Go with the school with the higher passing rate.
It is pretty obvious that the final score (pass or fail) is dependent on you but schools definitely have impact on this issue.
SCO (where I went) is boasting very high passing rate in recent years because of 1 factor (4 yrs ago, pass rate was not that good)
New professors
There is a superstar (personally, I do not like him) who has BS, MS, PhD in ophthalmology from Oxford, England. MD (for god's sake, he is MD) from Glasgow and fellowship in orthopaedic surgery from Wake Forest. For unknown reasons, wants to go to optometry school, graduates Valedictorian (obvious) and missed exactly 7 questions from Board I. (unheard of)
This guy will push you to the limits. He is best friends with another joker (staff optometrist from NASA) who is the clinical director or something at SCO.
These two guys demand a lot from the students and will train you and make you study like you are in fact in doctorate program.
You are going to pass the boards when you are done going through G-B (Superstar's name)
Do you know who won the Optometry Olympiad last 2 years? Students from SCO. I think the students are very well taught. Again, I stress that I did not like those Bozos.
(Excellent profs, but lacks some serious i-p skills)
In conclusion, you need to put your time but some schools will prepare you better for it compared to the others.
One more thing. You
DO NOT want to repeat NBEO part I
EVER again. I repeat,,,
EVER !!!! You really want to pass it the first time.
Part I is truly a B$$$TCH !! It is tough. Makes you come out of the exam room feeling like "what the heck did I just do? Did I get any of them right???"
Part II is much easier, pay attention to your clinical courses, and you will be fine. I think I spent exactly 2 weeks for it.
Part III is a joke. Unless, you are an idiot who should not be an optometrist, you will pass.
Think about it.