How important is an Alumni Network?

[brandnewish]

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I am currently trying to decide between multiple schools, so far to me it has seemed like ultimately the success of me as an optometrists depends mostly on me. i understand that professors and resources at schools are a contributing factor, etc.. but I was recently thinking: How important is an Alumni network when finding a job after graduation? did any of you find jobs using alumni networks?

thanks

 

[optsuker]

It helps, but there are a lot more resources that I think are better. The state association being tops. Being a fellow alum may be the tie-breaker in getting a position though.

There are a lot of reasons to avoid the new schools if you have another option, but the alumni network is a ways down the list.

I still strongly feel that choosing one of the new schools if you've been accepted to one of the established programs is a HUGE mistake.

 

[brandnewish]

I understand that a lot of people on here are opposed to the opening of the new schools and everyone says to "not go to them". im not defending them, im just trying to make a decision. you say that picking a new school is a "huge mistake" but no body is really giving reasons or facts. I interviewed at new and old schools, the only difference i could see was the obvious newer and nicer facilities with the newer schools. most of the staff are professors from the "older" school such as scco and new england. so if someone could give me some reasons why the new schools are a "huge mistake" that would be helpful.

 

[optsuker]

Why take unnecessary risks with your education?

The large # of unknowns makes attending ANY new optometry school riskier.

Several of the newest OD schools had accreditation problems when they first opened. It varied from entire classes having to taking courses over to finding variety in clinical experiences for their 4th year students.

It takes years to develop a good network of 4th year rotations. You don't want to be "sharing" a patient with 5 other clinicians. Managing difficult cases from start to finish is what makes you a better doctor.

There is also a large % of OD's who felt that there was no need for additional schools and their grads will be viewed poorly as those who should not have been accepted to any program. (You'll be seen as the "bottom of the barrel"). This, along with no alumni network of OD's, will make finding a good position more difficult.

So much of the new schools' pitch is marketing fluff. It looks impressive to the naive applicants, but is mostly posturing. Western is the worst offender at this. As your personal optometrist what he/she thinks.

Many feel that all 3 of the new programs were set up by universities looking to improve their status/increase profits and never did a market analysis to determine if there was a need for more OD's.