Dropping out

[confusedOD]

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I began my first year at optometry school and I feel like this is not the right career for me. I know it sounds stupid to be saying this after I have interned, applied, and have gotten in but it's different when you're actually in the shoes of an optometrist and realize what you're going to do for your career. I've been unhappy since I've started school because I feel like I just took this path for the salary. (that sounds really bad but I'm sure a lot of ppl joined this field because of it) I was hoping to get some input from anyone thinking of dropping out or ppl that have already dropped out. I know it's a great stable career and I do love helping people but being in the office and doing eye exams and all the paperwork ..plus insurance hassles don't seem like the type of lifestyle i want to lead. It was all of my effort and decision to become an optometrist so I have support from everyone around me to do what I want, especially if I am unhappy but I don't want to make irrational decisions. Could this just be a phase? The course work isn't hard, it's more about the profession itself. I always thought that I would just become an optometrist and do what I enjoy on the side but after being unhappy for this past month with my choice, I thought, why not just do what I enjoy (even if it doesn't result in a great income?) I dont want to go through all the schooling and debt and not practice optometry but then again I'm not sure if it's rational to just leave this great opportunity to just do random things I enjoy. Any input is welcome. Thanks. (ps i love the school, the profs, and the students--it's not that, it's just the profession itself.)

 

[Shnurek]

You can always take a year off by deferring. Talk to your school's faculty. Work as an ophthalmic technician for an ophthalmologist for little bit. Get the feel of what it is to basically be in the shoes of an optometrist before you graduate. I'm so glad I did that and now I honestly cannot see myself doing anything but this. Just do your own thing. Don't worry about the profession too much but yea if you are only doing it for the money then this field is definitely not for you. Also the money might actually go down in the future.

 

[Eyes Only]

I began my first year at optometry school and I feel like this is not the right career for me. I know it sounds stupid to be saying this after I have interned, applied, and have gotten in but it's different when you're actually in the shoes of an optometrist and realize what you're going to do for your career. I've been unhappy since I've started school because I feel like I just took this path for the salary. (that sounds really bad but I'm sure a lot of ppl joined this field because of it) I was hoping to get some input from anyone thinking of dropping out or ppl that have already dropped out. I know it's a great stable career and I do love helping people but being in the office and doing eye exams and all the paperwork ..plus insurance hassles don't seem like the type of lifestyle i want to lead. It was all of my effort and decision to become an optometrist so I have support from everyone around me to do what I want, especially if I am unhappy but I don't want to make irrational decisions. Could this just be a phase? The course work isn't hard, it's more about the profession itself. I always thought that I would just become an optometrist and do what I enjoy on the side but after being unhappy for this past month with my choice, I thought, why not just do what I enjoy (even if it doesn't result in a great income?) I dont want to go through all the schooling and debt and not practice optometry but then again I'm not sure if it's rational to just leave this great opportunity to just do random things I enjoy. Any input is welcome. Thanks. (ps i love the school, the profs, and the students--it's not that, it's just the profession itself.)

I'd give it more time before you make a decision. I don't think what you are going through is all that uncommon.

Is there something specific about the profession you don't like? There are many ways to practice this profession.

 

[IandI]

You sound like a really confusedOD and its probably not that unusual first year.

I assume you mean you just began your 1st year, not at your second.
If you are at the second better think quick.

Losing 1 year tuition on something you thought you wanted to do is a significant loss,
but not nearly as devastating as 4 years would be.

You don't want to make any rash decisions,
but the further past 1 year you go the more impractical it will become to leave.

Its a decision you can seek some input, but ultimately must make for yourself.
I am skeptical about unbiased school faculty help, other than just finding out what your options are.

Some people will criticise and say you should've thought about this more, before...
but I admire that your at least thinking now and not acting like a robot.

JUST DON'T let external pressures guide you,
like what will my parents think or my family and friends think,
its your life,
good luck.

 

[confusedOD]

Thanks for all the input guys. It's a hard decision and I'm definitely trying to be as rational as possible but it's hard to decide. If I do optometry then I can do more of what i want to do later in life because I will have the income to invest and use for my amusement. Then again, I'm miserable here so I'm not sure if I can even survive just 4 years. It's only been a month and if I'm this unhappy already, who says it'll get better? I've been trying to persuade myself that I will learn to love this profession and in the end, it's worth it but it hasn't been working and what's worse, all of this contemplation is removing all the motivation in me to even study. Sucks but I'm lucky to have a family that supports whatever choice I make.

 

[KHE]

Thanks for all the input guys. It's a hard decision and I'm definitely trying to be as rational as possible but it's hard to decide. If I do optometry then I can do more of what i want to do later in life because I will have the income to invest and use for my amusement. Then again, I'm miserable here so I'm not sure if I can even survive just 4 years. It's only been a month and if I'm this unhappy already, who says it'll get better? I've been trying to persuade myself that I will learn to love this profession and in the end, it's worth it but it hasn't been working and what's worse, all of this contemplation is removing all the motivation in me to even study. Sucks but I'm lucky to have a family that supports whatever choice I make.

If you drop out, what career would you pursue?

Is this a problem with the profession or your school? Maybe you should consider switching schools?

 

[Jonbrout]

If you drop out, what career would you pursue?

Is this a problem with the profession or your school? Maybe you should consider switching schools?

This is what I would like to know as well.

 

[confusedOD]

No, the school's great. The people and the profs are all good. The school work is a lot but it's doable. It's the profession itself. Well..I guess school work ties into it because it reminds me of what an optometrist does. The science classes are fine but going to clinic, doing eye tests, and measuring diopters, don't make me happy. Basically all the optometry stuff. That's how I know I don't want to do it. I don't have a passion for it at all and I'm just trying to get by so that I can make a good income in 4 years. I know you shouldn't do things for money but if I were to become a cake decorator for $10/hr, I couldn't really support my kids if I had any in the future. I don't know. Money is an issue. I wish I could just change my mindset and emotions so that I could just enjoy this profession and be happy but it's not really working out...Should I give it time? We'll see.

 

[KHE]

No, the school's great. The people and the profs are all good. The school work is a lot but it's doable. It's the profession itself. Well..I guess school work ties into it because it reminds me of what an optometrist does. The science classes are fine but going to clinic, doing eye tests, and measuring diopters, don't make me happy. Basically all the optometry stuff. That's how I know I don't want to do it. I don't have a passion for it at all and I'm just trying to get by so that I can make a good income in 4 years. I know you shouldn't do things for money but if I were to become a cake decorator for $10/hr, I couldn't really support my kids if I had any in the future. I don't know. Money is an issue. I wish I could just change my mindset and emotions so that I could just enjoy this profession and be happy but it's not really working out...Should I give it time? We'll see.

Jesus H. Christ.

What did you think an optometrist DID all day? Have you never had an eye exam? Did you not do any shadowing before you got into this business? 😕

I don't think you did nearly enough research or gave this nearly enough thought. You just jumped in because being an optometrist sounded cool and the pay is decent.

Bad idea.

You need to visit a career counselor. Do it quickly so you can find out what career suits you and then pursue that. Don't drop out of optometry yet. At least finish your first semester but make sure you get that whole picking a career thing sorted out.

 

[netmag]

I agree with others that you should think about it carefully and understand that you probably wouldn't get a 2nd chance at another school if you just walk away. The other 19 schools may not be inclined to give you a spot if you just decide to take a walk from a perfectly OK school so you'd better be sure.

However, I think that you should decide soon before you invest too much more money in to it. Also, since you say you don't like most of the basic core of what an OD does then perhaps you just made a wrong decision. Give it some thought and if you really feel that way then decide on another career path, devise a plan to move to that path, and then get out right after that. Just make sure you at least do some basic research on what kind of day to day work that other career does before you commit to it.

 

[confusedOD]

Jesus H. Christ.

What did you think an optometrist DID all day? Have you never had an eye exam? Did you not do any shadowing before you got into this business? 😕

I don't think you did nearly enough research or gave this nearly enough thought. You just jumped in because being an optometrist sounded cool and the pay is decent.

Bad idea.

You need to visit a career counselor. Do it quickly so you can find out what career suits you and then pursue that. Don't drop out of optometry yet. At least finish your first semester but make sure you get that whole picking a career thing sorted out.

i knew what the job of an optometrist entailed and I've interned for many months in an office but actually being in that position is different. Watching is different than performing. And when you're in undergrad and you're thinking about your career, it's all thoughts but when you actually go to grad school, it becomes a reality and it's totally different. Anyways, I think the smartest decision for me is to just stay. I'm still very young so maybe I'll just work part time and do other things I enjoy at the same time after I graduate. I might even come to love the job. hopefully 🙂 Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Shnurek]

The thing I believe most people don't realize is that work is work. You wouldn't be paid if it was easy/enjoyable to do by everyone. Just realize that you are giving sight to thousands of people every year. It may be as simple as a spherical rx for glasses or a complicated keratoconic RGP lens fit.

Sure, I'd personally love to be a marine biologist going on expeditions to the deep unexplored zones of the ocean but c'mon that's in the same league as being an astronaut (I'd love to do that too). We have to be realistic. Be a professional and if you have to then learn to enjoy it. Other realistic options include: working in a cubicle, pulling teeth/filling cavities, writing research grant proposals. I'd rather deal with some diopter calculations and give the gift of sight 🙂

 

[Meibomian SxN]

You need to visit a career counselor. Do it quickly so you can find out what career suits you and then pursue that. Don't drop out of optometry yet. At least finish your first semester but make sure you get that whole picking a career thing sorted out.

Bad advice.

You should leave the school NOW, that way you can still be eligible for a partial refund. Finishing the semester will only sink you more into debt.

And do not call it "dropping out." It is a GOOD thing you figured it out now rather than at 4th year. There was a guy who left the day before our first optics exam. He used to own an AT&T kiosk and figured that the profession is just not for him.

The money is just not there for optometrists as you may think. And it seems you would go in every day 'hating to measure diopters'.

Find out what you like to do, your interests. No job is secure these days and for the amount of time you would have to invest in an OD degree, it just does not sound like a good fit.

Get your partial refund and chalk it off. Good luck in that pursuit of happiness!

 

[4Eyes]

I tend to agree with Meibomian. I had similar feelings my first semester of optometry school. I was very unhappy, but in my case there were some external things contributing. Ultimately I stuck it out. At the time it was because I felt like I had already taken on too much debt and there was no way I would be able to support myself in my new apartment. (Which did present a challenge, but if I really thought it through, there were some big flaws in that logic.) But second semester was a lot better, and I ended up really enjoying what I was doing.

I still enjoy when I'm doing >90% of the time, but I admit there are some times that I'm dissatisfied. But now I really AM bound by my student debt. I'll never be able to afford to do anything else. If you think you really want to do something else, decide before you're REALLY in too deep. Because then you'll just have more and more debt that will make you feel trapped and unhappy.

 

[KHE]

There's nothing wrong with dropping out but if you're going to go that way, I think you have to be absolutely 100% sure that optometry ain't for you. Having "doubts" is perfectly normal 3 weeks into your first year.

 

[Eyes Only]

What happened that is causing you to have doubts?

Most programs don't actually allow you to do much real optometry the first term. WHAT have you done that you don't like?

If you drop out and change your mind, you might have trouble getting back in.

 

[confusedOD]

Thanks for the replies guys. It's really helpful to see everyone's insight. For now, I feel that I can come to enjoy this profession knowing that I am helping so many people with their vision. Even though there are probably other things I would enjoy doing more, I feel like they are more like hobbies and if I think realistically, I can't really do those things professionally. I'm still young so I'll have (hopefully) paid off my debt by the time I'm 34 and if I don't enjoy optometry by then (I'm sure I will), I'll do it part time and open up a cake shop! 😀 I just need to get back into study mode now since I've made my choice. 😴 Again, thanks for everyone's input! 👍

 

[confusedOD]

What happened that is causing you to have doubts?

Most programs don't actually allow you to do much real optometry the first term. WHAT have you done that you don't like?

If you drop out and change your mind, you might have trouble getting back in.

My school emphasizes the clinical aspects of optometry, so we start clinic early on but as you can see, I'm staying 🙂👍

 

[Eyes Only]

My school emphasizes the clinical aspects of optometry, so we start clinic early on but as you can see, I'm staying 🙂👍

Great, happy to hear that.

 

[Zetch]

Well you're crazy if you drop out. You already got loans. Unless you come from rich family, follow it through. C'mon that's why its called a job. If you want to like what you do, stay home, travel, do things that pleasure you and don't work

 

[Meibomian SxN]

....but going to clinic, doing eye tests, and measuring diopters, don't make me happy. Basically all the optometry stuff. That's how I know I don't want to do it. I don't have a passion for it at all and I'm just trying to get by so that I can make a good income in 4 years. I know you shouldn't do things for money but if I were to become a cake decorator for $10/hr, I couldn't really support my kids if I had any in the future. I don't know. Money is an issue. ...

This is the reason you stated you were not happy with optometry. With the $150K minimum you are looking at in debt, I can not see how you will pay off all your school loans by 34yo, unless you stay at home, buy nothing new, postpone a family, vacation nowhere and work like a slave at a commercial practice. And your hours will most likely be 10-7pm Monday-Saturday

If you have a serious passion for cake decorating, I would spend time speaking with entrepreneurs in that profession. I'm sure they don't make $10/hr. I recently read about some stay at home moms who started a small little bakery out of their home and are doing very well now.

Maybe you should take a semester or 2 off and decide better, because once you finish the 1st year, there's no turning back from there. Good luck.

 

[confusedOD]

Well you're crazy if you drop out. You already got loans. Unless you come from rich family, follow it through. C'mon that's why its called a job. If you want to like what you do, stay home, travel, do things that pleasure you and don't work

You only pay for the amount of days you've stayed at the school if you drop out (at my school) and get refunded everything else. You can give your loans back as long as it's before 120 days. Just letting you know before you make assumptions.

 

[confusedOD]

This is the reason you stated you were not happy with optometry. With the $150K minimum you are looking at in debt, I can not see how you will pay off all your school loans by 34yo, unless you stay at home, buy nothing new, postpone a family, vacation nowhere and work like a slave at a commercial practice. And your hours will most likely be 10-7pm Monday-Saturday

If you have a serious passion for cake decorating, I would spend time speaking with entrepreneurs in that profession. I'm sure they don't make $10/hr. I recently read about some stay at home moms who started a small little bakery out of their home and are doing very well now.

Maybe you should take a semester or 2 off and decide better, because once you finish the 1st year, there's no turning back from there. Good luck.

I can pay off my student loans by 34 because I'm going to do the 10 year plan and I did the math. I will be able to work comfortably while doing my hobbies at the same time. No worries. I won't be a slave to optometry. 👍

 

[imemily]

I can pay off my student loans by 34 because I'm going to do the 10 year plan and I did the math. I will be able to work comfortably while doing my hobbies at the same time. No worries. I won't be a slave to optometry. 👍

It really amazes me when ODs exaggerate the costs associated with the OD degree.

 

[Shnurek]

It really amazes me when ODs exaggerate the costs associated with the OD degree.

Try going to a private for-profit optometry school 30k tuition + 3k instruments + books + 15k cost of living per year + lost profit by not working = ~ 100k per year. That's 400k for a total of 4 years so yea it is not exaggerated.

 

[4Eyes]

I know I'm feeding the troll, but I'm curious what you (emily) expect a typical loan payment is for a person who lives reasonably and modestly through optometry school.

 

[Eyes Only]

It really amazes me when ODs exaggerate the costs associated with the OD degree.

I'm sure the costs vary greatly depending on the situation:

State vs Private School
Local cost of living (Rural Oklahoma vs NYC)
Opportunity Cost (lost income), as was already pointed out.

I'll bet most students don't consider the lost income for four years as part of the cost of education. I am a second career OD so I gave up a steady job to do this. I met an OD once who had quit a lucrative job (supposedly making $100K) to go back to school.

I've read the average debt for private schools is approaching $200,000. Keep in mind this is an average and don't forget some of them have rich parents and thus no debt.

 

[imemily]

I'm sure the costs vary greatly depending on the situation:

State vs Private School
Local cost of living (Rural Oklahoma vs NYC)
Opportunity Cost (lost income), as was already pointed out.

I'll bet most students don't consider the lost income for four years as part of the cost of education. I am a second career OD so I gave up a steady job to do this. I met an OD once who had quit a lucrative job (supposedly making $100K) to go back to school.

I've read the average debt for private schools is approaching $200,000. Keep in mind this is an average and don't forget some of them have rich parents and thus no debt.

Even if it costs you 200k to attend Optometry school, your monthly payments would be slightly higher than $2k/month.
Also, the 200k can be reduced by a good amount if you work over the span of 4 years, part time.

See:

[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA]Loan Balance: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $200,000.00 . [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Adjusted Loan Balance: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $200,000.00 . [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Loan Interest Rate: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] 6.80%. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Loan Fees: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] 0.00%. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Loan Term: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] 10 years. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Minimum Payment: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $50.00 . [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA]
. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA]Monthly Loan Payment:.[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $2,301.61 . [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Number of Payments: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] 120. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA]
. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Cumulative Payments: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $276,192.62 . [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Total Interest Paid: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $76,192.62
.
As you can see, the loan payment is 1/4th of your salary, which is more than manageable. I am not sure why you think OD educational debt is so undesirable, when it is only a small fraction of practitioner salary.

 

[Eyes Only]

Even if it costs you 200k to attend Optometry school, your monthly payments would be slightly higher than $2k/month.
Also, the 200k can be reduced by a good amount if you work over the span of 4 years, part time.

See:

[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA]Loan Balance: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $200,000.00 . [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Adjusted Loan Balance: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $200,000.00 . [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Loan Interest Rate: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] 6.80%. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Loan Fees: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] 0.00%. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Loan Term: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] 10 years. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Minimum Payment: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $50.00 . [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA]
. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA]Monthly Loan Payment:.[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $2,301.61 . [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Number of Payments: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] 120. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA]
. [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Cumulative Payments: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $276,192.62 . [FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] Total Interest Paid: .[FONT=ARIAL, HELVETICA] $76,192.62
.
As you can see, the loan payment is 1/4th of your salary, which is more than manageable. I am not sure why you think OD educational debt is so undesirable, when it is only a small fraction of practitioner salary.

One thing that will change when you graduate is that you won't want to live like a student anymore. You'll want a new car, a house, a nice vacation once in a while. You'll pay taxes on your income, including self employment taxes if you have your own practice. You'll need to save for retirement. Those of us who are self employed have to fund our retirements all by ourselves.

I've met recent grads who couldn't qualify for a mortgage because the monthly payments on their students loans were too high with a ten year loan payment. They ended up refinancing their loans over 30 years, which increases the total interest paid considerably.

I suggest you construct a hypothetical budget using a spreadsheet that includes anticipated expenses (auto, housing, food, etc) along with taxes and see what kind of loan payments you can make.

 

[Jason K]

As you can see, the loan payment is 1/4th of your salary, which is more than manageable. I am not sure why you think OD educational debt is so undesirable, when it is only a small fraction of practitioner salary..

You're forgetting about those little things called "taxes." $2300 per month is going to exceed half of your take home pay at new OD grad pay levels (70-80K). And that's if you're lucky enough to find a FT job that pays in that range, not an easy task these days. If you make 70 - 75K, your monthly pay will be about 4K. With your calculations, you'll have about $1700 to spend on life after you pay your monthly loan requirements. From that 1700, you'll be paying rent/mortgage, food, car expenses, insurance, utilities, internet, water, sewer/trash, trying to add to a savings account, etc. etc. We haven't even gotten to any sort of recreation yet. Want to eat out at a restaurant that doesn't have a drive-thru once a month? That goes off the 1700 as well. Want to meet up with some friends for happy hour on occasion? That comes off the 1700 too. All the little things you don't have to worry about when you're in a dorm start to add up to hundreds of dollars per month when you get out in the real world. $1700 dollars per month disappears very quickly when you have to pay the bills. Does 20K of spending cash per year sound manageable to you? It shouldn't. If it does, either you don't understand finances or you're planning on living at home with mom and dad until you're 36.

A person spending 1/4th of their take home pay on a $2300/month debt is making a lot more than 100K, much more than any new OD grad, be certain of that. This is why nearly everyone leaving school these days goes onto a 25 year plan, which means you'll nearly double the cost of your OD in some cases. If you think you can spend 1/4th of your new OD income and pay off your debt in 10 years, you're not thinking clearly. Sorry to once again be the bearer of bad news.

 

[imemily]

You're forgetting about those little things called "taxes." $2300 per month is going to exceed half of your take home pay at new OD grad pay levels (70-80K). And that's if you're lucky enough to find a FT job that pays in that range, not an easy task these days. If you make 70 - 75K, your monthly pay will be about 4K. With your calculations, you'll have about $1700 to spend on life after you pay your monthly loan requirements. From that 1700, you'll be paying rent/mortgage, food, car expenses, insurance, utilities, internet, water, sewer/trash, trying to add to a savings account, etc. etc. We haven't even gotten to any sort of recreation yet. Want to eat out at a restaurant that doesn't have a drive-thru once a month? That goes off the 1700 as well. Want to meet up with some friends for happy hour on occasion? That comes off the 1700 too. All the little things you don't have to worry about when you're in a dorm start to add up to hundreds of dollars per month when you get out in the real world. $1700 dollars per month disappears very quickly when you have to pay the bills. Does 20K of spending cash per year sound manageable to you? It shouldn't. If it does, either you don't understand finances or you're planning on living at home with mom and dad until you're 36.

A person spending 1/4th of their take home pay on a $2300/month debt is making a lot more than 100K, much more than any new OD grad, be certain of that. This is why nearly everyone leaving school these days goes onto a 25 year plan, which means you'll nearly double the cost of your OD in some cases. If you think you can spend 1/4th of your new OD income and pay off your debt in 10 years, you're not thinking clearly. Sorry to once again be the bearer of bad news.

The average income of an OD is ~100k. If you use average numbers then you would actually have around ~4k to play with per month. The scenario that you have described above would probably be the worst case scenario and is only representative of the minority.

If you are making $50,000 after taxes and debt repayment, then that vastly surpasses student income. You don't have to live like a student! And even if you do, it won't be that bad for the first year or so, where you are basically saving for a bigger purchase such as a house. You could also work on alternate saturdays for more pay allowing you to put a sizable dent on your loan.

If your just looking at numbers and not the other stuff concerning Optometry, it is not as bad as some ODs on here make it out to be. It is concerning, but far from being the only factor.

 

[Jason K]

The average income of an OD is ~100k. If you use average numbers then you would actually have around ~4k to play with per month. The scenario that you have described above would probably be the worst case scenario and is only representative of the minority.

If you are making $50,000 after taxes and debt repayment, then that vastly surpasses student income. You don't have to live like a student! And even if you do, it won't be that bad for the first year or so, where you are basically saving for a bigger purchase such as a house. You could also work on alternate saturdays for more pay allowing you to put a sizable dent on your loan.

If your just looking at numbers and not the other stuff concerning Optometry, it is not as bad as some ODs on here make it out to be. It is concerning, but far from being the only factor.

The average income of all ODs is 100K, but that number does not apply to new grads. That number has also dropped dramatically in the past few years and will likely continue to do so.

New ODs who are fortunate enough to find FT work make about 70-75K, maybe 80 if you're lucky. That number is not going to increase dramatically in the first 5 years of practice. For most ODs, it won't go up much beyond 100K ever since they'll be in commercial practice.

If you think you're going to come out of school making anything close to 100K, you're in for a surprise. Your numbers are off. I'm sorry to have to keep stomping on your math, but it's not valid. You can wish all you want for me to be wrong, but I'm not. You need to run your numbers again with an income of 70-80K because that's the "best case" scenario you'll be looking at as a new grad, particularly in 5-6 years or so when you get out.

There is one place in optometry that will hire new grads for 100K. It's called America's Best. It's not optometry. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's not optometry and if it were appropriately titled, it would be called "America's Worst." It makes Walmart look like a respectable ophthalmology clinic. You'll see 8+ patients per hour and you'll do nothing but prescribe inaccurate glasses and CL prescriptions all day. It's absolutely miserable. There's a reason they offer 100K to new grads; it's because few ODs will be able to stomach working there more than a year. If you're up for a career within the walls of AB, maybe you've got a shot at using your numbers and living on 100K indefinitely.

 

[confusedOD]

The average income of all ODs is 100K, but that number does not apply to new grads. That number has also dropped dramatically in the past few years and will likely continue to do so.

New ODs who are fortunate enough to find FT work make about 70-75K, maybe 80 if you're lucky. That number is not going to increase dramatically in the first 5 years of practice. For most ODs, it won't go up much beyond 100K ever since they'll be in commercial practice.

If you think you're going to come out of school making anything close to 100K, you're in for a surprise. Your numbers are off. I'm sorry to have to keep stomping on your math, but it's not valid. You can wish all you want for me to be wrong, but I'm not. You need to run your numbers again with an income of 70-80K because that's the "best case" scenario you'll be looking at as a new grad, particularly in 5-6 years or so when you get out.

There is one place in optometry that will hire new grads for 100K. It's called America's Best. It's not optometry. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's not optometry and if it were appropriately titled, it would be called "America's Worst." It makes Walmart look like a respectable ophthalmology clinic. You'll see 8+ patients per hour and you'll do nothing but prescribe inaccurate glasses and CL prescriptions all day. It's absolutely miserable. There's a reason they offer 100K to new grads; it's because few ODs will be able to stomach working there more than a year. If you're up for a career within the walls of AB, maybe you've got a shot at using your numbers and living on 100K indefinitely.

Cool thanks for the input. It's obvious that situations may not turn out for the best but I'm still staying in school to become an optometrist. I'm not sure if these recent posts were suppose to make me want to drop out again...as if I was naive and didn't calculate my future right and had some fantasy future about how my future would be if financially...but like I've said before, I've done the math and I've obviously weighed the financial aspect in my decision. It is not unreasonable for me to pay off my debt in 10 years because like someone stated before, you do not know the amount of my debt and my financial support. We're drilled in school in the first week about debt, all the possible outcomes, how to manage your debt, and the interest rates. So, no worries, I got this. 👍

 

[Jason K]

Cool thanks for the input. It's obvious that situations may not turn out for the best but I'm still staying in school to become an optometrist. I'm not sure if these recent posts were suppose to make me want to drop out again...as if I was naive and didn't calculate my future right and had some fantasy future about how my future would be if financially...but like I've said before, I've done the math and I've obviously weighed the financial aspect in my decision.

Confused OD, I was addressing imemily in my last post and referring to her numbers. I would never tell anyone to drop out of optometry school or even not to go. I'm just here telling you what you won't hear from many other places. If you've done the calculations for your particular situation, you understand what you're getting into, and you're ok with it, then you won't be surprised with the results.

imemily's numbers, which are based on a new grad making enough to pay off a full student loan debt in 10 years by paying $2300 per month, are ridiculous. Even more irrational is the belief that $2300 will only eat up 1/4th of that student's income. It simply won't happen.

 

[Jason K]

I am not sure why you think OD educational debt is so undesirable, when it is only a small fraction of practitioner salary.

Your links did not come through. In any case, if you're taking the loan payment as a percentage of your salary, your math is wrong. You need to take it out of your take home pay, which is not the same number. If you think educational debt is nothing to worry about, you're going to have an interesting 25 years after graduation.

 

[IandI]

Your links did not come through. In any case, if you're taking the loan payment as a percentage of your salary, your math is wrong. You need to take it out of your take home pay, which is not the same number. If you think educational debt is nothing to worry about, you're going to have an interesting 25 years after graduation.

Jason if your making a 100K a year and got this much time to frack around on a internet forum how bad can it be 😕

 

[optom123]

Jason if your making a 100K a year and got this much time to frack around on a internet forum how bad can it be 😕

Its called the art of trolling. 😀

 

[netmag]

Yes, it's actually a screaming endorsement FOR optometry.

Jason if your making a 100K a year and got this much time to frack around on a internet forum how bad can it be 😕

 

[Shnurek]

Yes, it's actually a screaming endorsement FOR optometry.

LOLOL if he was so worried about paying off his loans he would take a part time job or something instead of spending hours and hours writing essays on SDN about how optometry sucks and he doesn't get paid for it. I mean in one sense it shows dedication to saying how much optometry sucks but come on, if you live comfortably then quit bitchin. The market will balance itself out. Everything does eventually.

 

[optom123]

LOLOL if he was so worried about paying off his loans he would take a part time job or something instead of spending hours and hours writing essays on SDN about how optometry sucks and he doesn't get paid for it. I mean in one sense it shows dedication to saying how much optometry sucks but come on, if you live comfortably then quit bitchin. The market will balance itself out. Everything does eventually.

essays lol.

Its more like a thesis defense if you ask me!

 

[Jason K]

Jason if your making a 100K a year and got this much time to frack around on a internet forum how bad can it be 😕

It takes about 60 seconds to read a post, compose a response, and hit the "submit reply" button.

I type fast - sue me.

........actually, don't sue me, sue your OD programs that are taking your money in the face of false hopes for a good career.

 

[Jason K]

LOLOL if he was so worried about paying off his loans he would take a part time job or something instead of spending hours and hours writing essays on SDN about how optometry sucks and he doesn't get paid for it. I mean in one sense it shows dedication to saying how much optometry sucks but come on, if you live comfortably then quit bitchin. The market will balance itself out. Everything does eventually.

If I live comfortably? I drive a car that would be almost old enough to vote if it were a person. I live in a small 3 BR home with few neighbors who even went to college. It's a decent, safe neighborhood, but pretty much everyone around me is a trade worker or something similar. There's nothing wrong with about 2/3 of my neighbors - they're great people, but the other 1/3 provide me with scenic views of rusted-out lawn equipment, sun-faded tricycles and kids toys, filled garbage bags, and overturned lawn chairs when I'm heading to my driveway. I'd like to have a little more freedom of choice regarding where to live, but since I live on a "comfortable" OD income, I don't have it.

You guys just don't get it. 100K is a salary that people would brag about in 1983. It's not anymore, especially when a huge chunk of it is lopped off for student loans before you ever get your hands on it. It's not about having a ton of money; it's about having an income that allows you to have choices. That's what most people are after. You won't get it with an OD - not anymore.

 

[IandI]

It takes about 60 seconds to read a post, compose a response, and hit the "submit reply" button.

I type fast - sue me.

........actually, don't sue me, sue your OD programs that are taking your money in the face of false hopes for a good career.

60 seconds ?
7:02am
8:05am
8:24am
9:52am
10:19am
10:38am
10:52am
11:11am
11:26am
11:34am
12:04pm
1:13pm
4:33pm
5:26pm
7:19pm
9:32pm
10:19pm
Yesterday !
7:00am to after 10:00pm
Seems obsessive sir.

 

[Jason K]

60 seconds ?
7:02am
8:05am
8:24am
9:52am
10:19am
10:38am
10:52am
11:11am
11:26am
11:34am
12:04pm
1:13pm
4:33pm
5:26pm
7:19pm
9:32pm
10:19pm
Yesterday !
7:00am to after 10:00pm
Seems obsessive sir.

You're counting my posts - and you say I'm obsessive? The number of posts has no bearing on how long it takes to post.

 

[diwali]

If I live comfortably? I drive a car that would be almost old enough to vote if it were a person. I live in a small 3 BR home with few neighbors who even went to college. It's a decent, safe neighborhood, but pretty much everyone around me is a trade worker or something similar. There's nothing wrong with about 2/3 of my neighbors - they're great people, but the other 1/3 provide me with scenic views of rusted-out lawn equipment, sun-faded tricycles and kids toys, filled garbage bags, and overturned lawn chairs when I'm heading to my driveway. I'd like to have a little more freedom of choice regarding where to live, but since I live on a "comfortable" OD income, I don't have it.

You guys just don't get it. 100K is a salary that people would brag about in 1983. It's not anymore, especially when a huge chunk of it is lopped off for student loans before you ever get your hands on it. It's not about having a ton of money; it's about having an income that allows you to have choices. That's what most people are after. You won't get it with an OD - not anymore.

this is very well said!

 

[physicslover]

its funny to me when ppl say 100,000 is not enough money for them when I have been raised on a household income of less than 45,000 for 4 ppl and manage to live comfortably enough.

 

[Eyes Only]

its funny to me when ppl say 100,000 is not enough money for them when I have been raised on a household income of less than 45,000 for 4 ppl and manage to live comfortably enough.

I think the problem is that most people who spend 8 years in college and have to borrow $150,000 to $200,000 for optometry school don't expect to live a middle class lifestyle. I know I don't.

 

[Jason K]

its funny to me when ppl say 100,000 is not enough money for them when I have been raised on a household income of less than 45,000 for 4 ppl and manage to live comfortably enough.

Spoken like a true pre-op. I came from a very middle-class lifestyle family upbringing. I never starved or went without clothes. I wanted something better for my kids, though.

You guys don't see it, yet, but you will once the bills start coming in. As EyesOnly says, most people who go to school for 8-10 years, drop a few hundred grand into their brains, and sacrifice what we've sacrificed to get where we are, don't expect to live "comfortably enough," like the guy selling tires at Sears. My neighbor, two doors down, does just that. He lives the same lifestyle I do, only he went to HS, did a year at community college, and then jumped on the Sears train. He clears about 80K with no college degree, no student loans, no decade-long educational investment. I'm sure he's paid fairly for what he does. Are most ODs?

Who here is going to argue that an OD, even a brand new one, who has invested so much time and money should make less than the guy selling tires at Sears.....anyone? If most PP can't afford to pay new ODs a fair wage, that's not necessarily their fault, it's a sign of an ailing profession - a profession that's losing its ability to support itself.

If someone comes back with "Oh, I'm only doing optometry because I love the work....," please consider that you don't know what that work is yet. If it really is about helping people and nothing more, you're free to join the PeaceCorps or AmeriCorps.

 

[OpticalBlackOut]

I don't understand the students who continue to chide Jason.
Yes, his message remains the same, but at least he makes arguments with articles and researched points.

However, although he thinks that we're heading into this career with blissful ignorance, I have conversations with my colleagues about the gravity of our future prospects all the time, so I guess we are slowly becoming more educated about these issues. Hopefully we will take action and stop the deterioration.

 

[KHE]

I don't understand the students who continue to chide Jason.
Yes, his message remains the same, but at least he makes arguments with articles and researched points.

That's his problem. He does NOT make arguments with articles and researched points. He makes them entirely based on his own personal opinion which he projects into every conceivable scenario.