outlandish, highly exaggerated stories.

5. DO Keep It Positive

This goes very nicely with rules 3 and 4, but begs to be said.

Perhaps you went through some hard times in your life and you think it this is important to discuss to explain how you came to be who you are now; that’s understandable and commendable. But don’t dwell on it for an entire essay. As said in rule 3, you should be using all the space you have to talk about how great you are, not waste it on describing a sad moment in your life. You can mention your situation and how it changed you, but droning on and complaining about it makes it feel more like a manipulation tactic. Talk about how you grew as a person, how it made you stronger, how it changed your outlook on things, all for the better. And if it has nothing to do with your pursuit of education or optometry, maybe think twice about mentioning it at all. Most importantly, don’t hide behind a sob story in hopes of gaining the admissions team’s pity. Pity will not get you an acceptance—determination and achievement will always win out.

6. DO Professionally and Unapologetically… Be Yourself!

I think I’ve been working toward this main point throughout this article. You have worked hard, you’ve done your research—show them who you are and what you’ve got! Show your personality, while promoting yourself as a professional, competent potential-doctor.

DO talk about the important things and what makes you, …you
DON’T dwell on the negative
DO be professional and passionate
DON’T be afraid to be yourself!

Welcome Back BBQ: Maggie with classmate, Lynn Huffman, right

Maggie’s Essay

I felt something splash my arm―through my car’s open window, a bird had decided to drop “a little surprise.” It was a horrifying and unexpected interruption while driving home, still reeling over my day at the local VA Medical Center. The last patient of the day had a congenital retinal macrovessel that everyone in the office gathered to see. I felt lucky to have seen something so rare on my final day of shadowing in the Ocular Disease Residency program.

My introduction to optometry was typical―In third grade, I received glasses to correct my -3.00 vision and, as you can imagine, my whole world changed. Optometry became a potential career when I took a survey in my sophomore year that matched my interests with professions. Science courses were my strength, especially the active lab portions, so it seemed obvious that a survey would recommend a health sciences field. But, at that time, my passion was musical theatre. I loved to sing, dance, direct and perform on stage. Optometry offered flexibility―I could pursue community theatre after hours and have time for a family. So, my college aspirations were to do both; music and biochemistry.

The reality of the biochemistry workload made me realize that I could not do both well, so I had to put performing on hold. During the summer after my freshman year, I interned at Family Care Optometry, a small partnership in the suburbs. I learned about practice management; how to manage appointments, order and fit contacts and glasses, and manage patient issues. I sat in on exams and performed preliminary auto-refractions and visual-fields. I enjoyed the camaraderie with the doctors and experienced a warm satisfaction when a patient left with better sight or a healthier outlook. This experience, although limited mainly to refractions, confirmed that I wanted to practice optometry. However, for my next shadowing experience, I knew I wanted exposure to a broader variety of cases.

A few months later, I shadowed at an ophthalmology-optometry office managed by a large medical group. Dr. Smith didn’t have to worry about practice management or glasses/contact lens sales. He preferred this, stating that he felt free to be strictly a health care provider, not a salesman. Due to his relationship with the ophthalmologists, he had more treatment privileges and his patients had a larger range of issues, which made the day much more interesting and varied. I noticed the general respect his patients had for him and vice versa; he knew them, they knew him. They teased and complimented him. It was a fun environment, yet serious when necessary. He had to explain to a diabetes patient that her high glucose levels at Christmas time had caused bleeding in the eye. Placing himself in her situation, he explained the issue delicately, helping her understand the seriousness of the risks without scolding or degrading her. I admired his candidness and hope to model my patient-interactions after him.

I attended information sessions at several schools, so by the time I got to the VA Hospital, I was a shadowing-pro. I felt more prepared to ask questions, and was excited to be in a teaching environment with students in the residency program and on 4 th -year rotations. I asked about the instruments and how they worked. I wanted to get involved―to work the slit lamp and phoropter―constantly reminding myself, “Don’t touch” or “Don’t answer that patient’s question, it’s not your job yet.” Looking through the slit lamp’s microscope was fascinating; examining cataracts, implants, macular degeneration, and more. I discussed with the head doctors the benefits of doing a residency and the future of our scope of practice in California. I began referring to optometrists as a “we”, not a “they”. During my last day at the VA hospital, I dreaded my departure and longed to stay just a few more days. I couldn’t get enough.

No matter the type of practice I choose, my shadowing experiences have showed that what I love about optometry is working with patients. I always thought that I would enjoy the business side of private practice, but now I think I’d be happy just showing up every day to a lobby of patients, waiting for my undivided attention. I’m not ruling out private practice, but I want more days like the one at the VA. Since I couldn’t focus the equipment, I only saw pictures of that last patient’s macrovessel. I just hope the day I finally get to see one up close―the birds keep their excitement to themselves. (Published with Maggie’s permission. Names and places have been changed to protect identity).

(1) Fleenor, Jeremiah. The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success . Denver, CO: Shift 4 Pub., 2011, 15.

(2) Fleenor, Jeremiah. The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success . Denver, CO: Shift 4 Pub., 2011, 15.

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Categories: Personal Statement

Tagged as: Fleenor , getting into optometry school , healthcare professional school personal statement , jane ann munroe , Jane Ann Munroe optometry , Marshall B. Ketchum University , optometry , optometry admissions , optometry school admissions , person statement , professional school personal statement , scco.

Published by Jane Ann Munroe, OD, Assistant Dean of Admissions, SCCO

Retired Assistant Dean of Admissions, SCCO View all posts by Jane Ann Munroe, OD, Assistant Dean of Admissions, SCCO

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Personal Statement Tips for Optometry Applicants

Optometry Application Specialists

Introduction

The personal statement is a crucial component of your optometry school application, offering a unique opportunity to showcase your passion, experiences, and suitability for the profession. This essay allows admissions committees to gain insight into your personality, motivations, and potential as a future optometrist. Crafting an effective personal statement requires careful reflection, thoughtful writing, and strategic presentation of your qualities and experiences.

Reflecting on Your Motivation

Before you begin writing, take time to reflect deeply on your reasons for pursuing optometry. Consider the experiences, encounters, or realizations that led you to choose this career path. Was it a personal experience with eye care, a fascination with the science of vision, or a desire to make a difference in people’s lives through healthcare? Your genuine motivation will form the backbone of a compelling personal statement.

Think about specific moments or influences that have shaped your interest in optometry. Perhaps it was shadowing an optometrist, volunteering at a vision screening event, or helping a family member with vision problems. These personal anecdotes can provide powerful illustrations of your commitment to the field.

Highlighting Relevant Experiences

Your personal statement should highlight experiences that demonstrate your understanding of and commitment to optometry. Discuss any shadowing experiences, volunteer work, or relevant employment in eye care settings. However, don’t simply list these experiences; instead, reflect on what you learned from them and how they reinforced your decision to pursue optometry.

If you’ve been involved in research related to vision science or eye health, discuss how this experience has deepened your understanding of the field. Similarly, if you’ve participated in community service or leadership roles, explain how these experiences have prepared you for a career in healthcare and patient care.

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Demonstrating Your Understanding of the Profession

Show that you have a realistic understanding of what a career in optometry entails. Discuss your knowledge of the challenges and rewards of the profession, as well as current issues or advancements in the field. This demonstrates to the admissions committee that you’ve done your homework and are making an informed decision to pursue this career path.

Consider addressing how you see yourself contributing to the field of optometry in the future. Whether it’s through research, community outreach, or specializing in a particular area of eye care, sharing your vision for your future career can demonstrate your long-term commitment to the profession.

Crafting Your Narrative

Your personal statement should tell a cohesive story about your journey towards optometry. Start with a compelling opening that grabs the reader’s attention and sets the tone for your essay. This could be a pivotal moment, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking question related to eye care or vision.

As you develop your narrative, ensure that each paragraph flows logically from one to the next. Use transitions to connect your ideas and experiences, creating a smooth and engaging read. Remember, admissions committees read hundreds of essays; a well-structured, engaging narrative will help your statement stand out.

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Addressing Personal Growth and Challenges

If you’ve faced challenges or setbacks on your path to optometry school, don’t shy away from discussing them. However, focus on how you’ve overcome these obstacles and what you’ve learned from the experience. Demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and personal growth can be powerful elements of your personal statement.

For instance, if you struggled in a particular subject but later excelled through hard work and determination, this story can illustrate your commitment to overcoming challenges – a valuable trait for any healthcare professional.

Showcasing Your Personal Qualities

Throughout your statement, weave in examples that demonstrate the personal qualities that will make you an excellent optometrist. These might include empathy, attention to detail, strong communication skills, or a commitment to lifelong learning. Instead of simply stating these qualities, provide specific examples or anecdotes that illustrate them in action.

Conclusion and Final Touches

Conclude your personal statement by reaffirming your commitment to optometry and your readiness for the challenges of optometry school. Summarize the key points of your essay and leave the reader with a strong final impression of your suitability for the program.

After drafting your statement, take time to revise and refine. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. A well-written, error-free essay reflects your professionalism and attention to detail. Consider asking trusted mentors, professors, or peers to review your statement and provide feedback.

Finally, ensure that your personal statement adheres to any specific guidelines provided by the optometry schools to which you’re applying. This includes word count limits, formatting requirements, and any specific questions or topics they ask you to address.

Remember, your personal statement is your opportunity to speak directly to the admissions committee. It should be authentic, reflective, and demonstrate your genuine passion for optometry. By following these tips and putting significant effort into crafting your statement, you can create a compelling narrative that effectively communicates your qualifications and enthusiasm for a career in optometry.

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Inside OptomCAS Part II: Your Personal Statement for Applying to Optometry School

In the previous post, we zoomed in on the Letters of Evaluation (LOEs) section of the application for optometry school, clarifying requirements and providing some pearls for effectively fulfilling them. This time we turn our attention to another crucial part of the application: the personal statement, a.k.a., the essay.

The LOEs and the personal statement [both of which you’ll manage through the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS)] are relied upon heavily by the schools and colleges of optometry as they determine whether you’re the type of person who can succeed as a student in their programs and as a future optometrist. Your official instructions for composing the essay are as follows: “Please describe what inspires your decision for becoming an optometrist, including your preparation for training in this profession, your aptitude and motivation, the basis for your interest in optometry, and your future career goals. Your essay should be limited to 4500 characters.”

While the instructions have a kind of “just the facts,” flat quality, your essay will need to be the opposite of that in order to provide the admissions office with information they’ll notice and appreciate. According to Michael Bacigalupi, OD, MS, FAAO, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs & Admissions at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry (NSU), “The personal statement allows me to get to know a student much better than just filling out blank spaces and checking off boxes on an application. It gives me a better sense of who the applicant is. Through the personal statement, students can convey what we’re looking for, which is motivation, dedication and a love of the profession of optometry. Those qualities aren’t measurable by OAT scores and GPAs.” By the way, Dr. Bacigalupi uses the word “love” of the profession on purpose. “I want students to be passionate about becoming an optometrist,” he says. “Like in any health profession, the rewards can be substantial, but the road to success is not easy, so you have to love it.”

Like some other schools and colleges of optometry, NSU requires applicants to submit an essay in addition to the personal statement. In fact, they ask for two supplemental essays. The two essay questions change from time to time, but for the last application cycle they were: 1) “What specifically are your reasons for choosing to apply to Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry?” and 2) “Professional school is very challenging. What experiences in your life and/or undergraduate career have prepared you for the rigors of optometry school?”

Dr. Bacigalupi says the statements and essays (he reads about 3,000 per year) that catch his attention are the ones that tell a story and talk about a crossroad or a serious decision an applicant made in life that led him or her to optometry as a career. He cites as an example, “Let’s say someone was an at-risk youth but realized that’s not the way he or she wanted to end up so instead took the right path and decided to focus on school. That’s a story that illustrates motivation.” He also recalls an essay from an applicant who had temporarily lost his vision, which led to the realization of how important sight is in daily life and the desire to help safeguard it for others. Don’t worry if your experiences aren’t as dramatic as those, Dr. Bacigalupi says, just be honest while providing insight into who you really are.

Essays that definitely don’t impress are those that seem to be quickly thrown together or are poorly crafted and contain spelling or grammar errors. “What comes across through those things is that the applicant rushed through this step without much care, which may indicate a lack of commitment or that this isn’t that important to him or her,” Dr. Bacigalupi explains. He recommends having another person or people, perhaps with no ties to optometry, read the personal statement with an eye toward content, grammar and readability before it’s submitted. “That gives you insight into whether it’s readable and will be effective,” he says.

Need more inspiration and ideas about what to write about in your personal statement? ASCO points out in its Optometry Career Guide that, in general, optometry schools are looking for students who can demonstrate strong academic commitment as well as exhibit the potential to excel in deductive reasoning, interpersonal communication and empathy. They like to attract well-rounded candidates who have achieved not only in the classroom but also in other areas, such as in leadership ability. A disposition to serve others and a work ethic characterized by dedication and persistence are other desirable qualities. Adds Dr. Bacigalupi, “We want to see in the statement and essays that we’d be admitting teachable students who ultimately will make good colleagues; therefore, the right balance of people skills and academic abilities is very important.”

The 2015-2016 OptomCAS application cycle opens on July 1, so the time to start working on your essay is right about now. Good luck!

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How to Write a Personal Statement For Optometry School

Every year, the new application cycle for optometry schools in the US begins in late June. Students are required to fill out and submit their applications through the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS). Within the OptomCAS portal, there are several required documents, such as a personal statement and supplementary essays. A personal statement is a written piece required by optometry schools in the US that demonstrates who the writer is as a person, their personal and academic goals, and why they would be a good fit for the optometry program. The personal statement prompt is as follows:

Please describe what inspires your decision for becoming an optometrist, including your preparation for training in this profession, your aptitude and motivation, the basis for your interest in optometry, and your future career goals.

How you choose to answer the prompt is up to you, but you must do so in 4500 characters, which is equal to approximately 750 words. Because of how broad the prompt is, getting started on your personal statement can be a daunting task. You want to be concise yet clearly describe your motivations and reasons for pursuing optometry. If you are struggling to get started or having trouble with the OptomCAS portal, feel free to keep reading or check out our OptomCAS Application Guide . In this article, we will discuss 8 tips to help you write the perfect personal statement .

1️⃣ Start Early

The OptomCAS application cycle begins in late June every year, and this year it opens on June 29 th , 2023. There is no better time to start than now, as maximizing the amount of time spent on your personal statement will allow for more time to reread and revise! Optometry schools in the US also run on a rolling admission basis, meaning that the earlier you submit your completed application, the more seats will be available in each class and the higher your chances of receiving admission. Therefore, you want to give yourself at least 3 months to get a rough draft down so that you can set it aside, revisit what you have written, and enhance it even further.

2️⃣ Find Your Angle

You are given 4500 characters, or around 750 words, for your personal statement. Due to this word limit, it’s important to get your main points across but in an engaging, eloquent way. Instead of simply listing reasons why you are qualified for optometry school or why you think a certain program would best fit you, consider using a narrative to share your story instead. For example, you could write about an experience that sparked your interest in optometry, a personal life obstacle that you had to overcome that made you who you are today, or even a relationship with a family member, mentor or optometrist that inspired you to change your career path.

3️⃣ Focus On Your Values

If you are struggling to get started on your personal statement, reflect on your three main reasons for choosing to pursue optometry and the values you want to uphold as a future healthcare practitioner. With these values in mind, you can then extend your thought process into discussing different work or shadowing experiences in order to showcase what you have learned and how these initiatives have reinforced your passion for optometry. For example, if life-long learning is an important aspect of optometry that drives your passion for the field, and you have seen first-hand how newly developing technology has shaped a patient’s life, you can describe the experience you had in seeing how much the patient was struggling with their condition and how much better they were doing after being treated. This can then be played into how much you value lifelong learning and how you hope not only to continue educating yourself but your patients as well.

4️⃣ Do Not Summarize Your Resume

As mentioned earlier, do not use your personal statement to simply list off your accomplishments. This includes your GPA, standardized testing scores (such as your OAT or GRE scores), and basic tasks that you performed at an optometry clinic. Instead, take this time to reflect and describe how you grew and what you learned from interacting with patients and doctors during your clinical experiences. The same idea also applies to listing off qualities of your personality that you believe set you apart from other applicants and make you suitable for the field. For instance, simply stating that you have excellent communication skills and work ethic will not support your personal statement and application very strongly if you do not provide any examples to demonstrate those characteristics.

5️⃣ Be Specific

Adding onto the last tip, you can describe your experiences through short personal anecdotes. Instead of writing a long, elaborate life story, use a short personal narrative that includes specific details like the names of doctors you worked with or certain ocular or health conditions you saw. This will help illustrate important experiences you had or aspects of the field that have facilitated your learning and reinforced your passion for optometry. In other words – show, not tell!

6️⃣ Minimize Negativity

Another point to keep in mind when writing your personal statement is to keep any negative talk to a minimum. Although negative experiences with an optometrist or health care provider may have been the driving force or spark to your interest in pursuing optometry, try to keep the description short so you can move on and discuss what you have learned from the experience instead. Use your writing to focus on how the experience shaped you or changed your outlook for the better. This also applies to negativity such as addressing poor grades or hardships in your life – if you believe mentioning these aspects will do more harm than good, consider not mentioning them at all in your personal statement. With the limited word count, it would be best to focus on the positives instead of accentuating your flaws.

7️⃣ Ask For Feedback

Lastly, make sure to ask for feedback before submitting your personal statement. This goes hand in hand with starting early, as you want to allow yourself enough time to get a rough first draft down and an improved second draft before sending your work out for feedback. Consider sharing your draft with people of different backgrounds and stages of life to get a variety of perspectives – this includes professors, mentors, current optometry students, optometrists, friends of different academic backgrounds, or a pre-health advisor, if possible. Ask specifically for constructive criticism, especially regarding how clearly your piece answers the personal statement prompt and how strongly your experiences support your points.

8️⃣ Read, Review, and Read Again

Once you have asked for feedback, take some time to make any adjustments according to the criticism received. Afterward, step away for a few days before revisiting your personal statement with fresh eyes to make any necessary changes. Set a personal deadline for when you will have all your required documents ready to go. Within the remaining time, go through a few more cycles of editing so that you can better refine your piece before submitting the final copy.

👉 Conclusion

With the OptomCAS cycle up and running, it’s important to get a head start on your personal statement. As discussed, there are many aspects to your personal statement, so starting as early as you can will provide you with enough time to perfect your work and best express yourself through your application. Hopefully these 8 tips have been helpful and will get you on the right track to starting your piece. At the same time, there are also other required documents in your OptomCAS application, such as your Optometry Admission Test (OAT) scores and reference letters. For more information on the OAT and how to ask for a strong reference letter, feel free to read our articles: How to Study for the OAT , How Is the OAT Scored , What Is a Good OAT Score , What to Expect on OAT Exam Day and How to ask for Reference Letters for Optometry School Applications . Good luck!

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Optometry Personal Statement

Use this Optometry personal statement example as an inspiration to write your own for the UK university application, if you are applying to study Optometry course.

Finding a profession that both fulfils one’s intellectual interests and provides a sense of purpose is the key to a rewarding career. It would be necessary for me to pursue a career with a solid scientific aspect to work, since I have always been fascinated by the fields of biology and chemistry, with the objective of helping people every day. As a result of my involvement in various work placements within the health sector, I have come to realize that optometry is a profession that allows me to combine both. I have been captivated by human anatomy because of my studies in sciences at school. Studying biology has allowed me to gain a great deal of insight into how the human body develops diseases and how it attempts to fight them – sometimes unsuccessfully. Studying Level Chemistry has reinforced my understanding of biochemistry, which has been of particular interest to me. In school, I have thoroughly enjoyed studying biology and chemistry, and I look forward to applying what I have learned in these subjects to gain a detailed understanding of ocular science.

An extended work placement at a local optician helped me gain a deeper understanding of optometry both as a field of study and a profession. I shadowed different opticians as they performed eye tests and contact lens fittings during the placement. The importance of good communication skills in optometry has become apparent to me. Customers and patients would have a much more difficult time navigating what can often be complex procedures without them. In cases where patients are suffering from vision problems or are distressed by the prospect of undergoing tests, opticians should also act with empathy and patience. In the laboratory, I also had the opportunity to observe – and sometimes participate in – the lens and frame preparation processes during my placement. As a result of this experience, I have a much better understanding of the different types of lenses that are used in glasses, as well as the technical skills involved in making them. Since I found the work placement so rewarding, I have continued to volunteer every Saturday at the same optician.

I have also carried out a work placement at a local pharmacy. This experience encouraged me to develop some of the personal skills that I believe are necessary for working as an optician. During the placement, I had the opportunity to interact with customers. Through this, I learnt how much I enjoy work in which I can offer advice to people, and also felt a gratifying sense of responsibility in response to the fact that the advice I gave them regarding non-prescription medication could play a role in alleviating the symptoms of their health problems.

In my spare time, I have participated in a range of activities that also allow me to be involved in helping people. In Year 12 I mentored a group of Year 7 students; I enjoyed being able to make them feel less apprehensive about starting life in secondary school. I have been involved with several fund-raising initiatives for Afrikids and Cancer Research, such as selling cakes and doing a sponsored walk. These activities gave me a sense of satisfaction by allowing me to work as part of a team with a common goal. My sense of teamwork has also been improved by my involvement in my school’s hockey and netball teams. On a more personal note, I am a highly enthusiastic musician; I play the guitar, and also particularly enjoy traditional Indian music. I have found learning to play an instrument to be both an outlet for self-expression and a way of developing my skills of perseverance. I am also an avid reader of fiction, in particular stories that ignite my sense of adventure, such as Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.

Optometry Personal Statement Example + 10 Tips To Write

This article serves as a guide for crafting a winning personal statement for optometry school admissions.

The goal of the personal essay is to show the admissions committee what kind of person you are, what motivates you, and why you should be accepted into the program.

Your GPA and test scores will speak for themselves. However, the personal statement is your opportunity to share information about yourself that will make the reader think, “I like her!”

1. Don’t Be Generic.

Yes, these stories will help others understand why they should become an optometrist. But don’t dwell on it too long because everyone has a story about why they became an optometrist.

You may not even remember yours. So just mention your story briefly and then move on to the good parts—what have you done since becoming an optometrist to learn about or invest in the optometric profession?

What are your goals? What are your dreams? That is what readers really want to hear about.

2. Don’t Tell Them; Show Them!

It may seem like telling your story is all there is to a personal statement, but there is more to it than that. You need to paint them a picture, something that shows them what you are capable of doing.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and if you can show them why you will succeed, then they will understand why you are right for their program.

Personal statements are great ways to show your passion for medicine and why you want to go into pediatrics. You should also mention any specific skills you have that will help you succeed in this career.

For instance, if working with children is something you’re truly passionate about, you could mention your experience babysitting or volunteering at a children’s hospital. If you enjoy helping others, you may talk about how you helped someone else get through a tough situation.

3. Don’t Accentuate Your Flaws.

One question applicants always ask is, “Should I explain why I got these C’s?” Or should I volunteer some information of that type? ” The simple answer is just: don’t.

It is inappropriate to discuss any of your shortcomings in your personal statement. Instead, focus on your strengths. To get into an optometry school, you need to demonstrate your worth to the admissions board.

4. Do Be Honest.

You might not think you need to tell the truth about yourself, but admissions officers will see right through any attempt at deception. If you’re trying to get someone else to write your letter of recommendation, don’t ask them to lie.

And if you’re applying to an Ivy League school, don’t pretend to be a legacy student. Your parents probably aren’t paying for your tuition, and even if they were, that doesn’t mean you should lie about your family history.

5. Don’t Be Negative.

While I understand that everyone has had bad experiences, there is no need to go into detail about them. If you’re going to write about something negative, then it needs to be done right.

Don’t just say “I got rejected.” Say why you were rejected. What did you do wrong? How could you have improved? Why should we care? These are questions that really matter.

If you’re going down the path of negativity, then you might as well stop here because you’ll never get anywhere.

6. Do Have Fun!

College is supposed to be fun. Sure, it’s stressful, but it’s also exciting. You’re getting ready to start a whole new chapter in your life, and you shouldn’t let anything stand in the way of that.

So enjoy yourself while you’re there. Go to parties. Meet people. Make friends. You should use most of the opportunities that college provides. There’s plenty to do, and you won’t regret it.

7. Don’t Write Too Much.

You definitely do not want to do anything that will make us bored while we are reading your essay. We’ve already read thousands of essays from students around the country, and we know what works and what doesn’t.

Long paragraphs aren’t necessary, and short sentences are usually best. That’s why you use two pages to write your essay. Use them wisely.

8. Do Not Apologize For Lack of Experience.

If you’re being completely sincere with yourself, you’ll see that you might not know everything. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.

As long as you’re willing to learn, there’s nothing wrong with admitting you need help. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers right away. That’s okay. You simply need to keep trying different things until you find something that works.

9. Do Not Lie.

No matter how tempting it might seem, lying is never acceptable. Even if you feel like you have to say something just to fit in, remember that you are representing yourself as a doctor.

So, even if you think that saying “I didn’t study abroad because my parents wouldn’t let me go” is true, you still have to admit that you lied. And that’s not cool.

10. Be Humble.

Your job is to help others, not to be the center of attention. Sure, you should always strive to be the best at whatever you do, but don’t forget to show respect to those around you. Remember, you are not the expert here.

Do focus on your strengths. Be professional and passionate. Don’t be afraid to show what you really think.

Optometry Personal Statement Example 1

My goal is to become an optometrist because I am interested in the study of the human eye and its functions.

I enjoy working with patients, and I feel that I will be able to help them through my ability to diagnose and treat different eye conditions. I am particularly intrigued by the development of the retina and the role played by the optic nerve.

I am excited to acquire a more in-depth understanding of the processes that take place in the eye and to make use of this knowledge to assist other people.

I’ve always wanted to become an optometrist. Optometry is a challenging career, but it offers many opportunities to help others. My first job after graduating was at a local pharmacy. I found that interacting with customers and assisting them in selecting the appropriate prescription eyewear was enjoyable.

I found this rewarding because I knew my advice could help alleviate their symptoms. I am now applying for jobs in the optical industry.

I’ve been involved in many different activities since leaving high school. Some of these involve working with other people to achieve a common goal. Others allow me to express myself creatively.

At the moment, I am attending classes at a university in order to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. I like to think that I’m a very positive person who enjoys making others happy.

When I’m not traveling or hanging out with my loved ones, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I’m always looking forward to what the future holds.

Do’s And Don’ts Of Writing Your Optometry School Application Essay

A personal statement is a great opportunity for students to share their story. It gives admissions officers a glimpse into who you are as a person and why you want to study optometry.

Your personal statement should say something about yourself and your goals. You may also want to write about your experiences and challenges that shaped your career path.

Optometry students should always be specific when writing essays. There is very little space to write an effective essay. Students need to be concise and clear in what they are trying to say.

If you are using a lot of jargon, then you may need to rephrase your ideas. Make sure you are using words that are easy to understand. Use simple language and avoid complex vocabulary.