Four interviews, four acceptances.
Born and raised in Toronto, Kristen Cooke completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Life Science at Queen's University in 2017. Her years there built an interest in health, science and community work: literacy programs, children with special needs, hospital volunteering, and initiatives supporting guide dogs and people living with vision loss.
She applied to optometry and interviewed at four schools: NYU, Boston University, UC Berkeley and the University of Waterloo. Four interviews, four acceptance letters.
She chose the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science and earned her Doctor of Optometry in 2021. Her clinical training took her to rural and northern Ontario and to a laser eye surgery clinic. Today she practises as a Doctor of Optometry, with a focus on ocular disease prevention and management, laser vision co-management and contact lenses.
