Just curious. I'm a "late bloomer" in deciding to follow my passions on being an optometrist-- I graduate from community college in May & start UIC in the summer, take OAT in Oct '03 and am applying for early admit for '04 to ICO- so I'll be 36 when I finally get my OD degree! Is anyone at this site beyond, say at least...the 26 yr old range?? I'm feeling self conscious.
I'm in my late 20's and will be in my 30's when I complete optometry school, so do not feel bad. You have company.
I will be 30 the year I graduate from Optometry school, and it doesn't bother me. Just be happy you found your true calling I know quite a few people in my class in their late 20's/early 30's, and they are doing just fine. Good luck to you
Tyra, I am a "late bloomer" like you, too. I felt a little self-conscious about it when I started back full-time as an undergraduate to finish my pre-reqs a year ago, but now I feel like any other student -- except that most other students don't know exactly what they want to be when they grow up!
You are soooo right r_salis! I do think that me being "as old as I am" has actually been a help. I am so focused right now because there is no question in my mind that this is what I want to do. I carried 9 credits over the summer (and got all A's) and am carrying 21 credits now (it's midterm and I have all A's). Sure, I work really hard at my studies, don't have as much social time as I used to (and boy do I like my social time!), and don't sleep much over 4-5 hours, but I love it! It actually irritates me to hear people in my chemistry class whining about how they don't understand anything because the teacher has a PhD from Harvard and doesn't know how to teach; they don't open a book long enough to even try to understand it. They say they couldn't do what I'm doing. They just don't get it, but I have a feeling they will in a few years. I tell them that I do it because I just have to. There's nothing I feel that I can't do if I want it bad enough. It's that easy for me.
I was the same way when I went back to finish pre-reqs, Tyra. It'll take you all the way !! Although, I never took 21 hours a semester and I definitely get more sleep. (although not right now during my test block) But, a professor made a reference last week to something on tv.. and we all just looked at him blankly like "Tv.. what's tv"... oh! You mean that thing normal people get to watch when they get home from work.
I'll be 37 when I graduate from OSU, and there were two people in my former class who STARTED at the ages of 47 & 51 (I'm on a leave of absence and will be returning this spring). So don't worry about the age- I guarantee that there'll be plenty of people older than you when you start. Good luck!
Hey TPMOH -- I visited OSU over the summer, maybe I saw your picture on the class board. I'm a non-trad, too (see above...) so whenever I see pictures I always scour them for evidence that there are others like me. Non-trads rule!
I'm 21 (soon to be 22) but I really appreciate the wisdom and advice that non-trads have to give. You all rock!!!!
I'm the same age as Eyegirl and I agree with her. All but one non-trad that have been in my classes have been in the top of the class. I think it is the fact that they are more focused than everyone else is the difference. I always find myself sitting with and befriending the older students the usually have a night/weekend job and family. It is great because they know what they are doing and are not as immature as so many of the other students. The problem is that they have so many other things going on in their lives, work and family, that I find myself alone alot on the weekends. I guess I just need to act my age and go hang out on Greek Street with a beer.
R_Salis- Yes, you probably did see my picture for the class of 2005- I'm the good-looking guy with the short dark hair .
I've been viewing this forum for a couple of weeks now because I'm trying to make a career change. Currently I'm a Computer Network Specialist and have been for the last 8 years. In my career I help people in their computer needs and enjoyed it for a while, however now I'm tired of the ever changing computer world which is very difficult to keep up with . I still want to help people but in another arena. My wife is in the health care profession and I've consulted with health care provider to find out a little bit about health careers. I found that it would be something that I would want to do. There is a problem. I'm 37 years old and I'm still going through a local community college. I have about 40 credit hours completed. I'm still working full time and trying to go to school full time so I can try to get into an Optometry School. The problem is that it seems so far away. Even if I decided to go through it, I would complete school in about 6 years, so I'll be 42. The reason I'm looking into optometry is because is one of the healthcare professions that is shorter to complete than others. There is also less stress and is a profession where you can have your own practice that can help a community out, there is prestige and the pay isn't bad. I don't know if these are good enough reasons to make a career change into this profession or if this is my true calling but what ever path I take, it needs to be the right path. I've read most of the notices in this forum and I find myself getting motivated everytime I come here. I see that I would not be the only person that is making a second career move and I also see there are people that are in their 30's. Any suggestions are very welcomed.
xman You're not as far away as you think! As I mentioned earlier, although I had a desire to become an optometrist a long time ago, marriage and children slowed me down tremendously and I ended up just joining the workforce. It wasn't until talking to the nurses in a hospital (when I was admitted for 2 weeks), that they convinced me I could never be too old! At the time I started back to school (community college as well) I only had 20 credits-- and that was just back in June. Although I don't suggest this to everyone (I was just hyper-motivated), after completing the summer term, at which time I completed another 6 credits, I enrolled for 21 credits the fall term (the current term). This term will be over in 4 1/2 weeks, giving me a total of 47 credits. I will graduate in May 2003 having only to take 13 credits in the Spring for a total of 60 credits. In the summer I will be transferring to UIC to finish up there. I'm telling you this to show you how just 5 months ago, my goal seemed so far away, yet I'm that much closer now! Another thing I'm going to attempt to do may help you as well. Instead of completing my undergrad degree (2 more years), I'm applying for early admission which means I will only have 1 year of college to complete after I graduate from community college in May 2003--that will knock another year off. So don't buy into that "I'm too old mentality". Your age will actually be an advantage for you. I know it has made me so much more focused than the younger people in my classes. I know what I have to do and I just do it. A piece of advice, though. Research this field and make sure that you have a definite interest in being an Optometrist; that interest will be what helps you stay on path in obtaining your goals when the road gets rough. Good luck!
You're in good company here, xman! There are few non-trads in this group. I was also a tech person before deciding to make a major career change to go into optometry. Tyra's advice about staying focused is right on -- do whatever you need to do to keep the light at the end of the tunnel clearly in view. In my case, I was lucky enough to be able to quit my job a year ago and go back to school full-time to finish my pre-reqs, so I have gotten myself entirely back into the mindset of a student. I know it isn't possible for everyone to do that, but if there is any way you can swing it there are a lot of benefits to being able to focus solely on school. I also do some volunteering at an eye clinic and talk to optometrists whenever I can to keep reminding myself of where I am going. Hang in there, and good luck!
