Hi tidgey, I'm a second year at IU, and I'll throw in my two cents because I was in the same boat that you are in now. I took months to decide between MCO, ICO, and IUSO. I liked MCO for the in-state tuition, and I loved ICO for the city it's located in, but picking the "perfect" school wasn't just based on one aspect I liked most. Let me first talk about my research experience at IUSO, which I understand you are interested in, and then dive into student life (which I am very involved in).
I participated in the The Dean's Scholar program, an "intro to research" job that picks eight 1st year students and matches them with research labs over the summer in between 1st and 2nd year. You get paid +$5000 for the summer, and also take free research ethics and exploration classes that count towards your Master's (if you decide to pursue that route). I was matched with the contact lens lab, however I worked on my own project with the professor that runs the lab. After summer ended, I was hired in as an employee and continued the research. I presented a powerpoint presentation and a poster at the American Academy of Optometry meeting in New Orleans this Fall! Being able to gain that experience talking about your project with your peers and other doctors was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had so far at IU. It's hard to explain the feeling; it's very gratifying, and a great learning opportunity. If you chose IU, I highly recommend either looking into getting a job in a lab the summer before you start, or applying for this program. Each of us had different experiences. One of my best friends was also accepted into the program, and is now doing concussion research with the IU football and other sports teams. Also, I would like to say that we participate in other students' and doctors' studies and get paid handsomely
Now onto student life. Hands down, this might be the deciding reason why I went to IU. Coming from a smaller college (don't get me wrong I had an amazing 4 years there) I wanted to go to an environment where I could be limitless, and have great people to enjoy school with. The overall attitude of the student body at IU is perfect for me: work hard, but also stay healthy and have some fun too. I also wanted to go to a big school with a diverse population and lots of school pride. Another reason I liked IU is that I could live in a house, cook my own food, have people over, etc. If you are looking to be involved in clubs, we have the same ones every school has, but I believe our class size of 70-80 is an advantage. Almost everyone participates, so we have great turnout to fundraisers, get-togethers, and meetings, but are clubs aren't so big that it is impossible to compete for either a leadership position or a travel grant. I travel to the Academy meeting every year, two trips for the American Optometric Student Association, and will be traveling to Jamaica for VOSH in a few weeks. It's amazing that I am able to see cities I've never been to, and get financial aid to do it! The clubs, especially IUOSA, throws get togethers and parties like every other school does, but one unique thing that I love here is the tailgates. People from all classes come out either before the game or as a study break. I personally go to the football games and basketball games. The energy leading up to the games is incredible! You can feel it throughout Bloomington. The campus is beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous. I often compare it to Hogwarts. I love being outside and being able to walk around to wherever I need to go. Park, friend's house, school, library, starbucks, restaurants, bars? They are all within walking distance, and it doesn't matter if it is 3PM or 3AM, I feel comfortable walking home. The only places I drive to are the gym and the grocery store. If you don't like walking, there are two free bus systems that run through campus and Bloomington, and many apartment complexes have shuttle systems that drop off near the school. The gym is great. The first time I saw the IU pool, I drooled. I love the free exercise classes (there are many) and you can go whenever you want. Many of my classmates go to the gym, so we normally go in groups. We also mingle with other schools at IU. We play flag football with the law school and in third year, do eye exams with the med students. The Jacobs School of Music is a very well known school, so all operas, plays, ballets, etc are world class, at a cheap student price. There are also many festivals in Bloomington that we can wander into.
Now that we talked about the fun stuff, it's time to talk about academic responsibility. Other schools have this policy too, but IU makes you keep a certain GPA to be able to take boards. Everyone here helps each other. Our facebook page is usually flowing with study guides and flashcards people have made. No one gets left behind, and I always feel comfortable posting on facebook if I need someone to practice with. We have all found our study spots, and regularly study together since we live close to each other. We get a "big sib" our first year who passes down all study materials they made and guides us through first year. We practice clinic skills in the lab until second year competency. After seeing my pharm school boyfriend get his white coat during his first two weeks of school and then seeing some of his classmates fail out, I appreciated IU's white coat policy of waiting until the end of second year. Yes, it's a long wait, but IU tests you on all clinic skills to make sure you are competent enough to perform full eye exams on patients on your own. Halfway through my first semester of second year, I already know the skills I will need to perform on my competency test. There are many scholarships for good grades too. The staff here are so friendly. I can go into Cindy or Joe's office and get advice about classes, tutors, and life in general. Many professors are also interested in how you are doing, and want to help.
I chose IU because of a gut feeling. I love that I am friends with everyone, and I still get to meet new people. I love that a life outside of studying is encouraged, and yet you are still respected if you don't want to join in. I felt like I have accomplished so much as a person and a student and it is only my second year. If I could go back in time, I would pick IU again, even considering the pros of other schools and the cons of IU. There are good things and bad things about each school (I obsessed over them), but you have to go with what you feel is right for you. Talking to people from each school from the time I was accepted until the time I decided really helped me, let me know if you have any questions. Good Luck!
