Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University Interview Feedback Summary
Fullerton, CA
Optometry Schools | Private For-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 16% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview generally impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.3
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 305 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (80%)
Negatively (9%)
No change (11%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (47%)
Good (35%)
Average (16%)
Poor (2%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally had positive experiences during their interviews, with many mentioning the friendly and welcoming environment of the schools they visited. Suggestions included being well-prepared, bringing hard copies of documents, and ensuring to eat ahead of time due to the lengthy interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I had an all around great experience from admission director to interviewer. SCCO is really an amazing school.
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Extremely friendly and welcoming environment. They are just trying to get to know you and there is nothing to worry about.
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SCCO is an amazing campus and has a great optometry program. They really seem to care about their students and all of the faculty and current students love it there. Also, there is a dual OD/MS program that is included in tuition for OD students! Overall, I had a wonderful experience during interview day.
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Great interview process, awesome school!
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Great school and friendly students and staff. I would say this was the most difficult interview out of the others I've done because my interviewer was more on the serious side however he was very friendly and engaging and I could tell that he was not intentionally intimidating.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
39 Minutes Average
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Number:
2.1 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
74% One-on-One
26% Group Interview
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File Type:
26% Open-File
74% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
100% Virtual
0% In-Person
SCCO-COMP interviews are an average of 39 minutes, with an average of 2.1 interviews. 74% of interviews are one-on-one, 0% are in-person, and 74% are closed-file.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about clinical experience, facing adversity, reasons for choosing the profession, knowledge of legislation, teamwork scenarios, ethical dilemmas, and motivations for specific school selection. Many responses suggest an MMI format with nondisclosure agreements potentially in place, focusing on a wide range of topics related to optometry and professionalism.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Tell me about your clinical experience
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What was an adversity you faced?
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What is an adversity you have faced?
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What was your journey in determining that optometry was for you?
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Why SCCO
What was the most interesting question?
Students said the most interesting question asked at Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University discussed a range of topics including ethical dilemmas in optometry, personal hobbies, family perspectives on pursuing optometry, and non-optometry related aspects of the applicant's life. The interviews may have been in an MMI format, with some respondents mentioning nondisclosure agreements, while other common questions revolved around ethical scenarios, personal interests, and future career aspirations in optometry.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What was an ethical issue you have faced and what did you do to resolve it?
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How do your hobbies relate to optometry?
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If not optometry what career would you choose
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Give me an ethical dilemma in optometry.
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How many siblings do you have/ how does your family feel about you pursuing optometry?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as SDN forums, mock interviews, and practicing with friends or family members. They also researched potential questions, reviewed their application materials, and familiarized themselves with current events and legislation related to optometry to ensure they were well-prepared for a variety of topics that could be discussed during the interview.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I reviewed the highlights of my resume and life. Kept them fresh in my head - but I did not formally study any online questions.
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Sdn
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Practice with friends and family members
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Looked at SDN interview questions and made a Word document with my answers for them, asked current SCCO students
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Sdn, made a document with a list of possible questions
What was the most difficult question?
Students said the most difficult question asked at Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University discussed a wide range of topics including ethical dilemmas in optometry, personal attributes, challenges in the field, and the impact of legislative aspects on their future. Many respondents mentioned the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, suggesting a diverse set of questions were posed, potentially under a nondisclosure agreement.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What was an ethical issue you have faced and what did you do to resolve it?
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On a scale of 1-10, what is your teachability and why?
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If I did poorly in physics in college, how would I do in Optics in Optometry School
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Give me an ethical dilemma in optometry.
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Name me an ethical issue that can arise in healthcare
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the campus, the approachable and conversational interview process, the modern facilities, and the positive interactions with staff, faculty, and students. Suggestions include maintaining the supportive environment and emphasizing the strong community feel during the admissions process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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My interviewer kept the experience enjoyable and memorable by engaging me in a conversation. No stress at all!
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My interviewer was a complete ANGEL. She was so easy. The interview was definitely conversational.
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It was much more relaxed and laid back than I pictured
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Everyone was really friendly, the campus was nice, and the clinic was top-notch!
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Everyone was super friendly
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about disorganized interview processes, lack of interaction with current students, unenthusiastic or unprofessional interviewers, long wait times, outdated facilities or equipment, and inconvenient location requiring transportation. Suggestions included improving interview organization, enhancing student engagement opportunities, updating facilities, and ensuring professionalism in interactions with applicants.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Nothing
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Nothing, I was very happy
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You have to drive about 15 minutes from the campus in order to get to the clinic
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The interviewer ONLY asked me ONE question..."Why Optometry". After I was done saying why, he just said "ok do u have any questions for me". Disappointed in this school, especially for people who travel hundreds of miles for a "one" question interview. Glad I did not go there, just imagine the education if they really don't care what you have to say.
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Miscommunication with shuttle services to Ketchum Health Tour.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Many applicants wished they had known how laid-back and casual the interview process would be, often likening it to a conversation. Some mentioned specific details they would have liked to be informed about, such as the format of the interview, the length of the day, and the nature of questions asked.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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How laid-back the process is.
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It was just like a casual conversation with another person
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Nothing!
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Nothing
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That they only ask ONE interview question. Wouldn't have bothered spending $200 on applying to them.
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
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.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants overwhelmingly praised the admissions office for their friendliness and helpfulness, with many suggesting keeping the current practices. Some applicants recommended adding more organization to interview days, improving communication with students, and offering snacks during visits.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Don’t change a thing! The admissions office, Eryn especially, is amazing and they should be proud of themselves.
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Nothing, they're doing great!
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Feel free to actually look at a person aka interview them, vs basing everything on numbers.
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I felt that the interview day was a little disorganized and there was a big jumble of interviewees crammed into a small room. The seating was awkward in the room since the opto students to answer our questions were sitting in an area where some of the interviewees could not see them. I think if the optometry students sat in the front of the room under the TV would have been better so that everyone could see and hear them
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Nothing. They are the sweetest people you will ever meet.
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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LAX
33% interviewees used LAX (LAX), with 13% using John Wayne (John Wayne) and 13% using John Wayne (SNA) and 7% using Long Beach (Long Beach) and 7% using John Wayne Airport (John Wayne Airport) and 7% using Ontario (Ontario) and 7% using Delta and united airlines (Delta and united airlines) and 7% using John Wayne airport (John Wayne airport) and 7% using LGB (LGB).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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39% Airplane
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57% Automobile
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4% Train or Subway
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0% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Fullerton Marriott (average ranking 7/10), with some staying at Holiday Inn (average rating 8/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Fullerton Marriott
7/10
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Holiday Inn
8/10
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Holiday Inn Express
6.5/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are in state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Admissions staff (33%)
Faculty member (10%)
Other (2%)
Student (55%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (75%)
Neutral (25%)
All Responses
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