SCO program

[MariaMaria]

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Hey, can anyone tell me why they picked SCO over any other school they may have gotten accepted too? I just basically want to know pros and cons to their program. Thanksssss

 

[JBEye2011]

Hey, can anyone tell me why they picked SCO over any other school they may have gotten accepted too? I just basically want to know pros and cons to their program. Thanksssss

I picked SCO because they've had a really high pass rate on the board exams, it was the least expensive of any of the schools I applied to, and everyone at the school seemed really genuinely friendly. There is always a second or third-year asking how tests/practicals went, so the students seem to look out for each other. I like the fact that we get to learn how to do injections, even though most states don't allow optometrists to this.

The biggest drawback for me is the size of the class...and this is only a problem in theory lab. Our labs are split into groups of 30, but even this seems a bit large when you are trying to learn the skills you will use for the rest of your career. There are three instructors in lab, but this does not seem like enough when you learn retinoscopy and refraction for the first time.

 

[JMU07]

My reasons are basically the same. Very low tuition, comparitively speaking, and very low cost of living were huge pluses in my book. After I visited the campus and saw their Eye Center, I was in love! So the academic building isn't the most attractive from the outside, but that's okay. I love that it's all in one building and that the Eye Center is attached. There is more than enough parking for students, and it's very close. (parking problems and walking/driving around a gigantic campus are the two things I was excited to leave in undergrad!) All of the staff and faculty that I've met are really nice and helpful, too.

 

[Eyedoc1999]

Two words...Beale Street.

Just kidding. They have a fabulous curriculum for putting out actual practicing clinical ODs. After graduation, I had several externs from different schools under me and I found that by far the SCO students were the best equipped for clinical care and my routine grilling. They also consistantly have high passage rates on NB and their new clinical facility (which they didn't have when I attended 😡) is stunning.

There is not a lot going on research wise (outside of testosterone eye creams), if that is your goal I would probably look into Berkeley. I also found some of the specialties to be underrepresented like low vision and infant care, but I suppose that's what residencies are for.

That having been said, for how the average OD spends 99% of his day, I would put SCO toe-to-toe with anyone.

 

[MariaMaria]

Thanks everyone, that really helped! Does anyone know if any other school trains you in injections? And what states allow this??