Optometry school with kids...HELP!

[Kenzie]

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This is long-winded, but any help is really appreciated.

I have been reading this forum for years while I had kids and watch them grow. I'm 26 years old (with 3 kids under 5 years old) and looking at starting in 2009 hopefully. I have a huge passion to do optometry and I feel like if I wait too much longer I'm never going to do it. My husband is getting burned out on his home-business and is going to stay at home with the kids for a few years (we really don't want to put the kids in daycare...just a personal decision we have made). My husband has accumulated about $50-75,000 in savings that we will take into the program to spend however (which I realize won't last too long).

Our dream is to go to SCCO as we're both from the midwest (small town people) and we both always wanted to experience Southern California and thought this is the perfect reason.

I guess I'm afraid I will never be around and feel like I'm missing out on family stuff all the time (ya know, mommy-guilt)! Has anybody been in school or know somebody who did optometry school with small kids? How did it go? Were they really stressed and feel pulled two directions for the entire four years? I would love to hear from somebody (or if you know somebody well) who has "been there done that" and survived? I truly want to do this more than anything and think it would be a great investment for my future and our family, I just don't want to do it if I'll feel like I'm NEVER around.

Sorry this is so long!

 

[drbizzaro]

This is long-winded, but any help is really appreciated.

I have been reading this forum for years while I had kids and watch them grow. I'm 26 years old (with 3 kids under 5 years old) and looking at starting in 2009 hopefully. I have a huge passion to do optometry and I feel like if I wait too much longer I'm never going to do it. My husband is getting burned out on his home-business and is going to stay at home with the kids for a few years (we really don't want to put the kids in daycare...just a personal decision we have made). My husband has accumulated about $50-75,000 in savings that we will take into the program to spend however (which I realize won't last too long).

Our dream is to go to SCCO as we're both from the midwest (small town people) and we both always wanted to experience Southern California and thought this is the perfect reason.

I guess I'm afraid I will never be around and feel like I'm missing out on family stuff all the time (ya know, mommy-guilt)! Has anybody been in school or know somebody who did optometry school with small kids? How did it go? Were they really stressed and feel pulled two directions for the entire four years? I would love to hear from somebody (or if you know somebody well) who has "been there done that" and survived? I truly want to do this more than anything and think it would be a great investment for my future and our family, I just don't want to do it if I'll feel like I'm NEVER around.

Sorry this is so long!

As long as your family is very understanding, go for it. The first 2 years and a half will be the most intense with exams to study for, but after that it should be easy cruising. However, it is true that each person handles school differently, and therefore, if you can grasp information quick, you'll be able to get by with less studying. There will be times when you'll have to focus totally on school (right before tests for instance), but if you are good at time management, you should be able to handle it.
Good luck!

 

[butterfly413]

make sure you check out the cost of living in socal! since you will be moving your whole family there, you'll be in school and your husband at home... the costs can be pretty huge! From my personal experience.... I did my undergrad in the OC, and afterwards, I moved back home to live with my parents because i couldn't afford to work there just to make rent. again, many families live in SoCal, but both parents are working full time. i think the cost would be the biggest drawback for you, in all honesty.

 

[IndianaOD]

I think you will have to be very good at time management. There is a reason that divorce rates are high for professional schools.

It can definitely be done though.

 

[alleigh79]

I'm 28 - my kids will be 6 and 4 when go into OD school. I've asked what to expect from school with kids and received no response. Hopefully we will both get answers. I hope to enter UAB 2010.

Keep in touch with me in the future. We might need to share notes and mommy guilt.....

 

[Lavender530]

i know you mentioned in your post that you want to move to SoCal to attend SCCO but be warned that it is really expensive to live there. I just went for an interview and was shocked at how expensive it is. If optometry is your passion and you're worried about not spending enough time with your children, nova has a program for students with kids. It's an extended program so instead of spending 4 years at OD school it will be 5 years. The tuition at nova is also cheaper. If you are worried, you should look into more schools.

I totally understand why you want to attend SCCO. that school is also my first choice, but you should explore your options and see what will work best with you and your family.