Introduction / Newbie

[pgomezjr]

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Hi All,

About me - Latino soon-to-be 26 yr old w/ a B.S in Economics & M.S in Information Technology Management. In college veered away from my original goal of Optometry and am now refocused on achieving that goal and career.

What I want – Unabashedly am looking for the “path of least resistance” of getting into an optometry program – foreign or domestic. Not concerned w/ the brand name, looking for the experience that will eventually lead me to get licensed and able to practice. Would like your suggestions about finding this path.

As far as the standard prereq’s - which I’ve come across through preliminary google searches – I have the bio, stats, finance, calc, humanities under my belt – however lacking the chem., biochem etc... – are these true prereq’s for ALL programs, both foreign and domestic? If not, where exactly are they more lenient?
Either by not requiring them, or letting me make up for them later.

***I’d like to clarify that I’m not opposed to putting in the work, but If there is a “path of least resistance” I’d prefer to take it if it exists. I’d love to be your local mall optometrist (which I’ve noticed doesn’t get much love on this board) , It’s what originally appealed to me and the I-banking industry is running me ragged.

Thanks in advance, all comments will be greatly appreciated.

-sorry if i posted in the wrong board.

 

[KHE]

Hi All,

About me - Latino soon-to-be 26 yr old w/ a B.S in Economics & M.S in Information Technology Management. In college veered away from my original goal of Optometry and am now refocused on achieving that goal and career.

What I want – Unabashedly am looking for the “path of least resistance” of getting into an optometry program – foreign or domestic. Not concerned w/ the brand name, looking for the experience that will eventually lead me to get licensed and able to practice. Would like your suggestions about finding this path.

As far as the standard prereq’s - which I’ve come across through preliminary google searches – I have the bio, stats, finance, calc, humanities under my belt – however lacking the chem., biochem etc... – are these true prereq’s for ALL programs, both foreign and domestic? If not, where exactly are they more lenient?
Either by not requiring them, or letting me make up for them later.

***I’d like to clarify that I’m not opposed to putting in the work, but If there is a “path of least resistance” I’d prefer to take it if it exists. I’d love to be your local mall optometrist (which I’ve noticed doesn’t get much love on this board) , It’s what originally appealed to me and the I-banking industry is running me ragged.

Thanks in advance, all comments will be greatly appreciated.

-sorry if i posted in the wrong board.

Is there something in particular that is attacting you to being the "mall optometrist?"

 

[IndianaOD]

The prereqs are requirments.

If you want to be a mall OD don't apply to school. Leave a space for someone who wants a CAREER.

 

[eyestrain]

Do you think working 7 days a week in the mall will run you any less ragged?

 

[JAZZEYE]

Please elaborate as to why this position is so attractive to you. I personally am one who believes commercial Optometry has its place and is not as evil as some others think it is.... but I can't imagine why anyone would view working at a big box as anything more than a job that would hopefully give you the finance and experience that leads to a career in private practice where you can choose how you ideally want to practice.

 

[pgomezjr]

That particular medium was my initial exposure to optometry and for gutteral reasons its the profession that I was always attracted to. I find that i've always thought of an optometrist as an honorable position and imagine it to be fulfilling...I'm entrepreneurial by nature and would hope to one day open up my own practice, but find nothing wrong with working in that setting since its what originally appealed to me - i also imagine that it would help me get settled into my career and finances after graduation.

Hope this answers your questions - now hopefully some can answer mine

 

[JAZZEYE]

Fair enough ...hope you find this helpful.

http://www.opted.org/prerequisites.pdf

Buena suerte

 

[KHE]

That particular medium was my initial exposure to optometry and for gutteral reasons its the profession that I was always attracted to. I find that i've always thought of an optometrist as an honorable position and imagine it to be fulfilling...I'm entrepreneurial by nature and would hope to one day open up my own practice, but find nothing wrong with working in that setting since its what originally appealed to me - i also imagine that it would help me get settled into my career and finances after graduation.

Hope this answers your questions - now hopefully some can answer mine

If you are entrepreneurial, then there is no reason you can't enter private practice right away after graduation.

 

[pgomezjr]

KHE, JazzEyes - thanks for the constructive comments; point taken about the private practice, I guess It's a push most OD's would like to see. Maybe one I'll eventaully adopt once I progress.

Any information/view points about these prereqs as they pertain to overseas school's/programs? Any in particular that you would suggest?

Once again thanks

 

[blueeyedOD]

Except Puerto Rico, I don't think it would do you any good to do an overseas program. The programs in England, Australia, etc. are mostly B.S. degrees (as far as I know) and you would not be certified to practice in the U.S. without an O.D. degree from a U.S. school. If you want to live abroad and work there, then it would be fine. Just keep in mind that other countries don't allow their optometrists with B.S. degrees to treat disease, only refract.

 

[eyestrain]

Well, the OP did say they were looking for the "path of least resistance" to get into and through optometry school and then said they'd "love" to be a mall optometrist. Not exactly what optometry schools should be looking for.

 

[IndianaOD]

Well, the OP did say they were looking for the "path of least resistance" to get into and through optometry school and then said they'd "love" to be a mall optometrist. Not exactly what optometry schools should be looking for.

Thank you.

 

[qwopty99]

the future will see more of this type of applicant - the one who wants to be an OD in a mall.

think about it. as commercial becomes more prevalent, there soon will be an entire population of patients who grew up only knowing that kind of optometrist.

some of them will want to optometrists, the type that work in commercial locations, just like the ones they visited.

it'll happen.

just like with the OP.

i think commercial is here to stay.

 

[eyestrain]

Sure, commercial is here to stay. That doesn't mean the schools should be admitting students who aspire to be mall docs. That being said, I'm convinced that a bunch of students in my class wanted nothing more than commercial gigs right from the start.

 

[CaribbeanEye]

Except Puerto Rico, I don't think it would do you any good to do an overseas program.

FYI, Puerto Rico isn't overseas. It's in the Caribbean and has 4 million US citizens living here. Add to the fact that it is a US territory and no passport is required to travel to and from the mainland.

Anyhow, to get back to helping pgomezjr. If you know some spanish Puerto Rico may be a very attractive option for you. It really depends if your personality fits the environment here. Living and going to school here is a definite change of pace. It seems people from the mainland either love it or hate it. On the one hand the island is very beautiful and the people very nice. On the other, there are a lot of little inconveniences living here.

The most important thing I can advise you to do is visit the island first if you decide on coming to school here. If you want more info on PR feel free to ask here in the forums or pm.

 

[subedude]

I was just wondering...why does everyone bash commercial optometry??? I mean, maybe I'm young and naive but what's the problem with someone wanting to go commercial??? I mean I understand the mall situation may suck if you really have to work every day of the week, but is that always the case?? I personally want to go commercial just because I really don't want the responsibility of running my own business, I mean why does everyone HAVE to own their own practice in order to be a "good" optometrist? Maybe I do still have a lot to learn, but I really think if someone wants to be a mall optometrist, and that makes them happy..then go for it..they don't need people like IndianaOD telling them not to apply to optometry school, which is the dumbest/rudest thing I've heard by the way..you should definitely keep your opinions to yourself..

 

[eyestrain]

Well subedude, I think a lot of the issue is the image it presents. Optometry is going to have a hard time gaining respect when docs are charging as much for an eye exam as a pedicure costs next door.

I think its fine that you don't want the responsibility of running your own business, but will things be any better for you working mall hours 6 or 7 days a week? Doubt it.

Did you tell the the person you interviewed with about your dream of working commercial when you interviewed at the school?

 

[subedude]

I haven't interviewed yet because I'm applying next year..but I see your point about working 6-7 days a week..for me personally, I wouldn't want that either but I wouldn't mind working at any other commercial place if the days were any better..basically, I'm not a businessman is what I'm trying to say..and I wouldn't mind telling that to whoever interviews me because I don't think they assume every graduating optometrist opens their own practice right away..maybe I would after I've worked commercial for a while if I feel I'd be better off...thanks for not being obnoxious...by the way, do all commercial optometrists usually work 6-7 days a week?

 

[eyestrain]

I have no way of saying one if all work 6-7 days/week or not. From what I've learned though, if you are at a busy location, they'll want you there as much as possible. And then if you don't agree to it, they can always pull the lease out from under you.

 

[IndianaOD]

I was just wondering...why does everyone bash commercial optometry??? I mean, maybe I'm young and naive but what's the problem with someone wanting to go commercial??? I mean I understand the mall situation may suck if you really have to work every day of the week, but is that always the case?? I personally want to go commercial just because I really don't want the responsibility of running my own business, I mean why does everyone HAVE to own their own practice in order to be a "good" optometrist? Maybe I do still have a lot to learn, but I really think if someone wants to be a mall optometrist, and that makes them happy..then go for it..they don't need people like IndianaOD telling them not to apply to optometry school, which is the dumbest/rudest thing I've heard by the way..you should definitely keep your opinions to yourself..

Because your poor decision to make money for a commercial entity hurts me and all other professional private ODs. Commercial places lower the value of an eye exam by charging unprofessional fees and taking low ball insurances. The image of working at a mall or walmart or eyeglass world hurts us all. It causes patients to second guess our education and qualifications.

It it hard to see why it bothers me so much. You are crapping on all my hard work and investment in 9 years of education (residency) by going that route.

 

[qwopty99]

Because your poor decision to make money for a commercial entity hurts me and all other professional private ODs. Commercial places lower the value of an eye exam by charging unprofessional fees and taking low ball insurances. The image of working at a mall or walmart or eyeglass world hurts us all. It causes patients to second guess our education and qualifications.

It it hard to see why it bothers me so much. You are crapping on all my hard work and investment in 9 years of education (residency) by going that route.

optometry doesn't exist in a vacuum. what do you think would happen to the world of eyecare if optometrists were to suddenly leave all these commercial locations?

it is certainly preferable that an optometrist work at Lenscrafters, than a refracting optician.

don't think Lenscrafters/WM etc. haven't thought of supporting optician rights to refract. they have, but cost analysis of potential lawsuits have kept the status quo (e.g. You mean u could have elected to have an OD prescribe, but instead, made it your mandate from a cost-savings perspective to permit less-qualified opticians to prescribe - which led to this person to lose their eye? Decision to Plaintiff in the amount 50 million dollars...).

these commericial entities would do away with ODs in a second if they could. we all know that. but the alternative is to have opticians do the work instead. that would hurt u, the PP OD far worse than any WM OD.

btw - i work as an associate in PP, which i think is just like u and many others who claim to be a supporter of PP. but u gotta be realistic. i believe in market forces, and i believe they apply to the world of optometry. ODs will be in commercial, cause jobs are available there.

 

[rodomon]

Nothing in the US will fit well; you definitely need organic chemistry before you go to optometry school for every school, which AFAIK always has general chemistry as a prerequisite, so if you have truly no chem, that's usually 2 years of school (possibly 1 if you take classes in the summer in addition to the regular fall and spring). Same thing with biochem, and it usually has mid-level biology prerequisites.

Therefore, if you stay in the US, you're looking at a minimum of a whole year of pretty tough classes after taking the prereqs for them (o-chem and biochem are among the hardest undergrad classes most people take). Plus, you'd probably have to work night/evening jobs as those classes usually are not offered in the evenings at most schools I know, especially with the labs (although it might be a faint possibility).

As far as foreign programs, I'm very, very ignorant, although I've heard European ones are more along the lines of BS degrees (not graduate ones) and Asian optometry schools are practically nonexistant (they either have techs using autorefractors or the equivalent of opthalmologists). Here's a list of worldwide optometric schools from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_optometry_schools

Either way, I think you'd have to do more work in the end if you go foreign (transferring credits between schools is hard enough within the US, and if you go to another country you'll probably have to do pretty much the whole 4 undergrad years again). Although it's probably worth looking at all of the schools listed on Wikipedia, visiting their websites, possibly calling their admissions office, etc. to see if they could possibly save you some effort. Spending a few hours now surfing the web and calling around could save you years of work down the road.

Although, as has been mentioned, a degree in optometry school in a foreign country might not allow you to practice in the US, so if that's your goal, you'll want to research that as well.

As far as what everybody else says, it's your life; live it how you want. It's good to be open-minded and consider the opinions of others, especially if they are more experienced, but in the end, it's the only ~50 more years you're ever going to get, so do what you want with it. Of course, you should take into consideration the lives of others, but that's more along the lines of don't kill people rather than don't slightly and indirectly harm your fellow optometrists.

Sigh, only 2 of 19 non-OP replies semi-answered the original question (Jazzeye and CaribbeanEye), and actually neither of those really discussed what he seemed really interested in, prereqs (Jazzeye did link to it, though). This board can be so depressing.

 

[docwatson]

don't think Lenscrafters/WM etc. haven't thought of supporting optician rights to refract. they have, but cost analysis of potential lawsuits have kept the status quo (e.g. You mean u could have elected to have an OD prescribe, but instead, made it your mandate from a cost-savings perspective to permit less-qualified opticians to prescribe - which led to this person to lose their eye? Decision to Plaintiff in the amount 50 million dollars...).

these commericial entities would do away with ODs in a second if they could. we all know that. but the alternative is to have opticians do the work instead. that would hurt u, the PP OD far worse than any WM OD.

I don't think it would quite work like that. It would be understood that the patient is not seeing a doctor. They are only getting a refraction--period. I just can't see opticians looking in the eyes since that's doctor territory. The law is not without reason. Of course we all hear of these ridiculous lawsuits but they aren't the norm and often times you don't hear the results.

I know an OD/JD and he is all about what is reasonable. I know he would argue that suing an refracting optician for missing a tumor is not reasonable. It would be like suing an optometrist for a tumor in the gums. If it ain't your area, then obviously there is no lawsuit.

So I can see the corporate entities supporting the idea of putting in refracting opticians.

However... Wouldn't it be a whole lot easier to support the current system instead of trying to change the law--at least for them anyway? Might be kind of hard to change the law for a corporate entity because it would only come across of extremely self serving. "Wal-Mart supports refracting opticians" would only come across as a money making decision.

Seems to me that it would be a whole lot easier to increase the supply of ODs by supporting new schools or even BUYING a school. What is to stop Wal-Mart or Luxottica from donating $10,000,000 to build a new optometry school? What is to stop them from building their OWN school? Why not? Other corporations do things like this ALL the time. Hewlett Packard has donated millions over the years to my engineering alma mater and it's not like they get anything out of it directly. It's not like they have exclusive rights to the graduates. I can see Wally or Lux donating millions themselves... What can we do about it? Not much.

I don't think any complaining about the choices optometrist's make is going to do any good. I think our energy should be directed towards things we can change like the law. If you don't like commercial influence in optometry, then ban it. It can be done because it has been done. We optometrists can always fall back on what is in the best interest of society because we are doctors and we care about their health...

Sorry if I'm contributing to changing the subject... 🙂

 

[qwopty99]

Hi

no, i think u misunderstand me. you answered ur misunderstanding of my premise, in ur reply.

I don't think it would quite work like that. It would be understood that the patient is not seeing a doctor. They are only getting a refraction--period. I just can't see opticians looking in the eyes since that's doctor territory. The law is not without reason. Of course we all hear of these ridiculous lawsuits but they aren't the norm and often times you don't hear the results.

I know an OD/JD and he is all about what is reasonable. I know he would argue that suing an refracting optician for missing a tumor is not reasonable. It would be like suing an optometrist for a tumor in the gums. If it ain't your area, then obviously there is no lawsuit.

So I can see the corporate entities supporting the idea of putting in refracting opticians.

However... Wouldn't it be a whole lot easier to support the current system instead of trying to change the law--at least for them anyway? Might be kind of hard to change the law for a corporate entity because it would only come across of extremely self serving. "Wal-Mart supports refracting opticians" would only come across as a money making decision.

exactly. but the patient doesn't sue the optician, they would sue WM. because WM decided to put in refracting opticians as merely a "money making decision". and because of that, the patient lost their eye. WM would lose that type of case (too many examples in corporate america to list). which is why they haven't done anything to permit optician refraction in their stores yet.

 

[IndianaOD]

Heck yeah, if WM got refracting opticians I'd be enrolled in law school the next year. Take those @#%* for everything they had. (which is a lot 😱)

 

[broadway]

optometry doesn't exist in a vacuum. what do you think would happen to the world of eyecare if optometrists were to suddenly leave all these commercial locations?

it is certainly preferable that an optometrist work at Lenscrafters, than a refracting optician.

don't think Lenscrafters/WM etc. haven't thought of supporting optician rights to refract. they have, but cost analysis of potential lawsuits have kept the status quo (e.g. You mean u could have elected to have an OD prescribe, but instead, made it your mandate from a cost-savings perspective to permit less-qualified opticians to prescribe - which led to this person to lose their eye? Decision to Plaintiff in the amount 50 million dollars...).

these commericial entities would do away with ODs in a second if they could. we all know that. but the alternative is to have opticians do the work instead. that would hurt u, the PP OD far worse than any WM OD.

btw - i work as an associate in PP, which i think is just like u and many others who claim to be a supporter of PP. but u gotta be realistic. i believe in market forces, and i believe they apply to the world of optometry. ODs will be in commercial, cause jobs are available there.

I heard that lenscrafters was fighting against opticians.(they don't want to pay $60,000) They don't pay optoms, they lease space to them.

 

[qwopty99]

umm.

opticians WORK (present tense) at lenscrafters...