Pros and cons of SCO vs ICO vs PCO

[SimpleS]

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Just wanted to see what optometry students' thoughts were on these three schools. I've been accepted to ICO and PCO and am sitting near the top of SCO's alternate list and stand a very good chance of getting in. But I need some input from future students or current students from these schools. What are the pros and cons of each school. My fiance needs to decide between ICO and PCO also. Thanks for the input everyone!

 

[Oilersfan69]

I saw another thread of yours before. I think both you and your fiancee should go to the same schools. Being apart is pretty tough and you never know what can happen.

PCO has great facilities and a very nice campus. Their Hafter Student Center is amazing and they have the best clinical curriculum. The only downside is that the clinic is a 10 mins. drive away but you can always mooch off ppl goin to and from the clinic. There is alot to do in Philly and NYC, Atlantic City, etc. are only 2-3 hrs train ride away

ICO was good, but I felt everything just felt squished together since its only 3-4 floors. The rooms at the RC were really small and I didnt see myself living there at all. ICO is a great party city and there is lots to do.

Everyone is different and will have different opinions about each school. All the best to you and your fiancee

 

[JMU07]

I saw your other thread too. I'm going to SCO, but PCO was one of the other schools I visited. While I thought the facilities were gorgeous, I had absolutely no desire to live in that area. Especially after comparing the cost of living between Philly and Memphis - no contest. It really does suck that you're stuck in this situation 🙁 I was engaged for 3 years before I got married and if we had the option to stay together or stay apart, we would definitely stay together. Chicago to Memphis is a long haul. On the other hand, SCO was the only school I could see myself at - if I hadn't been accepted I would have waited another year. It isn't just the quality of education that's important, but you should also feel comfortable in your environment, you know? If you really think you'll be okay at ICO, then by all means you two should go there. Have you been to the campus?

 

[SimpleS]

Yes we've been to both campus. We both really loved SCO. The atmosphere there was the best out of all the schools we interviewed at (PCO, SUNY, ICO). Everyone was so nice and the clinic is awesome! At the end of the day we had that great gut feeling about SCO (my fiance was my guest at my interview). So this is why the decision is tough. I don't suppose optometry schools take transfers from other schools after the first year, do they (specifically ICO transfer to SCO)? Well I suppose she can try to wait another year, but we've been waiting so long and the O.Ds at her work tell her that she should just go to ICO because all the schools are good. Well, again it's a decision I have to make soon because I have a feeling SCO is going to call me before this month is done to offer me a seat. Back to the drawing board...🙁

 

[DrRobs]

Yes we've been to both campus. We both really loved SCO. The atmosphere there was the best out of all the schools we interviewed at (PCO, SUNY, ICO). Everyone was so nice and the clinic is awesome! At the end of the day we had that great gut feeling about SCO (my fiance was my guest at my interview). So this is why the decision is tough. I don't suppose optometry schools take transfers from other schools after the first year, do they (specifically ICO transfer to SCO)? Well I suppose she can try to wait another year, but we've been waiting so long and the O.Ds at her work tell her that she should just go to ICO because all the schools are good. Well, again it's a decision I have to make soon because I have a feeling SCO is going to call me before this month is done to offer me a seat. Back to the drawing board...🙁

Go to school together, you'd have a study buddy and not have to worry about conflicting schedules. You're both going to be busy, but having the same test schedule and curriculum will help. It will be hard to see each other if your miles away and definately put a strain on your relationship...exp in your first few years. Although, if you go to PCO, you are "done" at the campus after 2.5 years when you start rotations/externships n whatnot, so when that happens you can probably find somewhere together...however your first two years are going to be tough because you probably wont find time to be with each other. However, if you are used to being apart and went to different schools, maybe u have already learned how to handle being apart...I dont know, every relationship is different.

 

[ML1983]

PCO is awesome. The campus is in a good area, and the clinic is in a horrible area. Optimal setting to learn in. I'm only 2nd yr and we're already in clinic 2-3 times a week for 8hrs a time. We're the only optometry school in the OHTS study, go figure. Everyone that works through the doors has HR, glaucoma and diabetes. Compare our clinic to say, Ohio and you'll be amazed at the difference. Some OD came in from a VA in north carolina and said the interns from ohio when they first started at the VA, were amazed by the crazy stuff they saw. He said the PCO students were used to it.

 

[gochi]

Just wanted to see what optometry students' thoughts were on these three schools. I've been accepted to ICO and PCO and am sitting near the top of SCO's alternate list and stand a very good chance of getting in. But I need some input from future students or current students from these schools. What are the pros and cons of each school. My fiance needs to decide between ICO and PCO also. Thanks for the input everyone!

The only thing I know as of now is that you need a veichle to travel to the clinic, so there's another financial strain in addition to the ridiculously high tuition.