Hospital?

[nbwkobe8]

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Hi guys, currently I am in a volunteer program at a hospital in a med/surge department and plan on spending time in the ER department as well as operating room during my 240 hours I will be there.

I enrolled in this volunteer program because at the time I was planning on going to med school. I have changed my mind though and am 100% committed to going to optometry school.

Is it still beneficial for me to finish out the 240 hour volunteer program? After all, I get a letter of rec if I finish the 240 hours. Will this kind of volunteer work do anything to strengthen my application?

Yes, I am already shadowing and have minimal, but increasing, volunteer experience in an optometry clinic.

 

[sportsdude00]

Hi guys, currently I am in a volunteer program at a hospital in a med/surge department and plan on spending time in the ER department as well as operating room during my 240 hours I will be there.

I enrolled in this volunteer program because at the time I was planning on going to med school. I have changed my mind though and am 100% committed to going to optometry school.

Is it still beneficial for me to finish out the 240 hour volunteer program? After all, I get a letter of rec if I finish the 240 hours. Will this kind of volunteer work do anything to strengthen my application?

Yes, I am already shadowing and have minimal, but increasing, volunteer experience in an optometry clinic.

I was in a similiar situation before I decided to apply to optometry school, and I found it very beneficial to complete the program I was in. Not only do you have the recommendation, but you also have experience in a professional health setting. Though its not specifically in optometry, I still think its beneficial that you have that experience working with patients. As long as you have a bit of optometry shadowing/experience when you apply, you can use that all in your applcation/interview to show them you've had health profession related experience that makes you a good candidate.

 

[blysssful]

I was in a similiar situation before I decided to apply to optometry school, and I found it very beneficial to complete the program I was in. Not only do you have the recommendation, but you also have experience in a professional health setting. Though its not specifically in optometry, I still think its beneficial that you have that experience working with patients. As long as you have a bit of optometry shadowing/experience when you apply, you can use that all in your applcation/interview to show them you've had health profession related experience that makes you a good candidate.

Agreed. It also gives you a platform to say why you're more interested in opto than med. Although, obviously get as much optometry shadowing under your belt as you can.

 

[IndianaOD]

Just get a decent OAT and undergrad GPA and it doesn't matter. Heck the new schools probably don't even need that.

 

[OpticalBlackOut]

After all, I get a letter of rec if I finish the 240 hours.

You might want to be careful there. If it's a generic letter of recommendation, that really doesn't strengthen your application very much.

 

[Quin2012]

Find an optometric practice who does not mind training you as a tech. Hands down, this will give you the experience you need. 6 out of 6 techs who have applied to optometry school where I work have been accepted to their school of choice and none of them had previous experience, only the desire to become an O.D.. If you choose to go this route, make sure the practice lets you have a lot of hands on and not just checking VA's and dilating. (Ie, tonometry, refractions, working with a visual field machine, HRT, OCT, B-scan, pachymetry) It may seem like overkill to some people but its a sure way to get accepted into optometry school. Do a good job, get to know the doc(s) and you'll get your recommendation.