Chicago, IL
Illinois College of Optometry Interview Questions
An independent optometry college in Chicago calls for a focused profession choice, resilience, and a concrete picture of your ideal training environment. Review 15 school-specific questions, verified details, and a focused preparation plan for your interview.
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ICO Optometry Interview at a Glance
Every line is labelled by how well supported it is: stated by the school, reported by applicants, or an Intervly estimate based on what comparable programmes do. Estimates give you a realistic baseline to prepare against, and your invitation email is always the final word.
- Program settingSchool stated
Optometry-centered campus
Explain why studying in a community devoted to eye care suits the way you want to develop clinically.
- Interview formatUnconfirmed
Confirm with your invitation
A current detailed interview structure was not confirmed on the official page reviewed for this guide.
- DegreeSchool stated
Doctor of Optometry (OD)
- LocationSchool stated
Chicago, IL
- Question bankApplicant reported
15 ICO-specific questions
Three applicant-reported questions are shown publicly on this page.
- Final instructionsSchool stated
Your invitation is the source of truth
Timing and delivery can change between application cycles.
What to Expect in the ICO Optometry Interview
An independent optometry college in Chicago calls for a focused profession choice, resilience, and a concrete picture of your ideal training environment.
ICO's published program information and applicant-reported question bank point to a conversation that tests how deliberately you chose optometry. Connect your clinical exposure to the OD's role in primary eye care, disease detection, vision correction, and long-term patient relationships rather than relying on a general interest in science.
Explain why studying in a community devoted to eye care suits the way you want to develop clinically. Choose a real failure, own your decision, and show the changed behavior that followed.
The 15 questions in Intervly's ICO bank reveal useful practice themes, but they do not predict the exact questions you will receive. Use them to practise clear reasoning, specific evidence, and thoughtful follow-ups rather than memorising scripts.
ICO Optometry Interview Questions
Intervly holds 15 interview questions for this optometry interview. Three are shown here in full.
- 01
Why optometry?
- 02
What are you looking for in an optometry school?
- 03
Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.
- 04Locked question, available inside Intervly
- 05Locked question, available inside Intervly
- 06Locked question, available inside Intervly
+ 12 more interview questions inside Intervly
View what’s comingWhat ICO Raters Look For
Failure and recovery
Choose a real failure, own your decision, and show the changed behavior that followed.
Why ICO
Select two details specific to ICO and connect each to an experience or goal.
Optometry scope
Describe primary eye care, disease detection, vision correction, and referral responsibilities accurately.
Academic readiness
Use concrete evidence from coursework, OAT preparation, or changed study habits to show how you will manage the OD curriculum.
Try it now
"Why optometry?"
Think about how you would answer this in a real interview.
View what’s comingYour Interviewer Won't Just Ask the Next Question
Intervly listens to what you actually say and generates contextual follow-ups. That is exactly what a conversational ICO interview does to unprepared answers.
Interviewer
Why optometry?
Applicant
I have always enjoyed science and I want a career where I can help people directly, so optometry felt like the right fit for me.
Intervly follow-up
That reasoning would fit several health careers. Tell me about the single experience that made you rule the others out, and what you saw that day that convinced you.
How to Prepare for the ICO Optometry Interview
- 01
Build a ICO-only fit answer
Use the official sources below to identify two details that distinguish ICO. Connect each one to a real experience or goal so the same answer could not be given to another optometry school.
- 02
Define the OD role precisely
Explain what you observed in primary eye care, ocular disease management, refraction, or another specific responsibility and why that scope fits you better than adjacent health careers.
- 03
Rehearse the ICO question mix
Practise the three public questions and rotate through all 15 inside Intervly. Answer aloud, then challenge each response with a follow-up asking for evidence.
- 04
Plan for the Chicago setting
Research the school's clinics, patient communities, and training environment in Chicago. Use that context carefully and avoid making claims about people you have not met.
- 05
Review your academic evidence
Know the courses, OAT results, gaps, and changes in your application. A concise explanation should end with stronger evidence of how you learn now.
What to Know Before Your ICO Optometry Interview
Use these as starting points. The answer to "why this school" has to be yours, so we deliberately do not write it for you.
Optometry-centered campus
Explain why studying in a community devoted to eye care suits the way you want to develop clinically.
Failure and recovery
Choose a real failure, own your decision, and show the changed behavior that followed.
Question-bank signal
The reported prompts emphasize failure and recovery, so prepare a specific example and expect the interviewer to ask what you learned.
ICO Optometry Interview FAQ
Your ICO interview is worth practicing for.
You've seen some of the questions. Now practice answering them out loud, with feedback.
View what’s coming3 free AI mock interviews. No credit card required.
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Other optometry interview guides guides applicants compare with ICO
Starting with other programs in IL.
- Chicago College of Optometry, Midwestern UniversityDowners Grove, IL
- Arizona College of Optometry, Midwestern UniversityGlendale, AZ
- Indiana University School of OptometryBloomington, IN
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of OptometryBayamón, PR
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences School of OptometryWorcester, MA
- Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, MI
- New England College of OptometryBoston, MA
- Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of OptometryTahlequah, OK
- Nova Southeastern University College of OptometryFort Lauderdale, FL
More optometry prep
Sources and last verified
Last checked 2026-09-23 · Information reflects the 2026-2027 application cycle. Interview formats change between cycles, so always confirm details in your invitation.
- 01ICO official program and admissions information · official · 2026-09-23
- 02ASCO member schools and colleges · credible · 2026-09-23