newbie question-bio student

[dr1989]

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im currently going to transfer from my cc to a univ to get my BA in bio.
im thinking of a career in the health field.
-pharmacy (kinda boring)
-RN
-or Optometry <--most interesting IMO

so whats the deal with optometry school?
do you have to spend 8 years like MD? or is it like a 6 year program like pharmacy?

im just kinda going back and forth and im gonna give my optometrist a call to see if i can shadow him for a bit.

 

[JMU07]

Pharmacy isn't a 6 year program unless you finish undergrad early - it's a four year program after undergrad to get your PharmD. Optometry is also 8 years (again, unless you finish undergrad early). But unlike MD's optometry students are not required to do a residency and if you decide to do one, it's only one extra year.

Definitely shadow an OD or two and see how you like it!

 

[thanotoriousfob]

im currently going to transfer from my cc to a univ to get my BA in bio.
im thinking of a career in the health field.
-pharmacy (kinda boring)
-RN
-or Optometry <--most interesting IMO

so whats the deal with optometry school?
do you have to spend 8 years like MD? or is it like a 6 year program like pharmacy?

im just kinda going back and forth and im gonna give my optometrist a call to see if i can shadow him for a bit.

Optometry school is a 4 year program not including undergrad. Some people choose to do an optional residency program in a subdivision of optometry (low vision, vision therapy, ocular disease, pediatrics, geriatrics, etc.) following graduation from optometry school. The residency program is one year long.

Some optometry schools require that you have a bachelor's degree before being admitted to their program while many others don't require but may prefer it.

I think when you are referring to 8 yrs you might be thinking of ophthalmologist which I think is even more schooling than 8 yrs.

And since when has pharmacy school been 6 years? 😕

Here is a link with more info:http://www.opted.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3343

 

[blysssful]

And since when has pharmacy school been 6 years? 😕

Some pharm programs are shorter.