OD school and a family?

[kdgb]

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Hi there, I am considering a career change and thinking about optometry. However, I'm 30, married and have a child - I'm not so concerned about working as a an optometrist and maintaing work/life balance because I've heard the hours for opt's are fairly routine. I am concerned, however, about making it through school and still being present and available to my family. I've seen some posts about the amount of time spent studying and everyone seems to say that they basically study or are in class non-stop while in school.
Does anyone have any experience or advice about how realistically I could make it through school with a family? Would you say you are in class and studying more than a 40-45 hours/week?
Thanks for your help (she said hoping to hear good news! )

-Katie

 

[Optiman]

I am an older student with a wife but no kids in optometry school. Optometry school requires much more time than a full time job. I basically have no weekends. The amount of study time required for you also is based on your abilities. But we pretty much go to school 8-4 for 5 days a week. That is before study time.

One idea is that NOVA has an extended OD program. This program take 5 years instead of the normal 4. The first 2 years of OD school are really the worst accademically. This program does those first 2 years in 3. The last 2 years are the same as the regular program. It is designed for older students. This would definately give you more time with your family, however, it is still hard and will require more time than a full time job. I dont know if any other OD schools have an extended program.
-Good luck

 

[alferec]

There is one student here at SCCO that has 5 (or 6?) kids and commutes a little over an hour from here. I'm not sure how he does it, but he manages!!! So I guess being a parent during opt school is not totally impossible.

 

[mthomas2]

I'm an older student as well. I went back to school almost 2 yrs. ago to complete science pre reqs. I totally changed careers and was very concerned with the same questions you have. I have kids but they are older in their teen years. I owned a business and I can honestly say that going back to school full time required so much time. Full time school is just as time consuming as a full time job and then anytime left over I was busy with the my husband and kids. Luckily, it worked out for me and I got accepted into my local and only school in Florida (Nova). Nova offers an extended program. I wasn't crazy about completeing OD school in 5 yrs instead of 4 yrs, but with my family obligations it will work for me. I start this fall. This is my story and I am not trying to discourage you at all. I truly believe if you really want to go to OD school, you will manage the courseload. In fact, being an older student,I felt like I knew how to balance and manage school & family better now than when I was younger. It is doable, but be prepared to commit to school just like or more than a full time job. If you have any other questions, PM me. Good Luck!

 

[IDr10]

I am a wife and mother as well. I believe that how one "manages" getting through optometry school depends a lot on the support you have available. My husband is extremely supportive and works harder than I with a full-time job and taking care of our son when I am studying (last term of pre-opt!) I also have a large family who helps out with dinners/childcare when ever we need it. If I am forced to move by denial from my top choice school, I am not sure how we will make it through the next four years!

 

[kdgb]

Thanks much to all for your replies. You've given me some food for thought! I've got some tough decisions to make coming up!

-Katie

 

[SooSoo77]

Katie,

I have the same exact questions as you! I am a divorced mom of a 4 1/2 year old son. Optometry has always been my dream, but put on the back burner because of LIFE. I am 30, so I've been out of undergrad for a while (Biology). I got a Master's Degree in Elem. Education so now I am a teacher. I chose to teach because I would have the same schedule as my son. But somehow, it isn't enough, and I am not fulfilled. Also, my dad is an opthalmologist, so he inspires me.

So anyways, I wonder if I can do it. Is it a reasonable goal? I don't have much help with my son currently, so he will have to be in extended care until I get home, and I cannot study until he sleeps. Even on the weekends, I'll have to find playdates for him or study during soccer practice, etc.

I'm glad to have found this forum so I can read about what others say before I decide to apply. Thanks to everyone who shares their two cents!

SooSoo77 😕

 

[kdgb]

Hi SooSoo77...yes, this is a great forum and in case you haven't browsed around too much, there is another board here called non-traditionals - people going back to school/making a career change. In searching through some of those posts, there are a lot of folks facing similar decisions and may have advice in addition to the kind folks on this board 🙂

Best of luck to you. For myself, I'm just hoping for some a little inspiration to help me decide one way or another!

-Katie