First year student...Does it get any better??

[pre-opt]

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I am a first year optometry student and was wondering what everyone thought about their 1st year of school. Does it get any better, or does it get worse? Right about now, I don't think it can get any worse. I have a ton of quizzes and tests due and seem to be studying/cramming non-stop. I have no problem studying my butt off, but am curious to see what other people think. I am assuming that all 4 years are difficult, but just in different ways. Any opinions??? or suggestions???

 

[HYCW]

I am a first year optometry student and was wondering what everyone thought about their 1st year of school. Does it get any better, or does it get worse? Right about now, I don't think it can get any worse. I have a ton of quizzes and tests due and seem to be studying/cramming non-stop. I have no problem studying my butt off, but am curious to see what other people think. I am assuming that all 4 years are difficult, but just in different ways. Any opinions??? or suggestions???

Hi there! What school are you at? Because I'm having a totally opposite experience!

I'm a first year at UCBSO and so far, I'm loving it. I was *really* apprehensive at first because of the school's reputation for being a research-based/nerd school so I thought I'd have to study all the time, but so far, that's not the case at all. We have problem sets and lab reports, but it's completely manageable. I haven't kept up with all of the readings, and don't feel the urgency to do so just yet. Seems like most of my classmates are feeling the same way. Then again, our first major test isn't for another two weeks and maybe things will change then.

Anyway, I've heard that 2nd year (for all schools) is the kicker year where we'll be buckling down studying and getting our clinical procedures locked down...

Our Optics prof told us to look at optometry school as a 2 year program, since years 3 and 4 are in clinic/externship so it's more like an apprenticeship at that point.

 

[ddown]

Second year is definitely where the rubber meets the road. The amount of tests is comparable to first year with the addition of a procedure proficiency every week. Sometimes I felt as if I was living at school! Don't stress too hard, you'll get through it. Also, make sure you go out and have some fun at least once a week....the reading can wait.

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

I am a first year optometry student and was wondering what everyone thought about their 1st year of school. Does it get any better, or does it get worse? Right about now, I don't think it can get any worse. I have a ton of quizzes and tests due and seem to be studying/cramming non-stop. I have no problem studying my butt off, but am curious to see what other people think. I am assuming that all 4 years are difficult, but just in different ways. Any opinions??? or suggestions???

Hey Pre-Opt,

I know you're at UMSL right now in your first year. I remember the first semester being a lot of studying with the classload, and now they have added Epidem. to the course load the first semester. The first year I felt was a lot of lower level thinking, which included just memorizing hordes and hordes of infomation. Not all that interesting but just something that you had to get through. The actual toughest semesters are 2nd year spring semester, and the hardest semester was 3rd year first semester. But at the same time thsoe were probably the two that I learned the most, because you will be asked to think at higher level thinking skills, i.e. analysis (patient cases), application, and synthesis. But the number of tests I always found to decrease as your progress each year, maybe two tests the whole semester.

Don't get too stressed out, the score that matters most is your board scores. 300 gets you past each part, and you have to pass those.

Good luck, and you can always email if you wish.

Or if you want to buy books =)

Ryan

 

[drmhyde]

I am a first year optometry student and was wondering what everyone thought about their 1st year of school. Does it get any better, or does it get worse? Right about now, I don't think it can get any worse. I have a ton of quizzes and tests due and seem to be studying/cramming non-stop. I have no problem studying my butt off, but am curious to see what other people think. I am assuming that all 4 years are difficult, but just in different ways. Any opinions??? or suggestions???

NO IT NEVER GOT BETTER...it's just one big endless hell until the ride is done. Get some vasoline and take your medicine!!!

 

[ODtobe]

At PCO first year is probably the hardest, and second semester is generally thought of as the worst. Second year seems much better so far anyways.

 

[Opii]

I am a first year optometry student and was wondering what everyone thought about their 1st year of school. Does it get any better, or does it get worse? Right about now, I don't think it can get any worse. I have a ton of quizzes and tests due and seem to be studying/cramming non-stop. I have no problem studying my butt off, but am curious to see what other people think. I am assuming that all 4 years are difficult, but just in different ways. Any opinions??? or suggestions???

Yea, it gets harder, but you'll find supernatural powers you never knew you had. The good news is 2nd year will be over before you know it. 🙂

 

[rpames]

This is my opinion, but at ICO the first year is the toughest. You have tons of test and all these papers/case reports, plus all these science labs with tons of stuff to memorize (anatomy, histo, neuro...). Second year is no walk in the park either, but almost all the classes are very clinically relevant. That does not make them easier, but it does give you purpose as you study. Instead of saying, "This is really tough and I have no idea why I have to care," you will be saying, "All these retinal disease look like white or red dots, but I guess I will have to know them."

At ICO, we still have some classes 3rd year plus clinic, but it is pretty laid back. The first years had 3 test before we had our first one. Through out the quarter, they will have 2X the test we do.

So, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I do not envy you, I'm glad I'm past that.

 

[pre-opt]

Thank you all for writing in! I was just curious to hear everyone's opinions. Within the last week I have had 7 quizzes/tests. I think the thing that makes it most difficult is that I have 21 credit hours and am trying to figure out the best way to keep on top of things.

Thanks again 🙂

 

[drmhyde]

Thank you all for writing in! I was just curious to hear everyone's opinions. Within the last week I have had 7 quizzes/tests. I think the thing that makes it most difficult is that I have 21 credit hours and am trying to figure out the best way to keep on top of things.

Thanks again 🙂

Coffee and zoloft...that should get you through

 

[ucbsowarrior]

1st - 30 min / day studying , 6 hours week partying
2nd - 2 hours day , 6 hours month partying
3rd - 20 min day , 6 hours week parting
4th - 20 min day, party's over

moral of the story....you don't get to party much in second year

 

[sco1styear]

moral of the story....you don't get to party much in second year

You've got that right