The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) reports in a press release that for the second year in a row its United States (US) institutions received the highest number ever of applicants during the 2024-2025 Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS) application cycle. Specifically, optometric institutions collectively saw 2,897 applicants; the previous highest number of applicants was 2,868 in the 2023-2024 application cycle, according to a press release.

Additionally, ASCO also notes that:

• The median age of applicants was 22 years old, with 73% female and 26% male. Less than 1% declined to state gender.

• The ethnicity breakdown for applicants was 42% White, 31% Asian, 13% Spanish/Hispanic/Latino/Latina, 5% Black/African-American, 4% 2 or More Races, and less than 1% American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. A total of 4% of applicants did not report a race.

• The average overall cumulative grade point average for all applicants was 3.45.

“It’s exciting to see record-breaking interest in optometry for the second year in a row,” says ASCO President Dr. Alicia Feis. "... We encourage more professionals [optometrists] to get involved and share their stories, reminding future applicants of the profound impact we make in our communities and the fulfillment this profession brings. We’re proud to welcome a new generation of talented applicants and look forward to growing the profession with high-quality future optometrists.”

A full report on the 2024-2025 application cycle will be available by the end of the year, says ASCO. Visit www.optomcas.org or contact Paige Pence, ASCO Director of Student and Residency Affairs, at ppence@opted.org,with any questions. OM