Isn't optometry school just as difficult to get in to as Med School?

[Baaaark]

Someone told me that if you can't get into a med school, there's always alternatives like optometry. I thought this was condescending to the optometrists out there, especially the ones who wanted to be one all along.

So as far as grades and test scores go (I know its hard to compare two different tests), is getting admitted to optometry school any easier or more difficult than Med school?

I know also it depends on what specific college, but I'm just looking for a general answer. Thank you!

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[KHE]

Someone told me that if you can't get into a med school, there's always alternatives like optometry. I thought this was condescending to the optometrists out there, especially the ones who wanted to be one all along.

So as far as grades and test scores go (I know its hard to compare two different tests), is getting admitted to optometry school any easier or more difficult than Med school?

I know also it depends on what specific college, but I'm just looking for a general answer. Thank you!

Let's just leave it at this:

The top students in optometry schools would likely be competitive to most, if not all medical schools.

The middle students in optometry school would likely be competitive to many medical schools.

The bottom students in optometry schools would likely be competitive to few, if any medical schools.

Draw your own conclusions from that.

 

[pienfoo]

Let's just leave it at this:

The top students in optometry schools would likely be competitive to most, if not all medical schools.

The middle students in optometry school would likely be competitive to many medical schools.

The bottom students in optometry schools would likely be competitive to few, if any medical schools.

Draw your own conclusions from that.

i disagree, it's more realistic to bring everything down a notch. top students in opt schools would be competitive to some (definitely not most) med schools, mid opt students (ie, entering with ~3.4) would be comp at few medical schools.

in terms of competitiveness of getting into a professional school, this is how i see it in the following 4 fields:
medical > dentistry > optometry ~ pharmacy.

 

[qwopty99]

i disagree, it's more realistic to bring everything down a notch. top students in opt schools would be competitive to some (definitely not most) med schools, mid opt students (ie, entering with ~3.4) would be comp at few medical schools.

in terms of competitiveness of getting into a professional school, this is how i see it in the following 4 fields:
medical > dentistry > optometry ~ pharmacy.

If we are going to parse semantics, I think you're a lot closer to the reality.

Though I'd say the top opt students would be competitive at "many" med schools (less than "most", but more than "some"). Afterall, a 3.9 is a 3.9.

I agree with the rest of your assessment. Mid-opt students are competitive at a few (meaning, not many).

The borderline admitted students, basically none.

 

[deleted74029]

Its really useless comparing, just be happy with what you do. There will always be med school vs law school, dental school etc debates. Its just people trying to reassure themselves of their worth.

 

[alferec]

I know that there's at least one SDNer that has gone through optometry school and then decided to go to med school soon after graduating. I hope that person comes by this thread because I'd like to hear more about the comparison. I just can't remember who it was though, darn!!!

 

[panzer]

I know that there's at least one SDNer that has gone through optometry school and then decided to go to med school soon after graduating. I hope that person comes by this thread because I'd like to hear more about the comparison. I just can't remember who it was though, darn!!!

The thing I don't like about optometry is the uncertainity and the competition for patients with ophthalmologists. From what I have read on this board, optometry isn't even viable outside the US.

Why aren't optometrists and their parent associations working hard to get more rights for optometrists? Why not just close down the field if they can't fight for it????

 

[eyestrain]

The thing I don't like about optometry is the uncertainity and the competition for patients with ophthalmologists. From what I have read on this board, optometry isn't even viable outside the US.

Why aren't optometrists and their parent associations working hard to get more rights for optometrists? Why not just close down the field if they can't fight for it????

Wait. Are you saying board certification and finding ways to get us to give free exams to babies don't count as our parent association "working hard"??? ***GASP***

 

[Baaaark]

Oh dear, it seems I may have pushed a button by asking this. I should have known better, and I'm sorry.

I thought the answer would be more concrete, by comparing average GPAs and whatnot, but I guess this is only part of the story, and the debate is a lot less... solid than I thought. Please excuse me for my ignorance on the issue, however I still appreciate everyone's answers!

 

[Habitual Rx]

The thing I don't like about optometry is the uncertainity and the competition for patients with ophthalmologists

Are you serious? Do you really have that many Ophthamologists where you are from? The province I am from is BEGGING for more OMDs because they can't find the time for the demand of cataracts/glaucoma/retinopathy.

 

[zyg0te]

As far as #s go...

About 1/2 of students applying to optschools are admitted.

I never looked into med school, cause it never interested me, but I heard it may be roughly 1/15?

 

[panzer]

Are you serious? Do you really have that many Ophthamologists where you are from? The province I am from is BEGGING for more OMDs because they can't find the time for the demand of cataracts/glaucoma/retinopathy.

And yes we are all canucks!

Btw, I read about the bill that is going through supposedly for all over canada where the optometrists would be forced to provide service on a pittance.

 

[seminolefish]

Zygote, it's different for every school. I know Nova and SCO admit 100ish and 800ish apply. So from that 1/8 is correct for those. The others I'm not sure about.

 

[panzer]

Wait. Are you saying board certification and finding ways to get us to give free exams to babies don't count as our parent association "working hard"??? ***GASP***

Thank you for my eyes oh great board certified optometrist!

God Bless the board certified eye specialist we call optometrist.

God Bless the new board certified new optometry schools.

God Bless the board certified highly specialized eyecare intellectuals that form the AOA!

 

[zyg0te]

Zygote, it's different for every school. I know Nova and SCO admit 100ish and 800ish apply. So from that 1/8 is correct for those. The others I'm not sure about.

I'm not talking about individual schools.

According to ASCO for the entering class of 07, 2693 individual students applied, and 1418 were enrolled. That means 52.66% of those who applied to optometry schools were enrolled in some program. That means the 'average applicant' has a better than coin toss chance of getting in.

For 07, NOVA received 742 applicants and 206 were accepted. SCO received 694 applicants, and 197 were accepted. Although 101 and 123 students actually took seats, respectively.

 

[gochi]

What the hell...I didn't know you could get banned for trolling. Thats lame SDN.

And btw I'm not a troll.

 

[canadaoptnow]

What exactly is trolling? I don't want to be doing something on here that is going to get me kicked off!

 

[gochi]

I'm assuming its when one posts in forums not related to his or her discipline.

 

[JMU07]

You can post wherever you want and not be a troll.. you're a troll when your posts are repeatedly idiotic. Check out the all-students forum or the lounge. It's all over those forums.

 

[aphistis]

What exactly is trolling? I don't want to be doing something on here that is going to get me kicked off!

"Trolling" is when someone goes into a forum and deliberately tries to pick fights and/or stir up trouble in general. If you're concerned about it, you probably don't have anything to be concerned about.