By Anisha Thakkar
Southern California College of Optometry Class of 2029
Student Ambassador
anishathakkar.scco29@ketchum.edu
I still remember how surprised I was when I received my interview invite from SCCO. I had been researching SCCO’s program and reading what other students had to say and was excited at the opportunity to interview there. I decided to fly over from Dallas the day before to interview in-person and although I was exhausted from the flight, I was determined to explore the area and allow myself to envision the possibility of living here. I was extremely nervous for the next morning, and although I went to sleep early, I was tossing and turning all night.
The morning of my interview, my dad and I drove to MBKU, received our name tags, and sat down at a table with a couple other applicants and their parents. All of us were twiddling our thumbs and making simple conversation, eager for the day to get started. The faculty at MBKU were super friendly and excited to introduce us all to their beautiful campus and their conversational student ambassadors. I enjoyed being able to talk to current students about their experiences and the nuances of the program they loved. It was fascinating to hear about their courses, like clinical methods, as well as their lives outside of school. They reminded us that we should be proud of ourselves for all our hard work in getting to this point and that receiving an interview is an accomplishment itself. Their words were extremely calming to hear before heading in for my interview.
The faculty used the interview to get to know you more outside of your application and academic statistics. The interview itself was very personable, and my conversation with Dr. Chen flowed much more like talking with a mentor rather than sitting across from an evaluator. Right from the beginning, she made me feel at ease with her approachable nature and genuine interest in getting to know me as a person. The questions she asked weren’t meant to trick me or test how well I could come up with “perfect” responses. Instead, they were directed toward understanding my journey and motivations for choosing optometry. We talked about the experiences that first sparked my interest in eye care, the values I hope to bring into my future career, and the ways I’ve grown through leadership and teamwork via non-academic extracurriculars. By the end of it, I walked away with the impression that SCCO truly wanted to see who I am and get to know the future optometrist I hoped to become.
During the campus tour, I got to imagine what it would be like to be a student at SCCO, walking through these same hallways and having my own student locker. The way the student ambassadors answered our questions and told stories of their time on campus, made us all feel like we could belong here and really be a part of this community. Admissions had even set up a lab demo, where we could all try out the slit lamp on our family member! They emphasized the hands-on experience that we would receive as a part of this program and how supportive the professors and older students are. At lunch we got to chat with another current first year student as well as the other applicants about our own journeys into optometry and it really made it feel like there was a real community here. The final part of the day was a tour of Ketchum Health, which gave us a glimpse of what we’re ultimately working toward. We watched third-year students in the clinic seeing patients and rotating through different specialties. At that moment, that stage of training felt distant, but it was exciting to imagine ourselves reaching it in just a few short years.
Overall, the whole day really put me at ease and made me even more excited about the possibility of going to SCCO. From the interview to meeting current students and seeing Ketchum Health, I felt like I could picture myself here. Flying out from Dallas for just one day felt like a big trip, but it was worth it because I got to see firsthand what the program is all about and the kind of supportive environment SCCO has. By the time I left, I wasn’t just relieved the interview was over, I was genuinely excited about the future and motivated to hopefully be part of this community. The best advice I can give to future applicants is to stay authentic and share your own journey. It’s easy to feel pressure to prepare the “right” answers, but that’s not what the interviewers are looking for. They want to understand who you are, what experiences have shaped you, and why you’re passionate about optometry. By the end of the day, you can feel proud of yourself, knowing you gave it your all. Remember to celebrate yourself for taking this big step, because you’ve already accomplished something amazing.
If you’re preparing for your SCCO interview like I was, I hope this post helps make the process a little less intimidating. Feel free to reach out to me at anishathakkar.scco29@ketchum.edu if you have any questions!