Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry - NSUOCO

1001 North Grand Avenue Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464 Phone: 918-444-4006 Fax: 918-458-2104 Email: medearis@nsuok.edu http://optometry.nsuok.edu/

Located in the city of Tahlequah, the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry provides education in optometry to residents in the states, and many surrounding ones through its 4 year Doctor of Optometry program. The college only accepts 28 students into its program and applicants must be residents from one of following nine states: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas. This makes it one of the smallest optometry classes, limited to only some surrounding states, making it tougher to get accepted into.

The school features the Optometry building, specific for the program, and has clinical space in the Chester H. Pheiffer Optometry Clinic and four rural eye clinics, the Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center in Stilwell, the Redbird Smith Health Center in Sallisaw, the Sam Hider Jay Community Clinic in Jay, and the Amo Salina Community Clinic in Salina. The college also offers residency programs locally and in surrounding states, with specialties in areas like optometric management, cornea and contact lenses, ocular diseases, and some others.

Tuition

For the 2011-2012 academic year tuition for the Fall and Spring block for the first and fourth years for residents was $12,975 and $18,572 for the second and third years which consist of a summer session. For nonresidents the tuition was $26,075 for the first and fourth years and $36,928 for the second and third years. This comes out to a total of $63,094 for residents and $126,006 for nonresidents. This makes it one of the cheaper rates for residents compared to the other optometry schools. Please check the school for updated and accurate tuition and fees.

Education Requirements

The NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry gives preference to applicants with Bachelor’s degrees, but does not require it. However, they should have at least 90 semester credit hours with courses that meet the school’s general education and pre-optometric education requirements. These courses include General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I, Biochemistry, Biology, and many of the same classes that other optometry schools require. The applicant must also have a composite GPA of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale.

Admissions Checklist

• School of Optometry Application- OptomCAS
• Autobiography / Personal Essay
• Official academic transcripts
• OAT Scores
• Letters of recommendation - at least one has to be from an optometrist

2011 Entering Class Profile

• Total Applications: 142
• # of Residents Applied: 31
• # of Non-residents Applied:111
• Number of Applicants Accepted: 28
• # of Residents Accepted: 19
• # of Non-residents Accepted:9
• Number of Students Enrolled: 28
• # of Enrolled with Bachelors degree: 26
• # of Males Enrolled: 13
• # of Females Enrolled: 15
• # of States Represented: 5
• Overall Average GPA: 3.57
• Average OAT AA Score: 295
• Average OAT Total Science Score: 304
• Residents 1st Year Tuition and Fees: $14008
• Non-residents 1st Year Tuition and Fees: $27108
• Offers Advanced Standing: Yes

National Board of Examiners for Optometry Pass Rates

• Part I
• 2011: 87.7%
• 2010: 96.1%

• Part II
• 2011:
• 2010: 100%

• Part III
• 2011:
• 2010: 100%

NSU College of Optometry Residency

NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry Residency in Family Practice Optometry - Tahlequah, OK

NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry Residency in Family Practice Optometry with a MBA active U.S. Army Optometrists only - Tahlequah, OK

NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry Residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses - Tahlequah, OK

Affiliated Optometric Residency

Fayetteville VA Medical Center Residency in Primary Care - Fayetteville, AR

Muskogee VA Residency in Primary Care - Muskogee, OK

Amarillo VA Residency in Primary Care - Amarillo, TX

Brooke Army Medical Center Residency in Primary Care - Fort Sam Houston, TX

Edmond BVA Advanced Eye Care Residency in Ocular Disease / Refractive and Ocular Surgery - Edmond, OK

Tulas BVA Advanced Eye Care Residency in Ocular Disease / Refractive Surgery - Tulsa, OK

Elk City BVA Advanced Eye Care Residency in Ocular Disease - Elk City, OK

Eyecare Associates of South Tulsa Residency in Ocular Disease - Tahlequah, OK

Womack Army Medical Center Residency in Primary Care - Fort Bragg, NC