How much EC experience is generally needed?

[HPDV6000]

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Hey again guys, sorry for spamming for forums too much but I'm just full of energy with a mind that wants to learn so here it is, how much EC experience is good?

Currently, I have:
100+ volunteer hours at a hospital
50+ shadowing hours (3 optometrists and 1 MD)
volunteering at the local church
play basketball for the community
AMSA, tri beta bio honor society member, pre-optometry club member

Does this look good enough to apply at an optometry school (not applying yet of course, I still have an other year)?

 

[Roffles]

When I applied, I had around 800 hours total of experience in the field. I had worked in an office with Optometrists and Ophthalmologists over the course of two summers with ten weeks of 40+ hours per week. You can add one for for this summer, my last summer before school starts. On top of my summer internships, I also did research in undergraduate (biofilm growth on contact lens materials) and lots of my own research in the field.

My GPA was a bit below average for my school, but my OAT and EC activities made up for it in just about every sense. Realistically, there is no roof for time spent on ECs. It puts you in an entirely different category of students, so do as much as you can!

 

[HPDV6000]

That's some nice dedication!

No one else wants to share their experiences? I really want to know how I measure up against the applicant pool.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Wow Roffles, talk about over kill 🙂.

I recently spoke to an optometrist i shadowed at SUNY and they mentioned you honestly dont need a whole lot. You just need a few hours in as many settings as possible. It might also be a good idea to shadow an ophthalmologist for some comparison and of course so you can know the differences / similarities.

I think you are fine with what you have though. Hopefully your 50 hours of OD shadowing is comprised of commercial, private, hospital etc...

 

[LedaLeda]

I just decided to go the Optometry route...and I'm a senior in college...so I don't have too much time. I went into Lenscrafters to shadow the optometrist and was offered a lab tech job on the spot. I think I will do that weekends, and volunteer at a free eye clinic as well. Do you guys think that'll be enough exposure? I'm also working part-time doing research at a medical school so I am sooo busy.

 

[iCandy]

I just decided to go the Optometry route...and I'm a senior in college...so I don't have too much time. I went into Lenscrafters to shadow the optometrist and was offered a lab tech job on the spot. I think I will do that weekends, and volunteer at a free eye clinic as well. Do you guys think that'll be enough exposure? I'm also working part-time doing research at a medical school so I am sooo busy.

That would be good. Keep in mind that, if you are getting paid as a lab tech, it would count as employment and not necessarily "shadowing/observation" experience (experience nonetheless though). It would be beneficial for you to shadow in a variety of optometric settings as well.

 

[HPDV6000]

Anyone who has been accepted into optometry school want to post what their ECs were like?

I have a feeling mine will be weak as I will only have 1 years worth of EC directly related to optometry... I don't want to fail to get in because of this...

 

[Eyes Only]

Anyone who has been accepted into optometry school want to post what their ECs were like?

I have a feeling mine will be weak as I will only have 1 years worth of EC directly related to optometry... I don't want to fail to get in because of this...

Calm down!

All the schools want to see is if you have some understanding of the role of an optometrist and the different practice modes.