How many hours?

[raleighzia]

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How many shadowing and volunteer hours do you guys think is sufficient? I asked the different schools and they say no set number but when I throw a number out there, they say no that's not enough and then they won't give me an approximate number.

 

[lsmc888]

what numbers do you usually "throw out there"
im kinda curious as well to how much is enough

 

[raleighzia]

I just said 8 I knew this was no where near the number I just wanted to get an answer out of them.

 

[samstown]

According to the SCCO guidelines, 1-2 days would be enough to get a feel for what the profession is like. Maybe some school want more, but I guess it's best to contact them directly to find out!

 

[quackquack]

Last time I read somewhere (i don't remember, might have been a website for a school) it was like 20hours at least. But... nevermind what they tell you the minimum is. Doing more hours will *always* help. I mean you get a bunch of people who did the "required" hours... and then you get someone who has done a lot more. Well my guess is that considering all things equal, you are going to look better.

 

[lsmc888]

yeah, 8 is not a lot, but just do as much as possible. they want to see that you are actively considering becoming an optometrist so the more the better

 

[kiwi5frog]

According to the SCCO guidelines, 1-2 days would be enough to get a feel for what the profession is like. Maybe some school want more, but I guess it's best to contact them directly to find out!

oh absolutely not. this is not what SCCO meant when they said 1-2 days is enough. They meant 1-2 days PER OPTOMETRIST. meaning, they value you doing 1-2 days with as many different optomestrists and you can find/handle which should amount to a sizeable amount of hours.

 

[Mewcakes]

Isn't there a recommended minimum of 30 hours? Isn't this stated somewhere in the application somewhere...? Or maybe it's PUCO I'm thinking of...well either way, shoot for minimum of 30 hours, though remember, this is BARE minimum.

 

[samstown]

oh absolutely not. this is not what SCCO meant when they said 1-2 days is enough. They meant 1-2 days PER OPTOMETRIST. meaning, they value you doing 1-2 days with as many different optomestrists and you can find/handle which should amount to a sizeable amount of hours.

Well according to Dr. Munroe's Prescription for Success, she writes, "Shadowing can be done in a 1-2 day experience." Period.

Obviously the more hours you do the better, but as long as you can fulfill your shadowing objectives, which she lists, she thinks your okay. Of course, she's only one person within the SCCO admissions committee, so other members may not see 1-2 days as being so favourable.

 

[lsmc888]

most of the places ive talked to say that you should do what you feel is enough for you to get a feel of what optometry is and to make your decision.

 

[thecgrblue]

Pacific Univ. wants at least 30 hours. That is a good rule of thumb I'd go by. I personally did 50 hrs and won't be doing anymore. As far as volunteering I have had the philosophy of frequency and not just one giant chunk of time. Though over my undergrad I have probably amassed 200 hours.

Just worry about being a good person and communicating that to the schools. I have friends that are hardcore about shadowing/EC's/OAT scores, etc and others that are a little lax about it...and they've all gotten in.

So...just do what you can and 🙂