Advice :)

[sunshinensmiles]

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I am currently an undergrad at UC Santa Barbara and I am hoping to pursue optometry as my career. I am aware of the pre-requisites for optometry school and I believe I am on track so far. However, I do have a few questions:

(1) I recently was offered a paid internship at a pediatrician office in the Santa Barbara area. While a pediatrician office experience is far from optometry experience, should I still pursue this opportunity? I feel like it could lead to more opportunities (say the doctor knows an optometrist that he can recommend me to?) or is it more of a waste of time, like instead should I just keep searching for what the internship I am looking for?

(2) I know this is far away(I just finished my first year at UCSB) but I would like to know more about optometry schools. I have looked into some, mainly the one at UC Berkley and SCSO (I am a california girl!). Anything important that I need to know?Which is more difficult to get into? And how will my UC education compare to other applicants? Or does gpa/OAT score/experience outweigh the institution?
(3) I am considering studying abroad my junior year, would this experience distinguish me as an applicant?

(4) Sadly, I recieved a C+ in psychology last quarter, should I retake the course for a better grade?

Whew, thats all for now..thanks 🙂

 

[mathcod]

1) yes take the internship. Admissions likes to see well-rounded individuals, and that includes getting exposure to the health profession in addition to just strictly looking in the optometry field. You won't be questioned "o you did a pediatrician stint, maybe you don't really want to do opt." It can only help you, not hurt you, and it WILL help you. internships of any variety are good and are hard to come by, don't miss this opportunity.

2) GPA/OATs are the most important. While a UC education is a great education, still get good grades and good OATs. These will get you into any interview you want, and I would say are the most determining factors. Don't retake the pysch just do better from now on.

I interviewed at both schools and had a great UC gpa, near-perfect OAT, and good ecs, but I was ultimately rejected (according to feedback from ad coms) because of 1) below par speaking skills and 2) I only had 40 hours of optometric experience which was considered too low.

 

[sweetmonkey]

Speaking of Optometry experience, I have done approx 185 hours of OD shadowing. I shadowed one OD through an internship my school gave me for 85 hours (this was at a joint OD practice). I shadowed another OD for 100 hours in a Sams Club (Independent OD) setting. While shadowing the second OD, I was allowed to take patient blood and eye pressure, make insurance phone calls to see if eye exams were covered by various insurance policies, took eye glass readings, and took preliminary patient prescription readings with the machines.
Do you think this is enough exposure to the optometry field?
One of these ODs will be writing me a LOR.

Thanks

 

[opto84]

In my opinion, you should look for an optometry job or unpaid internship instead. Optometry schools are looking for people who know what they are getting themselves into, and love it. Why waste your time doing something, when something else would be more beneficial. You are going to need hours shadowing or working in an office, so why not start now. The more experience in the field, the better.

I would say UCBSO and SCCO are about the same in terms of admissions. It's great that you go to a UC. I'm pretty sure that factors in to your overall GPA. I am starting UCBSO in the fall, and from what I can tell, almost 3/4 of our class graduated from a UC. That said, don't rely too much on GPA because you need to be balanced in OAT and experience as well.

Don't worry about the C+ in psych. Just try not to get any more Cs. I actually had 2 C's from UC Berkeley undergrad, but I still got in to optometry school. I think it was my relatively high OAT score, and one year of working in an optometry office that got me in.

I would say definitely travel abroad! I can't speak for SCCO, but at Berkeley, I definitely got the impression that they are looking for well-rounded people. During my interview, we spent 2 minutes talking about my optometry experience and the rest of the time talking about my hobbies, friends, where i've travelled to, what my goals for the future are, etc. If you are going to go abroad, you should definitely start your optometry experience now because you'll only have this year to do that.

To sweetmonkey:
I would say that is enough shadowing. But if you have time, i would recommend trying to keep it up so it doesnt look like you got it all in just to get it over with and then did nothing for a year or however long it will be.