Im going to school for optic dispensing but id like to get into optometry....

[malleus336]

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Im wondering if I can get some advice here. Im recently enrolled in the Optics Dispensing program at American Career College and I will be done by October of this year. By then I will be a licensed optician but Im actually thinking of actually becoming an Optometrist. I was told that I need my BA and then 4 years of Optometry school. Im 24 years old and Im wondering if there is a certain school I should be going to for pre-opt education.....

Any suggestions and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JMU07]

you don't need a BA, you just need a bachelor's degree. Not all of the schools even require a degree but the vast majority do. It really doesn't matter even a little bit where you go to school as long as you keep your GPA up! Good luck.

 

[malleus336]

Thanks!
So it wouldn't matter if I went to a jc? Or do I need to go to a 4 year school? I dunno if I can afford a UC or even a Cal State....
I was looking to try to attend southern california school of optometry once I get my degree.

 

[kiwi5frog]

Thanks!
So it wouldn't matter if I went to a jc? Or do I need to go to a 4 year school? I dunno if I can afford a UC or even a Cal State....
I was looking to try to attend southern california school of optometry once I get my degree.

oh man...definitely use the search function on this forum. There are a MILLION threads about the JC VS University thing 😱. It would take you days to get through em all. 😴

Good luck on the long road ahead. 🙂👍

 

[malleus336]

Ill definitely do that.
Thanks. I dunno why I didn't think to do that.

 

[Mewcakes]

I know the jc vs university question has been asked. But usually it's in the situation of taking extra classes after university or the majority of prereq classes being taken at jc before transfer to university. What about just taking ALL the req'd classes at JC? With no intention of seeking a degree (AA)?

And to the OP: even if JC courses are okay, I would be very careful. I know a lot of people who transfered from JCs to my university and they often had a tough time transitioning with the teaching styles. I'm talking like straight C's the first couple quarters. Optometry school is notoriously intense, and going directly from JC to graduate program (if that is allowed without a transfer to a university) could be very...tricky. Though a university transfer could be expensive, you may consider financial aid. As a 24 yr old adult, if you're making an optician's salary, they might actually throw quite a bit of money your way. Assuming you file as an independant with minimal parental contribution. Consider it, I think it would prepare you much better.

 

[malleus336]

So going from a jc to graduate program sounds like it should be out of the question....but what about starting from a jc and then a transfer to say UCI, and from there, to opt school?
Ugh, I feel like I'm beginning to sound a little naïve....

 

[Ediddy]

malleus, if I were you I would pick out a few schools you are interested in attending and call their admittance office and ask about the school's stance on Jc. That will be much more reliable then the assumptions and opinions you're getting on these forums. With 3 brand new opt schools competing to fill their seats, you may find it is easier to get admitted then previously thought.
Best of luck to you!