The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry launches new service, awards grants

Key Points

Rockville, MD-The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) launched a new centralized application service to provide optometry school applicants with a one-stop application.

OptomCAS uses a single Web-based application to offer one set of materials to apply to multiple schools and colleges of optometry. Applicants can submit a completed web-based application composed of biographical data, colleges and universities attended, academic course history, letters of recommendation, work experience, extracurricular activities, honors/awards, and a personal essay.

All 20 schools and colleges of optometry are participating. To access the application, go to http://www.optomcas.org/.

The mini-grants provide seed money for specific programs or projects to assist schools/colleges of optometry with long-term diversity/multicultural efforts. Programs may include summer bridge programs for undergraduates, mentoring and guidance programs for first-year optometry students, and partnerships with organizations, high schools, community colleges, and undergraduate programs to promote optometry as a career among underrepresented groups.