Anyone else hate pre reqs? Encouragement Please!

[mthomas2]

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Okay, so I'm going crazy with these pre reqs that I'm taking (Chem 2w/lab & Physics 2 w/labs) and I can't help but feel very stupid at times. Some of this material seems like a completely different language. Is this an indication that I'm probably not cut out for this field? Anyone else feel this way and how did you overcome it? Also, is it going to be different in optometry school, not easier but you think I'll undertand it better? (FYI, So far I've taken , statistics Calculus, Bio 1 & 2 w/ labs, Chem 1 w/ lab, Physics 1 w/ lab and have gotton all A's & 2 B's., but it was very hard and took a lot of studying hours). Thanks in advance for advice & help !

 

[S_SEEN2020]

I understand you completely. I recently graduated, and I failed o chem. It was hard, especially under the circumstances I failed under. But you perservere, and it gets easier. I was in the TEXOCOP program at UH and i had the opportunity to take first year opt classes, and too my surprise I understood optics, and did better in A&P, because I was exposed to those classes in undergrad. The courses are hard, but you will be surprised bout how much you have actually learned and retained. Repetition is the key, and it only gets easier.

 

[ariel winter]

it sounds like you are doing fine. your grades sound solid. trust me, it gets better. it sounds like you've completed most of the prereqs for optom school, so you can take some courses without labs presumably. i completely understand your feelings, as i am still in my 3rd year of undergrad and i agree that it is pretty hard at times. i try to study every night to keep up to date with material, so i suggest you do that. good luck! 👍

Okay, so I'm going crazy with these pre reqs that I'm taking (Chem 2w/lab & Physics 2 w/labs) and I can't help but feel very stupid at times. Some of this material seems like a completely different language. Is this an indication that I'm probably not cut out for this field? Anyone else feel this way and how did you overcome it? Also, is it going to be different in optometry school, not easier but you think I'll undertand it better? (FYI, So far I've taken , statistics Calculus, Bio 1 & 2 w/ labs, Chem 1 w/ lab, Physics 1 w/ lab and have gotton all A's & 2 B's., but it was very hard and took a lot of studying hours). Thanks in advance for advice & help !

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

Okay, so I'm going crazy with these pre reqs that I'm taking (Chem 2w/lab & Physics 2 w/labs) and I can't help but feel very stupid at times. Some of this material seems like a completely different language. Is this an indication that I'm probably not cut out for this field? Anyone else feel this way and how did you overcome it? Also, is it going to be different in optometry school, not easier but you think I'll undertand it better? (FYI, So far I've taken , statistics Calculus, Bio 1 & 2 w/ labs, Chem 1 w/ lab, Physics 1 w/ lab and have gotton all A's & 2 B's., but it was very hard and took a lot of studying hours). Thanks in advance for advice & help !

Maybe its just me, but I think a lot of curriculum's are watered down with just academia required courses. In undergrad, took Chem1,2, Physics 1,2, Orgo Chem 1,2. I'm about to graduate OD school, and I can't really say that those courses really helped all that much at all. Really the only physics that helped was the optics stuff, but I never sit down to use optics when i figure out a refraction or write an Rx.

Even in OD school for the first three years I think you could probably cut out half the amount of courses that are just there for academia reasons. I think more should be spent in clinicals, but that's just my 2 cents.

 

[S_SEEN2020]

What school do you go to?

Maybe its just me, but I think a lot of curriculum's are watered down with just academia required courses. In undergrad, took Chem1,2, Physics 1,2, Orgo Chem 1,2. I'm about to graduate OD school, and I can't really say that those courses really helped all that much at all. Really the only physics that helped was the optics stuff, but I never sit down to use optics when i figure out a refraction or write an Rx.

Even in OD school for the first three years I think you could probably cut out half the amount of courses that are just there for academia reasons. I think more should be spent in clinicals, but that's just my 2 cents.

 

[mthomas2]

Maybe its just me, but I think a lot of curriculum's are watered down with just academia required courses. In undergrad, took Chem1,2, Physics 1,2, Orgo Chem 1,2. I'm about to graduate OD school, and I can't really say that those courses really helped all that much at all. Really the only physics that helped was the optics stuff, but I never sit down to use optics when i figure out a refraction or write an Rx.

Even in OD school for the first three years I think you could probably cut out half the amount of courses that are just there for academia reasons. I think more should be spent in clinicals, but that's just my 2 cents.

I've often wonder if this material will ever be used once in OD school.

 

[ML1983]

I felt the same way. I was in the Pre-opt program at waterloo, and my first year consisted of HALF the pre-reqs that were required for opt. Every course I took in first year (10 courses) were pre-reqs required for opt.

 

[4Eyes]

I've often wonder if this material will ever be used once in OD school.

In my experience, the biology stuff helps the most. Especially anatomy, histology, and anything involving neuro (I had a psych class that helped in this department). The more experience you have with it and the more you can remember, the easier your first year will be. That being said, if you don't remember everything (that would be me), it's not like you're screwed. It just might take a little extra time studing.

Biochem helps. Other chemistry didn't seem to help as much. My undergrad physics instructor was obsessed with astronomy, so we didn't quite get to optics, so I can't say how useful physics will be. I imagine some optics background would be helpful too.

After your first year, though, almost everyone is back at square one. It's stuff most people have never had before. The only thing that might help you at this point is some work experience to ease you into clinic, but that's not essential.

mthomas2--
I know it's all daunting at times, but it doesn't mean you're too stupid. If optometry is what you want to pursue, you can do it. 🙂 Like S_SEEN2020 said, repetition is key, and I'm already finding that the really important stuff you get over and over until it starts to stick. It makes a little more sense every time you study it. In undergrad, I had to remind myself that school is still school...even if you love biology (for example)...studying for a test isn't what you love about it. Even if you really enjoy chemistry, doing a 10-page ochem lab write-up isn't anyone's idea of a good time. But you have to wade through all that stuff to appreciate the bits that are useful that you'll keep with you.

Just my opinion. Good luck! 🙂

 

[stevec]

Personally, I think optometry school at SCO has been roughly like undergrad. As an undergrad I had both harder and easier semesters. I was in engineering for 2 years (one of which was chemical engineering), and then switched to biology. It's hard for me to believe that I'll ever experience anything as hard as chemical engineering. Sure, I made a C last quarter in biochem at SCO, but I've made C's before. I get to bed at a decent hour every night without busting my butt, and I haven't been too stressed out really.