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[Commando303]

I am aware of the fact that there is not an official ranking of optometry schools available; however, I am curious as to what SDN posters feel about the Pennsylvania College of Optometry potentially being the most prestigious. I am not trying to create any controversy within this thread.

[...]

I do realize the consistency of professionalism throughout the field of optometry and sincerely hope that no one gains the impression that I am, in any way, diminishing the pride of any optometry student attending elsewhere.

Any thoughts on PCO being the most prestigious?

You're asking people to consider if the school you attend is the best ("most prestigious": read, "best") in the nation. I don't see how this thread can elicit anything but hostility or (at best) apathy.

 

[kryptique]

Hmm...I've always thought schools with a lower tuition, higher GPA req, smaller class sizes, and closer proximity to Canada were the most "prestigious". 😀

But really, I haven't seen anything to indicate particular schools are more prestigious than others. UC Berkeley is different because of the high GPA req and early deadline; SUNY's got a great NYC location, which might make it "prestigious" to some; and Indiana looks good because it has the best music program in the country...but that hardly relates to optometry.

Perhaps the more newly established schools are less "prestigious" because they don't have a proven track record yet. But I'm sure they'll catch up.

In any case, it's more a matter of what's desirable for you. Since board passing rates for most schools are decent, reqs for most schools are very similar, and most students come out of the schools knowing what they're doing (yes? lol), prestige isn't so relevant.

 

[Commando303]

This thread should not create any hostility. I remember when you, commando303, created the thread asking for opinions of the "worst" optometry program. I find my thread much more appropriate. I am asking a question that requires as little as a YES or NO answer. Is the Pennsylvania College of Optometry the most prestigious? To judge which school is the best, one must consider an endless number of factors (board passing rates, clinical exposure, curriculum, tuition, location, et cetera). I am not asking for that. Therefore, I am not intending for the terms "prestige" and "best" to have the same meaning. The roots of optometry started at PCO, and I am wondering if others have opinions similar to mine.

I remember that, myself: nothing productive came of it (though, admitted, no one really flamed anyone, either). A difference, though, my "worst" thread didn't target or laud any particular college; this one, yours, seeks to praise a specific school.

I'm not trying to shut down your topic before it gets off the ground — please don't think I am; I simply feel it either won't get very far, or will end in fiery remains.

Just on the question of "prestige," I don't think any college of optometry can claim a significant degree more than any other. In other words, there's no "Ivy League" equivalent when it comes to colleges of eye medicine. Yes, P.C.O. is one of the older schools, but, from what I've read, it's not held in any higher regard than, say, S.U.N.Y. Optometry, which is quite newer, or even Ferris State, which is small and removed, but certainly not looked on with any less favor. The only thing I think anyone can state, here, is the Puerto Rico school and the three "new" (est.: 21st century) colleges are currently looked down on (no, I'm not advocating the sentiment — just presenting its existence).

 

[KHE]

As a practicing OD for almost 10 years not I can assure you that no one in our profession assigns any particular "prestige" value to any particular school.

IAUPR has historically had a reputation as "last chance U" so that one may have a negative connotation associated with it particularly if attended by non Hispanic mainlanders. But none of the others have either a prestige or non prestige value.

SUNY, PCO, and NECO are some of the older institutions so they have more alumni. That's about it. No more or less prestige that I've ever heard of.

 

[blysssful]

SAM, it's great that you take so much pride in the school you will be attending, however try to keep yourself level-headed. PCO has a fantastic program, however suggesting that it is the "most prestigious" is also suggesting others are less prestigious (that's what happens with superlatives).

And as a side-note, there are some aspects about PCO that I can think of that would certainly bring the prestige down a notch-- but in the interest of not flaming someone else's school, there's no need to go there. Let's just leave it at: the schools aren't ranked for a reason.

 

[Commando303]

SAM, it's great that you take so much pride in the school you will be attending, however try to keep yourself level-headed. PCO has a fantastic program, however suggesting that it is the "most prestigious" is also suggesting others are less prestigious (that's what happens with superlatives).

And as a side-note, there are some aspects about PCO that I can think of that would certainly bring the prestige down a notch-- but in the interest of not flaming someone else's school, there's no need to go there. Let's just leave it at: the schools aren't ranked for a reason.

Flame, schlame: what do you dislike about P.C.O.? I don't want to start a war, but if there're things you feel fall short of a standard, by sharing them you might be able to help applicants trying to evaluate their options.

 

[OD4eyes]

Flame, schlame: what do you dislike about P.C.O.? I don't want to start a war, but if there're things you feel fall short of a standard, by sharing them you might be able to help applicants trying to evaluate their options.

I believe this can only be objectively answered by students that attend or attended PCO.

 

[SarahNC]

I believe this can only be objectively answered by students that attend or attended PCO.

? No idea. Pretty much my only problem with PCO is their disorganization. With our schedules, our financial aid, etc... its pretty much just frustration and doesn't change the quality of the school.

 

[blysssful]

Flame, schlame: what do you dislike about P.C.O.? I don't want to start a war, but if there're things you feel fall short of a standard, by sharing them you might be able to help applicants trying to evaluate their options.

Ugh, I probably just shouldn't have said anything at all. What I'm referring to is that several people I know first hand who are either current students at PCO or have already graduated were accepted there after being denied admission to every other school they applied to. It is objectively true that they accept students who weren't accepted elsewhere (and no, that doesn't mean that all their students couldn't have gotten in elsewhere, by any means). In my opinion, that inherently lowers the "prestige" of being accepted to their program.

For clarity's sake, I'm not actually saying anything about their PROGRAM.

 

[Commando303]

Ugh, I probably just shouldn't have said anything at all. What I'm referring to is that several people I know first hand who are either current students at PCO or have already graduated were accepted there after being denied admission to every other school they applied to. It is objectively true that they accept students who weren't accepted elsewhere (and no, that doesn't mean that all their students couldn't have gotten in elsewhere, by any means). In my opinion, that inherently lowers the "prestige" of being accepted to their program.

For clarity's sake, I'm not actually saying anything about their PROGRAM.

Fair enough. Thanks.

 

[nc2tarheels]

it seems to me, that you want validation for your own self-esteem. Granted, I'm not an OD, but I have been working in the optical field for 9 years, and NEVER have I ever seen someone hired or promoted because of where they went to school. (I have done hiring of OD's at a corporate level).