Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early in the cycle. Applications are considered on a first come first serve basis only until all seats are filled.

1. OptomCAS Application: Applicants are required to submit online applications and application fees to OptomCAS by April 1st. In addition to the online application and application fees, an applicant must forward to OptomCAS official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended by the April 1st date. OptomCAS will begin the verification process as official transcripts are received, however an application will not be considered complete until all official transcripts are received. (Students who have taken coursework and/or earned a degree from a foreign institution must also submit a course-by-course evaluation of their transcript from an OptomCAS- approved evaluation service.) Students must apply for admission via OptomCAS at www.opted.org or www.optomcas.org.

Please refer to the OptomCAS application instructions for specific details about completing the OptomCAS application, required documents, and processing times. OptomCAS applications are available starting July 15th for applicants seeking admission in August of the following year. Due to the large number of applicants and the limited number of seats available, students are strongly encouraged to complete their OptomCAS application early in the cycle. AZCOPT will consider completed applications on a first-come, first-served basis until all seats are filled.

2. Admissions Test: AZCOPT prefers the OAT but will accept the MCAT, DAT, PCAT, or GRE test scores as an alternative. Applicants must arrange for scores from the admission exam to be sent directly to Midwestern University. Only test scores received directly from the testing agency will be accepted. Any of these admission exam scores must be earned no more than 5 years prior to the planned enrollment year.

3. Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from professionals to OptomCAS (www.optomcas.org). One letter must be from a practicing optometrist. The other letter must be from a prehealth advisor, a science professor, an employer or extracurricular activity advisor. Letters of recommendation from relatives, personal and/or family friends are not acceptable.

4. Completed Application: All application materials, including the OptomCAS application, exam scores (as reported to Midwestern University), and two letters of recommendation (as submitted to OptomCAS), must be received by the Office of Admissions on or before April 30th. Only completed applications received by the Office of Admissions on or before the deadline date will be reviewed for potential entrance into the program.

Please Note: Applicants are responsible for tracking the receipt of their application materials and verifying the status of their applications on the University website. The Office of Admissions will send qualified applicants instructions for checking the status of their application materials online.

Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address or e-mail address.

Before an invitation is issued to attend an on-campus interview, applicants must meet the admission requirements listed previously. After the Office of Admissions receives all required application materials, applicant files are reviewed to determine whether an applicant merits an invitation for an interview. Applicants may also be placed on a waiting listing pending possible openings toward a later part of the admissions cycle. Interviews are typically held between September and May. Invited applications must attend an on-campus interview to achieve further consideration in the interview process.

An on-campus visit, which includes an interview session, generally takes four hours. Each interviewee will meet with at least two interviewers. Applications will be evaluated on verbal communication skills, understanding of the optometry profession, commitment to patient care, and other elements as determined by the College. Applicants will also learn more about Midwestern University and AZCOPT, financial aid programs, student services, campus housing; and tour the Glendale Campus.

Following the interview, an applicant's file will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review. The committee may recommend to accept, to deny, or to place students on an alternate list. Recommendations are then forwarded to the Dean for final approval. The Dean, via the Office of Admissions, notifies applicants of their status within four weeks of their interview.

All requests for application withdrawal must be made in writing.

The matriculation process begins after students receive notification of their acceptance. To complete the matriculation process students must:

1. Submit the matriculation agreement and required deposit monies by the date designated in the matriculation agreement. Deposits are applied toward the first quarter's tuition.
2. Submit official final transcripts from all colleges attended post-high school by the deadline of two weeks (14 calendar days) prior to the first day of classes. Students who are accepted to MWU less than one month prior to the first day of classes will have 30 calendar days from the date of their acceptance to submit all official transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Any special circumstances or requests for exceptions to this policy must be sent to and approved by the Office of the Dean of the College. Students who fail to submit all official final transcripts by the stated deadline may jeopardize their acceptance or continued enrollment in the College.
3. Submit completed medical files documenting completion of a physical exam, immunizations, tuberculosis and titer blood testing as instructed by the Office of Student Services and detailed in the Student Handbook.
4. Meet the Technical Standards for the Program.
5. Submit proof of medical and disability insurance coverage. Students may select either a plan offered by an MWU-approved carrier or a comparable plan offered by an outside carrier of their choice, as determined by the Office of Student Services. Insurance must be maintained throughout the entire period of enrollment.
6. Submit additional documents as required by the Office of Admissions or college
7. Students who are requesting an I-20 visa or who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must prepay tuition and in some cases other mandatory program fees for the entire length of their program at Midwestern University.
8. Submit a signed Credit Policy Statement
9. Authorize and pass the MWU criminal background check and/or fingerprinting background check as required by the specific college/school/program.
10. Submit a signed MWU Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy Statement.

Students who either fail to satisfy the above matriculation requirements or omit or falsify information required on official admissions documents automatically forfeit their seats in the Program. Any individual accepted for admission to the college/program who does not comply with stated time lines for submission of all required materials receives no further notification from the college regarding forfeiture of their seat.

The Dual Acceptance Program is an early acceptance program for selected students who successfully complete the specified pre-optometry coursework. The Dual Acceptance Programs are currently in effect with Arizona State University and Arizona Christian University.

Benefits of the DAP:

• Provides for an excellent foundation in pre-optometry education.
• Sets out a clear road map for which courses to take and when.
• Exempts the student from the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) and associated fees.
• Exempts the student from the OptomCAS application process and associated fees.
• Guarantees entry to MWU AZCOPT well in advance with successful completion of all program requirements

To receive consideration for the Dual Acceptance Program, high school senior students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Earn admission to one of the affiliated universities.
2. Apply online to the AZCOPT Dual Acceptance Program as a high school senior.
3. Obtain a minimum score of 28 on the ACT or 1250 on the SAT.
4. Demonstrate a people or service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
5. Demonstrate motivation for and commitment to the optometry profession as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer, or other life experiences.
6. Possess the oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.

After the Midwestern University Office of Admissions receives all completed application materials, applicant files are reviewed to determine whether applicants merit invitations for an interview. Invited applicants must participate in an on-campus interview for further consideration in the admissions process.

During the interview day, candidates will be evaluated for verbal communication skills, understanding of the optometry profession, commitment to patient care, and other elements as determined by the college. Applicants may be required to participate in writing sample exercises during the visit. Candidates will learn more about the optometry program, financial aid, student services, and tour the Midwestern University campus.

Following the interview, their completed applications are forwarded to the AZCOPT Admissions Committee for review. The committee may recommend to accept or to deny applicants for admission. These recommendations are then forwarded to the Dean for final approval. The Dean, via the Office of Admissions, notifies applicants of their status within two weeks of their visits. Accepted applicants will be ensured a seat a AZCOPT upon successful completion of the program requirements:

1. All prerequisite pre-optometry courses must be completed at an affiliated university. Official AP and dual-enrollment credits completed during high school, and that are listed on the affiliated university's transcripts are acceptable for meeting the pre-requisites.
2. Complete their baccalaureate degree at an affiliated university within 4 years.
   1. Authorization to extend an undergraduate degree beyond 4 years is at the discretion of the Dean, Arizona College of Optometry. Requests must be submitted to the Arizona College of Optometry office of the Dean; decisions will be made on a case by case basis.
3. A minimum overall GPA of 3.40 on a 4.00 scale must be attained.
4. A minimum science GPA of 3.40 on a 4.00 scale must be attained.
5. Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all required courses. A grade of "C-" or lower is not acceptable.
6. Students are not permitted to repeat courses for a higher grade for which they have already received credit.
   1. Authorization to withdraw from more than 2 courses is at the discretion of the Dean, Arizona College of Optometry. Requests must be submitted to the Arizona College of Optometry office of the Dean; decisions will be made on a case by case basis.
7. Accepted students are required to sign a letter of understanding upon acceptance. Accepted students will submit a deposit fee within 1 year prior to matriculation. All fees are applied toward the student's first quarter tuition.
8. Accepted students are required to sign a letter of understanding upon acceptance. Accepted students will submit a deposit fee within 1 year prior to matriculation. All fees are applied toward the student's first quarter tuition.

Students who are not accepted to or fail to complete the Dual Acceptance Program may apply to AZCOPT using the standard procedures.

AZCOPT will accept MCAT, DAT, PCAT, or GRE test scores as an alternative to OAT scores for currently enrolled students in the Midwestern University Biomedical Sciences degree programs (Master of Art, Master of Biomedical Sciences), who wish to apply to AZCOPT. Any of these alternative admission test scores must be earned no more than 5 years prior to the planned enrollment year at AZCOPT.

After receiving either denial or end-of-cycle letters, applicants may reapply for the next enrollment cycle. Before reapplying, however, applicants should seek the advice of an admissions counselor.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition rates are subject to change each academic year for all enrolled students. Click here for the current Glendale Tuition and Fees.

Transfer Admissions Policy

AZCOPT may elect to accept transfer students from other U.S. accredited schools of optometry who are currently enrolled, are in good academic standing, and provide acceptable reason(s) for seeking transfer. Typically, students will transfer at the beginning of the second year of the curriculum.

Students requesting transfers must meet the College's general requirements for admission. They must also submit the following:

• A letter to the Director of Admissions outlining the reasons for requesting a transfer and explaining any difficulties encountered at the previous institution(s)
• Course syllabi for all optometry coursework for which advanced standing credit is requested
• Official scores from the OAT, MCAT, DAT, PCAT, or GRE.
• Official transcripts from all schools attended: undergraduate, graduate, and professional
• A letter from the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled that describes current academic status and terms of withdrawal or dismissal
• Additional documents or letters of recommendation as determined necessary by the Director of Admissions or Dean.

Following receipt of these materials, a decision by the Dean is made regarding whether or not the student merits an on-campus interview. If the student receives an invitation, he/she interviews with an appropriate interview team. The interview team then makes an admissions recommendation to the Dean who approves both the student's admissions status and class standing.

The transfer application must be received sufficiently early to allow for processing of the application, interview, and moving of the student prior to the start of the next academic term.