Clubs & Organizations

You're more than your OD.

Our students are not only dedicated care givers and hard-working students. They are passionate go-getters who take the time to follow their interests beyond optometry as well. In the classroom and in the clinic, we are a dedicated team working hard together, but sometimes it’s nice to focus on something that isn’t school. The clubs and organizations on campus help you connect and build relationships through your shared interests.

Find Your Group

Black Student Union

The Black Student Union supports students of the African diaspora academically, culturally and socially by fostering meaningful mentor relationships between black students and practicing optometrists. They also provide leadership and service opportunities to optometry students and encourage undergraduate students to pursue a career in optometry.

Multicultural Association

The cultural diversity at ICO has increased exponentially over the past several decades. As a result, the MCA is organized to promote the understanding of the diverse cultures within the ICO and IEI communities.

Private Practice Club

This club prepares students to enter private practice by deepening their understanding of the business aspects of the profession. Monthly, the club offers presentations or panel discussions on practice management. Sample topics include associating with a doctor, practice acquisition, practice management, finance, and marketing.

This group focuses on LGBTQ health, specifically within optometry, and hopes to foster a community for queer students here at ICO as well as to build solidarity with other marginalized groups on campus. Queer Eye hopes to advocate for the LGBTQ community and help ICO students become better, more inclusive doctors of optometry.

Queer Eye

SVOSH

The student branch of VOSH, SVOSH‘s objective is to provide vision care to those who do not have access to professional care. Students accompany a practicing OD on mission trips to examine local residents and distribute eye glasses free of charge.

Tomb & Key Honor Society

Founded in 1934 to recognize academic excellence and to promote ethics within the field of optometry, Tomb & Key is ICO’s highest academic honor organization. Students are eligible for membership during their second year if they achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher.

Do I qualify for U.S. federal financial aid?

The following criteria must be met to receive aid from the U.S. Federal Student Aid programs. Demonstrated financial need. Enrollment in the program at least half-time or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree. U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen. Valid Social Security Number. If you don’t have a Social Security Number, you can learn more about applying for one. Maintain satisfactory academic progress. Sign a statement on the application for U.S. Federal Student Aid certifying that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes (ICO’s school code is 001689). Sign a statement on the FAFSA certifying that you are not in default on a federal student loan and that you do not owe money back on a federal student grant. Registration with the Selective Service, if applicable (if you are an American male 18 through 25 years of age and you have not yet registered with Selective Service, you can register by checking a box on the FAFSA).
How do I apply for financial aid?

There are several types of financial aid and a variety of scholarships available to help with the cost of your education. To apply for U.S. Federal Financial Aid and Direct Loans, you will only need to complete the FAFSA. Our school code is 001689. This form is available every October 1 for the upcoming Fall Term and can be accessed through the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid. Annually, you will be asked to complete the FAFSA to renew your eligibility. If you are unsure of your eligibility, you can review the federal eligibility requirements as listed above to confirm that you qualify to receive financial aid.
I completed my FAFSA, what's next?

Following the submission of your completed FAFSA, we will put together a financial aid package that covers your full estimated cost of attendance and identifies all forms of Federal Aid for which you qualify. For students eligible for U.S. Federal Student Aid, you can expect that you will be able to fully cover your costs with the Federal Student Loan and work-study programs. You should not need to seek out private loans, which are often less cost-effective over the life of your loans. Scholarship recipients will see your award adjusted to include the scholarship.
How do I apply for ICO scholarships?

When applying for graduate programs in optometry, you might feel as though you have to submit a lot of information. We remove the step of having prospective students apply for ICO scholarships by automatically reviewing your application for merit-based scholarships; you do not need to apply separately. Scholarship recipients are notified by the Admission Office at the time of acceptance.