St. Louis, MO
Optometry Schools | Public Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 28% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.1
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 72 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 (100%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (46%)
Good (54%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally had positive experiences with the interview process at UMSL, praising the friendly staff, faculty, and students. Some feedback included concerns about facilities, the distance of housing options, and a desire for more exposure to certain aspects of the program.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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UMSL seems like a great school, and the interview process went very smoothly
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Very great interview day, nice people, easy going.
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Staff, faculty and students were extremely friendly and attentive!
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Liked the students, faculty, and small class size. Facilities were a deal breaker.
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Great staff but the building and facilities are behind the curve. Didn't get to see much of the clinic. Housing locations are 20-30 minutes away from the school
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
31 Minutes Average
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Number:
1.9 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
67% One-on-One
33% Group Interview
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File Type:
100% Open-File
0% Closed-File
UMSL-COMP interviews are an average of 31 minutes, with an average of 1.9 interviews. 67% of interviews are one-on-one, and 0% are closed-file.
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 motivation behind choosing optometry, the roles and responsibilities of an optometrist, challenges in the field, and personal experiences related to the profession. These questions suggest a focus on the candidate's understanding of optometry, their reasons for pursuing it, and their ability to articulate their knowledge and passion for the field.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Tell me about how you ended up choosing optometry?
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What does the optometrist do during an eye exam?
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What does an optometriest do?
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How would you describe what an Optometrist does?
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What are some issues in the field of optometry today?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry discussed balancing academics and extracurriculars, the impact of EMT experience on their decision to be an optometrist, and how their work and activities have prepared them for the field. The interview may have been in an MMI format, as some responses referenced nondisclosure agreements, with questions also focusing on prescribing medications, advancements in optometry, and applying research to the field.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Tell us about how you balanced academics and extra-curriculars in undergrad
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What do you like to do in your free time,
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They asked me about my science classes, and how my grades were usually lower in them compared to other types of classes, & how am I going to study in order to make it through science classes in optometry school.
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How has being an EMT strengthened your decision to be an optometrist?
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What qualities/experience have your work and extracurricular activities given you that will help you as an optometrist?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reviewing the school's website, reading through forums like Student Doctor Network (SDN) for common questions and feedback, and engaging in mock interviews to practice their responses. They also sought advice from professionals in the field, read about current events in optometry, and familiarized themselves with the program's specific information.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Looked at school website, reread my personal statement, SDN
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Reviewed common questions ask in optometry school interview, looked at this forum.
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Read the UMSL Optometry yearly bulletin, talked with my optometrist about current events in optometry and looked through SDN feedback.
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Read SDN interview feedback, mock interviews.
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SDN and the questions from the interview powerpoint on the UMSL website
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry discussed various topics such as explaining W's on transcripts, types of medicines administered by optometrists, and advancements in optometry over the years. The interview format may have been an MMI, as some responses hinted at nondisclosure agreements, while others found the questions to be more conversational and encouraging.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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There weren't any
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There’s a couple of W’s on your transcript can you explain this
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What are some types of medicine that optometrists administer?
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None really. It was more like a conversation than an interview and it moved pretty quickly. The staff was really encouraging and settling throughout the whole process.
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None
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the kindness and friendliness of the interviewers, staff, and faculty, as well as the positive and welcoming environment of the campus. They appreciated the new clinic facility and the relaxed, low-stress atmosphere during their interviews.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The interviewers were so kind. It was a virtual interview due to COVID, but they made it very relaxed and low-stress.
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The new clinic facility and the ease at which the interview went.
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The friendliness of the staff, faculty and students. Also the new clinic.
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The faculty! Loved how personable the doctors were. I walked in the office to get a parking pass and one of the doctors (Dr. Bennett) knew me by name already without any introduction.
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The friendliness and expertise of the staff
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants frequently expressed concerns about the outdated and small facilities, particularly in comparison to other optometry schools. Suggestions included renovating or building new facilities to enhance the overall experience for students.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Nothing
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The building is a little old
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Facilites were old and run down, and the atmosphere didn't seem as professional as some of the other schools.
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The building is old and small. The technology seems to be update but the building is on the smaller side.
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Didn't get to see the clinic
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known more specific details about the interview process, such as the number of interviewers, the individuals they would be meeting with, and the format of the interview. They also recommended doing research on potential questions and ensuring familiarity with the interview location to avoid any last-minute stress.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Nothing I can think of
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Nothing- Everything was straight forward!
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Nothing really surprised me. Just make sure you do some research on the type of questions you could be asked so you're not caught off guard.
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How many people interview in one day? --> 4
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That the interview would be like a conversation about myself and my motivations.
🤝 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 commonly suggest that the admissions office streamline their information meetings to avoid redundancy and unnecessary details, making them more concise and engaging for prospective students. This feedback highlights the importance of focusing on essential information and creating a more efficient and interactive presentation format.
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Their information meeting was a tad long. They basically spent 2-3 hours reading to us information about the city, housing, finances, and the program that they already printed out for us.
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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St. Louis International Airport
100% interviewees used St. Louis International Airport (St. Louis International Airport) .
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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8% Airplane
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83% Automobile
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0% Train or Subway
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8% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the ? (average ranking 8/10), with some staying at Quality Inn (average rating 7/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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?
8/10
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Quality Inn
7/10
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Ramada
6/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of 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
Faculty member (17%)
Student (83%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (100%)
All Responses
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