Hi Ted,
Like all Optometry schools in North America, UW has in recent years seen a dramatic decrease in applications. My class (2003) had 200 applications, the class of 2004 had 90, and the class of 2005 had about 110.
If you work that out for 60 available spots, the odds of getting in are better than 1:2. When you apply, the admin. touts a highly competitive applicant pool, numbering about 340 ... one thing you must learn quickly is that the admin. does not always tell you the truth.
Here's what you need to be guaranteed acceptance:
1) GPA of 3.7+
2) OAT Scores of 320+
3) Experience working for/ volunteering for an OD
4) All the Pre-req's
BUT, in all honestly, many people get in with much less.
The "skinny" is that it is very possible to get in with a GPA of 3.4+, and OAT scores of under 320. You really do need to have some experience with an OD or an ophthalmologist.
Also, starting next year (class of 2006), they will increase enrollment by 5 to 65. They are hoping to attract more applicants by starting to recruit ... historically UW has never activly recruited and sat on it's laurels for recruiting. They are also hoping that many of the canadians who elect to go down to the US for Opt school will chose to apply to UW instead.
Before the decrease in number of applicants, there was a rumour that it was near impossible to get in if you didn't have a 90+ average .... key word is rumour. Unfortunitely, many people, especially from out west stopped applying, and elected to go to US schools because it's easier to get into US schools (no offense to anyone).
Now, many Canadians apply to US schools because of the simple fact that they feel the US schools are better than UW. In many respects, I can't argue. The clinical experience is quite lacking at the school, and there is still a lot of "fluff" in the curriculum ... and you will meet some of the facilty you will wonder how the school hired them as educators. But, I have no doubt that every school has these problems.
The mistake I made was to not fully explore all the options in the US. Granted, you will only spent around $40K (at most) CND for your education, but UW is very much more frills.
Don't get me wrong, UW is an excellent school. Most graduates that elect to write the US boards pass (I think the average is 97%+ pass). The percentage that pass the Canadian boards is slightly less.
I don't know too much about UM. They also have a new curriculum like UW, but the program there consists of 5 years (because I believe you can get in from High School/CJEP?)Also, you will be taught in french/quebecois.
There's still so much more info, but I have no idea where to being. So if you have any other questions .. please feel free to ask!