Interview help?

[tanin]

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I am going for an interview for optometry. Shouls I tell them that I am applying to pharmacy school too? 😕

 

[rpames]

There is no place for them to find out if you have applied to other programs, so NO, don't bring it up. Someone could make an argument that you need to tell them if they directly ask, but from a purely strategic stance, they don't need to know. But of course, you do need to know what you want, is it an OD or a PharmD?

 

[s4l]

I completely agree with rpames! Part of the reason you are interviewing is to express your interest in optometry. All schools want to be sure that you really want to be a part of the optometric profession. If you seem divided, the school may think that you will not be able to stick with the program when things get rough (believe me, it isn't easy!). If you leave, so does your money, leaving the school with a monetary loss they cannot make up. Good luck with your decision!

 

[ariel winter]

well put. exactly right on. 👍

There is no place for them to find out if you have applied to other programs, so NO, don't bring it up. Someone could make an argument that you need to tell them if they directly ask, but from a purely strategic stance, they don't need to know. But of course, you do need to know what you want, is it an OD or a PharmD?

 

[tanin]

Thank you all, you helped a lot. 😍

 

[rpames]

They will probably ask you if you looked at other professions so be ready to defend your choice in optometry. It is good to say that you have considered other fields b/c that shows you are not just jumping in with out knowing anything, but as I said above, be sure you are ready to answer the questions, "So, if you are so interested in pharmacy, why not do that?"

 

[quailman]

How do you know that there is no way for them to find out what other schools you apply to? I'm sortof in this predicament, too. I'm thinking about applying to pharmacy school as backup in case I don't get into optometry school. I haven't done it yet, though.

 

[gsinccom]

I agree with rpames advice and will also say...you must consider quailman that pharmacy school may be even tougher to get into than optometry school this year (pharmDs are in extreme demand and so admission is more competitive than ever). if you to choose to be a pharmD thats one thing but doing it cause its easier to get into may not be true and/or the way you'll find career satisfaction.

 

[quailman]

I agree about the pharmacy competitiveness. The only reason pharmacy would be easier, in my particular case, to be accepted into is because I did very well on the PCAT, whereas I only made a 340 on the OAT (which is still above average for UHCO). So who knows.

All through college I've battled on whether I'd want to go to optometry or pharmacy school ... and the answer is always optometry. But ... if I didn't get accepted to optometry school, then pharmacy wouldn't be a bad alternative (better than no school at all). UHCO is the only optometry school I'm applying to because I need to stay in Texas, and my fiance is at Houston Law. Optometry is what I want to do, but pharmacy is safer. What I really want to do is not apply to any pharmacy schools and see what happens when I just apply to UHCO. Scary.