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OD to medicine?
Started by coppertopdoc
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Wow, finally someone who feels the way I do. I just signed up for SDN today and I was searching the same topic. Anyway, I doubt I'm what you're looking for because I just finished my 2nd yr of optometry school and took a leave of absence. I hated opt school from day 1 but I stayed in hopes that it would "grow on me". Anyway, 2yrs later, COMPLETELY bored out of my mind and thousands of dollars in the hole...I left! 👍
Medical school was my original plan and the only reason I chose optometry school was because I didn't want to be in school for 8yrs (4 was better than 8 haha; ophthalmology). Well, that's what I get for trying to take the easy way out and rushing life; you live and you learn.
I wish you the best. Are you going to apply to med school?? You might as well; you know you'll get in...you're already a doc 😉
Good luck
Medical school was my original plan and the only reason I chose optometry school was because I didn't want to be in school for 8yrs (4 was better than 8 haha; ophthalmology). Well, that's what I get for trying to take the easy way out and rushing life; you live and you learn.
I wish you the best. Are you going to apply to med school?? You might as well; you know you'll get in...you're already a doc 😉
Good luck
I am glad that you made the decision to change before you got all the way through. Are you planning on med school soon?
I figured out really early on in practice that I could not stand private practice so I practice in the Indian Health Service. With the large percentage of pathology patients it is better than private practice and keeps it somewhat interesting. I just feel like I settled when I went to optometry school.
I enjoy the patient interaction and helping patients I just feel soooo limited and tire of the optometry/ophthalmology feuds! I am not passionate enough about the practice of optometry to give a rip!
I will have to make sacrifices, but I have several friends that are physicians and they have been more than encouraging.
Good luck to you!
👍
I figured out really early on in practice that I could not stand private practice so I practice in the Indian Health Service. With the large percentage of pathology patients it is better than private practice and keeps it somewhat interesting. I just feel like I settled when I went to optometry school.
I enjoy the patient interaction and helping patients I just feel soooo limited and tire of the optometry/ophthalmology feuds! I am not passionate enough about the practice of optometry to give a rip!
I will have to make sacrifices, but I have several friends that are physicians and they have been more than encouraging.
Good luck to you!
👍
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Now that I made the decision, I'm glad I did but it's kind of a pain in the butt to start ALLLLLL over againl. It definitely took me a looooonnnnngggggg time to get over the logical reasons why I should stay; hence I was there for 2 yrs.
Anyway, seeing as I just made my "final" decision to go to med school I think I'll have to wait to matriulate in 2009; not what I planned 😡 I thought I would matriculate in 2008 but I just finised opt school in May 07 and I've been soul searching ever since. It's only been 2 months but I feel like it's been forever; I'm not a fan of time off...I just want to start school and get it over w/ so I can practice 👍 According to the advice I've received in the past 2 days, it's better for me to matriculate in 2009 b/c I haven't started studying for the MCAT or even started the application process (most people are finished applying if they're entering in 2008).
So, that's the plan...I'll keep you posted 😀 By the way, lol @ "I am not passionate enough about the practice of optometry to give a rip!" I know exactly how you feel; this is how I felt after my 1st eye exam. That's when I REALLY knew it was time for me to leave or it would have been a looonnnngggg, unsatisying career. Best of luck to you
Anyway, seeing as I just made my "final" decision to go to med school I think I'll have to wait to matriulate in 2009; not what I planned 😡 I thought I would matriculate in 2008 but I just finised opt school in May 07 and I've been soul searching ever since. It's only been 2 months but I feel like it's been forever; I'm not a fan of time off...I just want to start school and get it over w/ so I can practice 👍 According to the advice I've received in the past 2 days, it's better for me to matriculate in 2009 b/c I haven't started studying for the MCAT or even started the application process (most people are finished applying if they're entering in 2008).
So, that's the plan...I'll keep you posted 😀 By the way, lol @ "I am not passionate enough about the practice of optometry to give a rip!" I know exactly how you feel; this is how I felt after my 1st eye exam. That's when I REALLY knew it was time for me to leave or it would have been a looonnnngggg, unsatisying career. Best of luck to you
Sounds like you have gotten good advice! Best of luck to you in your journey!
I am sure you will do well!
I am still in the decision making process. I have gotten great advice from reading posts on this website and there are many who have done the same thing and been happy with their decision. I have gotten great support from many of my friends and acquaintances to pursue this even at my ripe old age of 40.
Convincing my wife that I haven't lost my mind is another story.
I will be interesetd to follow your progress.
Good Luck! 😀
I am sure you will do well!
I am still in the decision making process. I have gotten great advice from reading posts on this website and there are many who have done the same thing and been happy with their decision. I have gotten great support from many of my friends and acquaintances to pursue this even at my ripe old age of 40.
Convincing my wife that I haven't lost my mind is another story.
I will be interesetd to follow your progress.
Good Luck! 😀
Ya, that'll probably be the toughest part of your entire transition. Once you've got that nailed, it's smooth sailing! 👍 But then again, you never know, she may say, "I've noticed you haven't been happy for a while...LET'S DO IT!" <--good ole optimismI'll keep you posted.
Welcome to the "I think optometry is boring" club; apparently this is a trend. What's up w/ everyone and their complete boredom w/ optometry? I'm starting to wonder if anyone really likes optometry. 😱 We have almost 90 people in our class and I can probably name 10 people who like it; sad. Most people are "hoping" it'll get better once they are in practice.
just think...you have the unique opportunity to be a "DOOD" if you decide to go to an osteopathic medical school...that should be reason enough to make the switch
👍
when I first saw the title of this thread, I thought it said OCD to medicine!! I thought "aren't we all". If SDNers don't have ODC I don't know who does!
Hahaha, I want to go to osteopathic med school then optometry school now...
I started this thread and thought I would get more responses? I know there are more out there, but they probably don't know about SDN because they feel like they are stuck and have no way out.😕
I have several peers that I graduated with that are all going to stick it out until they can get out. We have been in practice for 10 years and believe me it doesn't get better and you don't get treated with any more respect! 😡
Even if they wanted to do something else it is hard to pursue something else because who wants your skill set?
I have several peers that I graduated with that are all going to stick it out until they can get out. We have been in practice for 10 years and believe me it doesn't get better and you don't get treated with any more respect! 😡
Even if they wanted to do something else it is hard to pursue something else because who wants your skill set?
I know this is a very old thread but this is exactly my problem right now. I was originally pre-optometry but during undergrad I shadowed and did an intern with an optometrist and felt it was way too boring. So I switched to pre-med after i graduated. The problem with that is that I did not get all the extracurricular that pre-meds should have... and my gpa is also not nearly as competitive..
I applied this year to med school, got two interviews but most likely won't get in.. I'm looking into optometry school again because i grew up fascinated by the wonders of human sight.. but I'm worried that in 10-20 years i will regret this transition. I want to know how current practicing optometrist feel about the profession and what they love about it. If you are willing to, please let me know how long you have been practicing and in which state. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
I applied this year to med school, got two interviews but most likely won't get in.. I'm looking into optometry school again because i grew up fascinated by the wonders of human sight.. but I'm worried that in 10-20 years i will regret this transition. I want to know how current practicing optometrist feel about the profession and what they love about it. If you are willing to, please let me know how long you have been practicing and in which state. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
There's a whole set of optometry forums...if I were in your position I would definitely try to pick brains over there.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=128
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=128
I started this thread a long time ago and unfortunately circumstances haven't allowed me to pursue the dream of medical school. I wish I could say it's gotten better in the last 4 years, but all that has happened is I've gotten 4 years older!
I would receommend not giving up on medical school sure to the doubts you've had about optometric practice.
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