Skip to Content

OD Admissions

Now accepting applications for the Class of 2028!

Standardized Test Optional

A submission of standardized test scores is now optional. We hope this new change will provide applicants with the opportunity to submit materials that they believe best illustrates their candidacy.

For students who do choose to submit test scores as a component of the application we do prefer the OAT although we will also gladly accept the MCAT, DAT or GRE general exam. You will be able to indicate this within your OptomCAS application. Additionally, it is important to note that if you complete either an OAT or GRE exam that it will be visible to us for review once the scores are processed.

Welcome!

The Admissions Committee of the School of Optometry strives to admit students who will be successful both in the academic program and in the practice of optometry. Our goal each year is to bring in a class of approximately 65-70 students. We welcome your application!

Selection Criteria

Selection is based on holistic review of the entire application, including previous college-level academic achievement, standardized test scores (optional), and qualitative factors such as biographical information, assessment of suitability for performing clinical work, letters of recommendation, interview performance, and life experience.

Rolling Admissions

We conduct a rolling admission process based on rounds which runs from June 29, 2023 to December 1st, 2023 for Fall 2024 entrance. As completed applications are received, applicants will be contacted about invitations to interview. Applicants may expect to receive their admission decision within three weeks after the last interview has been conducted for that round (7-9 weeks total after a deadline as passed). Please note your application must be complete and received by a week after a Round Deadline, to be considered for admission.

To be considered complete, an application must have:

  • Transcripts and application verified by OptomCAS.
  • Three individual Letters of recommendation received by OptomCAS.
  • UC Berkeley Supplemental Fee paid via the UC Berkeley Admissions Portal (Slate).

Note For Standardized Tests: If you would like your scores to be part of your application review, please select 'Yes' on the Standardized Test Question on OptomCAS.

Since scores are no longer required for admissions, we will not halt our admissions process due to missing scores unless emailed. You can email us directly to push your application to another round at optometry-admissions@berkeley.edu. Scores that are not in on time for the last deadline will not be considered. We hope this new change will provide applicants with the opportunity to submit materials that they believe best illustrate their candidacy.

Round Deadlines

Round 1 – August 25th, 2023

Round 2 – October 13th, 2023

Round 3 – December 1st, 2023

Invitations to Interview

Invitations to interview will be released on 1 week after a round deadline (see schedule above). The Admissions and Student Affairs Office will provide the applicant with available dates to participate in the interview process. All completed applications received by the deadlines indicated below will receive notification by the specified date. Applicants will have one week from the date of notification to accept the invitation to interview.

Due to the holiday season, interviews for the last cycle will be scheduled in early January.

Interviews of applicants by invitation only. Applicants will be contacted by our Admissions Office to set up an interview time with a current student and faculty. As part of the assessment, you will have the opportunity to speak with current students. These interviews are held in a virtual format to increase accessibility for our applicants.

After You Receive an Offer of Admission

Students who have been admitted into an entering class are required to take certain steps to secure their seats in that class. The deadline to complete these steps will be provided by the Admissions and Student Affairs Office following their recommendation for admission.

  1. Accept the offer via email, accept your intent to register (SIR), and return your signed award letter to the Associate Director of Admissions.
  2. Pay your deposit. Berkeley Optometry requires a non-refundable $750 enrollment deposit to secure your seat. This $750 will be applied to your first semester of tuition.
  3. Complete background check. Berkeley Optometry requires a criminal background check (CBC) for all newly-admitted applicants prior to matriculation into the program. All admitted applicants are “Provisionally Accepted” until CBC results are obtained and cleared through Certiphi.
  4. All students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be fully considered for all financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Transfer Students

The Faculty believes that differences in educational philosophy and practice among the schools and colleges of optometry make the completion of a single uninterrupted curriculum in the best interests of both students and the profession. Accordingly, it is the policy of the Faculty to discourage optometry students from other institutions from seeking to transfer to Berkeley Optometry.

The Faculty recognize that truly extraordinary circumstances may compel a student to request to transfer, even though doing so would result in a significant extension of the student's professional program beyond the usual 4 years. Optometry students who believe they are in such an extraordinary situation may contact the Admissions and Student Affairs Office for further information on the school’s procedures for reviewing applications for admission from transfer students.

Admission of students to Berkeley Optometry's professional program is the responsibility of the Academic Senate Faculty (Faculty).

Disclosure

After a student has accepted admission, disclosure of information from their student records is governed by the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. While FERPA does not pertain to applicants who have not accepted admission, it is Berkeley Optometry’s policy to not release applicant information to third parties (e.g., parents, pre-health advisors, spouses) unless there has been prior written consent from the applicant.

The US Department of Education has issued regulations requiring higher education programs that are intended to meet professional licensure and certification requirements to disclose to students whether the program meets licensure and certification requirements in individual states. The required disclosure is posted on the website of the Institutional Research and Academic Planning (IRAP) department at UC Office of the President at this URL as of July 1, 2020.

https://www.ucop.edu/institutional-research-academic-planning/content-analysis/academic-planning/licensure-and-certification-disclosures.html

UC Berkeley Supplemental Fee

All graduate students applying to Berkeley need to pay a supplemental fee. Once you submit your OptomCas application, you will receive an email from UC Berkeley’s Graduate Division prompting you how to pay the fee. The fee is $66 for both domestic and international students.

Access to your supplemental fee portal will begin September 15th. If you submit your application before this date, you may still be extended an invitation to interview; however, you will be required to complete the supplemental fee before receiving notification of Berkeley Optometry’s admissions decision. After September 15th, the supplemental fee will be required for a completed application.

How to Apply

On this page we’ll go over the basic requirements for admission to the OD program. You can also visit our Applicant Profile page to see GPA and test scores for our previous applicants.

How to Apply
Join Our Email List