life in optometry school

[trojan1]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone, I am wondering what the level of coursework is like for all you optometry students? How many classes are taken at once, what classes are they, etc. Also, if optometry students could give me a run down of the day in day out school life you guys/girls lead, it would be much appreciated.
What I am looking for are "day in the life of" stories you optometry students experience.

muchas gracias

 

[CNU2020]

First of all, the average day will look a lot different depending on your professional year. As a first year professional student at ICO, I'm clocking 24 hours/week in class, which breaks down to almost 5 hours of class per day. What do those days look like? So far, for me and most students I know, they've honestly been pretty busy. To some degree, it is also true that the amount of time you spend studying in a day will reflect the types of grades you want and/or expect. Regardless, of who you are there will be some weekends go by where you'll forget what the sun looked like. However, I can't tell you we don't find time to party/relax on a very regular basis. Let's face it, as future health professionals, we can agree: studying just isn't healthy.

It is rumored, that here at ICO, 3rd quarter (spring quarter) of first year will rock you. As a side, it's personally exciting to me that they have even added an additional 2 hour course to the load from last year.~note the sarcasm~ The beat on the street tells me that books will soon become my best friends. If that sounds good to you, the general consensus here is that 2nd year is the hardest. And, what better way to reward a successful second professional year than with a summer filled with classes, optional board reviews, and ONE WHOLE (count them ... 1) week off to prepare for boards ~ hold the applause~. After that, you may breath again. In 3rd year, you'll see the light at the end of the tunnel, and what's left of your brain mater will enjoy more time seeing patients as a student clinician 🙂 Fourth year will generally be externship rotations.

First year courses include your basic health science courses such as histology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and optics as well as labs. In addition to the required courses, additional electives can be chosen as well. ***If you really want to know all the courses we take, you can contact an Optometry school/college and request info (I know ICO sent a booklet out with this info). They would be glad to provide you with information including all the classes that are taken every year along with total hours.

Whatever you take from this, I want to re-assert, it is very do-able. No one will say it will be easy. However, if you put the 4 years in, the reward will hopefully last your lifetime over. I've heard it said, "do what you love or love what you do."

hmmm... wonder if I could publish and sell this novel? 😱

 

[heretic]

The first year courseload at SCCO is supposed to be pretty relaxed compared to later years. They give you the basic science courses that you will need to draw on later on as a clinician. First quarter was eased into with stuff most people had in undergrad (e.g. basic A&P, biochemistry). Second and third quarter courses become more clinically relevant with ocular anatomy, optics, and clinical medicine.

Second year is more challenging than the first because you are busier, but it's fairly widely regarded down here that Fall Quarter of the 3rd year is the quarter from hell. This is because you still have a pretty heavy lecture load, along with working in the clinic and this little treat they call 12 station proficiencies.

4th year is all external rotations, and they bring you back for a week or two for concentrated lectures.

On an aside, I know that part II scores from the boards came in recently, so congrats to everyone that rocked it.

 

[Amanda56]

Hi everyone, I am wondering what the level of coursework is like for all you optometry students? How many classes are taken at once, what classes are they, etc. Also, if optometry students could give me a run down of the day in day out school life you guys/girls lead, it would be much appreciated.
What I am looking for are "day in the life of" stories you optometry students experience.

muchas gracias

Can anyone answer this question for SCO?

Thank You

 

[CNU2020]

Can anyone answer this question for SCO?

Thank You

Good thinking, go to the school that requires the least work. -- actually, you may have just asked because you're already going to be going there, and you just wanted to know what to expect. ~<insert Patriotic music here>~ But, for all those pre-optometry students who found themselves thinking, "hmmm that sounds like a lot of work, where can I go and do less work?" Ponder this: I would argue that you're thinking about this totally wrong. Mind you, you're going to be treating patients who are depending on your knowledge and skills learned at your school of choice, to manange and treat their health concerns. If you don't see it like that, maybe it's time to consider another field. Now, I'm certainly not saying that you'll get an poor Optometric education anywhere here in the U.S. or Puerto Rico for that matter. ~<musical tone changes to more heart felt melody >~ I guess, what I'm trying to say is that, such an attitude cannot lead to the best possible health professionals. Therefore, you prolly should not pick a school depending on coarse load.

< roaring applause > Thank you... no. no . Sit down. You're all too much. 😳

 

[beaneek]

for all those pre-optometry students who found themselves thinking, "hmmm that sounds like a lot of work, where can I go and do less work?" Ponder this: I would argue that you're thinking about this totally wrong.

Hmm..I don't think that was what anybody asked in this forum, but okay

 

[akwong44]

CNU2020:

I don't see here where anyone asked about the school that is less work. Your assumption of that and comment was just rude. Perhaps us students getting into Optometry school just want to know what to expect the curriculum to be like. No one said anything about going anywhere that is "easier". I personally was interested in the answer to that question because I will be going to Optometry school as well as taking care of my 3 year old, so I needed to know the typical hours per day just so I can ensure that his childcare will cover the hours I will be in school. There is nothing wrong with asking what to expect you first year when we don't know. This is all new to most of us, so I think your condescending comment was inapproprioate.

 

[Rosanna]

Links to curriculum -

UAB School of Optometry:
http://main.uab.edu/optometry/show.asp?durki=75483&site=2646&return=53508

SCCO: (page 15)
http://www.scco.edu/sccocatalog03.pdf

UCBSO:
http://spectacle.berkeley.edu/classes-schedules/classes_schedule.html

NOVA:
http://optometry.nova.edu/students/Schedules/

ICO:
http://www.ico.edu/ico2/accpro/firsty.html

Indiana:
http://www.opt.indiana.edu/programs/od/curricul.htm

NEWENCO:
http://www.ne-optometry.edu/educational-programs/academic-schedules.aspx

Michigan:
http://www.ferris.edu/mco/programs/curriculum.htm

University of Missouri:
http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/optometry/programs/opt_curric.html

SUNY:
http://www.sunyopt.edu/academics/curriculum.shtml

NSU:
http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~optometry/curriculum1.html

Ohio State: (page 8)
http://optometry.osu.edu/pdf/AU2004_Student_Handbook.pdf

Pacific:
http://opt.pacificu.edu/test/pulldown5/schedule.htm

PCO:
http://www.pco.edu/acad_progs/Optometry/curriculum/curr_overview1.htm

IAUPR:
http://www.optonet.inter.edu/Opto/curriculum.pdf

SCO:
http://www.sco.edu/catalog/curriculum.html

UHCO: (bottom of the page)
http://www.opt.uh.edu/Academics/OD/curriculum.cfm


University of Waterloo:
http://www.optometry.uwaterloo.ca/prospective/programcourses.html

Université de Montréal:
http://www.progcours.umontreal.ca/programme/index_fiche_prog/165511_struc.html


- Rosanna

 

[parazoa]

Hi everyone, I am wondering what the level of coursework is like for all you optometry students? How many classes are taken at once, what classes are they, etc. Also, if optometry students could give me a run down of the day in day out school life you guys/girls lead, it would be much appreciated.
What I am looking for are "day in the life of" stories you optometry students experience.

muchas gracias

Ok I will try to answer your questions the best I can.
1. I am wondering what the level of coursework is like for all you optometry students?
The level of course work is obviously at a graduate level. What I did in a semester of undergrad for coursework I do in about 2-3 weeks at optometry school. Put it this way they jam as much material on you as they possible can and then they expect you to know it all. Sometimes I think that they forget that we also have other classes to study for or maybe they just don’t really care. Now this sounds bad but you get use to it and it really is not that big of deal once you realize that ALL of your time will be spent studying if you choose to do well.

2. How many classes are taken at once, what classes are they, etc
We usually take about 20-23 credit hours per semester. As far as what classes they are
go to this link and you can see the final exam schedule for this semester for 1,2,3rd year OD students (http://www.opt.indiana.edu/students/exams.pdf).

3. Also, if optometry students could give me a run down of the day in day out school life you guys/girls lead, it would be much appreciated.
Here it is I wake up take a shower then either I go to class, clinic or study. After I am done with class or clinic I go home and study. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I study. In my free time I study. Basically the life style is that all you do is study. I can remember a 7 week period where we had 2-4 tests per week plus we had to also turn in papers and see patients etc.

I hope this helps and I must now go because I have to STUDY.
Good luck in what you decide

 

[Kristene9]

Wow Rosanna!
I'm impressed! That will be VERY helpful. I guess my only question is if I wanted to specialize in peds or something, do all the colleges have basically the same amount of classes and emphasis on peds? Would one college be better then another, or would I just go do a ped residence after I graduated? – I guess I could just look at the different links you posted but I thought I would ask

thanks! 🙂

 

[rpames]

I'm not sure about the other schools, but ICO's website is not up to date with the classes we take. For example, they added a 1 credit microbiology classes the spring of 2nd year. There are other changes too, but that's an example.

I would suggest calling the schools you are interested in b/c they may not have web info up to date.

 

[CNU2020]

CNU2020:

I don't see here where anyone asked about the school that is less work. Your assumption of that and comment was just rude. Perhaps us students getting into Optometry school just want to know what to expect the curriculum to be like. No one said anything about going anywhere that is "easier". I personally was interested in the answer to that question because I will be going to Optometry school as well as taking care of my 3 year old, so I needed to know the typical hours per day just so I can ensure that his childcare will cover the hours I will be in school. There is nothing wrong with asking what to expect you first year when we don't know. This is all new to most of us, so I think your condescending comment was inapproprioate.

hmmm... I had hoped that the excessive icon use and over dramatization would help further indicate that I was not truly sincere. --apologies

In addition, for future refrence, consider reading the whole comment. specifically: "actually, you may have just asked because you're already going to be going there, and you just wanted to know what to expect." Thus, no malfeasance toward any specific person was directly assumed or implied. -- nonetheless, excessive apologies to Amanda56

 

[J.opt]

Links to curriculum -

UHCO: (bottom of the page)
http://www.opt.uh.edu/Academics/OD/curriculum.cfm

- Rosanna

Wow, this is the first time I pay attention to the school's curriculum. Seems like a lot of stuff 🙂

 

[cpw]

Wow, this is the first time I pay attention to the school's curriculum. Seems like a lot of stuff 🙂

it is.. but you can do it. 🙂

 

[cpw]

I just realized that on the curriculum page.. you can see my elbow in the classroom picture !! heheheheh

But that's okay.. I'm already front and center on their promotional brochure (with my doggie). Anyone who has it now knows where to look 😉

 

[KwijiboOO]

How about PCO life? How do you decide on your externships? What's there to do for fun?

 

[TPMOH]

Ok I will try to answer your questions the best I can.
1. I am wondering what the level of coursework is like for all you optometry students?
The level of course work is obviously at a graduate level. What I did in a semester of undergrad for coursework I do in about 2-3 weeks at optometry school. Put it this way they jam as much material on you as they possible can and then they expect you to know it all. Sometimes I think that they forget that we also have other classes to study for or maybe they just don't really care. Now this sounds bad but you get use to it and it really is not that big of deal once you realize that ALL of your time will be spent studying if you choose to do well.

2. How many classes are taken at once, what classes are they, etc
We usually take about 20-23 credit hours per semester. As far as what classes they are
go to this link and you can see the final exam schedule for this semester for 1,2,3rd year OD students (http://www.opt.indiana.edu/students/exams.pdf).

3. Also, if optometry students could give me a run down of the day in day out school life you guys/girls lead, it would be much appreciated.
Here it is I wake up take a shower then either I go to class, clinic or study. After I am done with class or clinic I go home and study. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I study. In my free time I study. Basically the life style is that all you do is study. I can remember a 7 week period where we had 2-4 tests per week plus we had to also turn in papers and see patients etc.

I hope this helps and I must now go because I have to STUDY.
Good luck in what you decide

It wasn't quite THAT bad- I didn't study every day. I would take a few weekends off here and there. It was alot of material, but I would just basically ignore classes until it had a test coming up, then I would spend about 3-4 days getting ready for the harder subjects. Classes like optics, maybe only one or two days. Of course, there were times when the tests piled up and I would study quite a bit for a week, but then take it easy for awhile. It all depends on your study habits and how long it takes you to grasp the material. The first year at OSU is considered the hardest coursework wise, but the second year was a little more time consuming, but the classes are less difficult. I finished one year at OSU and I was in the top third of my class, so I didn't do too bad.

 

[Amanda56]

Good thinking, go to the school that requires the least work. -- actually, you may have just asked because you're already going to be going there, and you just wanted to know what to expect. ~<insert Patriotic music here>~ But, for all those pre-optometry students who found themselves thinking, "hmmm that sounds like a lot of work, where can I go and do less work?" Ponder this: I would argue that you're thinking about this totally wrong. Mind you, you're going to be treating patients who are depending on your knowledge and skills learned at your school of choice, to manange and treat their health concerns. If you don't see it like that, maybe it's time to consider another field. Now, I'm certainly not saying that you'll get an poor Optometric education anywhere here in the U.S. or Puerto Rico for that matter. ~<musical tone changes to more heart felt melody >~ I guess, what I'm trying to say is that, such an attitude cannot lead to the best possible health professionals. Therefore, you prolly should not pick a school depending on coarse load.

< roaring applause > Thank you... no. no . Sit down. You're all too much. 😳

I was just asking because I am married and have a 2 year old was wondering If I would be able to balance my family and my education. I totally was not asking just so I could go to and easy school. Thanks anyway. 😳