Welcome to the web page for "Each One, Reach One"! The "Each One, Reach One" campaign is a practitioner based career promotion campaign that encourages O.D.'s to talk to their patients about optometry as a future career. The following questions and answers provide background information on the campaign.

Why Do We Need Such a Campaign?

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry’s (ASCO) “Each One Reach One” campaign is a practitioner-based career promotion effort that encourages optometrists to talk to their patients and other qualified young people about optometry as a future career. A small pool of qualified applicants eventually affects the institution’s ability to be selective in the admission process. Practitioners nationwide have a direct impact on young people’s choice of optometry as a career.

Thanks to “Each One Reach One’s” Career Promotion Corps there has been an increase in the number of applicants to optometry schools and the number of students taking the Optometry Admission Test.  We need your help to continue the momentum and to ensure the future quality of the applicant pool.

A continuing decline in the number of students applying to optometry school will have serious ramifications for the entire profession. A small pool of qualified applicants eventually affects each institution's ability to be selective in the admissions process. If the caliber of individuals entering optometry schools is threatened, then so is the profile of future optometrists, the profession's leadership and, ultimately, patient care.

Some Optometrists Think There May Be Too Many Optometrists. Why Would They Want to Participate in Such a Campaign?

The goals of the campaign were first established as outcomes of the 1993 ASCO/AOA Summit on Optometric Education. Specifically, the goal of the "Each One, Reach One" campaign is to increase the applicant pool to three qualified applicants for each first year position and to develop an applicant pool that reflects the national diversity of the U.S. population.

It is important for those skeptical about increased outreach to prospective students to understand that the goal of the "Each One, Reach One" Campaign is to increase the number of qualified applicants to our schools and colleges - NOT the number of graduates. A more competitive applicant pool facilitates a more selective and diverse student body rather than larger entering or exiting classes.

If the Schools and Colleges Have Staff Dedicated to Recruitment, Why Are Optometrists Seen As Critical in This Campaign?

According to ASCO’s annual matriculating survey of incoming students to all of the schools and colleges of optometry, the majority of students indicated that their decision to choose optometry as a career was due to the encouragement of a practicing optometrist.

Therefore, talking with school aged patients and their parents can be beneficial to introducing the profession to potential students for consideration.

Isn't It True That Many of the Schools and Colleges of Optometry Are Already Using Key Alumni To Reach Out to Potential Students?

Yes, it is true that active alumni have been utilized by individual schools and colleges for assistance at career days and for following up with students interested in a specific institution. By expanding the local and school efforts, we hope to extend our reach and coordinate everyone's efforts. ASCO will provide the volunteer optometrists enrolled in this national program with materials and ideas to help spread the word about optometry as a career to their patients and/or prospective students.

What Can Optometrists Do To Help?

There are several ways that all practitioners can help:

• Introduce the profession of optometry as a career consideration to your
  patients and to parents of young people,
  
  
• Be knowledgeable about the current application process, admission
  requirements and the Optometry Admission Test (OAT),
  
  
• Log on to the ASCO website (www.opted.org), download a career guide, visit
  our Frequently Asked Questions Section, and
  
  
• Join ASCO's "Each One, Reach One" Career Promotion Corps.

How Can Joining the Career Promotion Corps Help Me To Promote Optometry as a Career?

Optometrists who join ASCO's Career Promotion Corps will receive free materials for their practice for interested patients and their parents.

The materials provided are: