ADMISSIONS

We invite you to watch two SCCO stories which chronicle our first 100 years and a vision for our bright future. Together, they tell of a transformation of the profession, of the College, of our students' lives, and of the patients we help -- where we’ve been but even more inspiring, where we are going.

SCCO – The Best Choice

As a future optometry student, you'll be making a substantial investment of time and resources into your career of choice – optometry. You have a responsibility to research your options to find the best fit for you and yield a good return on investment. There are dozens of reasons why SCCO, with over 109 years of excellence in clinical education, patient care and research, is worthy of your consideration. Here are the top 10.

1. Unparalleled – A Recognized Claim. SCCO's world-renown Outreach Clinical Program has been cited as, "unparalleled in optometric clinical education," by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association.
    
2. High Pass Rates on National Tests. SCCO students consistently achieve high NBEO pass rates.
    
3. Outstanding Contemporary Campus. The SCCO Campus and its buildings and facilities are fantastic! Add the great year-round weather and tremendous recreational attractions – beaches, mountains, professional sports, major theme parks, cultural events and a variety of culinary cuisines – and you have a wonderful environment for learning and personal growth.
    
4. Mentoring – Different than Undergraduate School. The majority of SCCO's faculty are full-time and are readily available to assist students. All courses and labs are taught by faculty members and not by graduate assistants. Most didactic course faculty members are also clinical preceptors as this fosters a continuity of education as the principles and concepts learned in lectures and lab are reinforced in the clinical setting during patient care encounters. SCCO faculty are truly vested in each student's progress throughout the four-year educational process.
    
5. Hit the Ground Running. SCCO has more practice management course hours in its curriculum than any other optometry program, preparing future practitioners for both patient care and successful business practices. SCCO's Practice Management Center (PMC), provides assistance to students for the successful transfer and development of independent optometric practices.
    
6. Ideal Location. SCCO is located in a residential, suburban neighborhood with many nearby apartments and rental houses for consideration. About 50% of students live within one mile of the SCCO Campus, which facilitates a real sense of community on our campus. Some optometry schools are located in urban environments where students would not want to live and other institutions are in "high rent" districts where a typical student's budget would not allow for housing near campus.
    
7. Here to Help. The staff of SCCO's Office of Student Affairs has a long-standing reputation for excellent service to students. Someone is available during regular business hours to personally answer all phone calls. They are committed to assisting students with the admissions process. Email queries are answered promptly and a Facebook Group for pre-optometry students provides invaluable interaction between students and members of the Student Affairs Staff.
    
8. Working Together – Academic Assistance. Faculty are friendly and willing to assist all students in achieving their maximum potential. SCCO provides tutoring assistance that's funded through an endowment and conducted by student members of Beta Sigma Kappa, the national optometric honor fraternity. Upper classmates also conduct mock proficiency exam reviews to assist students in preparing for clinical proficiency exams.
    
9. Students Begin Seeing Patients in Their First Year. Through the Clinical Enhancement Program students begin working with patients in the College's Eye Care Center in their first year of training. They are paired with upper classmates to assist and observe in patient care. After learning clinical skills, they then see their own patients as Second-Year Students.
    
10. Leadership Experience – A Hallmark of SCCO. Our students, alumni, faculty and administrators are leaders in their communities and within local, state and national optometric organizations. This is a tremendous source of pride for the entire SCCO Family.

For highlights about Student Life, Board Exam Preparation, Campus Facilities and more, click here.