PreMed and PreOpt

[OpalOnyx]

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Hello everyone,

I'm thinking about applying to both med and optometry schools this summer. I would honestly be happy with either one - eye care has always been of interest to me. And the most important thing is patient contact and providing healthcare.

I have some experience volunteering in a hospital setting. But I suppose schools will look for optometry-specific experience? How do I go about getting shadowing experience? Do I call offices from the phonebook?

Any help is much appreciated!

 

[OpalOnyx]

Since writing this post, I've looked up quite a bit of information online.

My main question now is:

How do I find optometrists to shadow??? I currently see an opthalmologist - would shadowing him work? Although I doubt I'll get more than 5-7 hours of shadowing him, he's very busy.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[SarahNC]

Ophths and opts are different, I would shadow an OD not just an OMD. Just look up ODs online or in a phonebook. Call and speak to their office manager,ask if you can shadow.

 

[blysssful]

Also, be prepared to answer why you can't decide between the two during interviews.

 

[mulberry]

Also, be prepared to answer why you can't decide between the two during interviews.

what was your answer to this? or, if I was your interviewer, what would you tell me?

 

[blysssful]

what was your answer to this? or, if I was your interviewer, what would you tell me?

There was a very short period of time that I was torn between the two. Ultimately, I chose optometry because primary eye care is where I want to be. Also, lifestyle choices are important to me too. I don't want to be 40 before I can spend time with my family, and I don't want to put my kids through what I went through with parents who are always on-call.

It's just a personal choice.

 

[OpalOnyx]

Approx how many hours of shadowing do applicants usually have?

 

[Quin2012]

The best way to gain experience in Optometry is to become a tech. There is a shortage (at least where I live in FL) of techs, and offices are usually willing to train. We've had 4 techs apply to Optometry school (all who started with no experience) after working 2 years in the field and 3 got accepted to the school of their choice. The one who didn't get accepted applied late and decided to party late the night before his interview (Not very smart to say the least). Make sure that the training you would get as a tech is not limited to only using an auto-refractor and a glaucoma tester ("air puff test"). In our office we manually refract pts, do all testing (i.e Visual field, HRT, OCT, Pachy, fundus photos), do Rx checks, and many times we'll take care of contact lens pts w/o them ever seeing the O.D.. This is the kind of experience you need if you want to solidify your chances.

What I'm wondering though, me as a tech, will this please the MD gods if ever I get an interview? I have no interest in optometry, or opth either. Should I do something like EMT? Or should I stay as a tech? Hmm, after writing this and looking back, I think I may have answered my own question...

 

[OpalOnyx]

The best way to gain experience in Optometry is to become a tech. There is a shortage (at least where I live in FL) of techs, and offices are usually willing to train. We've had 4 techs apply to Optometry school (all who started with no experience) after working 2 years in the field and 3 got accepted to the school of their choice. The one who didn't get accepted applied late and decided to party late the night before his interview (Not very smart to say the least). Make sure that the training you would get as a tech is not limited to only using an auto-refractor and a glaucoma tester ("air puff test"). In our office we manually refract pts, do all testing (i.e Visual field, HRT, OCT, Pachy, fundus photos), do Rx checks, and many times we'll take care of contact lens pts w/o them ever seeing the O.D.. This is the kind of experience you need if you want to solidify your chances.

What I'm wondering though, me as a tech, will this please the MD gods if ever I get an interview? I have no interest in optometry, or opth either. Should I do something like EMT? Or should I stay as a tech? Hmm, after writing this and looking back, I think I may have answered my own question...

Ahh I don't have that kind of time, to become a tech and work a few years. I'm already 23 and ready to apply this year. Hopefully I can find enough OD's to shadow this summer. 🙁

I think any healthcare experience is valuable for the MD route. You could get some EMT experience and look into working as an ER doc someday. Personally, being an EMT wasn't my cup of tea. Try different things until you find what you like.

 

[mulberry]

There was a very short period of time that I was torn between the two. Ultimately, I chose optometry because primary eye care is where I want to be. Also, lifestyle choices are important to me too. I don't want to be 40 before I can spend time with my family, and I don't want to put my kids through what I went through with parents who are always on-call.

It's just a personal choice.

excellent answer IMO.

 

[blysssful]

What I'm wondering though, me as a tech, will this please the MD gods if ever I get an interview? I have no interest in optometry, or opth either. Should I do something like EMT? Or should I stay as a tech? Hmm, after writing this and looking back, I think I may have answered my own question...

I think you did answer your own question... it probably wouldn't be all that helpful for medical school admissions.