Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 14% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did well.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools included inquiries about balancing academic and extracurricular activities, motivations for choosing a specific field or institution, experiences in volunteering and shadowing, study habits for standardized tests, future career aspirations, personal strengths and weaknesses, and reasons for pursuing optometry over other healthcare professions. Some responses indicated a structured MMI format with a focus on personal statements and conversational elements, potentially with restrictions due to nondisclosure agreements.
About my experience volunteering in a Manatee Conservation Center
Asked about different optometry shadowing experiences. Where do you see yourself in the future (what type of optometrist do you want to be). Do you have any questions for me?
Talked mainly about my grades and low gpa/struggles. Be prepared to explain if you have a lot gpa/got bad grades. I feel like 80% of the interview was her concern about my struggle in college and how I might struggle at ICO
What was your favourite course that you've taken and why? At what point did you know you wanted to do optometry? What can you bring to the school community? Where are you from? What do you like to do for fun?
You mentioned that tuition played a role in your decision to choose the undergraduate school that you attended. As you know, ICO is a private school therefore the tuition is much higher. Why ICO?
(All the obvious ones were asked; why optometry? Why ICO? They also referenced my personal statement and asked me specific questions about something I mentioned in it, so know that really well.) How did you manage your time?
I recall the entire interview consisting of two structured questions, with one of them being "Do you have any questions?". It was very chill, definitely not stressful if you sincerely want to be an opt.
Tell me about yourself?
Why optometry?
What quantitative skills do you have?
Why weren’t you a full time student during certain semester?
What do you know about optometry?
Why did you choose to go to your undergraduate institution?
What did you like about your undergrad?
What is the trend in your grades?
How did you study for the OAT?
Why did you take the OAT twice?
How did you improve your score on the OAT?
Are you satisfied with your grades and OAT score?
Why ICO?
What factor led you to apply to the schools that you did?
Did you have interviews anywhere else?
How was PCO?
What is your first choice?
Do you have any questions for me?
What is your favorite subject?
What is your least favorite subject?
Do you know about our residency programs?
Why did you do a masters?
How have I come to optometry as a career choice
Why optometry and what experiences led you to it?
Describe your trend in grades
What do you like to do for fun
Why ICO?
If you get accepted into more than one school, which would you pick?
Where I see optometry in the future
Tell me about yourself
What activities are you involved in?
If I could tell the admissions committee 3 things about myself before they made their decision, what would they be?
Where and in which setting do you plan to practice?
Classes that I am interested in. not interested in
What had of exposure have I had in the workplace?
What are some experiences you've had in shadowing/working
How did you prepare for the OAT?
Why didn't you choose to go to Med School and go into opthalmology?
(they want to make sure you have your reasons why that route isn't one you'd want to take so you don't regret being an O.D. later...)
Have you applied anywhere else ? Which is your first choice ? And why ? (this was not asked during the actual interview, but was asked during another part of the process)
Students said the most interesting question asked at Illinois College Of Optometry discussed a wide range of topics, including personal experiences, future plans, family influences, and reasons for choosing optometry. The interview format appeared to be diverse, with some respondents mentioning MMI-style questions and potential nondisclosure agreements, while others highlighted engaging in more conversational and informal discussions with interviewers.
If you were to encounter a personal tragedy during your time here at ICO, how would you deal with it and how would you prevent it from affecting your studies?
Start with when you were in high school, go up through undergrad, volunteering, and working experience and pretty much just discuss how you got here today.
Nothing really out of the ordinary. There were no trick questions. I think the question regarding why I withdrew was the most detailed question I had in any of my interviews.
Honestly...the interviewer will probably read your personal statement 15 minutes before your interview. Have this work FOR you. Read and re-read your essay 1000000 times. Be consistent, but not verbatim. They want to make sure your experiences were real and worthwhile.
Most of the questions were pretty standard, ''why do you want to be an optometrist'' etc. It was realy more of a conversation. I think I asked my interviewer more questions than she asked me!
Students said most difficult question asked at Illinois College Of Optometry discussed various topics, but the interview format may have been an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) based on references to nondisclosure agreements. Common questions included explaining challenging situations faced, reasons for opting for optometry over medicine, self-reflection on academic performance, and future goals.
I didn't find any question to be difficult. It was very conversational.
It's sometimes hard explaining WHY you want to go into a certain field, it may just be the experiences you had and words may not be enough. Practice your response, but make it sincere. It's just as bad to be mumbling throughout the interview than it is to say a bunch of BS.
None of the questions were particularly difficult, they all related to me or the school and us getting to know each other. They were not hard, but rather more personal.
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as Student Doctor Network (SDN), practicing mock interviews, researching the school's website, and reviewing common interview questions. They also focused on understanding the profession and school, preparing answers to potential questions, and seeking advice from advisors, optometrists, and alumni.
SDN!! Also read my personal statement over, and prepped out some main points to answer some of the most common questions. Other than that, the interview felt so much like a conversation and was really easy-going.
I read a ton of these interview feedback forms on the Student Doctor Network and printed them up and just went through them a few times before each interview. I did not want to memorize anything, but I really think it helped to just get all my ideas written down.
SDN is a blessing! I went through all the questions that these interview feedbacks had and then I made sure I could answer each question (even the "stupid ones"). Like, it was for some reason hard to answer how I studied for the OAT. Why? Because when I saw that question on SDN, I thought it was "stupid" and didn't bother to answer it.
read the brochure they sent and watched all the videos on the CD. Other than that, just dropped by the campus a day earlier to make sure I knew where it was and wouldn't get lost the next day. I wouldn't advise walking around the neighborhood at night time.
I read all of the info about the school from their website and the materials they had sent me or that I had received at my previous visit. I said ''be yourself!''
I read over all the info that ICO had sent me, read over info I had about optometry, and prepared answers for questions I did not know how to answer from other interviews (which they did not ask)
Reading over ICO material and and compared it to other schools material. Also, writing down all my accomplishments, reasons for wanting to become an OD, and why I would be a good candidate.
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the staff, faculty, and students at the school. They appreciated the professional environment, the quality of facilities, particularly the clinic, and the emphasis on providing a supportive and student-oriented learning experience. Suggestions included enhancing the community environment, leveraging technology in classrooms, and further emphasizing clinical exposure and diverse patient experiences.
The professors were so nice, clinic was super nice
The portion where the financial aid and career services advisers gave their presentations was really professional. The financial aid adviser really explained everything clearly and broke down the finances. The person who interviewed me was very nice and it felt more like a conversation.
The other financial aid and career services directors that talk to you are great. They make you feel at ease, crack jokes, and are really nice. The school is a great facility, state of the art, and always finding ways to improve. Concerned about the safety of the area? The security is impressive!
Faculty (professors and those who work there), students, clinics, lecture hall, library, IEI (Illinois Eye Institute), RC (Residential Complex)... THE ENTIRE SCHOOL AND WHAT IT CONSISTS OF!
The whole interview flow went smoothly. I really like how professional the environment seemed. It seemed like a really established optometry school with really focused students (everywhere we walked, students were focused with studying). I loved the clinic that was attached to the school and was excited about the diversity of patients that students could see. Overall I liked how it seemed like a serious place to learn and succeed. I went to another school that seemed more laid back and relax which you would think is a good thing... but I actually preferred ICO's slightly more "serious" environment. The security guys are really nice!
How they have the RC and the Host Program in place that gave me an insider view of what it's actually like being a student at ICO. I loved how the clinic was apart of the school and the various types of specialization, the early clinic exposure, and being able to interact with the faculty and students while I was there.
The facilities (lecture halls, labs, clinic) and on-campus housing. There's also plenty of efficient public transportation around the school and city, so there's no requirement for your own car.
clinic work students do throughout the 4 years, high NBEO scores, welcoming and fun vibe, facilities (preclinic, clinic, and RC), campus was a very short distance away from the heart of chicago
Location and public transportation. ico is located next to another college, therefore the surrounding campus environment is somewhat safe. I also liked how downtown chicago is literally a train ride away. Getting around town without a car is very easy
Everyone was extremely friendly. Admissions staff came in to "keep us company" in between interviews. They did not seem to be all about numbers on paper and wanted to hear about your experience with and passion for optometry.
Everyone there was extremely nice. I like that its a large class size, which allows you to meet so many different people. The facilities were the nicest of any school I went to. The living center is nice in that you are always literally, next door to school.
The staff and students are SUPER FRIENDLY and the school caters to the students by having many student-oriented facilities and organizations. ICO really wants to make the students have the best and comfortable learning environment.
The amount of support I was able to get from everyone there. Students were all very very helpful. Every single person I've met from when I entered the door of ICO were extremely friendly. I was able to freely ask questions, get honest answers, and be respected for my religion, and my country of origin (Canada). I felt like they actually wanted to know who I am as a person, so that they can determine whether I a fit enough to be a doctor. I was interviewed by Dr. Pihos, and I felt that she was very direct, and honest. It was a very laid back interview. I felt like I asked her certain tough, or personal questions about the school, of which she still answered very honestly. I really respect that about the school. I did not get the feeling that they were trying to "sell" the school to me, but really help me in choosing the right school that will prepare me to be the best optometrist I can be.
Things I like about ICO: Clinical experience exposure, diversity of patients and surroundings, Technology and clinics (Eyepods, in classrooms and library), student and faculty relationship, resources that can help students, community environment
EVERYTHING! the city is amazing, the school is friendly, the new lab is phenomenal! I really did fall in love. Everyone was so nice to me, from the time that I landed to the time that I boarded my flight back home. And the transportation system is pretty reliable.
The brand new third floor clinics and labs, the use of technology in classrooms and library, and the friendliness of students and faculty I met. The convenience of having the RC right across the street.
Quite honestly, I like how the clinic was attached to the school itself. Since the location is not entirely the best, the physical connection was more of a safety ordeal for me.
How friendly and inviting everyone was. Anthony, the information clerk at the front desk, is a crack-up and although he's got that tough-guy italian accent, he's actually incredibly friendly. The clinical exposure to ocular disease is immense and gives you plenty of experience if you're looking for a strong background in it.
The diversity of disease I would see in the clinic and how close the clinic is to the school (right inside it, really). Most of the facilities were really nice (the clinicals lab was a bit cramped).
How much time and effort they put in to the whole day - interview, file review, tour, lunch etc. They really tried to show you how great their school was. It really felt like I was going to be a student there and they told us exactly what to expect and what we would experience.
The person who interviewed me. He was completely unbiased towards all the optometry schools and was only trying to help me choose the school that best fit my needs.
A lot. I was very impressed with the caring faculty, the students all seem close, the facilities are really nice, as well as the IEI. Oh and also the RC right across the street!
everyone was very nice, my interviewer was actully a teacher and was easy to talk to. the tour was awesome, but what topped it off was the type of experiences that you can get working at IEI.
I was extremely impressed with the resources that the school had to help their students learn and the things that they were doing to try to improve the school to make it even better. I was also impressed the community the school has. It really seems like professors and the school overall cares about the students
The whole interview day was very well organized, lots of opportunities to ask questions. All of the faculty, staff and students who I met were very friendly, and seemed genuinely passionate about the school and what it has to offer.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the school's location, particularly noting the surrounding neighborhood and safety perceptions. Suggestions included improving lighting, updating facilities, and enhancing the overall campus environment to create a more welcoming and secure atmosphere.
They misspelled the abbreviation for my home state on my name tag, but I wasn't too fazed by it.
It was slightly intimidating how the students seemed a bit stressed - but that is optometry school and you're there to work hard and learn. It was a bit stressful that everything seemed so "dark". Outside the building was dark and cold. Inside the building lights were extremely dimmed, and it just seemed like a dark, dark cold place. I don't know, maybe it's because I'm from California lol. Students were nice, but not as nice as another school interviewed at. Maybe they had an important test coming up or something. Oh, there was this lady at the front desk that was not that pleasant at all. I think she was an older Caucasian lady that really just did not have common sense when it came to manners. I'm surprised she's allowed to work there, given her personality. She wasn't extremely mean, but I was expecting a different personality (nice, warm, welcoming), given that she was the first person I saw, walking into the school for the first time.
The fact that it was an open interview file and the person told us that telling them what schools we applied to and where we have interviews would not affect our status. Also, when going in for the one-on-one interview, I was asked about the schools that I had interviews at and why I chose those schools as well. I thought they weren't going to ask that, so it seemed kind of unfair.
the residential complex is essentially freshman style undergrad dorms. No sense of privacy. They say that single dorm rooms are available, but those are pretty much for upperclassmen. Incoming class usually get placed in a double
The talk about how difficult it would be to live off campus. I understand they want people to live in the living center, which is a really great amenity, but they really make it sound like its impossible to do well there unless you live there.
The interviewer, who will be remained nameless, was not friendly, and I felt like he was trying to convince to go elsewhere. He made me feel like I would not belong at ICO.
The cost to attend, a bit ridiculous.
Drawn out process. The first thing that occurred the day of the interview was a file review, where they told me my file would be put on hold... kind of disappointing to hear before a five hour interview process.
Nothing really, just that I had to sign out of the RC Complex in the morning and take my luggage with me. It would have been nice to have had a place to change after the interview, and not stress about cleaning up in the morning!
The clinicals lab was small/cramped and the area of town is really not that safe. I also did not like that basically every student in the Residential Complex was drinking alcohol when I came for my visit. I was not sure I would fit in as a student on campus.
I know everybody says the location and that probably is the most negative thing about the school, but don't be too intimidated, I was wandering around the area at 2 am & I was fine.
Honestly, the location. Its not even just that its in a ''bad part of town'' It didnt feel that dangerous to me even though my cab driver said ''I wouldn't walk around here at night'', but there isn't much around. But I do realize dwntwn Chicago isn't too far.
The location is not ideal, I hate cold weather ! Plus I would prefer not to be as down town, riding the L to the airport with a bunch of luggage was not fun !
On the way to the school the area was a little ''run down'' but the actual area in which the school is situated in is not as bad as people make it seem.
Applicants commonly wished they had known about the relaxed nature of the interview process, including no essay portion, the conversational style of the interviews, and the emphasis on being oneself. Other common feedback included suggestions to relax, be prepared with questions, wear a professional suit, and be aware of the file review process.
There is no essay portion in the interview day anymore so no need to stress out about it!
It was my first interview so I didn't know what I was looking for in a school. I wish I had thought it through more and known what I wanted (great facilities, location of clinic, etc).
How to get back to the airport. After the interview was over, I wasn't sure what to do next, haha. They were just sort of like - Okay, that's all, bye! And I felt so lost and stranded. (At the other school I interviewed at, I won't mention which school, the admissions office asked if I knew how to get back to the airport ok, and one even offered to walk me to the subway! Wow!) But at ICO, I walked around outside with my luggage and had to ask a student how to get a taxi. I wanted to ask my-not-so-favorite-lady at the front desk, but she was busy talking on the phone (obviously for personal/pleasure, not business) and ignored the fact that I was lingering around waiting for her assistance. Eventually she went away and another nice lady (African American descent) helped me with calling a taxi. She was very nice.
i wish i had done a mock interview. i wish i would have known they were going to hound me for my OAT scores so i could have been more prepared for that
File review toward the beginning of the day turned out to be an actual part of the interview when it was conducted by the admission office staff (not a faculty interviewer). I say this because the actual one hour interview did not include anything from my academic file.
That it really is nothing to fret about. The best way to handle the interviews is to just be prepared like you would a job interview and be confident. Its pretty relaxed and everyone is so nice!
That they have already sent out 200 acceptances (only 130 or so put in their deposit though)
Either way, it was such a great experience, I don't regret flying there at all, no matter what my outcome is.
That the area isnt really downtown, but its next to downtown and that the commute isnt that bad even during rush hour, just 20 mins from hotel (10 mi from school). Also, there is space for parking your car, just come a lil early
It's nice to have someone with you. Maybe not your whole family, because that's overkill, but I was lonely :(
Wear a suit....I know a lot of people say you can wear a nice sweater or whatever, but common. This is a professional interview. Wear a nice, clean, IRONED suit. And easy to walk in shoes. And look nice. First impressions are everything.
How to get from the train to the school on foot. I ended up walking around for like an hour in the middle of the night and it was like -4 and I didn't have a coat because my luggage got lost.
I was so excited that they did not say anything in the info they had sent me about writing an essay, but you end up writing one anyway : ( it wasn't too bad though, but they give you very little time.
Applicants generally found the interview day to be relaxed and conversational, with positive feedback on the school's community, facilities, and clinical exposure. Suggestions included being prepared for questions, arriving early, and staying at the residential complex if possible.
I really loved ICO's campus and how everything was in close proximity to each other like the RC, lecture hall, and clinic. Everyone was really nice and the interview was very casual. Also, my interviewer was the Dean of Academics and she invited to go to presentations that the residency students at ICO were doing and it was so interesting! Such a good school and great OD program!
Stay at the RC!! You'll get a feel if the living situations provided works for you.
Bring food with you so you don't starve during the night.
On interview day, security can keep your luggage for you.
Learn how to use the public transportation!
All the applicants were wearing business professional clothing (jacket, button up/blouse, slacks/skirt, conservative shoes).
Come prepared with questions for the interviewers, faculty members, and students! Don't leave them hanging. It's awkward.
ICO seems like such a great community of students, how everyone lives there and goes to school and does clinic all within the same vicinity, it seems like an awesome place to pursue your optometric education.
Beautiful campus. Big city, lots to do in your free time. Also a plus is that most of the school's facilities are accessible 24/7 for studying (not all classrooms and the library are, but there are little study areas all around campus). Tuition is pricey, but it is the oldest and largest OD school in the US and has some of the most updated facilities and equipment.
overall it was a relaxed interview. one on one in an office. it wasn't even up tight and across a desk or anything like that. we both sat in comfortable chairs just kind of chilling as we answered questions. everyone says go in confident and relaxed but i know that is hard to do when you are freaking out about an interview. just practice your questions and be prepared.
The interview was incredibly relaxed. They make it a point to make you feel comfortable. The interviewer consciously makes the interview conversational. Great experience.
Choose your words carefully during the interview. They feed off of what you say. Say you answer one question, the interviewer's NEXT question will dig deeper into the answer you mentioned before.
They have approximately 1000 applications, 450 interviews, and a class size of only 160 or so. I'm honored to be amongst the 450, and am even more glad to have met such a wonderful bunch of people there. The support the students give each other, the amount of school spirit they each have are incredible! It definitely is contagious. The students there will pretty much determine one's life outside of school, and that is important to me. Everyone will be on the same schedule, most people will live together, the school has an awesome work-study program, and it's just a wonderful place to be.
Most importantly, their clinic will allow me to be exposed to a large variety of diseases because of the type of community they are in. The school is all about reaching out to the community, and I truly see the humanitarian side of the school.
The staff, the students, the CLINIC**, the fact that they have a residence complex is beyond awesome to me. I had a great experience, and I hope everyone who got invited for their interview will attend, because it will really be worth it!
I really liked ICO. From the minute your interview day starts until the minute it ends, people are always making sure you're comfortable. They don't try to intimidate you or anything, which happened to me at other interviews. The clinic is phenomenal and all the students I talked to really love the school.
Arrived in the morning and checked in with Anthony. Met the other applicants before we were all taken up to the welcome room. File review, financial aid presentation, one-on-one interview, tour of the school, RC, and IEI, then lunch. Overall the experience was great!
You get to meet Anthony, the information desk person, who is absolutely hilarious! You would think he is part of the mafia or something by the way he acts and talks but he was a real comic relief. Then you get brought up to the welcome room, where an admission staff will take you in one at a time to review your file. Afterwards, you are asked to write a 10 minute essay. Then you meet a financial person. Afterwards, you meet with a faculty member for your interview. Once that is over, you get a tour of the institution and a luncheon with some fellow students.
I really enjoyed the interview, which didn't seem like much of an interview at all but more a conversation (like most others mention). Even though I read that it was a conversation, it doesn't put you at ease until you're actually there having your interview. I had a great interviewer and we had much to talk about. The students really loved it there and felt they were getting a solid education and clinical experience. The security on campus and at the residential complex across the street are great (for those worried about the immediate area) and Chicago is such a great town.
The interview day was sort of long, but very relaxed. The interview itself was more of a conversation than an interview, and it was extremely comfortable. I felt rather confident when I left after the day was over.
I had done most of the interview day activities on an earlier visit, so not mucb surprised me. It was a really long day and the doorman (Anthony Barone, I believe) was trying to scare us all and came off like a big idiot. That was really off-putting. Be prepared to get grilled by him at the door, but remember that he has nothing to do with you getting into the school.
Overall it was ok, not my best one. The surprise essay really flustered me, and the tour was very long and confusing. The staff was very nice and the facilities were great, though.
I am a naturally high-strung, nervous person, so naturally I was really nervous. In retrospect, I wish I had just chilled out becuase there is really nothing to worry about. Relaxing is easier said than done!
Overall, I had a great interview experience. Not only did they learn alot about me but I also learned alot about the school and what they had to offer.
Long day, but very informative and laid back. The student tourguides were great, as well as the students we ate lunch with, everyone seemed very happy to be there.
it was great, i had mixed feelings about ICO before i interviewed. Now im really excited, and its will definitely be in my mind when the time comes to choose a school, if i get accepted to more than one
I was not sure how well I did when I came out. But I got accepted. I guess I answered the questions right:) I told my intervierwer about my experience with all the 1st year students the night before and then we talked about stuff (sports and volunteer work).
The interview started with a file review, then the interview, a financial aid presentation, school tour, and lunch with current students. Overall it was a great interview experience.
I was turned off about the school from the what I had heard from others but I ended up really enjoying the school. Do not go by what people say, it is important that you actually go to the school and see things for yourself. I felt the interview went well and the friendly people there made the visit that much more pleasant.
I was one of 7 people that interviewed that day, however, i was also one of two guys. The process started around 9:30 as the receptionist decided to shoot the breeze with us for awhile. Next was the file review, that took 15-20 mins. Following that was the financial aid talk. Finally progressing on to the interview with a staff member- all who were extremely nice according to the feedback from my fellow interviewees. The day ended with a tour, lunch, and question/answer session. It was a goodtime had by all. Very stressless and comfortable the entire duration.
There was a group of four of us that had interviews on the same day, and we were all together for the tour of the school and the financial aid presentation. There was also a file review (really not a big deal, they just make sure you have all the pre-reqs and LOR's etc), that was conducted individually. All four of us were interviewed at the same time, by four different interviewers. Seems like it's the luck of the draw as to what interviewer you get. I heard that some are tougher than others. My interviewer was very nice, and put me at ease right away. The actual interview is really nothing to stress over, if I had known that it would be so relaxed I would have enjoyed the day a lot more! At the very end, there was a LONG tour of the school, followed by lunch with some current students.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants commonly suggested that the admissions office maintain its friendly and welcoming approach, but also recommended improvements in communication efficiency such as sending acceptance notifications via email in addition to traditional mail to reduce wait times and anxiety during the application process.
Maybe be a little friendlier. The woman who spoke with me about having all of the materials for my application seemed a little rude at times. everyone else was nice.
