For people who are in optometry school (or graduated)

[Ocean Breeze]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi, I was wondering if you could provide your profile if you were admitted into an optometry school.

Undergrad college:
major(s) and/or minor(s):
Overall and pre-req gpa:
Job Experience:
OAT scores:
Other reasons why you may have been admitted:

One of my biggest questions/concerns is, is it very "frowned upon" if you took science pre-reqs at a jc?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ODtobe]

(accepted to PCO and NECO)
Undergrad college:University of Richmond
major(s) and/or minor(s):Biology/Sociology
Overall and pre-req gpa:3.67/3.5ish?
Job Experience:shadowed plus one summer at OD office
OAT scores:350
Other reasons why you may have been admitted:lots of research experience in college

"One of my biggest questions/concerns is, is it very "frowned upon" if you took science pre-reqs at a jc?" I'm pretty sure it's not. At PCO the undergrad school you went to gets factored into the decision, but not the school(s) you may have taken one or two prereqs at. It's pretty common to have a couple of classes at a community college, although I didn't have to do this.

 

[od2b77]

Undergrad college: Loyola U of Chicago
major(s) and/or minor(s):Bio/Computer science
Overall and pre-req gpa: 3.00
Job Experience:Worked for Lenscrafters for 3.5 years and private OD for a year back in undergrad. But worked in IT field for the past 5 years.
OAT scores: total 350/science 360
Other reasons why you may have been admitted: I'm few years older and really stressed a point at the interview that I'm more mature/know what I want, etc. I also took Anatomy class at a community college to get an A and make at point that I can perform better in school than what my unimpressive gpa says about me.

 

[hoosier1]

Hello Ocean Breeze,

I'm not in optometry school yet, but I did take a few prerequisites at a community college. I asked a few representatives from SUNY and ICO and they said it is fine to take a few classes at a cc. They also said its actually becoming more popular for JC students to transfer to universities so yes, it is acceptable. Good luck!

 

[cpw]

I took pre-reqs at a JC after I graduated from undergrad. I worked for two years before deciding to go back. So I took one class a semester at night after work... for one and a half years at a JC.

I don't think it's frowned upon at all. (as long as it's not the MAJORITY of your classes)

 

[Ocean Breeze]

How hard is it to find a job after you get your degree?

 

[JG777]

How hard is it to find a job after you get your degree?

in CA, it's hard to find a full time. most positions are part time.

 

[Richard_Hom]

How hard is it to find a job after you get your degree?

I dont' new graduates or those who have graduated in the last five years may have remembered the "heritage" of optometry.

It has only been the last 10-15 years that optometrists have not "opened" their private practices. I still remember that the interviews I went through concentrated on applicants who were motivated to enter into private solo practice. In my class, almost 80% opened their own practice.

It is difficult, therefore, to transform a profession into an "employed" one if the infrastructure of optometric care has centered so much on private solo practice (or the purchase of one).

I'm not sure and some can enlighten me, if newer graduates are focusing more on being employed or opening their own practice.

IMHO of course,
Richard

 

[rpames]

From those I have spoken to, they are focused on "starting" as an employee so they can make some cash and then open a private office. Unforunatly most have not even considered that they can open/buy right after they get out of school. Most seem to think that they HAVE TO work for Wal-mart or Lenscrafteres or Pearl...they don't think private is an option. These are also the ones who don't ever go to the speakers about private practice. They are digging their own graves.

 

[cunikki]

From those I have spoken to, they are focused on "starting" as an employee so they can make some cash and then open a private office. Unforunatly most have not even considered that they can open/buy right after they get out of school. Most seem to think that they HAVE TO work for Wal-mart or Lenscrafteres or Pearl...they don't think private is an option. These are also the ones who don't ever go to the speakers about private practice. They are digging their own graves.

Just out of curiousity; the people you are talking about... are they planning on working for awhile and then starting a practice??? I havent started OD school yet; but in my head I was hoping to maybe find a job with an older opto who was maybe looking to expand or have someone buy out his practice.... I know the ODs I have spoken to (at least in denver, co) say that the market is fairly saturated and it would be extremely difficult to start out from scratch. Ideally I think most people would like to join a more experienced practice.. but if they cant find anything and need the money to start paying back their loans.. retail might be a good short term option while they look for a viable opportunity.
Do you think it is really possible for most people to just start a new practice??

 

[Ocean Breeze]

From those I have spoken to, they are focused on "starting" as an employee so they can make some cash and then open a private office. Unforunatly most have not even considered that they can open/buy right after they get out of school. Most seem to think that they HAVE TO work for Wal-mart or Lenscrafteres or Pearl...they don't think private is an option. These are also the ones who don't ever go to the speakers about private practice. They are digging their own graves.

Very very true. It's just so hard opening up your own business. How would you go about starting from scratch right off the bat?

 

[ojo]

Hi, I was wondering if you could provide your profile if you were admitted into an optometry school.

Undergrad college:
major(s) and/or minor(s):
Overall and pre-req gpa:
Job Experience:
OAT scores:
Other reasons why you may have been admitted:

One of my biggest questions/concerns is, is it very "frowned upon" if you took science pre-reqs at a jc?

Thanks in advance.

University of Houston, GO COOGS
Biology-major Psychology-minor
Overall-3.1 Pre-req-3.3
Job-Optometry & Ophthalmology training in the United States Army 8 yrs of service, Certified Ophthalmic Assistant 6 years, Optometrist & Ophthalmology offices 10yrs total, Optical Lab 2yrs towards the end.
OAT- 330 overall
Involved in pre-opt program in undergrad, volunteered with church and local schools in my community, & probably expierence

I did my first two years of undergrad in a community college, I am not a typical student, married 6 yrs & 2 children, couldn't afford to go off to college, had to take care of the family by working and going to school full-time