Pessimitic view on optometry - unwarranted?

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Why the deletion of the original post?

I was going to comment, but it seems as if you have figured out a logical answer. Do you mind sharing with others?
 
Why the deletion of the original post?

I was going to comment, but it seems as if you have figured out a logical answer. Do you mind sharing with others?

I deleted it because I'm actually thinking of taking a "gap year" after my graduation in 2011. I wish to work for a year first and then perhaps, apply to the 2012 cycle. I think I'd prefer using a year to decide what I really want to do instead of rushing into it straight away. You said you were going to reply to the thread. If you still have it, please do so. I'd love to hear what your take on the issue is.

Thanks,
Cherry
 
I deleted it because I'm actually thinking of taking a "gap year" after my graduation in 2011. I wish to work for a year first and then perhaps, apply to the 2012 cycle. I think I'd prefer using a year to decide what I really want to do instead of rushing into it straight away. You said you were going to reply to the thread. If you still have it, please do so. I'd love to hear what your take on the issue is.

Thanks,
Cherry

That is a good idea.

I can only recall some of the more transparent details of your post, so I will try to comment on that.

I think you were comparing 3 practices where each doctor had a different attitude about Optometry. One doctor had a very negative attitude about optometry, and the other was very supportive/enthusiastic of Optometry. I think no matter what profession, there will always be complainers and supporters. Optometry is not such a bad profession, but you have to wonder why new schools are opening when there is already a current saturation. For example, in California, there is a gross over-saturation of ODs compared to the more rural areas of America. It depends what you are really looking for, if you want a good income you would have to practice at a location which is not appealing to other ODs, and this very well may be the case for most new grads. The other option is corporate Optometry, which I cannot comment on as I have yet to fully understand its structure.

One interesting stat to note is that fees for optometry school/tuition has been going up steadily year after year, but the average income of the OD has been decreasing.

I think if you honestly enjoy Optometry, you won't have to worry about material things such as wealth etc, which most OD's who have negative attitudes about Optometry worry about.

Good Luck with your decision. I am sure there are many practicing ODs here who can be of more assistance to you.
 
What I tell interested students now:

I still love coming to work every day after 15 years. I work short, flexible hours and make enough to be in the highest tax bracket.

Getting what I have now, however, is more difficult. The cost of school has outpaced the income, an oversupply of new graduates and the rise of corporately controlled settings (Walmart, Lenscrafters) makes it more likely that you'll be working for a big corp with more night & weekend hours with a decent, but flat pay scale.

Still a great career, just with more obstacles.
 
I believe Euphaire was also interested in changing over to be an MD opthalmologist (if you look at her previous posts at the MD forum, where she states that she realizes OD's are not that great)
 
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