HELP!!! ICO vs. PCO

[ALOHA84]

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I need help in deciding between ICO and PCO. Currently I live in NY and still waiting to hear back from SUNY. Meawhile, I am debating between these two schools. I really liked ICO and students seem very friendly during my campus tour. It looks like a good balance between outgoing yet laid back environment. Plus, I like living in big cities so Chicago is preferable except its insane cold weather. Also, its further away from my family(lives in DC).

Whereas, PCO is close to family but its very suburban and the clinic is not on campus which in not very convenient. My interview was right before the New Year so someone from Admissions gave us a tour which is not as good as given by a student. But PCO has a good reputation and I've heard great things about this school from the optometrists that I work with.

Please help me . Very conflicted.

 

[sWish]

Did you like the RC at ICO? I didn't like the idea of having to live in such close quarters to someone. So I chose PCO, but to this day I still have my doubts...sorry I guess that didn't help a whole lot

 

[ALOHA84]

I'm not planning to living in student housing ,will probably get my own apt. So why do u still have doubts. R u not happy w/ ur choice at PCO?

 

[JeffChou]

It sounds like the only benefit to being at PCO is proximity. I have never visited the campus so I don't know much about it, but ICO is in the city, it's clinic is right on campus, and the RC is great for first years to get to know each other (or upperclassmen who like the convenience). I'm living in the RC right now and like the convenience, even though I don't plan to live here after this year (enjoy living next to good friends, but am tired of being practically at school all day and night). However, the occasional snowball fight on the RC lawn is a nice study break.

It sure is cold, but I'd rather live in a cold city right now than in a suburb. I guess it really depends on what environment you'd prefer.

Academically, I've heard many good things about ICO (although they're all biased since they're from doctors who graduated from ICO. They seem to think that ICO students are very well prepared clinically; I would guess it's from all the disease we see in our clinic (tons of low-income patients many risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, poor health maintenance in general).

Good luck in your decision!

Jeff

 

[hurricaneuro]

I visited PCO/all the doctors I've shadowed have went there. They give you the most time in externships (1 and a half years vs. fourth year for most schools).

 

[moniopt]

Hi, I like ICO- it has everything in one building and the labs are brand spankin new-- so you get all the new equipment and technology to learn from. Im not planning to live on campus either but i heard good things about it. And ICO has alot of holiday time if you check the calendar for nxt year you get like 2 weeks off in november etc.. so im sure you can find a cheap flight to get back to PCO.. and you wont need a car in Chicago. WHo cares about the weather your gonna be studying most of the time. thats my short version of ICO. I would go there if you have the option compared to PCO- which is a good school but i dont like the layout personally.

 

[DrSpontaneouz83]

I was in the same dilemma...and I regret not chosing PCO over ICO. I am originally from the east coast and it is a big transition to the midwest, IMHO. DO NOT JUDGE a school's "niceness" based on your interview and first impressions because it is the "honey moon phase" and a front. Maybe it was just my class, but it was very competitive and clicky...especially if you did not live in the RC. Another huge factor is your learning style...I have always been used to the semester system (like PCO) and ICO is a trimester system (ie, you had like 2-3 tests almost every other week) which I found very overwhelming. I'd much rather test a lot of information fewer times throughout the year. They both are considered good schools, but from personal experience, ICO is not as "friendly" as everyone tries to make it appear (I am sure it's the same in many other schools too). If I could do things again, I would have done PCO and I too was one of those "I want to be away from my family cases" but it back-fired on me. Ironicaly, my family also lives in DC.

I hope ICO people are not offended by this, this is my experience and how I felt.

 

[nnadia]

I have the same problem. I got accepted in both schools recently, and I have to make a decision. my parents live in Michigan and they want me to go to ICO. But I live in NY, my boyfriend also live in NY, we not ready to move in together, but I don't want to lose him. In PCO I will have a chance to see him at least few times a month. On other hand I don't have a car and it can be problem in PCO. Need advice.....

 

[ALOHA84]

...

 

[ALOHA84]

I was in the same dilemma...and I regret not chosing PCO over ICO. I am originally from the east coast and it is a big transition to the midwest, IMHO. DO NOT JUDGE a school's "niceness" based on your interview and first impressions because it is the "honey moon phase" and a front. Maybe it was just my class, but it was very competitive and clicky...especially if you did not live in the RC. Another huge factor is your learning style...I have always been used to the semester system (like PCO) and ICO is a trimester system (ie, you had like 2-3 tests almost every other week) which I found very overwhelming. I'd much rather test a lot of information fewer times throughout the year. They both are considered good schools, but from personal experience, ICO is not as "friendly" as everyone tries to make it appear (I am sure it's the same in many other schools too). If I could do things again, I would have done PCO and I too was one of those "I want to be away from my family cases" but it back-fired on me. Ironicaly, my family also lives in DC.

I hope ICO people are not offended by this, this is my experience and how I felt.

sorry to hear that...so r u still in ICO? my undergrad was in semester system so i've no idea about quarter system...i think its either u like it or u hate it...but i'll find out if i decide to go to ICO...i can understand students who live in RC click w/ each other a lot more but since its a big class there should be tons of students like myself not living in RC n hopefully be able to make freinds... I am surprised u found students being competitive cuz so far i've always heard during all of my interviews that students really help out each other in the school...

 

[DrSpontaneouz83]

I was told the same thing, but depending on the class you have things can change. Apparently the class ahead of mine was very friendly as a whole and helped each other out. My class..not so much. But yea, there is going to be a mixed bag of people. I hattttedddd the cold weather!! The area is rougher than PCO's environment though. There was just a shooting there not long ago, don't think anyone was hurt though.

 

[nnadia]

I also have to make decision between ICO and PCO. Shooting fact scares me. Is the area around the college safe?

 

[DrSpontaneouz83]

It's safe during regular hours....but after 8 or 9 in the evening, it gets very sketchy. There is constant surveillance and there are other schools in the vicinity, but it still looks pretty trashy lol. Unfortunately most schools are in the "ghetto" but i guess it comes with the institutions saving money. PCO's area wasn't that bad looking..just looks boring and depressing. But of course, with any city, you're never really "safe."

 

[Commando303]

In life, one is never really safe — 🙂.

Anyway, I've revived this thread only because I'm finding it useful in trying to decide whether to enroll in P.C.O. or I.C.O.