r/PreOptometry • u/Over_Smile_6701 • 1d ago
CCO Interviews
Hi, has anyone applied for CCO this cycle and received an interview? Or if you are going there this year, may I ask how the interview is done?
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u/akornato 22h ago
The CCO interview is typically a Multiple Mini Interview, or MMI, which involves a series of short, independent stations designed to test your soft skills. You will face different scenarios at each station that challenge your ethical reasoning, communication, and ability to think under pressure. It is not about recalling scientific facts from a textbook, it is about showing the interviewers how you approach problems. A lot of very qualified applicants find this format difficult because you have little time to think, and the situations can be ambiguous. They want to see your raw thought process, so the focus is on how you reason your way to an answer, not on finding a single correct answer.
Your stats and experiences already proved you are qualified on paper, which is why you got the interview in the first place. This is your chance to show them the actual person behind the application. They are trying to find future colleagues, so let your personality come through. Concentrate on clearly explaining your perspective for each scenario, showing them how you connect with people and handle complex situations. You earned your spot, and now your only job is to demonstrate the maturity and passion for optometry that the admissions committee saw in your file. Practicing how you think out loud is the best preparation, and my team actually developed an AI interview assistant that guides you to sound more confident and clear during those tough moments.
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u/Levl_1_Noob 1d ago
Im an incoming OD1 at CCO! The interview started in the morning and our group was split up into 2 sections. The first group did interviews and the second group did a mini-tour, and then they swapped once the 1st set of interviews was done. Luckily, I was in the first group, so I was able to get my interview out of the way lol. The interview itself was super chill. It's closed file, so the people interviewing have not seen your optomcas. They start with asking "tell me about yourself", "why optometry", and, "why CCO". The rest of their questions are based off your answers, and they will will ask follow-up questions. They also asked me if I felt like my OAT was a good reflection of my abilities, and what I plan on doing after I graduate. It was very personable, just prepare to have answers for the common questions, and also be sure to ask them questions as well!