I believe ICO is overpriced and cranks out a ridiculous number of graduates.
Wow....I understand the dislike for the new schools, but give the established ones a break...
I mean PCO will graduate a larger # of students than ICO.
Let's face it... they won't put a freeze on putting out new grads just to appease the practicing O.D.'s (though I think they should the second after I graduate!
)
Isn't this supposed to be a somewhat supportive forum? I know ODwire is out there, with some docs trying to beat the notion of going into optometry out of our heads. I know that some O.D.'s out there would encourage dentistry or pharmacy rather than let a pre-opt shadow. I suppose they have their reasons (many would say financial-self preservation).
Like it or not, we'll be out there. If we play our cards right, we'll practice in areas that can accommodate us. Not all of us will end up as corporate shills.
I am not trying to start a flame war, but I felt I had to speak up because I can't stand all the negativity going on on either board. We aren't out to dilute the earning potential. We aren't out to step on your toes. Give us a little more credit than that.
And before any O.D.'s accuse me of being a naive kid with pie-in-the-sky dreams of grandeur, let me give a little background on myself: I'm a non-trad older student. I have a B.S. in business admin. I have worked in the field for 23 years (longer than some practicing O.D.'s that post here) in many settings and in many capacities. I have been a business owner, an optician, a tech, and a DM. I'm not tooting my own horn, but I've been around the block (a few times more than I care to admit
) and knowing what I know about the profession from the business end, I still decided to enter the profession because I know that there is more than enough room out there for us. Believe me, they'll cart me out feet first before I wear one of Wally's vests
We are reasonably intelligent people who have done quite a bit of research on many different fields of study, and yet we still decided on optometry. No field is perfect, and hey, maybe you guys believe you have our best interest at heart. Please realize that we are adults, but we by no means know it all.
To the practicing O.D.'s:
I guess what this rant is getting at is that we still value your advice and opinions. After all, you have the experience and expertise. I've been in this business long enough to know what I don't know. I will still ask your advice on certain matters. All I'm asking is that we try to be a bit more supportive. After all, you may be taking one of us on as an associate someday. You may end up selling your practice to one of us someday. You may even be a preceptor to some of us on rotations. We all know this is a small industry.
CAN"T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG???
!
