confusion - PLEASE help

[NYCDentGrl]

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Hey all -

I have recently decided to withdraw from dental school. Was always very unhappy in the field, and now it's starting to show in my grades. My heart is just not in it. I've always been extremely interested in optometry (where I WANTED to go to school after college) yet my parents, even now, contend "It's not a job! you get no respect! you will be working in a strip mall, and won't have your own office! And you will only make a decent salary if you can get any patients! How will you eat?" For some reason, they think I'd be much better off as a college science professor, in social work, etc. I don't know. I passed by SUNY college of Optometry in NYC the other day and couldn't help but stare and wonder what it would be like... 😕

Also, I read that Optometry schools require a semester of statistics and a semester of psychology - if I have taken up to calculus 2 and a course in Neurobiology and Behavior (psych-based bio) will this suffice? Any insight would be much appreciated

Thanx,
EX-NYC DentGrl

 

[stompy]

If they want statistics, then they want statistics. However, your psyc based bio course might count as a psyc requirement. CHeck with the individual school. I don't know if it's true, but for outstanding applicants they might waive certain prereqs. SInce you had the GPA and stats to get into dental school, then they just might. You could negoiate with them.

 

[jefguth]

As long as the Neurobiology is labelled PSYCH or something to the extent that it was offered by a department or faculty of psychology then that will do.

 

[JennyW]

Hey all -

I have recently decided to withdraw from dental school. Was always very unhappy in the field, and now it's starting to show in my grades. My heart is just not in it. I've always been extremely interested in optometry (where I WANTED to go to school after college) yet my parents, even now, contend "It's not a job! you get no respect! you will be working in a strip mall, and won't have your own office! And you will only make a decent salary if you can get any patients! How will you eat?" For some reason, they think I'd be much better off as a college science professor, in social work, etc. I don't know. I passed by SUNY college of Optometry in NYC the other day and couldn't help but stare and wonder what it would be like... 😕

Also, I read that Optometry schools require a semester of statistics and a semester of psychology - if I have taken up to calculus 2 and a course in Neurobiology and Behavior (psych-based bio) will this suffice? Any insight would be much appreciated

Thanx,
EX-NYC DentGrl

With all due respect, your parents are clueless.

Yes, there are ODs who work in strip malls, but there are also many many more (including myself) who have their own office. I have no idea why your parents think you would be better off as a science teacher, or a social worker (!) but this isn't their life. It's yours. The notion of needing patients to earn a decent salary applies to dentists, and physicians as well. Do you any dentists that make lots of money by NOT seeing patients? I sure don't.

If I were you, I would probably get some career counseling and maybe take a year off. Use that year to investigate optometry and take any required coursed that you might need, and the OAT. But most importantly, spend a lot of time with a lot of different ODs and make sure you ask them the good and the bad.

You don't want to get into a situation where you think that the "grass is greener" and then end up as an optometrist and hate it.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.

Jenny

 

[rpames]

You may want to show your parents some stats so they will understand. You may want to print off this web page, http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos073.htm. It is from the US governement so it is not a bias description from ODs of any other group. I know everyone always says it is your life so do what you want, but I know I would want my parents behind me too. So show them some stats you find on the web or get from a school.

You do not have to work in a mall or a chain ever...not right after you graduate, not ever.

Good luck!