In Which Program Are You?

[Commando303]

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To which program did you apply, or in which program are you enrolled: O.D., O.D./M.S., or O.D./Ph.D.?

Thanks.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

This is a good idea for a thread lol. I would like to talk to a current Od/PhD student.

 

[Commando303]

So, twelve responses, so far, all for O.D. Am I justified in suspecting, from this sampling, only a small percentage of optometry students opt to pursue a Ph.D. or even a Master's degree?

 

[achirum]

So, twelve responses, so far, all for O.D. Am I justified in suspecting, from this sampling, only a small percentage of optometry students opt to pursue a Ph.D. or even a Master's degree?

Well there are only about 8 or fewer students at Suny in the MS OD program. As for the PhD - OD program, that is extremely challenging and most students are already overwhelmed with the OD curriculum and stay far away from that. At SUNY, there are none. At least in my class.

 

[Commando303]

Well there are only about 8 or fewer students at Suny in the MS OD program. As for the PhD - OD program, that is extremely challenging and most students are already overwhelmed with the OD curriculum and stay far away from that. At SUNY, there are none. At least in my class.

Isn't the O.D./Ph.D. program the same as the O.D./M.S., except you need a couple of extra years to earn the Ph.D. (whereas the M.S. is granted after four years, alongside the O.D.)?

 

[OD4eyes]

Unless you want to teach optometry, you will need your PHD. I ask many ODs if it was beneficial getting your OD/MS or OD/PHD and they basically put it this way; "Do want to research or see patients?"

 

[achirum]

Isn't the O.D./Ph.D. program the same as the O.D./M.S., except you need a couple of extra years to earn the Ph.D. (whereas the M.S. is granted after four years, alongside the O.D.)?

MS students take one extra class during each semester and spend I believe either one or 2 summers doing research.

For PhD, its much more difficult as you need to be involved in research throughout the duration of the year in addition to extra classes. Not only that, but there is some kind of I don't know how to call it 'situation?' where you may not finish your OD or PhD in 4 years. But in fact, could take you a couple of extra years to finish up both programs.

Because think about it. OD is a degree in an of itself and obviously requires you to be a full time OD student. PhD is the same sort of business. So its kind of like that how to be in 2 places at the same time kind of thing.

Edit: from the SUNY site:

"The ability to obtain both the O.D. degree and the Ph.D. degree concurrently in 6-7 years."

That doesn't mean that after 4 years you are an OD and you finish the PHD in the remaining 2-3 years. It means you will finish up both degrees in a 6-7 year period.

Anyways, as was stated above, unless you really want to teach (which I don't even think all the clinic instructors have PhDs), there really isn't all that much benefit to getting a PhD let alone an MS.

I guess it would look nice hanging on your office wall though.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Well there are only about 8 or fewer students at Suny in the MS OD program. As for the PhD - OD program, that is extremely challenging and most students are already overwhelmed with the OD curriculum and stay far away from that. At SUNY, there are none. At least in my class.

No current OD/PhD's in your class at SUNY? 👎 🙁

I would like to go for an OD/PhD if i can, but i guess i have some time to consider it. Not only would i like to teach, but i would like to research also. But ofcourse i would want to see patients as well.

Also i thought there are professors at optometry schools that are only OD's? Are they full time? or adjuncts? anyone know?

 

[OpticalBlackOut]

No current OD/PhD's in your class at SUNY? 👎 🙁

I would like to go for an OD/PhD if i can, but i guess i have some time to consider it. Not only would i like to teach, but i would like to research also. But ofcourse i would want to see patients as well.

Also i thought there are professors at optometry schools that are only OD's? Are they full time? or adjuncts? anyone know?

Here, the ODs are usually associate professors or they only teach clinical courses/labs. The didactic courses are usually still taught by PhDs

 

[achirum]

No current OD/PhD's in your class at SUNY? 👎 🙁

I would like to go for an OD/PhD if i can, but i guess i have some time to consider it. Not only would i like to teach, but i would like to research also. But ofcourse i would want to see patients as well.

Also i thought there are professors at optometry schools that are only OD's? Are they full time? or adjuncts? anyone know?

OD's teach labs. All the other courses are taught by OD/PhD and PhD. Some of the OD's teach during the week and run a private practice outside the school. Other OD's teach courses and run clinic floors inside the school. It's really a huge combination of different scenarios.