Beginning at ICO this Fall - what do I need to know

[ServeEyes]

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I'll be starting at ICO this fall and wanted to ask some questions to those of you who are there now....

1. Is Verizon service good there? My contract ends soon so I could switch. If any of you have Verizon, do you get good reception in the RC, the school, around Chicago? If not, what carrier does?

2. What do you recommend I do this summer. I will be off from school from May to August.. is there anything that you recomend I do? Review any specific topics/subjects? Get acquainted with terms? Practice with a slit lamp?

3. Car or no car? If no car, what transportation do you use to get around?

4. How is the food in the cafeteria?

5. Are you a part of any of the community service programs? What do you do?

6. Is there anything you wish you would have known before starting?


Responses and comments about any of these questions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

 

[MariaMaria]

These are all really good question and I would love the answers as well! Anyone out there?

 

[Eye-Spy]

Hi ServeEyes,

I'm a first year student at ICO, I'll try to answer some of your questions the best I can.

- Personally, the one main thing that I would recommend you do this summer is RELAX. Do some traveling, spend time with your friends and family. Once school starts in August things are going to pick up very quickly, and you want to be well rested and ready to go. In my opinion there's no point in trying to practice any techniques (ie. slit lamp) before school starts because at ICO you'll learn very specific ways to do everything.

- I don't have a car and I get around just fine. There's a bus that runs right past the school that goes downtown, and the 'el' train is just a few blocks away. Chicago has good public transit, so it's easy and convenient to just take that.

- The food in the cafeteria is typical cafeteria food. Nothing fancy, but you'll find things there that you like. There's a full salad bar at lunch and dinner, toasted sandwiches every day at at lunch, a grill where you can order burgers, fries, etc., as well as the standard hot line that changes every day. The cookies are amazing. 🙂 Also they are very open to suggestions.

- As far as community services go, there is a very active SVOSH (student optometric services to humanity) chapter on campus that participates in vision screenings across Chicago as well as major mission trips around the world. Also, the student association has a community services liaison who sets up opportunities to help out with things like special olympics, etc. ICO also sends students to tutor at a local public elementary school.

- Not sure what I wish I'd have known before starting... will have to think about that one.

Hope that helped!! 🙂

 

[rpames]

Don't even think about reading anything. You will learn all you need to at school. The exam techniques will be taught to you, so playing with the slit lamp will not be worth your time. If you work for an OD/OMD, perhaps try and do more pt work-ups so you are more comfortable with the entrance tests. That is what you will learn the first semester or two, so that might give you a head start. But, your knowledge base is going to grow experientially at ICO. All the time you spend trying to get a head start will be surpassed very quickly. I worked in an OD office since I was 16. I worked in the optical and worked up all the patients too. I thought I was going to have a HUGE advantage in my clinical training. Well, we surpassed all my functional knowledge the first 2 semesters. I may have heard of some stuff after that, but I did not understand them enough to really matter.

So, if you have the chance to travel around the country, read a few good books, watch a bunch of movies, spend time with your family and friends, or just sit on your butt, DO IT!!!

 

[ServeEyes]

Thanks for you replies!

I have worked for an optometrist for the past three years.. as a tech. So I've started many many patients. The Dr suggested that I practice with a slit lamp.. I've used it a few times...but I guess I won't worry about it too much. I like seeing some of the more unusual things that come through.

I will take your advice and take advantage of my summer off... I haven't had a summer off since right after high school. I'm used to always having a million things to do so I'm sure I'll enjoy finally having time to do what I want for a few months.

Thanks again!

 

[momentofzen]

Are the apartments in the RC available to first year students??
Are they nice? Does anyone have any pictures of them?

 

[jefguth]

Are the apartments in the RC available to first year students??
Are they nice? Does anyone have any pictures of them?

No, generally they're not available to first year students but I believe you can try. However, they are quite expensive for what you get.

 

[broncos24]

what are the chances of a first year getting a single in one of those suites?

 

[jefguth]

what are the chances of a first year getting a single in one of those suites?

It's possible but upper years have priority. Sorry can't really give you a percentage.

 

[broncos24]

It's possible but upper years have priority. Sorry can't really give you a percentage.

roughly how many do you think a first year can get a single?

like a handful? or more than 10?

i'm really curious because if i have a REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY low chance of getting a single, I would try to go to chicago in the summer for a week to look around for an apartment. we'll see.... *sigh*

(don't most graduate school have single rooms for all the students whether in a suite or apt?! lol.. oh well.. i still love ICO)

 

[jefguth]

roughly how many do you think a first year can get a single?

like a handful? or more than 10?

i'm really curious because if i have a REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY low chance of getting a single, I would try to go to chicago in the summer for a week to look around for an apartment. we'll see.... *sigh*

(don't most graduate school have single rooms for all the students whether in a suite or apt?! lol.. oh well.. i still love ICO)

I really don't remember, but by the power of deduction it's less than a 33% chance (only one of three beds is a single room and upper years have priority). I forget what the housing deposit is, but if you sign up you should find out what your room assignments are a month or two beforehand. But if you're really that set on having your own room are u sure you want to share a bathroom with two others? Even some of the girls keep totally nasty restrooms😱