PCO vs ICO

[DrSpontaneouz83]

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OKay, so I interviewed at PCO and I am thrilled about the school because of the amount of clinical practice and academic excellence. The interview went well, but I honestly was not too impressed with the building and facilities. I am going for an interview in Dec to ICO and am wondering if anyone interviewed in both schools already and how they compared to each other. Environment? facilities? people there? ughh...i already know about the weather in Chicago.

Thank you.

 

[Eye-Spy]

I don't know about PCO, but I recently interviewed at ICO and was very impressed. The facilities are great, apparently everything was renovated a few years ago.
The atmosphere at ICO was also very positive. The staff, faculty, and students all seemed to want to be there.
Academically, all looked good to me. I really have a hard time figuring out which schools are "better" academically and clinically. Most seem to offer more or less the same education, and a decent clinical experience (Feel free to correct me on this if I'm wrong everyone!).
Honestly, in 20 years you'll be an optometrist no matter where you go. I say go where is the best fit for you. Personally, If I wasn't from Canada, paying out of state tuition everywhere, I think I would just go with which would cost me the least.
Good luck with your decisions!

 

[DrSpontaneouz83]

Thank you for your response. From what I read and what was constantly stressed at PCO, they pride themselves in the amount of clinical experience you are exposed to as a student there. Most schools offer 12 months of clinical experience as opposed to PCO which offers 18 months of it. Many ophthalmologists and optometrists I've worked with emphasize that they've noticed their PCO interns were "well prepared" clinically compared to students from different institutions. If this can help someone..great.

 

[luckyfool]

Thank you for your response. From what I read and what was constantly stressed at PCO, they pride themselves in the amount of clinical experience you are exposed to as a student there. Most schools offer 12 months of clinical experience as opposed to PCO which offers 18 months of it. Many ophthalmologists and optometrists I've worked with emphasize that they've noticed their PCO interns were "well prepared" clinically compared to students from different institutions. If this can help someone..great.

Sometimes, it's about quality and not quantity... Just my 2¢. 🙂

 

[in_translation]

Most schools offer 12 months of clinical experience as opposed to PCO which offers 18 months of it. Many ophthalmologists and optometrists I've worked with emphasize that they've noticed their PCO interns were "well prepared" clinically compared to students from different institutions. If this can help someone..great.

I guess I'm not sure what you / the schools say "qualifies" as clinical experience, but at ICO you're in clinic from your first year, first quarter. It's observation, of course, but to me, that's still clinical experience that you're gaining.

 

[s4l]

I am currently a second year student at PCO. During the first semester of your first year, you will spend 4 hrs. a week in clinic observing and recording your observations. During the second semester, you are expected to take patient histories, perform color vision testing, automated testing, stereopsis testing, and to maintain a record of your observations for 4 hrs. a week. For one month during the Summer, between your first and second years, you are expected to work in an Optometry office for a total of 60 hrs. Most of this work is to be completed in the office's dispensary, but you are also expected to perform some clinical work. In the first semester of the second year, you have to complete a given number of requirements in clinic (refractions, anterior seg. examination, posterior seg. examination, Goldmann Applanation Tonometry, BIO, and externals). The second semester of the second year, you are performing complete examinations and reporting to doctors. In the Spring semester of your third year, you begin externships. Hope this gives you some insight into the clinical experience offered by PCO.

 

[SPG]

actually this year at pco they changed the requirements for the summer clerkship to 160hrs

 

[s4l]

Sorry for the typo!!! My class had to do 160 hrs. of clinical clerkship over the summer, too.

 

[hardil]

I am currently a second year student at PCO. During the first semester of your first year, you will spend 4 hrs. a week in clinic observing and recording your observations. During the second semester, you are expected to take patient histories, perform color vision testing, automated testing, stereopsis testing, and to maintain a record of your observations for 4 hrs. a week. For one month during the Summer, between your first and second years, you are expected to work in an Optometry office for a total of 60 hrs. Most of this work is to be completed in the office's dispensary, but you are also expected to perform some clinical work. In the first semester of the second year, you have to complete a given number of requirements in clinic (refractions, anterior seg. examination, posterior seg. examination, Goldmann Applanation Tonometry, BIO, and externals). The second semester of the second year, you are performing complete examinations and reporting to doctors. In the Spring semester of your third year, you begin externships. Hope this gives you some insight into the clinical experience offered by PCO.

Could you please tell me what is the closet place to the college where i could stay as i have my interview on the 21st of dec? thanks

 

[1OD2B]

Hey, I interviewed at PCO before Thanksgiving, and I stayed at the Hampton Inn In Willow Grove. It is right off of the PA turnpike (exit 343), and is on the same road as the college, although its about 4 miles away. I did not see any hotels closer than that on my visit. They also offer a discount to people who are visiting the college. I hope this helps and good luck with your interview.

 

[hardil]

Hey, I interviewed at PCO before Thanksgiving, and I stayed at the Hampton Inn In Willow Grove. It is right off of the PA turnpike (exit 343), and is on the same road as the college, although its about 4 miles away. I did not see any hotels closer than that on my visit. They also offer a discount to people who are visiting the college. I hope this helps and good luck with your interview.

thanks a lot!!!!

 

[Clovers]

Does ICO have supplemental application? I turned in my application 3 weeks ago and haven't heard back. Someone on this forum said ICO is one of the few that requires supplemental application. Where can I find this on their website. I am so nervous. I seem to stock the mailman everyday hoping for an interview invite.

 

[DrSpontaneouz83]

ICO's interview invites are via e-mail, so leave the mailman alone lol. It took me about 4 weeks to hear back from ICO for an interview. And the supplemental application sheet I believe they are talking about is a worksheet where you fill in all your pre-req courses and calculate the GPA. If you filled out the application it should have been provided to you to print out and send it via air mail.

 

[Clovers]

ICO's interview invites are via e-mail, so leave the mailman alone lol. It took me about 4 weeks to hear back from ICO for an interview. And the supplemental application sheet I believe they are talking about is a worksheet where you fill in all your pre-req courses and calculate the GPA. If you filled out the application it should have been provided to you to print out and send it via air mail.

lol thanks!....time to check my email 100 times a day... i probably won't hear back until mid-january because of the x-mas break

 

[sethuel1]

lol thanks!....time to check my email 100 times a day... i probably won't hear back until mid-january because of the x-mas break

Probably not. Last year I applied in mid-November (although i didn't take the OAT until early December) and was invited to an interview via email on *checks old email* January 10th.