Am I on the right path to becoming an Opthamologist?

[tick]

I'm young, 18, just graduated from high school and I am going to a college to learn pre-optometry which is about 2 years, which when done I will transfer to a 4 year University to become an Optometrist.

I'm thinking doing that will cover all the pre-requirements I'd need before being able to study Opthamology. Am I correct?

I've already paid to start learning pre-optometry but class hasn't started yet, can someone with experience tell me if I'm doing the right thing and if not what should I do?
The quicker the better because if I need to, I can get a refund for my money which was HARD to obtain within the little time left of the year.

I want to become an Opthamologist, treat diseases and do surgeries, everything! I always have wanted to ever since I was little.

Can someone please let me know if I'm going down the right and QUICKEST/On-Time path to becoming an Opthamologist.

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[eyedontknow]

Sorry, don't want to me mean... but it's opHthalmology.
Don't worry, I've done it before.
Apparently its opthalmologie (or something like that) in French.

 

[tick]

Well thank you for that I've been typing it the wrong way for quite some time lol.

Can you answer my main question though? Or anyone?

 

[Kitra101]

Well thank you for that I've been typing it the wrong way for quite some time lol.

Can you answer my main question though? Or anyone?

You are going down the wrong pathway. To become an ophthalmologist, you need to go to undergrad 4 years, then med school 4 years (not optometry school), then 1 year intern year and then 3 years ophthalmology residency. In total, from high school to ophthalmologist, it will require 12 years of training. Then if you want to do a fellowship, it will take 1-2 years more.

 

[tick]

What kind of undergrad schooling? i mean I'm doing 2 years of pre-optometry in a regular college now before I go to a university for Optometry but I won't be learning anything like visual eye care or stuff like that, just bio chemistry and stuff.

Undergrad schooling with what goals do you mean?

 

[tick]

Like if It says I need 4 years of an undergrad degree then 4 years of medical school. For the 4 years of undergrad what would I have to do? Like anything at all in any college then I apply for an Opthamology school?

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Like if It says I need 4 years of an undergrad degree then 4 years of medical school. For the 4 years of undergrad what would I have to do? Like anything at all in any college then I apply for an Opthamology school?

Alright I'll bite...

You can major in anything you want in undergrad, JUST MAKE SURE YOU DO WELL. The only requirement if you're pre-med is that you complete 2 semesters with labs of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics.

Listen, don't make the mistake (like thousands of others) of majoring in biology b/c you think it's what everyone else is doing. Screw them. DO WHAT YOU ENJOY. If that means majoring in underwater basket-weaving, then make that your major. The important thing is you enjoy it and you do well. In fact, med schools want well-rounded people, so if your major is unrelated to "science" it may actually make you more appealing than being yet another cookie-cutter premed.

Then at some point in college you'll have to take the MCAT. Come back here at that time and I'm sure one of us can help you with how to approach the MCAT. Or better yet, check out the MCAT forums on SDN.

Then once you get into med school.....oh boy, just came back here and we'll talk. Okay?

Oh, and ophthalmology (please spell it correctly next time big man) is a residency that you do AFTER medical school. It is not a "school" that you go to like optometry, dentistry, etc.

 

[ecranda]

So you seem confused. Ophthalmology is surgery and disease treatment, meaning you are a doctor first, then an eye doctor... aka ophthalmology.

So to do "everything" you need to be a doctor first. To become a physician, you do 4 years of undergraduate studies (anything you want as long as it has the core courses), you take the MCAt and then you apply to medical school. Then you do 4 years of medical school (meaning all medicine) to get you MD. Then you apply and hopefully get into ophthalmology residency (it is fairly competitive). This is 4 more years, 1 year is general medicine (meaning hospital, clinic, all different specialties), then 3 years of general ophthalmology. If you want to do a specific type of ophthalamology, like just retina or cornea, it is another 1-2 years in fellowship. So if you want to do it all, there is NO shortcut. You need to plan your life towards being a doctor, and then towards being an opthalmologist. It takes at least 12 years.

Now if you want to be an optometrist, that is a lot shorter and more focused. You are not a doctor, so you cannot do the surgeries. You do not have to study any medical things(in great depth) besides the eye. In ophthalmology you have to be a doctor, so you study every organ system, so you are equipped to treat systemic disease and look at more than just the eye. Just a different approach, we need both. Optometrist do more of the basic eye stuff, like glasses/ contacts. To be an optometrist you go to 3-4 years of undergraduate school, then 4 years of optometry school. This approach cuts out the 4 years we spend in medical school, so it is faster.

If you go to optometry school, then go to medical school, you are adding 4 more years, not saving any time.

We both have very different training. So to decide, you need to ask yourself do I want to be an MD? Because you have to do 5 years of general medical training before you can do solely eyes. Therfore, you better wanna be a doctor first, since that is the heart of all ophthalmologist. We all approach each patient, thinking about how blood sugars are changed by the high dose steroids, how patients medical illness affect surgical outcomes, how we need to improve their medical health to improve their eye disease, as well as a million other ideas that go through our minds because we are doctors of the human body, with an increased knowledge of the eye. Very different approach. If you wanna do everything in the eye, you have to know the body too, so you do no harm. The eye is a part of the body and you cannot manipulate it without a good understaning of how the other systems might go wacky.

hope this helps. good luck on your journey, and keep an open mind, you never know what you might decide! 🙂

 

[tick]

Thanks for the help guys, saved me a lot. I guess I can continue going to this current school, and just do the classes that I'd need to for medical school. Can any of you give me exactly what courses I should take to go to medical school properly then into Ophthamology learning or does it differ for each school?

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Thanks for the help guys, saved me a lot. I guess I can continue going to this current school, and just do the classes that I'd need to for medical school. Can any of you give me exactly what courses I should take to go to medical school properly then into Ophthamology learning or does it differ for each school?

The good news: The answer to your question is in my post. IN BOLD.

The bad news: You spelled OPHTHALMOLOGY incorrectly. Again. I know you're young but good habits start early!

Alright I'll bite...

You can major in anything you want in undergrad, JUST MAKE SURE YOU DO WELL. The only requirement if you're pre-med is that you complete 2 semesters with labs of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics.

Listen, don't make the mistake (like thousands of others) of majoring in biology b/c you think it's what everyone else is doing. Screw them. DO WHAT YOU ENJOY. If that means majoring in underwater basket-weaving, then make that your major. The important thing is you enjoy it and you do well. In fact, med schools want well-rounded people, so if your major is unrelated to "science" it may actually make you more appealing than being yet another cookie-cutter premed.

Then at some point in college you'll have to take the MCAT. Come back here at that time and I'm sure one of us can help you with how to approach the MCAT. Or better yet, check out the MCAT forums on SDN.

Then once you get into med school.....oh boy, just came back here and we'll talk. Okay?

Oh, and ophthalmology (please spell it correctly next time big man) is a residency that you do AFTER medical school. It is not a "school" that you go to like optometry, dentistry, etc.

 

[tick]

Ophthalmology,Ophthalmology,Ophthalmology, got it. lol


Do you think I'd be ok with getting into a medical school if I took those courses in a community college (Which I think counts as undergraduate years does it?)?

 

[Kitra101]

Troll Troll Troll

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Ophthalmology,Ophthalmology,Ophthalmology, got it. lol


Do you think I'd be ok with getting into a medical school if I took those courses in a community college (Which I think counts as undergraduate years does it?)?

Finally! Jeez.

This is an age old debate on SDN -- does taking CC courses look bad. The concensus seems to be that it doesn't look very good if you took most/all of your premed requirements at a CC. The admissions members at med schools are not stupid. They know CC tend to be easier than Univ courses.

Tick, since you're new to SDN, I'd recommend you use the search function. You will find answers to MANY of your questions, esp if you search in the pre-med forums. G'luck!

 

[tick]

Ok thanks I'll look at that though. I felt helpless really before I came here, now barely. I'm in miami with little clue on how to be come an Ophthalmologist since for one I can't find any place to learn close by. Do you have any advice on where to search? I've tried google but no luck in anything close to Miami.

 

[tick]

Can you or anyone that can help add me to an instant messenger if you have one? Or maybe we can exchange emails? PM me the info or post it here if youc an it would be appreciated greatly.

 

[tick]

And I'm so sorry to be posting like this back after back but new questions keep popping into my mind when I'm away.
I just want to make sure I get things right you know this is my future here.



I need 4 Years of Undergrad which I can get at any college that offers a program of study called pre-med or the needed courses, correct?
EDIT: Or according to DOCTORSAIB, not 4 years but just 2 semesters of the required courses?

Then the Mcat?

Then I need 4 Years of any standard Medical School which I learn the basic things about being a doctor. Nothing about Ophthalmology but relatively close, correct? As long as it's medical and I get the degree I'd need (MD, right?)?

Then 4 more Years of Ophthalmology Residency, Correct?


After all that is completed I can call myself an Eye Surgeon? If so then I guess I have to drop this school now and look else where since they don't offer all of the core courses I'd need or a pre-med program.

 

[OwnageMobile]

And I'm so sorry to be posting like this back after back but new questions keep popping into my mind when I'm away.
I just want to make sure I get things right you know this is my future here.



I need 4 Years of Undergrad which I can get at any college that offers a program of study called pre-med or the needed courses, correct?
EDIT: Or according to DOCTORSAIB, not 4 years but just 2 semesters of the required courses?

Then the Mcat?

Then I need 4 Years of any standard Medical School which I learn the basic things about being a doctor. Nothing about Ophthalmology but relatively close, correct? As long as it's medical and I get the degree I'd need (MD, right?)?

Then 4 more Years of Ophthalmology Residency, Correct?


After all that is completed I can call myself an Eye Surgeon? If so then I guess I have to drop this school now and look else where since they don't offer all of the core courses I'd need or a pre-med program.

I'll bite, too.

While the required courses can be done relatively quickly, most medical schools want you to have at least a 4-year bachelor's degree.

Then the MCAT--this doesn't have to be done at any particular time. I'd do it after you have the required courses under your belt.

Then 4 years of medical school. Nothing too special, just the training that all MDs have in common.

Then 4 years of ophthalmology residency. Then a fellowship year or two if you want to specialize.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

And I'm so sorry to be posting like this back after back but new questions keep popping into my mind when I'm away.
I just want to make sure I get things right you know this is my future here.



I need 4 Years of Undergrad which I can get at any college that offers a program of study called pre-med or the needed courses, correct?
EDIT: Or according to DOCTORSAIB, not 4 years but just 2 semesters of the required courses?

Then the Mcat?

Then I need 4 Years of any standard Medical School which I learn the basic things about being a doctor. Nothing about Ophthalmology but relatively close, correct? As long as it's medical and I get the degree I'd need (MD, right?)?

Then 4 more Years of Ophthalmology Residency, Correct?


After all that is completed I can call myself an Eye Surgeon? If so then I guess I have to drop this school now and look else where since they don't offer all of the core courses I'd need or a pre-med program.

Tick,

I said IN ADDITION TO majoring in something you would need to also complete your pre-med requirements (bio, general chem, organic chem and physics). This will likely take you 4 years to do at which point you would get your Bachelors degree in your major and you would have completed all your premed requirements as well.

Towards the end of college or even afterwards, you would have to take the MCAT.

And then hopefully get into med school, which is another 4 years then hopefully get in to ophtho residency which is yet another 4 years.

Are we on the same page here? Listen, you need to do some searching on SDN esp the pre-med forums. You will learn a ton there about this whole process.

 

[MAYOphtho]

I'll just type it short and sweet...my colleagues have done an outstanding job explaining it so far...but just in case tick still has questions:

you need to:
(1) complete your Bachelor's degree...AS WELL AS finish the pre-med requirements (4 years)
(2) pre-med requirements take most ppl 2-3 years, so take the MCAT when that is done so you have the knowledge base
(3) apply to medical school and cross your fingers (medical school is 4 years = MD or DO)
(4) in 4th year of medical school apply to Ophthalmology residency via the SF Match...interview...pray...hope it works out (Ophtho residency =4 years)

good luck friend

 

[tick]

Thanks everyone you helped me so much, I will be returning in the future to let you guys know how things are going and hope to see great things have happened to everyone of you!
I understand what I need to do now.

The one and ONLY last thing on my head, is if I HAVE to major in something before medical school. What if I don't?

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Thanks everyone you helped me so much, I will be returning in the future to let you guys know how things are going and hope to see great things have happened to everyone of you!
I understand what I need to do now.

The one and ONLY last thing on my head, is if I HAVE to major in something before medical school. What if I don't?

It never ends young grasshopper!

Yes, you HAVE to major in something. What do you think college is all about? Taking a few classes here and there and then just hanging out? Actually, that's kind of true but for the sake of this conversation, YES YOU HAVE TO MAJOR IN SOMETHING.

It's your job now to figure out what you would like to major in. Find something that interests you (business, accounting, physics, biology, psychology, english, history, communications, political science, etc, etc, etc).

The key point is that you DO WELL. Take your classes (esp premed classes) very seriously. Try to get as many "A's" as possible. But at the same time, enjoy your youth. Go out, have fun, make friends, drink (stay away from illegal drugs). College will be one of the most memorable times of you life. Cherish it!

 

[Incandescent]

Thanks everyone you helped me so much, I will be returning in the future to let you guys know how things are going and hope to see great things have happened to everyone of you!
I understand what I need to do now.

The one and ONLY last thing on my head, is if I HAVE to major in something before medical school. What if I don't?

Tick,

You will HAVE to major in SOMETHING in college, not because it is a medical school requirement (and it is), but because it is a requirement to get your bachelor's degree. Your diploma at the end of college will say, "Tick, Bachelor of Arts (or Science) in X." That X is your chosen major of study. You can major in practically ANYTHING to go to medical school (I majored in economics), as long as you take the pre-med requirements and the MCAT, and do well in all.

I know you primarily want to be an ophthalmologist and that is why you are seeking answers in this forum. It's good to have a long term goal in mind, but I think you would probably be better served doing some reading in the Pre-Allopathic forum. This is where all the college students are discussing what it takes to get into med school and what college is like for a pre-med, which is the stage you will be in now.

For the next four years of your life, your goal is to be the best college student you can be and the best pre-medical student you can be. Worry about ophtho when you get into medical school. I highly suggest you join the discussions over in the Pre-Allo forum to get a better idea of how to accomplish these goals in the next four years!

Good luck!

 

[tick]

Thank you! All of you, the support has been appreciated highly!