Pacific University College Of Optometry
Forest Grove, OR
Optometry Schools | Public Non-Profit
Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 18% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How did the interview impress you?
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 include inquiries about the reasons for choosing optometry or a specific institution, descriptions of personal qualities as perceived by others like best friends, details about hobbies and interests, and experiences related to the field like shadowing and research. Respondents also mentioned an MMI format interview with a nondisclosure agreement in place, restricting the sharing of specific questions asked during the interview process.
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What's an optometrist?
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why did you want to go to pacific?
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Why optometry?
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What would your best friend change about you?
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What would your best friend say about you if they were here now?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Pacific University College Of Optometry discussed a variety of topics such as identifying stress in others, thoughts on organic food, ethical decision-making scenarios, essential characteristics for optometrists, preferred learning styles, recent movies watched, dream classes to take, and reflections on personal qualities from a friend's perspective. Additionally, some respondents mentioned an MMI format with a nondisclosure agreement, indicating a structured interview process with confidentiality requirements.
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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 wide range of topics, including ethical dilemmas, personal qualities, and academic challenges. However, several responses mentioned an MMI format, indicating potential nondisclosure agreements in place, which may have contributed to the variety of challenging questions encountered during the interviews.
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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 Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of 40 - 50 minutes.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 2 people.
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.
📍 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.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.
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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Portland
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PHL
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PDX
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
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Doubletree on Broad St.
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Doubletree
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DoubleTree Hotel
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Best Western University Inn
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Best Western Forest Grove
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 is your ranking of this school's location?
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?
Applicants commonly prepared for interviews by utilizing resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) for practice questions and tips, conducting mock interviews, and researching the school's website. Many also practiced answering common interview questions aloud and sought advice from current students or professionals to strengthen their responses.
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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 friendliness and professionalism of the faculty, students, and staff, as well as the positive atmosphere on campus. They appreciated the hands-on opportunities, beautiful facilities, and the school's student-centered approach to education. Suggestions for improvement included enhancing facilities and providing more detailed information about the program structure and opportunities.
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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, limited exposure to clinical facilities, and the remote location of some clinics, particularly for those outside of Forest Grove. Suggestions included more transparency about clinic locations, modernizing facilities, and enhancing the overall student experience by providing more exposure to the various clinical sites available.
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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 ahead of time about the length of the interview day, the relaxed and personal nature of the interview, the importance of specific questions for the student-led session, the integration of the podiatry program into the university health system, and potential financial considerations such as the budget for the first year. They also mentioned the gender ratio dynamics at Pacific University and the proximity of the school to downtown Portland.
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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 appreciated the organized and informative interview day experience at Pacific, finding it to be laid-back and stress-free. Some noted the long duration of the day, but overall, they felt welcomed by friendly staff and faculty and gained valuable insights into the school's programs and campus life.
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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 found the admissions process to be satisfactory, with a common suggestion being to schedule interviews earlier in the day for convenience.
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Nothing, it was great!
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interview earlier in the day
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