Deciding between SCO and IUSO

[werewolfopt]

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Dear all,

I have been accepted to three optometry schools for fall 2014 entry: ICO, SCO, and IUSO. I've decided against ICO, but I'm having a great deal of trouble deciding between SCO and IUSO. My list of pros and cons for each:

SCO pros
-Low cost of attendance and cost of living
-Brand new facilities
-Large clinic and diverse patient base
-Students can participate in work-study
SCO cons
-Location; (Memphis isn't my kind of town); safety?
-Far from home
-Only 2 externships (one rotation must be done in Memphis)

IUSO pros
-Close to home
-Amazing location and lots of fun things to do; Bloomington is my kind of town
-Research-oriented (?)
-Integrative approach to optometry (not sure if this is a pro or a con)
-University-based school
-3 externships
-I'm not sure how true this is, but I've heard from two sources that IUSO students have been noted by preceptors as being the best prepared for rotations

IUSO cons
-Higher cost of attendance and cost of living
-Older facilities
-Small clinic and relatively healthy patient base (although I've heard you get most of your clinical experience during your rotations anyway)

My mind says SCO (I'll save money, get great clinical experience, have a chance to work on brand new equipment, and be able to work at least a few hours a week while going to school), but my heart says IUSO (I want to spend my 20s in a place where I'll have a great overall experience - something I missed out on during college). That being said, I'm not looking for some kind of college experience - I know I'm going to school to get a good optometric education and not to have a good time, but perhaps living in a place I love will help offset some of the misery that comes with spending all of my time studying.

Any help from current SCO/IUSO students or grads would be much appreciated.

 

[20DOC20]

I went to school in the West - so have no experience with either.

But given your choices, sounds like SCO would be a better choice. Doesn't Memphis have the Grand Ol' Opry? How cool is that? Plus ... along with that are a lot of other musical things to do.

I have no idea how safe it is though.

Focus on your educational experience rather than your extracurricular because your TIME will be focused on the former. You can always do CE/vacation in Bloomington later on in your life. Sounds like SCO has superior facilities.

If a place has shabby facilities it says that college is not a priority to the University and there must be a reason for it. Not a good sign.

 

[Optometry Master]

I went to school in the West - so have no experience with either.

But given your choices, sounds like SCO would be a better choice. Doesn't Memphis have the Grand Ol' Opry? How cool is that? Plus ... along with that are a lot of other musical things to do.

I have no idea how safe it is though.

Focus on your educational experience rather than your extracurricular because your TIME will be focused on the former. You can always do CE/vacation in Bloomington later on in your life. Sounds like SCO has superior facilities.

If a place has shabby facilities it says that college is not a priority to the University and there must be a reason for it. Not a good sign.

Take my word for it--Go to the least expensive school (unless you/your parents/grandparents are multimillionares). In 5 years, (as you begin paying back your +$130,000 loans), you will thank me profusely. I went to school in Memphis and it's a great city. Never experienced or heard any other student experience a crime problem.

 

[Groucho Marx]

From what I hear, SCO is a really good school. If I could do things over again, I think I would pick it.

 

[epalacios]

I'm currently a second year student at SCO, and I love it here. In fact, SCO is the only school I applied to!
Fantastic facilities, top-notch clinic (The Eye Center is really the main attraction, as it is largest primary eye care clinic in the mid-south!)
Of course, I am biased, as I have not been to any other optometry school....
As far as living in Memphis, you really do have to be careful where you choose to live. The school will give you recommendations, and there is a housing fair every year for the incoming students. I chose to live in Bartlett, which is a nice town southeast of Memphis. I have easy access to the highway, and it takes me about 20 min to get to campus each morning. Most of my classmates live on Mud Island, which is about ten minutes from campus.
The school has 24 hour security around campus, including in the parking lot. So, all in all, I've never felt unsafe. Go with SCO, you'll be glad you be glad you did. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.