CCO Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

This comprehensive guide summarizes key aspects of the Chicago College of Optometry (CCO) at Midwestern University to help applicants prepare for the interview process. It covers the interview format and style, the school’s mission and values, an overview of the program’s unique features, relevant optometry policy issues, the non-academic qualities that CCO looks for in applicants, the competency frameworks guiding the curriculum, common themes from past interview questions, and important timelines for the 2025–2026 admissions cycle.

During its initial years, CCO used a Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) format for applicant interviews forums.studentdoctor.net. In this format, candidates moved through a series of about seven short interview stations (including a brief writing exercise), each with a different interviewer forums.studentdoctor.net forums.studentdoctor.net. The MMI was conducted as a closed-file interview – meaning the interviewers had no access to the applicant’s academic file – so each station’s evaluator judged the candidate only on their responses at that station forums.studentdoctor.net.

In recent cycles, however, many applicants have encountered a more traditional interview structure. Most interviews last around 20 minutes and involve a one-on-one style conversation (with one candidate meeting two interviewers) studentdoctor.net. This format is closed-file as well, so interviewers see very limited information about the candidate’s background studentdoctor.net. Candidates describe the atmosphere as low to moderate in stress and often quite welcoming or conversational; in fact, applicants have rated CCO’s interview experience highly compared to other schools studentdoctor.net. While on-campus interviews (including facility tours) were standard before 2020, many recent interviews have been conducted virtually in light of pandemic-era adjustments studentdoctor.net.

CCO’s mission is to develop competent optometrists who pursue excellence in education, research, and patient care while serving a diverse society midwestern.edu. The college’s programs promote values like public health advocacy, leadership, ethics, professionalism, compassion, and community service midwestern.edu. These mission-driven priorities suggest that the school seeks students who not only excel academically but also align with its commitment to ethical, compassionate care and community engagement. By understanding CCO’s mission and values, applicants can better recognize the qualities the program prioritizes.

CCO is a relatively new optometry program (established in 2014) based in Downers Grove, Illinois, on Midwestern University’s health sciences campus studentdoctor.net. The four-year Doctor of Optometry curriculum integrates fundamental biomedical and visual sciences with clinical training, and students get early clinical exposure through labs and simulated patient interactions in the first two years studentdoctor.net. In the third and fourth years, students engage in extensive hands-on training at diverse clinical sites, including rotations in the Midwestern University Eye Institute – an on-campus eye clinic that serves real patients from the community studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net.

Students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities such as advanced pre-clinical laboratories and a simulation center, which provide realistic practice scenarios studentdoctor.net. The program also emphasizes interprofessional education: optometry students collaborate with peers from other disciplines, reflecting Midwestern’s One Health philosophy of team-based healthcare studentdoctor.net. Additionally, CCO’s location in the Chicago metropolitan area means students encounter a diverse patient population and a wide range of eye conditions during their training blackstonetutors.com.

During an interview, asking thoughtful questions about the program is both expected and can highlight your genuine interest. For example, an applicant might ask:

• How does Midwestern University’s interprofessional environment (for example, the One Health initiative) enhance the training of optometry students? studentdoctor.net
• What types of clinical experiences do students get at the on-campus Eye Institute, and how early in the program do those patient care opportunities begin? studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net
• Are there opportunities for dual degrees – such as an OD/MPH or OD/MS – or for involvement in research during the optometry program? myasco.opted.org myasco.opted.org

In Illinois (the state CCO calls home), several recent policy changes have impacted optometric practice. For example, the state’s optometry laws now set standards for telehealth services: an optometrist must meet the same standard of care via telehealth as for in-person exams, and a minimum in-person eye exam is required before prescribing glasses or contacts online illinois.aoa.org. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois even granted optometrists the authority to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to adult patients (after specified training) illinois.aoa.org. These developments reflect an expanding role for optometrists in healthcare at the state level.

Nationally, scope-of-practice expansion is a prominent topic in optometry. As of 2024, roughly a dozen states have enacted laws allowing optometrists to perform certain laser or minor surgical eye procedures, and many other states are debating similar expansions reviewofoptometry.com. This push for broader practice rights – often contested by other provider groups – is a major trend that new optometrists should be aware of. Likewise, the rise of teleoptometry and online vision services has raised questions about maintaining high standards of care, leading to regulatory discussions across the country. Additionally, the integration of advanced technology (such as AI diagnostics and telehealth platforms) and optometry’s growing role in primary healthcare (for example, managing diabetic eye disease) are broad issues shaping the future of the profession.

Midwestern University uses a holistic admissions process, so a broad range of non-academic factors are considered when evaluating applicants myasco.opted.org. Beyond strong grades and OAT scores, CCO looks for personal qualities and experiences that indicate a well-rounded individual – including an applicant’s character and communication skills, their understanding of the optometry profession, involvement in volunteer or community service activities, and even any research experience myasco.opted.org. The college requires at least one recommendation letter from a practicing optometrist and strongly encourages applicants to shadow optometrists in clinical settings myasco.opted.org. This emphasis on firsthand exposure to eye care shows that familiarity with real-world optometry is highly valued.

Leadership and service are also important to CCO. The school even offers incoming student scholarships that specifically recognize demonstrated leadership or significant community contributions midwestern.edu. This indicates that candidates who have taken initiative in student organizations, volunteering, or other leadership roles may stand out in the selection process. In short, CCO seeks students who not only have academic ability but also the personal attributes and extracurricular achievements that align with its mission and values.

The optometry curriculum at CCO is designed to ensure graduates achieve all core competencies required for entry-level practice. The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) outlines that new optometry graduates should possess a blend of robust knowledge, clinical skills, and professional values and ethics optometriceducation.org. In recent decades, optometric education has increasingly focused on clearly defining these desired outcomes and rigorously assessing students’ attainment of competencies optometriceducation.org. ASCO’s updated guidance even incorporates interprofessional collaboration as an essential competency for current healthcare graduates, including optometrists optometriceducation.org.

At CCO, many of these competencies are reflected in the program’s specific goals and training approach. The college emphasizes ethical patient care, professionalism, and public service, as stated in its institutional goals midwestern.edu. It also strives to cultivate leadership skills in students and encourages a mindset of lifelong learning, preparing graduates to become leaders in the profession midwestern.edu. Moreover, CCO leverages Midwestern University’s interdisciplinary setting to build teamwork and communication skills – the One Health initiative is one example of how students learn to collaborate across health professions to improve patient care midwestern.edu. By the end of the program, graduates are expected to have not only strong clinical proficiency (as evidenced by preparation for national board exams) but also these broader competencies that enable them to practice effectively and collaboratively.

Based on past interview reports, questions in CCO interviews often cover topics such as:

• Motivation and “fit” – for example, why you chose a career in optometry and why you are interested in attending Midwestern’s program blackstonetutors.com blackstonetutors.com.
• Ethical or professional dilemmas – how you would handle challenging situations involving patient care or integrity (for instance, a patient seeking an unsafe workaround, or noticing a colleague cutting corners) blackstonetutors.com.
• Empathy and communication – scenarios that ask how you would support or communicate with a patient who is distressed or receiving difficult news blackstonetutors.com.
• Personal background and behavior – questions about your past experiences, such as a significant challenge or setback you’ve overcome (and what you learned from it), or other experiences that highlight your strengths and growth blackstonetutors.com.
• Current issues and the future of optometry – inquiries about your awareness of trends in the field, like how emerging technology might impact optometric practice in the future blackstonetutors.com.

1. June 26, 2025 – OptomCAS opens for the 2025–2026 application cycle help.liaisonedu.com.
2. Rolling admissions – CCO reviews applications and invites candidates to interview on an ongoing basis; applying early in the cycle is strongly encouraged midwestern.edu.
3. April 1, 2026 – Final deadline to submit the OptomCAS application for CCO (Fall 2026 entry) optomcas.org.
4. May 2026 – Last acceptable date to take the OAT (or alternate accepted exam) for Fall 2026 admission (for example, an OAT taken by May 1, 2026 will be considered) optomcas.org.
5. ~2 weeks post-acceptance – Approximate timeframe for accepted students to submit a deposit and secure their seat (Midwestern requires the deposit about 14 days after an offer; the deposit is refundable) myasco.opted.org.
6. Late August 2026 – Orientation and classes begin for the incoming first-year optometry class (start of the 2026–2027 academic year).

In summary, preparing for an interview at the Chicago College of Optometry involves understanding the program’s interview process, values, and expectations. CCO is looking for well-rounded candidates who resonate with its mission of excellence in education and patient care, and who can demonstrate qualities like leadership, community service, and professional integrity. By familiarizing yourself with the interview format (closed-file, conversational style), reflecting on the school’s values and current issues in optometry, and keeping track of important application timelines, you can approach the interview with confidence and a clear sense of how you align with the program.