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Hello all,
I posted this question in the Optometry forum, but I thought I might as well ask some pre-optometry students their opinions, as well.
I've been accepted to SCO and IUSO and am trying to decide where I want to go. Here's my list of pros and cons for each:
SCO pros
-Low cost of attendance and cost of living
-Brand new facilities
-Large clinic and diverse patient base
-Students can participate in work-study
SCO cons
-Location; (Memphis isn't my kind of town); safety?
-Far from home
-Only 2 externships (one rotation must be done in Memphis)
IUSO pros
-Close to home
-Amazing location and lots of fun things to do; Bloomington is my kind of town
-Research-oriented (?)
-Integrative approach to optometry (not sure if this is a pro or a con)
-University-based school
-3 externships
-I'm not sure how true this is, but I've heard from two sources that IUSO students have been noted by preceptors as being the best prepared for rotations
IUSO cons
-Higher cost of attendance and cost of living
-Older facilities
-Small clinic and relatively healthy patient base (although I've heard you get most of your clinical experience during your rotations anyway)
My mind says SCO (I'll save money, get great clinical experience, have a chance to work on brand new equipment, and be able to work at least a few hours a week while going to school), but my heart says IUSO (I want to spend my 20s in a place where I'll have a great overall experience - something I missed out on during college). That being said, I'm not looking for some kind of college experience - I know I'm going to school to get a good optometric education and not to have a good time, but perhaps living in a place I love will help offset some of the misery that comes with spending all of my time studying.
Is anyone else also deciding between these two schools? What are your thoughts?
I posted this question in the Optometry forum, but I thought I might as well ask some pre-optometry students their opinions, as well.
I've been accepted to SCO and IUSO and am trying to decide where I want to go. Here's my list of pros and cons for each:
SCO pros
-Low cost of attendance and cost of living
-Brand new facilities
-Large clinic and diverse patient base
-Students can participate in work-study
SCO cons
-Location; (Memphis isn't my kind of town); safety?
-Far from home
-Only 2 externships (one rotation must be done in Memphis)
IUSO pros
-Close to home
-Amazing location and lots of fun things to do; Bloomington is my kind of town
-Research-oriented (?)
-Integrative approach to optometry (not sure if this is a pro or a con)
-University-based school
-3 externships
-I'm not sure how true this is, but I've heard from two sources that IUSO students have been noted by preceptors as being the best prepared for rotations
IUSO cons
-Higher cost of attendance and cost of living
-Older facilities
-Small clinic and relatively healthy patient base (although I've heard you get most of your clinical experience during your rotations anyway)
My mind says SCO (I'll save money, get great clinical experience, have a chance to work on brand new equipment, and be able to work at least a few hours a week while going to school), but my heart says IUSO (I want to spend my 20s in a place where I'll have a great overall experience - something I missed out on during college). That being said, I'm not looking for some kind of college experience - I know I'm going to school to get a good optometric education and not to have a good time, but perhaps living in a place I love will help offset some of the misery that comes with spending all of my time studying.
Is anyone else also deciding between these two schools? What are your thoughts?