MCO Early Admission Program
The Early Admission Program of the Michigan College of Optometry is intended to identify and acknowledge qualified candidates who early in their college education are committed to optometry as their chosen profession and to attending MCO as their chosen professional school. The EAP program is also available to those third year college students who have chosen MCO as their chosen professional school.  MCO will offer to any applicant who meets the following requirements the opportunity to complete their application and participate in the interview process in the year prior to the regular admission cycle.* Although most of the positions within any given class will be filled as a result of the regular admission process, a limited number of positions will be offered in advance as a result of completing and being chosen following this early admission process. The MCO Early Admissions Program is free to students.



Requirements for Early Admission

(These requirements apply only to Early Admission and not to the regular admission process.)

  • Commit to Optometry as the chosen profession.
  • Commit to the Michigan College of Optometry as the chosen professional school.
  • Have spent at least a total of 20 hours working, visiting or volunteering in the office of an optometrist. (one or more)
  • Completed 32 semester credit hours of the required math/science pre-professional courses and 12 semester credit hours of the non-math/science pre-professional courses.
  • Possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5
  • Complete OAT by April 1
  • Obtain OAT composite (Academic average) score of at least 320 is required.
  • Complete and submit an Early Admission Application to MCO by April 1 of the year prior to the year for which you are seeking admission*.
  • Complete all Regular MCO Admission application requirements including reference letter, etc. by the Early Admission application deadline*.
  • Submit an essay-limit 4,500 characters.  The topic is "Please describe what inspires your decision for becoming an optometrist, including your preparation for training in this profession, your aptitude and motivation, the basis for your interest in optometry, and your future career goals."
  • Participate in an MCO Admissions Committee interview.

Applicants who are chosen for Early Admission will be notified by May 1, and will be required to sign a "letter of intent" to be a member of the specified MCO class. They will then be required to maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, complete all remaining pre-requisites with a grade of C or better. Any applicant who is not chosen for or who fails to complete the Early Admission Program is still encouraged to participate in the Regular Admission process without penalty.

For additional information contact Colleen Olson at (231) 591-3703 or by e-mail at olsonc@ferris.edu.

*Example: If a candidate were seeking admission to the class of Fall, 2013, they would participate in the Early Admission process in the Spring Semester of 2012.