Forest Grove, OR
Optometry Schools | Private Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 18% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
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
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
Based on the responses provided, the most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the applicant's motivation for pursuing optometry, interests, hobbies, how they handle stress, and their personal attributes as perceived by others. Additionally, some respondents mentioned an MMI format and a nondisclosure agreement, indicating that questions were standard but required confidentiality.
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Why optometry?
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What would your best friend say about you if they were here now?
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If your best friend was here and you stepped out of the room, what do you think they would say about you?
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What is your hobby
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Describe how you became interested in optometry?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Pacific University College Of Optometry discussed various topics such as identifying stress in others, thoughts on organic food, essential characteristics for optometrists, preferred learning style, recent movies watched, travel desires, and hypothetical scenarios. Additionally, some respondents mentioned being part of an MMI format interview which required signing a nondisclosure agreement, while others highlighted questions focusing on personal attributes and ethical decision-making without any tricks or specific content disclosure.
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How would you identify somebody whose stressed and how would you suggest they manage it?
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what are your thoughts on organic food?
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I won't go into details but they give you an ethical situation and you have to figure out what is the best way to approach it.
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What characteristics do you think are essential for optometrists, and which of these do you lack?
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N/A
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at Pacific University College Of Optometry discussed a variety of topics including ethical dilemmas, personal qualities, reasons for pursuing optometry, and dealing with challenging situations in academics or life. While some mentioned specific questions like naming a song that describes them or explaining their commitment to podiatry, the overall focus seemed to be on assessing candidates' values, experiences, and problem-solving abilities rather than posing overly technical or specialized inquiries.
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Name a song that describes you
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Nothing too difficult, but I would say the ethical question.
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Why should we choose you over another, equally-qualified candidate?
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No tough question, just a conversation really.
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If there is anything you would like the admissions committee to know about you, what would that be?
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 40 - 50 minutes.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
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.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had a closed file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as the Student Doctor Network (SDN), practicing with mock interviews, and researching potential questions to strengthen their responses. Many also reviewed their application materials, reached out to current students for insights, and familiarized themselves with the school's website to demonstrate a genuine interest in the program.
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student doctor network
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I looked up a lot of questions from SDN, read some tips on interviews and ask current optometry students about the interviews to help make my answers stronger.
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Looks up practice interview questions, wrote down bullet point answers, then answered them out loud. Also attended a mock interview.
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SDN
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SDN, various optometric websites, searched online for interview questions and rehearsed.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendly and supportive atmosphere at the school, where faculty, staff, and students were described as welcoming and enthusiastic. They also appreciated the beautiful campus, strong sense of community, and emphasis on student success and well-being. Some applicants highlighted the opportunity to interact with current students and faculty members, as well as the quality of facilities and resources available.
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very nice faculty members
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At lunch, being able to talk to current students and professors
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The professor, students and staff are super nice.
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Very positive atmosphere. I like that they have clinics in different places. The health professions campus in Hillsboro. Living costs is cheap!!
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The campus was beautiful and the students were very friendly. Staff really seem to care that their students not only do well academically, but succeed in their life goals as well.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the outdated or small facilities, particularly the clinical facilities located far from campus, and the lack of exposure to those facilities during the interview process. Suggestions included providing more information or opportunities to see all clinical facilities and ensuring interviewers are more engaging and conversational.
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Not very conversational, Interviewers are constantly writing your responses. Completely closed, I wish the interviewers had at least read my essays.
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Some of the lab rooms were older but I heard that they are doing some remodeling this summer.
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The forest grove clinic is tiny. But you probably would work elsewhere. I would have like to see the 3D clinic
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Jefferson Hall seemed a little small and outdated compared to other schools' optometry facilities.
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We only were able to see 1/5 of the clinical facilities because the other 4 clinics were not located near campus. I wanted to see what they were like. Also, this means that the students have to commute more to go to the clinics.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known how long the interview day would be and that it was a relaxed environment focused on getting to know them personally. They also suggested bringing specific questions and being prepared for either an intense or laid-back interview experience.
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How long the day was going to be.
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That it was a long day. It does not end till 4ish
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To relax. It is a very relaxed environment even during the interview.
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Not to worry because the interview was mainly about getting to know us personally, not drilling us to see what we knew. Also, bring specific questions because they had a student-led question and answer session which was really helpful!
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How well Temple podiatry is integrated into the Temple University Health System.
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview day to be long but well-structured, with a positive overall experience interacting with staff and faculty. They appreciated the laid-back atmosphere, informative sessions, and opportunities to ask questions, although some found certain interview formats to be less relaxed and more challenging.
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It was a long interview day, but overall I liked how they scheduled everything.
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This school is unique and prestigious. I liked it because of it's proximity to where I live and its strong clinical program but if I was not from around the area, it would not be a top choice for me.
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The hotel, Best Western, offers a 15% discount to students who are interviewing at Pacific.
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Pretty long day. Tour was long, but enjoyable. Everyone was friendly, nice lunch, very casual day.
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Pretty layed back. They know who is there for real, and those using pod school as a backup.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants generally had positive feedback about the admissions office but suggested scheduling interviews earlier in the day for convenience.
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Nothing, it was great!
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interview earlier in the day
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 7+ hours traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by airplane to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent between $101 and $200.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Portland International Airport (PDX)
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PDX
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PHL
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Portland
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
The most commonly mentioned hotel is Doubletree.
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Avalon Hotel and Spa in Portland, OR
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Best Western
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Best Western Forest Grove
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Best Western University Inn
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DoubleTree Hotel
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
All Responses
| Application Cycle ▿ | Impression | Performance | Interview Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Positively 🙂 | Good | Virtual |
| 2020-21 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2019-20 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2018-19 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2011-12 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | No change 😐 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Great | N/A |
| 2009-10 | Positively 🙂 | Good | N/A |
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