The Interview Process Overview*:
When you arrive at Pennock Hall, go to the fourth floor and let Colleen Olson know that you are there. During the “interview” process, you will 1) take a tour of the facility, 2) fill out a questionnaire and essay, 3) have your interview, and 4) have lunch with the other candidates for that day. Each candidate follows a different schedule. One candidate will take a tour first while another will accomplish the essay first. Colleen has the schedule on which task you will accomplish first. You do not need to bring anything with you to the interview. Paper, pencils, and water will be provided for you. However, if you do have some questions that you want answered, write them down and have the questions available. You will have ample opportunities to ask questions about MCO.

The Lunch:
If your interview is in the morning, then the lunch is the last thing accomplished in the interview process. If your interview is in the afternoon, then the lunch is first in the interview process. Lunch is usually held at “Center Ice” and is paid for by MCO. A student and faculty member will accompany you to the lunch. Use this time to ask any questions that you may have about MCO and optometry.

The Essay:
Colleen will have you fill out a brief questionnaire and she will have you write a one-page essay on one of four topics (see lists below). For the essay, you will choose one topic and defend or refute it. You will be given about 30 minutes to accomplish the essay:

Essay Topics:
1) Travel in a foreign country is more educational that travel in one’s native country.
2) Informational Technology (Computer, cell phones, etc.) has improved communication in the workplace and at home.
3) Schools should be responsible only fro teaching academic skills and not for teaching ethical and social values.
4) A popular fear of Americans is that our nation will be “one large paved parking lot with border to border interstate highways connecting it.”

Questionnaire Topics:
1) To what other optometry schools have you applied?
2) To what other professional schools, besides optometry, have you applied?
3) How much time have you spent visiting the office of an optometrist?
4) How long ago did you decide on optometry as a career choice?
5) What have been extra-curricular activities in college?
6) How would you describe your personality?

The Interview:
After writing the essay, you will go and speak to Dr. Peterson-Klein (the associate dean) for about fifteen minutes. Next, Dr. Peterson-Klein will walk you to the interview room and will introduce you to the other two doctors on admittance committee. The interview will last about 45 minutes.

Common Questions asked at the MCO Interview:
1) Why did you apply (or not apply) to other optometry schools?
2) What jobs have you held in the past and what did you learn from each job?
3) How would other people describe you?
4) What are your strengths?
5) What are your weaknesses?
6) What was your favorite or most beneficial extra-curricular activity? Why?
7) Why did you choose optometry over ophthalmology or opticianry?
8) If you had a month/week/year off with no work and unlimited resources, what would you do?
9) What do you do in your free time (between classes, studying, extra-curricular activities, jobs, etc.)
10) What do you plan to do if you don't get into optometry school this year?
11) How involved were you with the pre-opt club?
12) Why do you want to go to MCO (as opposed to other schools)?
13) What was your favorite undergraduate class? Why?
14) You may be asked to explain any unusually low grades or OAT scores.
15) Do you have any questions? (It is a good idea to ask one or two questions back to the interview panel)

The Tour:
A second or third year student will give you a walking tour of the college of optometry. You will tour the classrooms, laboratories, pre-clinic area, and the University Eye Center. Use this time to ask questions about classes, labs, and clinic as well as student life at MCO.

*The Interview Process at the Michigan College of Optometry (MCO) is based on Fall 2006 - Spring 2007 information.