STAY IN FRONT OF THE FUTURE - UH POPSstay in front of the future *11.28.17 – content subject to...

STAY IN

FRONT OF

THE FUTURE

*11.28.17 – CONTENT SUBJECT TO CHANGE EACH YEARLY CYCLE*

TODAY’S DISCUSSION

ABOUT SALUS PCO

• HISTORY

• PROGRAM & CURRICULUM

• EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM

• TEI & CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

• RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

OUR CAMPUS & STUDENT LIFE

ADMISSIONS PROCESS & REQUIREMENTS

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• What does Salus mean?

• Latin word for health and well-being.

• PCO’s mission: The Pennsylvania College of Optometry innovates

and leads in the development of optometrists who advance health

and health care through excellence in discovery, patient care, and

professionalism.

• Our vision: By 2020, PCO will be recognized as an innovator in

providing optometric education with an emphasis on an

interdisciplinary approach to health care .

OUR MISSION

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UNIVERSITY BACKGROUND

• 1919 Founded as the nation’s first non-profit, independent college of

Optometry – Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO)

• 1935 First to require a 4 year optometric educational program

• 1975 First to develop a comprehensive Externship program

• 1978 First to develop an interdisciplinary clinical facility, The Eye Institute,

for education and patient care

• 2000 Development of new degree programs outside of optometric and

vision care and still continuing

• 2008 Salus University – PCO became the first independent college of

Optometry to establish a university!

• 2014 First to develop and implement an accelerated 3 year optometric

educational program (not requiring a PhD or MD)

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• Interdisciplinary Approach in a Graduate/Professional Heath Science

Environment

• Commitment to inter-professional education

• Mirrors today’s integrated health systems

• Fosters communication & patient-centered approach

• Evidence Based Practice

• Integrative Primary Eye Care & Early Patient Exposure

• Curriculum revisions underway for Class of 2022

• Increased focus on neuro and neuro-rehabilitative

comprehensive care

• Revised, advanced contact lens content

• Ethics and professionalism

• Lasers and minor surgical procedures

• Community outreach and increasing access of care to patients

OUR FOCUS

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• Patient Care at The Eye Institute beginning in the first week of the first year

• Clinical Problem Solving Module (CPS) beginning the second year

• A 105 hour clerkship required during the summer between first and second years

INCREASED CLINICAL TRAINING

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• Community vision screenings

• Looking Out for Kids and Mobile Vision Care Unit

• Norristown Elementary School district

• Veterans Readiness Initiative program

• One and a half years of full-time clinical externships where students will have

approximately 3,000 patient encounters by graduation

INCREASED CLINICAL TRAINING

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• One Rotation during 3rd-year

• Primary Care

• Four 4th-year quarters

• Hospital/Inter-professional

Collaborative Care site

• Ocular disease site

• Contact lens site

• TEI (Primary Care, Pediatrics,

Cornea/Contact Lens & Specialty Care)

• Over 400 Active sites

• 100 in Pennsylvania

• 3 Provinces in Canada

• Military international sites

EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM

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• 70,000 square ft. facility located in the Oak Lane section of Philadelphia for

almost 40 years

• Renovated in 2011, including a 15,000 square ft. addition

• Three additional satellite locations: TEI at Falls Center & TEI at Chestnut

Hill, Federally Qualified Health Center in Norristown

• Approximately 43,000 patient visits per year at TEI Oak Lane

• Approximately 85,000 patient visits per year across all four facilities

• Includes screenings and visits to the optical depts.

• Diverse patient population – infants to elderly

• Comprehensive clinical experience – extensive vision pathologies and eye

problems

• City Life Primary Care Clinic on site for greater inter-professional

opportunities and health care access for patients

THE EYE INSTITUTE

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Research Department

http://www.salus.edu/research/index.html

• Pediatric Eye Care

• Binocular Vision/Vision

Therapy

• Diabetes and Retina

• Clinical Electrophysiology

• Acquired Brain Injury

• Eye Dominance, Suppression & Depth Perception

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

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• Clinical Procedures Lab

• Integrated electronic medical records

• Updated state-of-the-art clinical equipment

• More efficient design and floor plan

• Set up emulates clinic for ease of transition

• Virtual Reality Simulation Lab

• for practicing indirect and direct ophthalmoscopy

RENOVATIONS & UPDATES…

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• Learning Resource Center

• Former University library

• The University's Help Desk service center

• A coffee/tea bar

• Collaborative study rooms

• Individual seating for quiet studying

• 20 desktop computers with access to

wireless printers

• 50-person classroom equipped with state-of-the-art

technology for optimum learning


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• CityLife Oak Lane

• Salus University partnered with CityLife

Neighborhood Clinics

• Primary care facility located at TEI

• Staffed by doctors, nurse practitioners & physician

assistants

• Interdisciplinary clinical training and collaboration


OUR CAMPUS &

STUDENT LIFE

STAY IN

FRONT OF

THE FUTURE

Presented by John Smith

March 24, 2015

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1.) Elkins Park

2.) TEI – Oak Lane

3.) TEI – Chestnut Hill

4.) TEI – Falls Center

5.) TEI – Norristown

5

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• Opportunity

Home to leading hospitals, academic medical centers &

many professional sites for optometric practice

• Location

At the center of the Northeast metropolitan corridor – close

to NYC, D.C., Baltimore, the NJ beaches and the Pocono

Mountains of PA

• Arts & Culture

A city of world-class museums, restaurants, breweries, &

concert/theater venues

• History

Where America began - rich in history not only in the city

but in surrounding counties

• Sports

Enthusiastic about sports – 7 professional teams

BEST OF PHILADELPHIA

Classrooms

Hafter Student Community Center

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• Office of Student Affairs

• Student Engagement &

Leadership

• Peer Mentoring & Tutoring

Services

• Bennett Career Services

Center

• HSCC Staff/L&T Health and

Fitness

• Center for Personal &

Professional Development

• Office of Academic Success

• Technology & Library Services

• Matthews Bookstore – Specializes in books and equipment for the health

professions

STUDENT SERVICES

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Bennett Career Services Center

• Online job portal, and career services database. Services include: health

professions news and current events, job search, professional development

resources, post your resume for employers/organizations to view, career

event registration and more.

STUDENT SERVICES

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• Salus University Student Council (interdisciplinary)

• Student Ambassadors

• Professionally and nationally affiliated student

organizations

• AOSA

• NOSA

• State Associations

• National Honor Societies

• Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor

Society (BSK)

• Gold Key International Optometric Honor

Society

• Humanitarian community service organizations

• Lions Club

• SOSH

• Other identity focused groups

• Private Practice Club

• Salus Canadian Association

• Sports Vision Club

• Salus Christian Fellowship

• Intramural Sports

STUDENT LIFE

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• There is no official on-campus housing

• MySalus Portal – roommate search service

• Entering Class Facebook Groups to help you to meet future

classmates

• Housing video with current student advice

• Cost of rent varies depending on location and whether or not you

choose to live with someone:

• Avg. cost for 1 BR apartment: $900 - 1000

• Avg. cost for 2 BR apartment: $600 - 700 pp

HOUSING

ADMISSIONS

TIPS

WAYS TO BECOME A

QUALIFIED APPLICA …

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• Applicants: 1072

• Entering students: 161

117 women, 44 men

• 47% minorities

• 25 States, Canada & Korea

SNAPSHOT: CLASS OF 2021

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• Average Undergraduate GPA: 3.39

• Average OAT Score: 310 (AA), 305 (TS)

• 76% Biology majors, 12% Chemistry, Physics & other sciences,

4% Psychology, 8% Other

• 93% have an undergraduate degree

• Non Degree: 8

• Master’s Degree: 3

SNAPSHOT: CLASS OF 2021

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APPLICATION INDICES

Candidates are evaluated on objective and subjective criteria to determine whether or not they will be successful in the program.

Academic Index

Evaluates candidate’s

academic ability.

GPA

Major

Institution Attended

Degree Status

OAT Scores

Personal Index


acceptability from a

personal standpoint.

Letters of Evaluation

Essay/Personal Statement

Extracurriculars

Shadowing

Volunteer Experience

Interview Index

Evaluates a candidate’s

knowledge, interest and

motivation as well as

professional

communication skills

Subjective/non-cognitive

factors that are difficult to

quantify

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• GPA

• Cumulative and Overall Science calculated by OptomCAS

• Review OptomCAS FAQ’s regarding GPA calculation policies

• Know the prerequisites! www.salus.edu

• Prerequisites can be in progress during OptomCAS cycle

• Must be completed with a grade of C- or higher

• Prerequisite credits completed ten or more years prior to the

anticipated entrance date will be reviewed for approval on an individual

basis.

• Optometry Admission Test (OAT)

• Committee recommends scores of 300+ on each section

• Must wait 90 days between exams

• Best scores from multiple exams are used

ACADEMIC INDEX

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REQUIREMENTS

Scholars

• Bachelor’s degree from an

accredited institution

• Prerequisite coursework

(grade of ‘C’ or higher)

• OAT exam – academic avg.

score of 330 or higher

• Required GPA of 3.5 or

higher

• 100 hours of experience in

a healthcare

• MMI interview

• July start date

Traditional

• 90 semester hours or 135

quarter hours from an

accredited institution

• Prerequisite coursework

(grade of ‘C’ or higher)

• OAT exam – scores of 300

or higher

• Avg. GPA of 3.32

• August start date

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APPLICATION INDICES

Candidates are evaluated on objective and subjective criteria to determine whether or not they will be successful in the program

Academic Index


academic ability.

GPA

Major


Degree Status

OAT Scores

Personal Index






Extracurriculars

Shadowing


Interview Index




professional




quantify

• 3 Letters of Evaluation:

• Pre-Professional Committee Letter

• Letter from teaching faculty member (science recommended)

• Letter from pre-professional or faculty advisor

• Letter from practicing optometrist

• Letter from healthcare professional or work supervisor

• Extracurricular, Volunteer, and Club Activities

• Freshman year of college – Present

• Some exceptions (ie: Eagle Scout, Gold Award, etc.)

• Shadowing/ Work Experience

• Personal Statement

PERSONAL INDEX

Shadowing/ Work Experience

Necessary to demonstrate adequate exposure to

optometry and thereby a commitment to the realities and

not the false illusions of the field.

PERSONAL INDEX

Personal Statement

Things to Avoid

• Talking about a time you were

a patient

• Referencing your medical

“family tree”

• Discussing weaknesses (keep

it positive!)

• Grammatical errors

(Proofread!)

PERSONAL INDEX

Try to Capture

• Experiences that have

challenged or changed you/

your perspective

• Relationships that have

impacted you

• Insight into what captures your

identity

• Qualities through stories

rather than

lists/accomplishments

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APPLICATION INDICES

Candidates are evaluated on objective and subjective criteria to determine whether or not they will be successful in the program

Academic Index


academic ability.

GPA

Major


Degree Status

OAT Scores

Personal Index






Extracurriculars

Shadowing


Interview Index




professional




quantify

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• Takes place after initial review of OptomCAS application

• The interview day includes:

• Meeting with the Dean of PCO

• One-on-one interview with admissions representative

• Lunch

• Tour of Elkins Park campus and The Eye Institute (TEI)

• Interview Day Tips

• Come prepared to discuss any part of your application

• Do your research and prepare questions for us

• Dress for success

INTERVIEW INDEX

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• Talk to your academic advisor

• Contact schools of interest to speak with admissions counselor

• Learn about the application process

• OptomCAS – www.optomcas.org

• Know the prerequisites! www.salus.edu

• Optometry Admission Test (OAT) scores

• Do your research before the interview

• Have your personal statement reviewed and proofread

• Keep your application updated (i.e. fall grades)

IN SUMMARY…

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• Anatomy and Physiology

• Neurology

• Biochemistry

* Any other upper level Human Biological Science courses

RECOMMENDED COURSES

• Cell Biology

• Genetics

• Histology

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• Work experience or “shadowing”

• Highly recommended!

• Does not substitute for

academic preparation

• Knowledge of the profession

• Motivation and enthusiasm for

the profession

• Extra-curricular activities

• Excellent communication skills

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

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• 2017-2018 Tuition is $40,110

• Loans

• Stafford Loan

• Graduate PLUS Loan

• Health Professions Student Loan

• Academic Scholarship Opportunities

for entering students

• $110,000 awarded each year

• Various internal and external

scholarships

• Work Study

University Financial Aid Office – Appointments Available

215-780-1330 or 800-824-6262

[email protected]

TUITION & FINANCIAL AID

For Canadian Students:

• Provincial support (i.e. Ontario Student Assistance Program)

• RBC Royal Bank – offers a line of credit

• U.S. banks may provide loans, if there is a U.S. cosigner

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CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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PHONE 800.824.6262

215.780.1300

EMAIL [email protected]

ADDRESS 8360 Old York Road

Elkins Park, PA 19027

OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS

Schedule a phone counseling, visit campus, attend a

webinar or take part in the Optometry Learning Experience

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS?

STAY IN FRONT OF THE FUTURE - UH POPSstay in front of the future *11.28.17 – content subject to...

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