the interview day is VERY relaxed, so don't worry at all.
be sure to eat a good breakfast! because you will have the school presentation, financial aid presentation, and tour of the school, which is from 9-12ish, before you have lunch. and there is no essay to write
So during lunch you will eat with a bunch of students and faculty (these will be the persons who will be interviewing you), but you don't know who until end of the lunch. You are interviewed by 1 faculty and 1 student. so as the faculty comes in for lunch, they are handed a folder which decides who they are going to interview. you should chat up with the faculty and students around where you sit, they might be your interviewer! (it was in my case) Everyone was really warm and welcoming, as you will see, so theres nothing to worry about🙂 Its a good chance to ask the students any questions you have too, they'll tell you like it is.
Then the interview, about 30 mins, closed file. you go to the faculty's office to be interviewed, SUPER relaxed. I got asked about my background (where i am from, and about me) how I got interested in optometry, why optometry, difference b/w ophthalmologist, optometirst, opticians, what i do for fun, most difficult challenge I faced and how i over came it, and this very interesting question - "How would you remain competitive amongst other practices in your area once you open up your own practice". that kinda threw me off a bit, but i just talked about my qualities and strengths on that one. Then they ask if you have any questions, so ask away!
next you wait in the admissions office to have an exit interview with Dr. Shulman. it is not an interview, more like a chance to ask him any questions you have left, for him to get to know you a lil more and vice versa. He will let you know if you are accepted on the spot here + any scholarships.
As you are waiting in the office, you will see your interviewers comes in and hand a folder to Ali, your interview score report...haha. I just found that interesting. So Dr. Shulman also looks at that at the exit interview, i guess to determine if he can offer you an acceptance on the spot.
tho i gotta warn you, according to Ali while waiting in the office, they have this one faculty member that likes to throw random question at you, nothing related to optometry, like why is the toilet seat round. Ali said she always hopes that the interviewer gets someone not too timid, but since its a random pairing b/w interviewer and interviewee, she never knows. i didnt get this interviewer...thankfully🙂.
