ICO Schedule

[Lone Wolf]

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Hey guys,
I was wondering if anyone currently in 1st year at ICO could give me an idea of what the weekly schedule is like. 8-5 monday-friday? What days do you have labs on and approx how long are they...do you have quizzes/exams every week? Any information along these lines would be great!
Thanks!

 

[1559]

first year

First quarter-take 6 classes. Class from 2-6 m-f. 2 labs per week in the mornings. Labs are about 2 hrs long each. Once things start rolling there are 3 exams a week and usually one quiz per week.

Second quarter-6 classes 2-6 m-f. 3 labs per week in the am. 2-3 exams per week. More quizzes per week than 1st quarter.

Third quarter-5 classes 2-6 m-thurs. No class/lab on fridays. 3 labs per week in the am. 2 exams per week, and a couple quizzes per week.

I'm a first year so I couldn't tell ya about the other years.

 

[netmag]

What time does the day start? It sounds like the labs/exams/quizzes are in the mornings then? What's the primary difference between a quiz and an exam...just the size of the test?

Sorry for all the questions. Your post was already pretty informative.

 

[1559]

Well usually you'll have lab twice a week. One morning you'll have 2 labs starting at 9 and going to about 1. Then another day of the week you'll have a third lab either 9-11 or 11-1. Then everyday of the week you'll head to class at 2. By exams I mean actual tests for the courses we take, they start at 8am and go to 850. The quizzes are mostly lab quizzes.

 

[imemily]

Is it essential to attend the classes, or can one use online notes/textbook materials to teach themselves?

I've done this with my intro to physics courses and I had more free time, yet I managed to do well.

 

[Mewcakes]

Is it essential to attend the classes, or can one use online notes/textbook materials to teach themselves?

I've done this with my intro to physics courses and I had more free time, yet I managed to do well.

I think it's within your best interest to actually go to class. You're paying for it, aren't you? Might as well go. Intro to physics = weak sauce compared to optometry school. I don't go to ICO, but I'm sure you will find that there are certain classes that you can get by without attending. But you can't skip all of them. We have at least one student that I know of who regularly skips ALL the lectures and I think they are struggling. And it's going to get harder, it's only our first year.

Plus, what would you do in your free time? Sleep? Eat? Shop for food? (That's what I do in my spare time) Sure, I spend a significant amount of time zoning out, but not so much that I need to skip classes to fill my daily zone quota. Even if you have a family that needs taking care of, if you can't set aside enough time to go to your classes, then it might not be a good time for you to go to Optometry school yet. If you feel you have other things in your life that require your attention such that you prefer to skip classes to tend them, again, it might not be the right time in your life for you to go.

 

[1559]

I agree with mewcakes, you really are better off going to all of your classes. Having said that, there are a small handful of classes that you could skip and study on your own and do fine. I know some people that only attend the truly un-skippable classes, and they do well. It probably adds to the stress though because they are always asking if they missed anything. I guess in the end its up to you and your study habits, you're paying a ton of money to be there so you may as well go.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Have any Canadians planning on attending ICO gone to get their student loans yet? If so, what bank did you go to and what information/resources did you need to secure a student line of credit for such a large amount?

 

[Commando303]

I think it's within your best interest to actually go to class.

I agree with mewcakes, you really are better off going to all of your classes.

I know I've isolated both these comments, and that both posters do go on to soften their claims, but, just to respond to this suggestion you "should go to classes," I'll say, don't bother taking advice from anyone on the matter: you'll figure it out, for yourself, and that's the only way you can. At first, you'll likely attend everything; that's the way it should be. With a bit of time, though, you'll understand what scheduling suits you, and, at that point, it'll be irrelevant what happens to be right for others.