PCO Scholars Program

[april77]

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Does anyone know about the PCO Scholars Program pathway? I just got an email about this program from PCO. It looks great coz it take three years instead of four years to graduate. However I don't know about anything else. Does anyone have any thoughts about this program or anyone planning to go?

 

[mjl]

Does anyone know about the PCO Scholars Program pathway? I just got an email about this program from PCO. It looks great coz it take three years instead of four years to graduate. However I don't know about anything else. Does anyone about any thoughts about this program or anyone planning to go?

I also received this email, and wrote the person mentioned ( cant remember his name off the top of my head) who runs it. From the info he gave me it seems that its basically three continuous years, with one weeks breaks between 10 weeks quarters. Also there is a seperate interview process to get into it, and i believe he said there was only going to be 10 people doing it this first year. While getting out a year earlier sounds great, im also hesitant since we would be the first ones to do it, and also the fact that it seems the people doing it would be somewhat secluded from the rest of the class since you are on a completely different time table.

 

[april77]

Thanks for your comment! Also I asked one of the Optometrists I shadowed and he suggested not to choose this program because of future employability concerns.... I guess I will go with the traditional one...😀

I also received this email, and wrote the person mentioned ( cant remember his name off the top of my head) who runs it. From the info he gave me it seems that its basically three continuous years, with one weeks breaks between 10 weeks quarters. Also there is a seperate interview process to get into it, and i believe he said there was only going to be 10 people doing it this first year. While getting out a year earlier sounds great, im also hesitant since we would be the first ones to do it, and also the fact that it seems the people doing it would be somewhat secluded from the rest of the class since you are on a completely different time table.

 

[mjl]

Thanks for your comment! Also I asked one of the Optometrists I shadowed and he suggested not to choose this program because of future employability concerns.... I guess I will go with the traditional one...😀

Thats very good to know, thank you

 

[nicmc]

Does anyone know about the PCO Scholars Program pathway? I just got an email about this program from PCO. It looks great coz it take three years instead of four years to graduate. However I don't know about anything else. Does anyone have any thoughts about this program or anyone planning to go?

I think it's up to you. It would be nice to graduate in 3 years, but I would worry about the rigor of such a program, especially if it is new and you would be a guinea pig.

 

[mjl]

So I just got an email saying that there would be a renewable scholarship equal to 25% of the annual tuition for people that go into this. While this makes it extremely tempting, im still worried about a few things mentioned above.
-How being in this program will impact employability
-The potential rigor of such a program
-Being the first class that they are trying it on

Really having a hard time with what the best choice is here, any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[withinvision]

I was considering the Scholars program myself too - the 3 years is tempting - since you graduate faster. However, I'm likewise concerned about the rigor of the program and if we'll even have the same amount of clinical experience as the 4 year program would. I'm on the fence about it and would like the input of some actual ODs frankly.

 

[mjl]

I was considering the Scholars program myself too - the 3 years is tempting - since you graduate faster. However, I'm likewise concerned about the rigor of the program and if we'll even have the same amount of clinical experience as the 4 year program would. I'm on the fence about it and would like the input of some actual ODs frankly.

Yea I was content to just go with the 4 year, but now that they are offering this scholarship, im really on the fence. If this doesnt get many responses in the pre-op section i might ask in the optometry section to see if I can get some ODs to answer

 

[withinvision]

Good idea 🙂 yeah, whoever does get accepted into the Scholars program will legitimately be guinea pigs, which is why I think it they're offering to decrease tuition by 25% then. Another concern of mine is - will this really leave us enough time to study for the boards too? My understanding is optometry school is already pretty intense with a 4 year program.

 

[Commando303]

I'm unsure how anyone would find there to be a "25% discount": final cost of tuition for one year is cited as being greater than $33,000 — that's more than what's annually charged of a student in the four-year program.

 

[mjl]

I'm unsure how anyone would find there to be a "25% discount": final cost of tuition for one year is cited as being greater than $33,000 — that's more than what's annually charged of a student in the four-year program.

Its roughly the same tuition per year as the 4 year program. So essentially you save one full year of tuition. The accelerated program is much more condensed than the 4 year (something like 10 week quarter, 1 week finals, 1 week break, repeat). No breaks of any kind besides the one week between the quarters.