anyone else in my shoes, 40 and doing undergrad

[wanna b OD]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi guys, I have been a liscensed optician for 15 years, just got refracting status recently and found I would truly love to persue optometry. (refracting status in ontario doesn't mean much yet, we still need to have permission from prescriber, etc.) I have 8 courses left on my undergrad still to complete in order to apply to opto (still have to do all the tough ones, lol...). I am hoping to finish them over the course of the next 6 years. That would make me 46 when I apply. Do you think my age would be looked upon as a disadvantage? Any other "late starters" / "career changers" out there?

 

[smsc2009]

Hi guys, I have been a liscensed optician for 15 years, just got refracting status recently and found I would truly love to persue optometry. (refracting status in ontario doesn't mean much yet, we still need to have permission from prescriber, etc.) I have 8 courses left on my undergrad still to complete in order to apply to opto (still have to do all the tough ones, lol...). I am hoping to finish them over the course of the next 6 years. That would make me 46 when I apply. Do you think my age would be looked upon as a disadvantage? Any other "late starters" / "career changers" out there?

I am not planning on going into optometry and I am a traditional college student so I don't know how much you will value my opinion but I think you should do it if it's what you truly want. You figure you will graduate with your OD at 50. You already work in the industry so it probably will not be difficult for you to find patients or find a job. Life expectancy is only rising and in your favor, if it's what you truly want to do, go for it, good luck!

 

[lazysnake25]

Wow, I really commend you for going back to school to get an OD. I'm just a 20 year old college student, so I can't really help you with your questions, but I think it's great that you decided to go back to school. If you keep working hard and you do well in your classes and on the OAT, I'm sure you'll be fine. Best of luck to you!

 

[Frank101]

Your age won't hurt you at all. In fact, it will most likely help you gain admission into a college of optometry. Schools like the idea of a well-rounded applicant and someone who has had a lot of experience (not necessarily in the field of optometry) because it shows the applicant has a lot of life experience. In addition, someone of your age would be a model student. Generally older students put more time and effort into their studies because they are mature and very serious about their pursuits. At my undergraduate institution I studied frequently with a 39 year old student who had a career, but decided he wanted to become a dentist. He started dental school this year and he was a model applicant for the dental program he applied to. I say don't worry about your age, that is not important. If you want it, go do it regardless of how many birthdays you've had.

 

[KHE]

Hi guys, I have been a liscensed optician for 15 years, just got refracting status recently and found I would truly love to persue optometry. (refracting status in ontario doesn't mean much yet, we still need to have permission from prescriber, etc.) I have 8 courses left on my undergrad still to complete in order to apply to opto (still have to do all the tough ones, lol...). I am hoping to finish them over the course of the next 6 years. That would make me 46 when I apply. Do you think my age would be looked upon as a disadvantage? Any other "late starters" / "career changers" out there?

I would be cautious here. There's nothing about your age in theory that would preclude your ability to do this but if you're from Canada, the only school (English speaking at least) is INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE so there's no where close to any guarantee that you'll be admitted even if you have incredible grades and test scores. That leaves you trying to get admitted to a school in the USA which is less onerous but much more expensive.

If you even want to move to a different country to pursue your education, I don't know your financial situation at all but if you graduate at 50 with any significant student loan debt, it's going to take you a number of years to pay that off. Then you're pushing 60.

Also, what are your goals for your career? Your own practice? Work for someone else? How long do you anticipate working in the field once you complete your education? That all has implications for this.

 

[hurricaneuro]

Why 6 years to finish 8 classes?

 

[wanna b OD]

Why 6 years to finish 8 classes?

The answer to that excellent question is twofold, my daughter will be graduating high school and the lease on my store will be up. I will, more than likely, have to go out of the country to school,and the timing would give me that freedom.You guys have acurrately pin pointed just about every concern i have... i do love learning ,though, and for that reason alone i will probably keep at it.

 

[Commando303]

I don't know if optometry colleges will look favorably upon taking six years to complete eight courses, but they might be OK with it if they see you had to take that long because of other ("life") commitments.

 

[captainnerd]

If you want to work the rest of your life, then do it. Karl Marx worked til he died and he was happy throughout. So did so many great people of history. Darwin published his seminal work near his death. Adam Smith was still writing when he died. Senator Kennedy died just today.

I hate to be morbid, but dying doing what you love is always good.

What I am trying to say is this: it may be too late. But it largely depends on you and you alone. So who cares what a bunch of anonymous internet nerds say?

 

[opwe]

Go for it! I'm 50 and not stopping. I working on flying through the prereq's, many of which I took many years ago. And, taking the OAT in December in an attempt to get into the Fall 2010 class.

I shadow with an optometrist and ophthalmologist and they both say we're (people like you and I) are making a great decision. Both realize that I'm doing this to help people and they really respect me for that. So much that they have integrated me into their team.

This isn't about "making money" or anything like that. It's about being a primary healthcare provider and helping people; always keep that in mind. Patients will entrust their visual system healthcare decisions with you. A true professional never does anything purely for money. When I talk to the adcoms at the various schools, they know that's what it's with me. They know that older applicants may not be as young and bright-eyed (no pun) as the majority of the applicants. But they know the older students bring maturity, experience, dedication, and most importantly, leadership.

Also, they know that you are giving up a lot. It's not easy making the change, and from my discussions with them, they really respect that. I gave up a really high paying job, sold the bimmer, selling the house to move into a much smaller apartment, and going to school full time. So, my life has really been rearranged for this. But, I'm doing this to help people, and I haven't felt better in my life about any decision!

Just study hard, get those grades, and score high on the OAT. If you haven't, start shadowing NOW. There's no substitute.

 

[eyesbright]

I am 32 years old, and I was never self-concious about my age until I enrolled into undergrad pre-req classes. I was born in the 70's and my friend from Biology class is 18 y.o.and was born in the 90's - my God! So, I became "an older" student, and became concerned about my age. If I get accepted for 2010, it will make me 37 when I finally graduate and become an O.D. I am so impressed when people in their 40's and 50's go back to school and feel comfortable about it. I am from a different culture that doesn't have a cheerful motto "it's never too late", and my parents still unintentionally remind me of the time pressure. But I think "I will be 37y.o. regardless, I might as well be a new graduate from Optometry school vs. just a 37 y.o. woman". But, life time is not unlimited, and it's better to enroll sooner than later, so you can feel the benefits of your effort and hard work when you can still enjoy them.

 

[blysssful]

Just to play devil's advocate here... have you considered the financial aspect of pursuing optometry at this point in your life? If you're already aware of the prospect of having to go to a US school, I'm sure you're aware that you won't qualify for in state tuition anywhere.... anyways, I'm not trying to bring anyone down, I'm just wondering, do the benefits outweigh the costs?

 

[cloud99]

blysssful -

Off topic, but how are you settling into SUNY?

 

[blysssful]

blysssful -

Off topic, but how are you settling into SUNY?

Its great so far... I'm sure I'll be changing my tune shortly enough, but everything other than one class (Optometry Theory and Procedures) is 99% review. 👍

 

[wanna b OD]

Wow! Thank you so much for these replies! That is sooo awesome for you guys! its so nice to know i'm not completely off base to be pursuing this goal. Like it was said, I'm gonna be 40 plus x years old anyway, why not arrive there with this degree...

 

[SonofanOpt]

I don't know if optometry colleges will look favorably upon taking six years to complete eight courses, but they might be OK with it if they see you had to take that long because of other ("life") commitments.

I am pretty sure schools would understand that family comes before school/work.