Hi mtfarley, I know quite a bit about OSU, so if I don't answer all of your questions feel free to ask me some specifics. I finished 2 quarters last year in the class of 2005 and am now on a leave of absence due to some physical problems, but I plan to return this spring qtr as a member of the class of 2006.
For the interview, you will usually be there with 1-3 additional students, but you might be there by yourself. The interview happens in stages (in no particular order): financial aid session, essay (about 20-30min- have to write about some social or medical issue pertaining to optometry), tour of school, and interview with the admissions committee. The actual interview usually lasts about 30 min. You will sit at a table with 4 members of the admissions committee. One thing you have to watch during the interview is that you probably will get cut off a few times while you're in the middle of talking. But besides that, everyone on the committe is very friendly and it's not that intimidating. I was asked a "conflict resolution" question that threw me, but everything else is just standard stuff like telling them about yourself, why you want to be an optometrist, and so forth.
The first year of the program concentrates mainly on the the hardcore sciences and optics, with some intro to some clinical-type stuff the 3rd quarter in ocular anatomy. Actually, Dr Earley, who you will have for anatomy and histology your whole 1st year, frequently introduces clinical applications to the lecture material and you will be responsible for it. I like the OSU approach- I like getting the background info before I apply it to practice- you will start the heavy clinical training your second year. The education you will receive is excellent- especially Dr Earley and the optics professors. OSU consistantly scores very high on 1st time passage rates on Part I of the opt boards (some recent classes at 100%). This is probably mostly due to Dr Earley- he's a genius and will teach you alot. Some of the students I talked to who had taken the boards said that Dr Earley requires you to know much more detail than what you will see on the boards (stuff that pertains to his classes). The 1st year is very tough, but I heard it gets easier each year, even tough the 2nd year is very busy.
I really like the atmosphere of the school and you will get a very good education. The classrooms could use some improvement (esp rm 33), but the facilities are fine- even though other schools may have better. The school is located right next to the health science library and OSU hospital (quite a ways away from the riots, fires, and mayhem that occurs after OSU football victories). If you choose to live on campus, try to find an apartment near the school in the medical area. It's not the greatest area, but it's OK. I personally wouldn't ever want to live on campus again- I live in an eastern Columbus suberb. Well, gotta go for now- let me know if you have any specific questions.
