An Analysis of the Optometric Applicant Pool Relative to Matriculants.

Area of Science:

• Optometry Education
• Healthcare Workforce Analysis
• Higher Education Trends

Background:

• The pipeline of future doctors of optometry is crucial for the profession.
• Systematic examination of optometry school applicant and matriculant trends is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the demographics and academic qualifications of U.S. optometry school applicants and matriculants.
• To track trends from autumn 2010 through autumn 2018.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from U.S. accredited optometric institutions via the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and Optometry Centralized Application Service.
• Key metrics included annual applicant and matriculant numbers, applicant regions, Optometry Admission Test (OAT) scores, and grade point averages (GPAs).

Main Results:

• The number of verified applicants increased by 0.95% from 2010 to 2018, while matriculants rose by 11.2%.
• The applicant-to-matriculant ratio decreased from 1.53 in 2010 to 1.39 in 2018.
• Academic qualifications (GPA and OAT scores) remained stable, but the ratio of highly qualified applicants to matriculants declined.

Conclusions:

• The optometry applicant pool has been largely stagnant, contrasting with a substantial increase in matriculants.
• This has led to a decreased ratio of qualified applicants to available positions.
• Optometry programs have adjusted by reducing matriculant numbers in recent years to match national trends.