Chicago, IL
Optometry Schools | Private For-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 14% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a moderate stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
8.8
Above Average
Higher scores indicate a smoother, more positive interview experience with professional staff, organized logistics, and a supportive environment.
Based on 383 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (93%)
Negatively (1%)
No change (6%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (46%)
Good (42%)
Average (10%)
Poor (1%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview experience at ICO to be relaxed and conversational, with a focus on creating a comfortable environment for candidates. Suggestions included staying at the RC, bringing food for the day, preparing questions, and being mindful of interview etiquette to make a positive impression.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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It was a very conversational interview.
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I really loved ICO's campus and how everything was in close proximity to each other like the RC, lecture hall, and clinic. Everyone was really nice and the interview was very casual. Also, my interviewer was the Dean of Academics and she invited to go to presentations that the residency students at ICO were doing and it was so interesting! Such a good school and great OD program!
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Overall, good experience
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Stay at the RC!! You'll get a feel if the living situations provided works for you. Bring food with you so you don't starve during the night. On interview day, security can keep your luggage for you. Learn how to use the public transportation! All the applicants were wearing business professional clothing (jacket, button up/blouse, slacks/skirt, conservative shoes). Come prepared with questions for the interviewers, faculty members, and students! Don't leave them hanging. It's awkward.
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ICO seems like such a great community of students, how everyone lives there and goes to school and does clinic all within the same vicinity, it seems like an awesome place to pursue your optometric education.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
44 Minutes Average
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Number:
1.2 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
100% One-on-One
0% Group Interview
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File Type:
91% Open-File
9% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
50% Virtual
50% In-Person
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Interview Location (for In-Person):
100% At the School
0% Other Location
ICO-COMP interviews are an average of 44 minutes, with an average of 1.2 interviews. 100% of interviews are one-on-one, 50% are in-person, and 9% are closed-file. Of the in-person interviews, 100% are held at the school.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about candidates' motivations for pursuing optometry, their academic performance trends, volunteer experiences, stress management techniques, and personal interests. While some respondents mentioned MMI or non-disclosure agreements, the focus was mainly on understanding applicants' backgrounds, reasons for choosing optometry, strengths and weaknesses, and their preparedness for the rigorous program.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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How I balanced my work, student organization activities and studies, given I graduated with a very high GPA.
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What is your journey in determining that optometry was for you and why optometry?
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What are some volunteer work you've done?
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Why ICO?
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Why certain sections of my OAT were below average
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Illinois College Of Optometry discussed a wide range of topics, from personal experiences like family support and hobbies to future goals in optometry. The interviews seemed to be conversational with standard questions about motivations for choosing optometry and personal achievements, with some specific inquiries about family dynamics and unique life experiences.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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What are you looking for in an optometry school?
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None
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How does my family feel about me moving to Chicago?
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If your house was on fire what would you take with you?
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You seem like you're very involved, how would you deal with the transition once you're in optometry school?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Many applicants prepared for their interviews by utilizing resources such as Student Doctor Network (SDN), reading school reviews, practicing common interview questions, and researching the school's website. They also engaged in mock interviews, reviewed personal statements, and focused on presenting themselves authentically while being well-prepared for potential questions.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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SDN and Reddit.
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Read reviews about the school
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Reading SDN interview questions and making a Word document answering them
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Practice and preparing to answer any questions that I think the school may ask me
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Researching the school on their website
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at Illinois College Of Optometry discussed various topics such as handling challenging situations, explaining trends in grades, justifying why they should be chosen over other applicants, and envisioning their future. Many responses indicated a conversational and relaxed interview style, with no specific questions standing out as overly challenging. Some references to MMI format, nondisclosure agreements, or challenging personal reflection questions were noted, but overall, the interviews seemed straightforward and focused on getting to know the applicants.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I didn't find any question to be difficult. It was very conversational.
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None they were all relatively straightforward and easy to answer!
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None
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How have you handled a situation that was especially challenging?
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N/A
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendliness and welcoming atmosphere of the faculty, staff, and students at the school. They appreciated the professional environment, strong focus on student success, state-of-the-art facilities, early clinical exposure, and the supportive community at the school. Many also highlighted the convenience of on-campus housing, the clinic attached to the school, and the diverse patient population as positive aspects.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The professors were so nice, clinic was super nice
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The interview did not feel like an interview at all but more like a casual conversation. I really liked how laid-back it was.
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Daphne who works with career development was so energetic and welcoming, I liked her energy
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The portion where the financial aid and career services advisers gave their presentations was really professional. The financial aid adviser really explained everything clearly and broke down the finances. The person who interviewed me was very nice and it felt more like a conversation.
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The other financial aid and career services directors that talk to you are great. They make you feel at ease, crack jokes, and are really nice. The school is a great facility, state of the art, and always finding ways to improve. Concerned about the safety of the area? The security is impressive!
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the school's location, particularly mentioning the immediate surrounding areas and safety perceptions. Suggestions included improving the facilities, enhancing lighting, addressing unfriendly staff interactions, and providing more clarity on living options.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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They misspelled the abbreviation for my home state on my name tag, but I wasn't too fazed by it.
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The building is old looking (it is an old school after all) and that the school doesn't offer a lot of opportunities for IPE
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Nothing in particular.. I was surprised that the school is a little bit of a maze.
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Gym and cafeteria are not as updated as the rest of the campus but that didn't really affect my judgement too much.
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It was slightly intimidating how the students seemed a bit stressed - but that is optometry school and you're there to work hard and learn. It was a bit stressful that everything seemed so "dark". Outside the building was dark and cold. Inside the building lights were extremely dimmed, and it just seemed like a dark, dark cold place. I don't know, maybe it's because I'm from California lol. Students were nice, but not as nice as another school interviewed at. Maybe they had an important test coming up or something. Oh, there was this lady at the front desk that was not that pleasant at all. I think she was an older Caucasian lady that really just did not have common sense when it came to manners. I'm surprised she's allowed to work there, given her personality. She wasn't extremely mean, but I was expecting a different personality (nice, warm, welcoming), given that she was the first person I saw, walking into the school for the first time.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known about the lack of an essay portion during the interview day, the relaxed and conversational nature of the interviews, the importance of being prepared for a file review, and the need to have questions ready for everyone they meet. Additionally, many suggested being familiar with the location and transportation options, as well as being mentally prepared for unexpected writing tasks.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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There is no essay portion in the interview day anymore so no need to stress out about it!
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To not be so nervous
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It was my first interview so I didn't know what I was looking for in a school. I wish I had thought it through more and known what I wanted (great facilities, location of clinic, etc).
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You have a chance to look around the bookstore, which I didn't, and I wish I had.
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N/A
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants generally appreciate the admissions office's professionalism but suggest improvements in communication, friendliness, and efficiency to reduce waiting times and streamline the application process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Nothing!
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None
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Keep up the good work.
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Nothing really, I thought the interview process went really smoothly.
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Maybe be a little friendlier. The woman who spoke with me about having all of the materials for my application seemed a little rude at times. everyone else was nice.
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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ORD
24% interviewees used ORD (ORD), with 20% using Midway (Midway) and 15% using MDW (MDW) and 15% using O'Hare (O'Hare) and 7% using O'hare (O'hare) and 2% using mdw (mdw) and 2% using ord (ord) and 2% using Ohare (Ohare) and 2% using MID (MID) and 2% using Chicago Midway (Chicago Midway) and 2% using Midway Airport (Midway Airport) and 2% using midway (midway) and 2% using OHARE (OHARE).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by airplane to the interview.
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66% Airplane
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27% Automobile
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7% Train or Subway
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0% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Hyatt (average ranking 9.5/10), with some staying at Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers (average rating 10/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Hyatt
9.5/10
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Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
10/10
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RC Applicant Host Program
10/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either At school facility or at the school facility.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Faculty member (4%)
Student (96%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (90%)
Neutral (10%)
All Responses
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