Application frustrations

[Eyegirl2007]

This is a note to everyone so they don't make the same mistake I did:

On www.opted.org, the list of prerequisites is inaccurate for NEWENCO. NEWENCO does not require physiology, and requires only one semester of calculus, not two. I called the school today since their website's prereqs differed from www.opted.org.

Now I'm busily filling out an application to NEWENCO since they don't require physiology.

So I guess I revise my list to ICO, SUNY, IU, and NEWENCO. I might drop SUNY soon. I'm not sure how I feel about living in New York City.

 

[r_salis]

Ugh, that sucks... I think Nova's requirements are listed incorrectly on that site, too. Must have been awhile since they updated it, they need to put a disclaimer or something there so people don't become misled.

BTW-you know you can apply to schools w/out having all the pre-requisites completed, right? (I still have to take psychology next semester, then I'm DONE!!!! )

 

[Eyegirl2007]

Yes thank you, I know about the prerequisites. I have microbiology and (ugggh) calculus left. Microbiology starts for me on September 3rd. Calculus will probably be during the winter.

 

[Eyegirl2007]

Ahhh...I submitted my final applications today. Life is good.
Peace at last. Now the waiting game

 

[r_salis]

Yaaaaaay Eyegirl!

I got a "we received your application" letter from PCO today. Yay! Along with a list of additional items they need (official transcript, OAT scores, committee recommendation letter...) Boo...

 

[Eyegirl2007]

Wow, it must really feel like you've got the ball rolling now. It is great to have everything ready early isn't it?!

Is PCO your first choice? My first choice is ICO...please please please let me get in. I submitted my application there the second their online one became available on August 1st. Haven't heard anything yet but i'm sure it's coming. Are they the only ones to have a secondary? I think so as far as I know.

Here's to being an O.D in 2007!!!!!

 

[christie]

Out of all the schools that I applied to, ICO was the only one that required a secondary application.

ICO will notify you by email if you are invited for an interview, that was the only school that I know of that did it that way. (Of course, they'll also send an interview letter in the mail too).

Eyegirl,

 

[christie]

Eyegirl,

Did you ever receive ICO's video showing the school? Its short but very nice.

 

[Eyegirl2007]

Christie,
I have seen ICO's video...several times...I'm kind of obsessed with ICO (But in a good way). I want to be a student there!!

I was quite surprised to find out that the pretty staircase is in the library. For some reason I thought it'd be in the lobby. I had a mental picture of what the school looked like and I was kinda wrong! I like the school's buildings but I'm not quite sure about the neighborhood yet..

Does ICO notify you by email about your secondary? I know they are behind right now with processing all the apps they've received...i'm just not very good with the waiting game--and it's only the middle of august!

**Eyegirl pulls out a sleeping bag, walks outside to the apartment mailbox, and lies down. She will remain here until her acceptance letter (s!) arrives, studying for the OAt, emerging only to shower and travel to interviews and to go to eye appointments, and of course check her email via wireless internet ****

I want to be able to put an ICO window cling on my car! My rear car window holds my academic history from high school on.

 

[Centrum]

I really hope you get in Eye Girl. It sounds like you really deserve and want it. Best of luck!

 

[Eyegirl2007]

Aww thanks Centrum....you're sweet

As long as I can remember, I have had two overarching dreams.

(1)To have great love in my life---I married him last year and I still can't believe my luck

(2)To be an optometrist.

One down, one to go.

 

[christie]

I agree with Centrum - I hope you get into your 1st choice school!

I'm not too sure if ICO notifies you by email about your secondary. I honestly can't even remember if they notify you by email if you have an interview before or after they receive your secondary.

But I do remember that ICO was the first school that I heard from about inviting me for an interview (so it was pretty early on). I was so set on going to Chicago for the interview, but I waited and postponed the interview as along as I could (Post-Sept 11th jitters). Then I heard from other schools.

ICO is a great school, and the facilities seem very nice, but I don't think its in a great neighborhood. You'll see the area for yourself when you go on your interview. But that shouldn't deter you from attending ICO. PCO's clinic is actually in a rough part of Philly, but that didn't stop me from attending the school.

Actually, now I remember geting the interview invite to ICO before I sent all my secondary materials in, however, I believe that they want the secondary part of the application (application, LOR's, essay) in their admissions office before your actual interview day.


Even though its only August, the next few months will fly by for you, b/c your studying for the OAT. When I consantly studied every day for the OAT, I found that the days went by fast. Then after the OAT, you become focused on getting interviews, getting scores back, etc..So you basically become preoccupied & busy, and thats why It'll go by fast

 

[r_salis]

I went to school today to arrange to have my professional committee recommendation packet/letters mailed. $200, *ouch*! Now all I have to do is ace the OAT. No pressure!!!

Eyegirl, I'm like you are about ICO, but for PCO. I really really really hope they accept me. I've already stalked the campus (...I mean, taken a tour ), though I haven't had the pleasure to visit the allegedly frightening location of the clinic. A PCO grad who was there when the main college was still downtown about 10 years ago told me that one of their security guards had gotten stabbed. Yikes. It sounded like an isolated incident, though.

 

[Eyegirl2007]

Good job r_salis with the LORs. (hehehe stalking..i mean taking a tour).

I've sent everything that needs to go to the schools in. I'm now in the ever unpopular holding pattern. Yay waiting game.


Fortunately, the OAT studying is easing the boredom. So far I'm not too amused by the Lippincott etc...guide.

I read in an online diary that someone was stabbed outside of the RC at ICO last year and no one helped him until the ambulance came. YIKES!!!! Let's hope that's isolated too.

 

[christie]

I'm glad PCO is no longer where the clinic is now, but the clinic is not in a very bad location. When I mean rough, I mean trash on the streets, heard about some car break-ins, that kind of thing. I wouldn't really go into the area at night, so lets just hope we get clinic hours while it is still light outside However, the actual campus of PCO is in a beatuful location, with a beautiful water-front & a nice gazebo.

On a different note, I found the Lippincott book - Preparation for the OAT had more easier questions than the actual OAT. But I found the TopScore for the OAT from Scholarware had more difficult questions, mabye that had to do with the fact that they don't give an explanation of the answers, or even the answers themselves. I have the CD if anyone wants it.

 

[Eyegirl2007]

OMG!!! I got an email requesting a secondary and an interview for ICO! I am in absolute heaven!!!!

 

[christie]

Congrats!!

I told you that they contact people very early on. Good Luck at your interview!

 

[r_salis]

Congratulations!!!!!!!

Let us know when you find out when your interview is going to be!

 

[cpw]

congrats!!! kep us posted on how it all goes!!!

 

[Eyegirl2007]

Ehh I have temporary writer's block for the essay on the secondary. How does one fit everything they want to say about their future career into one page? Hopefully it'll clear up. Maybe I'll go for a run. I hope everyone's having a good Saturday.

 

[Eyegirl2007]

Ahhh...I've submitted the online secondary application. Now all that's left is my pre-optometry worksheet and application agreement statement which has to be mailed in on Monday. I am so glad that essay is done

 

[cpw]

Fun Saturday... no even close. Six hour CPR class...... I am now a "professional rescuer" with AED training. The training was cool I just hated giving up six hours of my Saturday (even though it was for a good cause)

Good luck on those essays.. I know how much fun they were for me two years ago!!

 

[r_salis]

What's AED training?

Generally I don't mind writing, but writing an essay about *myself* for these applications was really tough. I went through several giddy drafts starting with, "I wanna be an optometrist so I can touch other people's eyeballs hahahahahahahaha", and "Please please please please PLEASE accept me!!!!" before finally settling on a topic that didn't sound creepy or desperate.

 

[cpw]

AED is the automated electronic defibrillator.. they're popping up all over the place at major employers, airports etc. Basically just like the shock paddles at the ER, but smaller, portable and easier to use. Even though I never wanted to go to med school we still got a kick out of sitting in CPR class practicing yelling "Clear!!" (you know you've always wanted to do that right??) Well, now I can.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by Eyegirl2007


**Eyegirl pulls out a sleeping bag, walks outside to the apartment mailbox, and lies down. She will remain here until her acceptance letter (s!) arrives, studying for the OAt, emerging only to shower and travel to interviews and to go to eye appointments, and of course check her email via wireless internet ****

Heh. Sounds very much like my life, lately. I'm thinking of installing a moving walkway between my door and my mailbox -- that way I don't have to utilize so much energy as I go back and forth between the two 50 times a day.