University of California Berkeley Optometry

397 Minor Hall Berkeley, California 94720-2020 Phone: 510-642-9537 Fax: 510-643-7111 admissions@optometry.berkeley.edu http://optometry.berkeley.edu

The University of California at Berkeley Optometry School offers an OD program, along with an MS and PhD in Vision Science. The school offers students in the OD program diversity in training, and students generally average more than 2,500 patient encounters by the time they graduate through on-campus clinics, externships, and outreach programs at several locations. Examples of these are the Meredith W. Morgan University of California Eye Center, Sacramento Society for the Blind, and head Start Screenings outreach program. There is also a summer research project that current students can participate in to experience and find opportunities that exist there.

There is also the Berkeley Optometry Opto-Camp held every year to help perspective students who are unsure of their career experience in the world of optometry. Applicants should be attending a university or junior college, preferably approaching their senior or junior year. Those in the mini-camp are exposed to "in residence" experiences during the 3 day event.

Berkeley Optometry has a class size of around 60 to 66 students per year, and had one of the higher averages for OAT Total Science score at 361 and overall GPA at 3.53 for students entering the 2008-2009 academic year, compared to other optometry schools. The same year there were 246 applicants, 78 accepted candidates, and 66 enrolled students. The school has a record for accepting most students from California and the number of states represented, 8, in the student body for the same year showed this.

Tuition

The tuition for the Berkeley Optometry School per semester during the 2009-2010 academic year for residents and non-residents was $11,118.25 and $17,240.75 respectively. Calculating these rates for the 10 semesters of the program that includes 2 summer sessions, the total comes out to $111,182.50 for residents and $172,407.50 for non-residents. Please check the school for updated and accurate tuition and fees.

Education Requirements

The Berkeley Optometry school requires that applicants have at least a Bachelors degree, and that pre-optometry prerequisites courses in basic science, advanced science, and general education are all met. The school has specific rules on online courses and pass or no pass courses towards meeting the prerequisites.

Admissions Checklist

• School of Optometry Application- OptomCAS
• Essay/Personal Statement
• Official academic transcripts
• OAT Scores
• Letters of recommendation

2008 ICO Entering Class Profile

• Total Applications: 2008
• Number of Applicants Accepted: 246
• Number of Students Enrolled: 78
• # of Enrolled with Bachelors degree: 66
• # of Males Enrolled: 18
• # of Females Enrolled: 48
• # of States Represented: 8
• Overall Average GPA: 3.53
• Average OAT AA Score: 371
• Average OAT Total Science Score: 361
• # of Residents Applied: 175
• # of Residents Accepted: 55
• # of Non-residents Applied:71
• # of Non-residents Accepted:23
• Residents 1st Year Tuition and Fees: $20221
• Non-residents 1st Year Tuition and Fees: $32466
• Offers Advanced Standing: No

Berkeley Optometry Residency

University of California Berkeley Residency in Primary Care - Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley Residency in Binocular Vision - Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley Residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses - Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley Residency in Low Vision Rehabilitation - Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley Residency in Ocular Disease - Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley Residency in Pediatric Optometry - Berkeley, CA

Affiliated Optometric Residency

Fresno VA Central California Health Care System Primary Care Optometry Residency - Fresno, CA

VA Palo Alto Health Care System Residency in Primary Care/Low Vision Rehabilitation - Palo Alto, CA

San Francisco VA Residency in Primary Care - San Francisco, CA

Reno VA Residency in Primary Care - Reno, NV