What Schools Require

Most optometry schools require 2–3 letters of recommendation through OptomCAS. Typical requirements include:

  • At least one letter from an optometrist (OD). This is the single most important letter. An optometrist who has supervised your clinical shadowing or work can speak directly to your suitability for the profession. If you don't have a letter from an OD, your application has a significant gap.
  • At least one letter from a science faculty member. A professor who taught you biology, chemistry, physics, or a related science. This letter validates your academic preparation and intellectual capability.
  • One additional letter of your choice. This could be a second optometrist, a research mentor, an employer, or another faculty member. Choose whoever knows you best and can provide specific, detailed observations about your character and capability.

What Makes a Strong Letter

A strong recommendation letter does three things:

  1. Provides specific examples. "Sarah is a hard worker" is meaningless. "During her 200 hours of clinical shadowing, Sarah independently identified a case of angle-closure glaucoma in a patient presenting with headaches, which led to an urgent referral" is memorable.
  2. Compares you to peers. Admissions committees want to know where you stand relative to other students or aspiring optometrists the writer has known. "In fifteen years of teaching organic chemistry, Jamal is in the top 5% of students I've taught" is powerful because it provides context.
  3. Speaks to character, not just ability. Optometry is a patient-facing profession. A letter that addresses your empathy, communication skills, professionalism, and maturity is more valuable than one that only mentions your grades.

Who to Ask — and Who Not to Ask

Best choices:

  • An optometrist you've shadowed extensively (100+ hours) who has seen you interact with patients and learn clinical skills
  • A science professor in whose class you earned an A or A- and with whom you had substantive conversations, office hours visits, or research collaboration
  • A research mentor who supervised original work you contributed to
  • An employer in a healthcare-adjacent setting who can speak to your professionalism and interpersonal skills

Poor choices:

  • A professor who taught your 300-person lecture and would need to look up your name
  • A family friend who is an optometrist but hasn't supervised your clinical work
  • A letter from a famous person with a generic endorsement

Making Your Recommenders' Job Easier

Even the best-intentioned recommenders write stronger letters when you help them:

  • Provide your CV and personal statement. Give them context about your full application so their letter complements rather than repeats your materials.
  • Remind them of specific interactions. "You may remember the patient with keratoconus we discussed during my Tuesday shadowing sessions" helps them recall details they'd otherwise forget.
  • Give them plenty of time. Ask at least 6–8 weeks before the deadline. Late letters or rushed letters hurt you.
  • Send a polite reminder 2 weeks before the deadline if OptomCAS hasn't received the letter.

With strong letters in hand, you'll want to make sure your full application timeline is on track. See our application timeline guide.