Curriculum - PCO vs. others?

[sb740]

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I'm looking at PCO and I was wondering if/how their curriculum differs from other schools. I've heard bits and pieces about their curriculum being more clinically-based than other schools. Are there any PCO students or applicants out there that can help clarify anything about this? Also, what are the externships like after first year, timing and content-wise? I know there's several options, both near Philly and at other places, and I'd like to hear others' experiences. Thanks so much for your time! 🙂

 

[gochi]

Well, what I would do is compare course/credits etc. of each schools, and also use the search function. Most likely, there will be a negligible difference between schools.

 

[sb740]

Thanks so much for your reply!

 

[SarahNC]

The main difference at PCO is the extra half year of rotations. We do 2.5 years of classes as well as rotations at the eye institute and then for the last year and a half, it is purely externships.

 

[Meibomian SxN]

I'm looking at PCO and I was wondering if/how their curriculum differs from other schools. I've heard bits and pieces about their curriculum being more clinically-based than other schools. Are there any PCO students or applicants out there that can help clarify anything about this? Also, what are the externships like after first year, timing and content-wise? I know there's several options, both near Philly and at other places, and I'd like to hear others' experiences. Thanks so much for your time! 🙂

PCO is definitely clinically based. They have the inner city patients to support the clinic learning experience and the necessary clinic hours support it. Other schools can be more research based, or vision therapy based or simply >90% pass boards based.

Externships are what you make of them. You can choose very challenging/clinically rewarding sites or laid back sites where you never do a DFE and barely refract. Just depends how you want to spend your last years in school.