ASCO Sees Another Increase in Number and Diversity of Applicants in 2020-2021
ASCO experienced a 4.7% increase in the just recently completed OptomCAS application cycle. This is on top of the 3.7% increase experienced in 2019-2020. For 2020-2021, there were 2,684 applicants who submitted a total of 12,513 applications. For applications, OptomCAS experienced a 5.4% increase in applications submitted compared to last year. On average, applicants applied to 4.7 schools and colleges.
The diversity of the applicant reached new heights as well. This is the first time ever that 6% of the applicant pool was Black/African and 13% Hispanic/Latino. This was a 14.3% and 19.4% respectively increase from last year.
A full report on the 2020-2021 application cycle will be available at the end of the year.
Applicants apply through OptomCAS, the Optometry Centralized Application Service, which just recently launched on June 30 for application cycle 2021-2022 with a NEW and IMPROVED website at https://www.optomcas.org/. All 23 ASCO member schools and colleges participate in OptomCAS.
For answers to questions about the applicant pool, contact Paige Pence, ASCO Director of Student and Residency Affairs, at ppence@opted.org.