Hello all. I was recently accepted to the IAUPR optometry program and am interested in the perspective of the current students in attendance. By that I mean the good, the bad, and the ugly. I would like to know about Bayamon, the professors, and the administration. Any tips about housing and purchasing of vehicles would also be welcomed.
InterAmerican University of PR optometry
- Thread starter Hearts777
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If you search for threads about this school a ton of them will come up.
Otherwise, wait for the fighting to begin! Lots of haters on here. I don't know anything about the school but trust me, you're better off searching the forum.
Otherwise, wait for the fighting to begin! Lots of haters on here. I don't know anything about the school but trust me, you're better off searching the forum.
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Find DrSpontaneous (not sure exactly how to spell his username). He's a 2013 IAUPR student and is one of few active PR students on this forum. He's fairly prolific in posts, you'll find him easily if he doesn't find you first.
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Thank you for the brief introduction Mewcakes, although you made me sound like a stalker. However, being on the school orientation committee..it's kinda my duty.
As for Hearts 777, read this post because there is a lot of information on here http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=732594
Bayamon, I am going to be honest, is definitely not what you see when viewing a Puerto Rico brochure lol. But the cost of living is very cheap, except for food, and we are only a 20 minute drive to beautiful beaches and the tourist friendly San Juan (most people are bilingual there). But you should be receiving housing information from the school soon...they have their own student apartment complex. If you decide to live off campus and may want to live with upper classmen, who are continually looking for roommates, I recommend you join the facebook group: IAUPR 2014 (search student organizations). On this FB site you will find all kinds of information, including cars, and many of the administrators are actively involved..they are very friendly and easy-going.
If you are considering purchasing a car, many people go to "Clasificados" which is the equivalent to Craigslist. However, with my experience I do not recommend it. Many 4th years are selling cars and I would definitely jump on that because some of the deals are GREAT. I went the other route and bought a used car from a dealership (expect to at least pay $3500 and up at a dealership).
The only bad I can think of is some of the professors may have thick accents when speaking English and it reflects on some of their test questions. But the test errors are not that bad where you do not understand what is being asked.
Two of the professors graduated from IAUPR and went on to do residencies in the states, such as SUNY and Berkeley (yes, they are pretty sharp lol). And most of the clinical professors are great ODs and 2 OMDs.
What will piss you off, is how long things take to be done in the island, including the institution. So if you're type A personality, much like myself, you may find yourself pulling your hair out the first couple of months. The island life is very chill and that is a term we are not very used to on the East Coast...so don't expect EXCELLENT customer service lol. And one last thing, the driving hear is very similar to NY...very aggressive. Ironically I don't see many accidents....but you get used to all this with time.
Best of luck with your decision making!
PM me if any other questions come up.
As for Hearts 777, read this post because there is a lot of information on here http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=732594
Bayamon, I am going to be honest, is definitely not what you see when viewing a Puerto Rico brochure lol. But the cost of living is very cheap, except for food, and we are only a 20 minute drive to beautiful beaches and the tourist friendly San Juan (most people are bilingual there). But you should be receiving housing information from the school soon...they have their own student apartment complex. If you decide to live off campus and may want to live with upper classmen, who are continually looking for roommates, I recommend you join the facebook group: IAUPR 2014 (search student organizations). On this FB site you will find all kinds of information, including cars, and many of the administrators are actively involved..they are very friendly and easy-going.
If you are considering purchasing a car, many people go to "Clasificados" which is the equivalent to Craigslist. However, with my experience I do not recommend it. Many 4th years are selling cars and I would definitely jump on that because some of the deals are GREAT. I went the other route and bought a used car from a dealership (expect to at least pay $3500 and up at a dealership).
The only bad I can think of is some of the professors may have thick accents when speaking English and it reflects on some of their test questions. But the test errors are not that bad where you do not understand what is being asked.
Two of the professors graduated from IAUPR and went on to do residencies in the states, such as SUNY and Berkeley (yes, they are pretty sharp lol). And most of the clinical professors are great ODs and 2 OMDs.
What will piss you off, is how long things take to be done in the island, including the institution. So if you're type A personality, much like myself, you may find yourself pulling your hair out the first couple of months. The island life is very chill and that is a term we are not very used to on the East Coast...so don't expect EXCELLENT customer service lol. And one last thing, the driving hear is very similar to NY...very aggressive. Ironically I don't see many accidents....but you get used to all this with time.
Best of luck with your decision making!
PM me if any other questions come up.
Thank you very much for your response. It is pleasant to hear positive things about the University, considering there is so much negativity that is spewed about it. I don't put much credence in those things, and wanted to hear about it from a student directly. I look forward to attending. Good luck to you.
Were you accepted anywhere else?
Yes I was... Salus U, which is the former PCO and SUNY. I have decided that because of the increasing hispanic population in the states it would be wise to attend the only bilingual school. Statistically speaking, it increases your salary and patient base. It is a personal and professional investment to attend IAUPR.
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Wow, congrats! Those are some great schools, but SUNY is so expensive. If you have great stats then I have no doubt you will be prepared to pass the boards 1st time around. The school is now starting to weed people out in order to ensure that NBEO scores go up...the accreditation committee is putting smoke under the schools butt. As a result the school has modified the curriculum and are pickier on acceptance.
My first time around I was accepted to NOVA, ICO, NECO, and PCO (Salus)..at the time I did not apply to IAUPR and I regret it!!
My first time around I was accepted to NOVA, ICO, NECO, and PCO (Salus)..at the time I did not apply to IAUPR and I regret it!!
I want to start by saying that I love this forum. I think it's the greatest thing to ever happen to pre-optometry students.
With that being said, I recently received an interview invitation to IAUPR and Google and SDN search results turned up a lot of good information by you DrSpontaneouz83, so I just want to basically post to thank you for answering a lot of questions I had in mind, and I will probably be bothering you more often if I get accepted into IAUPR 😀
I do have one question for now though, you said:
First time? As I understand, you're currently an IAUPR student, so why did you not go to any of the above mentioned? Also, why did you wait a year and then go to IAUPR? What's your story mister 😕
With that being said, I recently received an interview invitation to IAUPR and Google and SDN search results turned up a lot of good information by you DrSpontaneouz83, so I just want to basically post to thank you for answering a lot of questions I had in mind, and I will probably be bothering you more often if I get accepted into IAUPR 😀
I do have one question for now though, you said:
First time? As I understand, you're currently an IAUPR student, so why did you not go to any of the above mentioned? Also, why did you wait a year and then go to IAUPR? What's your story mister 😕
I just had my phone interview today with IAUPR and I believe it went well. Took about 15-20 minutes by which I answered his questions appropriately and straight to the point. The professor that interviewed me just came back from a conference trip so the interview process went fairly quickly (may be a positive aspect in my favor). He just asked me 4 questions:
1.) What made you interested in optometry?
2.) Explain the difference between an optometrist, ophthalmologist, and an optician.
3.) How do you feel about being required to learn Spanish at this institution and can you handle it?
4.) What would you do if you were not accepted this year?
However, does anyone know how long it takes to hear back from IAUPR if you've been accepted or not? I asked my interviewer and he said it should take about a month to hear back and if I haven't heard anything, to call again and find out. I'm hoping to find out if anyone has heard back any sooner?
1.) What made you interested in optometry?
2.) Explain the difference between an optometrist, ophthalmologist, and an optician.
3.) How do you feel about being required to learn Spanish at this institution and can you handle it?
4.) What would you do if you were not accepted this year?
However, does anyone know how long it takes to hear back from IAUPR if you've been accepted or not? I asked my interviewer and he said it should take about a month to hear back and if I haven't heard anything, to call again and find out. I'm hoping to find out if anyone has heard back any sooner?
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congrats on your interview!!! have you spoken with aaronisrahn, or keeshdawg? they are students at puerto rico.
Thanks for the info guys. Especially useful since I'm starting at IAUPR this year. Speaking of which, I haven't gotten any more info about when classes start. Classes start the beginning of August for this year? When should I plan on getting there?
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go to this thread, its a new IAUPR thread, as this one is a very old one.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=805769
we are currently discussing new info there.
ive sent you a PM.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=805769
we are currently discussing new info there.
ive sent you a PM.
