Midwestern University Doctor of Optometry

Program Eligibility: 

Track 1:

This track is available to high school students who apply by March 1 of their senior year of high school. To receive consideration for the Dual Acceptance Program, Track 1, students must meet the following requirements:

• Earn admission to Lake Forest College as a first-year student.
• Must obtain a minimum score of 26 (ACT) or 1250 (SAT) on a College Entrance Exam.
• Minimum high school GPA of 3.20/4.00.
• Demonstrate a people or service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
• Demonstrate commitment to the optometry profession as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer, or other life experiences.
• Possess the oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.

Track 2:

This track is available to students who have recently enrolled at Lake Forest College. To receive consideration for the Dual Acceptance Program, Track 2, students must meet the following requirements:

• Must be completing their spring term coursework, and must have not been enrolled in any other post-secondary institution.
• Minimum undergraduate overall and science GPA at Lake Forest College of 3.40/4.00.

• Must have obtained a minimum score of 26 (ACT) or 1250 (SAT) on a College Entrance Exam.

• Demonstrate a people or service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
• Demonstrate commitment to the optometry profession as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer, or other life experiences.
• Possess the oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.

Application Process: 

• The application deadline will be March 1 of each year for Track 1, and the last day of the spring term at Lake Forest College for Track 2.
• The Lake Forest College admissions application and the CCO DAP application are available here.
• Students must complete applications for both Lake Forest College (Track 1) and the CCO DAP (Tracks 1 and 2).
• Lake Forest College’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions reviews applications for acceptance into the College (Note: this application is not contingent upon acceptance to the DAP).
• Lake Forest College’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions determines which students meet CCO’s eligibility requirements and contacts those students to invite them to apply to the DAP.
• The student completes the CCO DAP application and is invited to interview by the Midwestern University Office of Admissions, if deemed to be a good candidate for the program.
  • A video teleconference can be used as an alternative for out-of-state students.

Review/Notification/Matriculation Process:

• The Admissions Office at Midwestern University works with the CCO Admissions Committee who makes admission recommendations.
• Qualified applicants must complete an interview with CCO.
• Transcripts will be reviewed (high school transcripts for Track 1, and a transcript reflecting the completion of the first year for Track 2) before a final decision is made.
• Applicants are notified by mail by CCO of their admission status within four weeks of their interview.
• Applicants not selected for the DAP are advised and encouraged to apply to CCO through the traditional method.
• Accepted students are required to sign a letter of understanding with CCO upon acceptance. Accepted students will submit a deposit fee to CCO at least 1 year prior to matriculation at CCO. All fees are applied toward the student’s first quarter tuition at CCO.
• The Admissions Office of Midwestern University forwards a copy of all admission decision letters to Lake Forest College’s Associate Director of Pre-Health Advising and Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

(Note: Students not accepted to CCO DAP retain their acceptance at Lake Forest College.) 

Each party retains full authority over its own admissions process.  At no point during a student’s participation in the DAP, will the student be dual enrolled at CCO and Lake Forest College.