To promote inclusion in the optometric profession for generations to come, the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) have created the AOA/AOSA Opportunities in Optometry Grant program. This fund is designed as a one-time stipend for under-represented minority students interested in the field of optometry to help defray the costs associated with applying to optometry school.
The Opportunities in Optometry grant application deadlines are May 1 and December 1. Please give us up to 60 days after the deadline to review applications and inform you if you are a grant recipient. If you have questions on the application, please reach out to the Optometry Cares Program Manager, Molly Brown at mbrown@aoa.org .
Multiple grants of $1,500 each will be awarded annually to students who are chosen by the selection committee. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria to be considered by the selection committee. These funds can be used toward the very first steps necessary when pursuing a doctor of optometry degree – offsetting the cost of the OAT exam, school application costs, professional attire or travel costs associated with interviews.
The AOA Community and Engagement Advisory Committee and the AOSA are committed to paving a path toward a broader and more inclusive profession. The AOA/AOSA Opportunities in Optometry Grant program is a sustained effort to encourage under-represented minorities to join the family of optometry and expand access to primary eye care across the nation.
Opportunities in Optometry (OiO) Grant Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient
- Must be a member of one of the following ethnic groups that are currently underrepresented in the optometry professions when compared to overall representation in the United States: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Alaskan Native, and
- Must be a student at a four-year, accredited institution within the U.S., carrying the minimum requirements as stated for the program per semester/quarter, or have completed an undergraduate degree with optometry prerequisites. This grant is for students applying to optometry school within the next 12 months. Current optometry school students are not eligible for this grant opportunity.
- *A 2.75 or greater grade point average is suggested. (If you do not meet this requirement, please see the application checklist below.)
OiO Grant Evaluation Criteria
- Academic achievement (i.e., grades, SAT, ACT, GRE, GCE, etc.),
- Personal essay describing optometric career goals, current and past relevant extracurricular activities (i.e., participation in Black Eyecare Professionals Preoptometry Club, Diversity in Optometry, etc.)
- References (i.e., teacher, guidance counselor, optometric mentor, employer, etc.), and
- Financial need
OiO Grant Application Checklist
- Opportunities in Optometry Grant Application
- One letter of reference
- Current CV or resume
- Unofficial transcripts from your college/university. (If you are selected as a grant recipient, you must provide official transcripts.)
- The following essay questions should be answered individually on the application form; or, if submitting video or infographic materials, follow the instructions for uploading the files:
- A 250-word paragraph on why you believe it’s important to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the field of optometry. Please include any accomplishments relevant to increasing awareness about diversity in your community.
- Using a medium of your choice (video, infographic, written, etc.) advertise YOU! Help us learn what makes you special and how this grant will impact your life.