East coast schools

[sunnydecember]

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Hey guys! So I've recently been invited for interviews at PCO ICO NOVA AND NECO. I live in california and I'm still finishing my undergrad so it's pretty difficult and pricey to constantly travel to the east coast. i was wondering what your opinions were of when to not to go to an interview. I had my first interview at PCO last week and just got accepted today. It was one of my first choices so im thrilled but Im not sure if I should go to the other schools just to check out the location and school. For the curriculum, PCO is the top choice for me but there are some downs about the location (i don't really mind living in philly... but it's not the best). I heard chicago is really nice and my sister goes to NOVA for the DO program so I know florida is nice and they are both good schools. If I know that I like the school's program more, is it worth traveling to the other schools just to see if i fit with the location better? opinions? 🙂 thanks!

 

[Moptometry]

Somebody plz answer this cuz I know I will be in the same exact situation in 10-11 months.

 

[Mewcakes]

I know I know I knowwww that this is probably going to piss someone off...But I proooobably would not consider NECO at this time. If you don't know why, try googling "NECO NBEO" and see what comes up. I apologize in advance to the ppl I know will flame me for saying it. Mewcakes says sorriez.

NOVA = family, and you may want to really consider that. OD school is tough and it's nice to have someone there to remind you of home. Though some ppl put more stock in family than others, so that's totally up to you. ;-) And I just realize that your sister may not actually be NEAR NOVA.

ICO = They get HELLA BREAKS and they're on the quarter system. That's all I know about that place. I'm from CA too and I think you will have weather-shock the entire time you go there. That place is f-ing snowy in the winter.

Are you looking at any of the schools in CA? ICO was too cold for my California tastes, so if I were you (and this is JUST if it was me wondering what I should do, based on my comfort preferences), I would go see NOVA for sure, but probably not ICO or NECO. But I like warm. Also, PCO's clinics aren't on campus and you may like the layout/feel and convenience of one of the other schools/cities better. So unless you're like me and are too much of a princess to shovel your own driveway, I would just go visit them all.

 

[Moptometry]

I know I know I knowwww that this is probably going to piss someone off...I apologize in advance to the ppl I know will flame me for saying it. Mewcakes says sorriez.

😎 👍

 

[nc2tarheels]

Here's my opinion. If you applied to all of the schools, then you must have "some" type of ranking of them in your head. If you liked PCO the most and they were at the top of your list, then at least visit the 2nd school on your list. No need to visit all of them though. If I was you, I would have tried to knock out PCO and NECO out in the same trip. 🙂 As for NOVA, if your sister lives there, then you probably already know the area and if you'd like it. So I'm not sure I'd visit there unless that is your #2 choice. ALWAYS visit your top two choices though!!!!

Take my opinion for whatever it's worth. I'm not an opto student, just been around here a long time. 😉

 

[DellGirl]

How do you know you like the program and curriculum so much better? What is better about it?

 

[sunnydecember]

Hey guys! Thanks so much for the input! I decided to decline the interview for neco. I forgot to mention that i have interviews for scco and western (tomorrow) and since they are in my top 5 schools, it's hard to choose which east coast schools i want to check out. Dellgirl i like pco's curriculum because of their 18 month externships and their concentration on the clinical aspect of optometry. I'm a very hands-on person so I would love to just get out there as soon as possible. Other schools are either more research based and usually have externships during the last year of school. Also pco has externship opportunities in a lot more locations than other schools. I think in the end I'm going to either choose between pco and the cali schools (if i get in) but I decided to see how my interviews go before I actually decide on travelling to the east coast again. I'm also going to retake the OAT for Suny and see how that works out. Thanks again! and if anyone else has any input, please share 🙂 To be continued!

 

[mewmewchacha]

I know I know I knowwww that this is probably going to piss someone off...But I proooobably would not consider NECO at this time. If you don't know why, try googling "NECO NBEO" and see what comes up. I apologize in advance to the ppl I know will flame me for saying it. Mewcakes says sorriez.

NOVA = family, and you may want to really consider that. OD school is tough and it's nice to have someone there to remind you of home. Though some ppl put more stock in family than others, so that's totally up to you. ;-) And I just realize that your sister may not actually be NEAR NOVA.

ICO = They get HELLA BREAKS and they're on the quarter system. That's all I know about that place. I'm from CA too and I think you will have weather-shock the entire time you go there. That place is f-ing snowy in the winter.

Are you looking at any of the schools in CA? ICO was too cold for my California tastes, so if I were you (and this is JUST if it was me wondering what I should do, based on my comfort preferences), I would go see NOVA for sure, but probably not ICO or NECO. But I like warm. Also, PCO's clinics aren't on campus and you may like the layout/feel and convenience of one of the other schools/cities better. So unless you're like me and are too much of a princess to shovel your own driveway, I would just go visit them all.

Am I too late to add my $0.02? OP, Mewcakes and I are both from California and decided to leave the state for school. I am at NECO (by choice, even with the unfortunate NBEO incident) and although I dislike the Northeast weather, I love my school.

You honestly need to go there and look at the schools yourself. I know it will cost bunches but it will ultimately be worth it because you are putting 3-4 years of your life into it! I had to decide between ICO and NECO, and without going there, I probably would have chosen ICO. After my visits, my heart knew I wanted to go to NECO.

As for ICO, I didn't know that they had a bunch of breaks (God, I'd kill for longer breaks), but I do know they start earlier than some of the other schools and their classes are very rigorous. They tend to have tests every week instead of the regular '1-2 midterm, then final' schedule.

Good luck, OP!

PS. @Mewcakes: LOL, 'HELLA'. 😛

 

[ABaverage]

What in the world? Does "mew" have some sort of association with CA residents leaving their state to go to optometry school?

 

[Shnurek]

What in the world? Does "mew" have some sort of association with CA residents leaving their state to go to optometry school?

I think they just like cats. I like cats too lolz

 

[mewmewchacha]

I think they just like cats. I like cats too lolz

Ahahaha, this cracked me up. Mewcakes and I came up with our own usernames on our own accord. But, I did find out that we both went to the same undergrad school in California!

By the way, as much as I like cats, I'm deathly allergic...probably why I didn't even try for vet school.

 

[Shnurek]

Ahahaha, this cracked me up. Mewcakes and I came up with our own usernames on our own accord. But, I did find out that we both went to the same undergrad school in California!

By the way, as much as I like cats, I'm deathly allergic...probably why I didn't even try for vet school.

Yea my friend was in the same boat, she is allergic but wanted to go to vet school. Damn those sheltering parents!