Midwestern University Doctor of Optometry

Lake Forest College is affiliated with the Midwestern University Doctor of Optometry program

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.

    Requirements and Courses

    Students must successfully complete the following Lake Forest College courses listed below with a grade of “C” or higher:

    REQUIREMENT

    UNDERGRADUATE COURSE

    Biology with lab

    BIOL120 Organismal Biology and BIOL221 Molecules, Genes and Cells

    Anatomy*

    BIOL 208  Human Anatomy

    Physiology*

    Future 2XX Human Physiology or BIOL340

    General/Inorganic Chemistry with labs

    CHEM115 Chemistry I and CHEM116 Chemistry II

    Organic Chemistry with lab

    CHEM220 Organic Chemistyr I + CHEM221 Organic Chemistry II

    Biochemistry

    CHEM300 Biochemistry

    Physics

    PHYS110 Introductory Physics I and PHYS111 Introductory Physics II

    Calculus

    MATH110 Calculus I

    Microbiology

    Future 2XX Microbiology or BIOL323 Microbiology

    Statistics

    MATH150 Intro Probability and Statistics or PSYC 221 Research Methods and Statistics I or other Statics course

    Psychology

    PSYC110 Intro to Psychological Science

    English Composition

    Two English courses or  Two HPP SHIP courses that satisfy the FCC writing requirement

    Additional Information
    • All prerequisite courses must be completed at Lake Forest College prior to matriculation to CCO. AP credits that are listed on the Lake Forest College transcript are acceptable for meeting the prerequisites.
    • Track 1 students will have up to four years to complete all pre-optometry coursework at Lake Forest College and earn a baccalaureate degree. Track 2 students will have up to three years to complete all pre-optometry coursework at Lake Forest College and earn a baccalaureate degree.
      • Authorization to extend an undergraduate degree beyond 4 years is at the discretion of the Dean, CCO. Requests must be submitted to the CCO office of the Dean; decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
    • A minimum overall GPA of 3.40 must be attained.
    • A minimum science GPA of 3.40 must be attained.
    • Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in all required courses.
    • Students are not permitted to repeat courses for a higher grade for which they have already received credit.
    • Students are not permitted to withdraw from more than 2 courses during their 4-year undergraduate program.
      • Authorization to withdraw from more than 2 courses is at the discretion of the Dean, CCO. Requests must be submitted to the CCO office of the Dean; decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.