SCO vs UMSL

[Mewcakes]

Okay, so SCO finally got back to me, after almost 2 months, and offered me a seat in their 2014 class. However, victory is bittersweet as I have committed to UMSL for the last 3 weeks. Of course I know this is what a deposit is for, but I'm really not sure anymore which school I want to go to.

I originally had my heart set on SCO, but mostly because of the name, I think, and I didn't know much about UMSL at the time. But after visiting/interviewing at both schools, both have several strong points. It didn't look like I was going to get into SCO at first, so I stopped really researching them. I'm so conflicted, I have no idea what to do. I'm going to put down some points of both schools, if anyone can add or expand on them, please do!

SCO
*Prestige
*Larger class (~124). Not sure how much personal attention you get.
*Less Expensive (~$28K/yr non res)
*Memphis/location of school is fairly urban. Fairly high overall crime rate.
*3 x 4month externships
*1 very new/beautiful clinic.


UMSL
*Small Class Size (44)
*Lots of personal attention and they will make sure you have a job when you graduate.
*STL has nicer parts. My father evidently feels I'm safer in STL.
*4 clinics all over STL metro area in varying socioeconomic settings. I was not able to tour them however, so I'm not sure if they're old or new or what. But UMSL has plans to build another clinic on campus in the coming years. Whether or not it will be ready but my 3rd or 4th year...don't know.
*6 x 8 week externships
*More Expensive (~$38K/yr non res)
*It snows here...I'm from SF-Bay Area, CA.

Proximity/Locality is not a factor her since I'm moving from CA. I only have more points for UMSL because I researched it a lot more because I had planned on going there. So please, if anyone knows more about SCO, let me know! I want to make a well-informed decision that I won't regret. Though I know I will have a great future going to either school, I'm just trying to figure out what's right for me.

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[ibalz]

Okay, so SCO finally got back to me, after almost 2 months, and offered me a seat in their 2014 class. However, victory is bittersweet as I have committed to UMSL for the last 3 weeks. Of course I know this is what a deposit is for, but I'm really not sure anymore which school I want to go to.

I originally had my heart set on SCO, but mostly because of the name, I think, and I didn't know much about UMSL at the time. But after visiting/interviewing at both schools, both have several strong points. It didn't look like I was going to get into SCO at first, so I stopped really researching them. I'm so conflicted, I have no idea what to do. I'm going to put down some points of both schools, if anyone can add or expand on them, please do!

SCO
*Prestige
*Larger class (~124). Not sure how much personal attention you get.
*Less Expensive (~$28K/yr non res)
*Memphis/location of school is fairly urban. Fairly high overall crime rate.
*3 x 4month externships
*1 very new/beautiful clinic.


UMSL
*Small Class Size (44)
*Lots of personal attention and they will make sure you have a job when you graduate.
*STL has nicer parts. My father evidently feels I'm safer in STL.
*4 clinics all over STL metro area in varying socioeconomic settings. I was not able to tour them however, so I'm not sure if they're old or new or what. But UMSL has plans to build another clinic on campus in the coming years. Whether or not it will be ready but my 3rd or 4th year...don't know.
*6 x 8 week externships
*More Expensive (~$38K/yr non res)
*It snows here...I'm from SF-Bay Area, CA.

Proximity/Locality is not a factor her since I'm moving from CA. I only have more points for UMSL because I researched it a lot more because I had planned on going there. So please, if anyone knows more about SCO, let me know! I want to make a well-informed decision that I won't regret. Though I know I will have a great future going to either school, I'm just trying to figure out what's right for me.

~$40K over 4 years (plus accumulated interest ) would be a huge deciding factor for me. Plus I hear Memphis is a great music/food town. Every urban setting has its good and not so good sections. It is just the nature of the beast.

 

[B A S H]

I would go with SCO. I've lived in St. Louis for many years and I really don't think it's a good place to live. Especially where UMSL is located at.. It's right by the airport and the area surrounding it is really shady and not safe at all. You'll be better off with SCO because it's more lively than UMSL. Plus, all the extra money that you have to pay for being a non-Missouri resident is ridiculous. Besides, if you had your heart set on SCO then you'll probably regret it if you go to UMSL.

Best of luck with your decision!

 

[JennieJoy]

I'm from St. Louis. The school itself is located in a shady area...but the campus is perfectly fine. My roommate and best friend here at school (2 hours south of STL) lives 5 minutes from the airport/umsl campus and says it's perfectly fine if you're smart. She plans on attending UMSL for grad school next year.

I also have 2 friends who are in their first year of opt school there and absolutely love it. Also, after you live in Missouri for 6 months or a year you can claim residency and get in-state tuition. It's really not that bad. I'm going to ICO, but don't let people try to claim the "it's not safe" as a big factor not to go there. Most optometry schools/clinics are located in shady places just for the experience you get. My reason for not going there was that it was too close to home and I never want to live at home again, lol.

As for the weather it does snow, but it also snows in memphis just not as much. Also we get more rain than snow if anything. It's only for 4 years. Then you can say you experienced something different than Cali weather.

Memphis is also in a shady area with high crime rate. UMSL isn't in downtown either so the cost of living isn't too bad.

 

[JMU07]

It snows in Memphis too girl! 😀 Just not as much. We got barely any this year but it did snow four or five times.

We do have a large class but it's very easy to get to know the professors. They're very helpful and love getting to know their students. They're very accessible, too and don't mind students coming to ask questions while they're in clinic, provided they're not too busy. And speaking of our clinic, it's SO nice to have it attached to our school, you don't have to drive all over the place, everything you need is in this one building.

Like other people have said, both cities have their good and bad parts. There is a LOT of stuff to do in Memphis, it has a lot of history and the food here is amazing. If you're into food. 😀

you know you can PM me if you have any other concerns. 🙂

 

[DawgOD]

just come on to SCO mew.. come on to Memphis!!

 

[Mewcakes]

Yeah, the amount of money I'd spend at UMSL is like..5-6+yrs more of paying back loans. But if I'm making bank...which doesn't appear to happen in CA, but if I am, maybe it won't be so bad. According to Dr. Brown, I can't qualify for resident tuition at all during this program since I didn't apply as a resident. Or something goofy like that.

Most everyone votes for SCO, but as I was getting used to the idea of attending UMSL, I got really excited about their program. I mean, they have 4 clinics that, even if I have to drive to them, will let me see an extremely diverse variety of patients and I'll have double the externships (though total time spent in externship is the same).

I'm really tempted by the SCO name and price, but I'm also interested in UMSL for the personal attention they give and small class size. I'm afraid if I go to one, I'll have like...buyer's remorse and wish I went to the other.

 

[DawgOD]

only way you will have buyers remorse is if you go to UMSL....

Great Education at SCO at a cheaper price.. can't beat that. SCO really prepares their students for the day to day rigors of an optometric practice.

 

[Mewcakes]

I don't know if any optometrists who have been in the market can speak to this, but how much of a difference does it make which school you come from? If you're licensed and pleasant to interact with and do a smooth exam, does it make a difference?

 

[Crazyface]

Mew, I tried sending you a lengthy PM, but I failed. I'm from Memphis and the church I attend has a lot of SCO students. They all have great things to say about the School, the professors, and the program.

When you do decide on SCO, I can answer any questions you might have about housing.

 

[Mewcakes]

I got it! check your PMs.

 

[B A S H]

I'm sure you'll see the same extreme of diversity in Memphis as well. I'm just telling you from experience living in St. Louis... but I do know of an optometrist that went to school there. He mentioned that he enjoyed the small classroom, but when I visitied the campus and talked to a few students I did not get that feeling. I didn't think that I'd enjoy my time going to school there.

And if they're not going to consider you a resident while in the program then to me that's a no no. It's just too much money in the long run.. to me at least. My own optometrist went to SCO and loved it there. I just hear more good about SCO than UMSL.

 

[DawgOD]

👍

 

[jymezg]

SCO. superdedooper clinic and saves you mucho $$$

 

[Mewcakes]

Well, an overwhelming majority of you support sco. I'm like 85% to making a final decision in sco's favor. But due to the underrepresentation of umsl student opinions, I'm going to attend their required debt seminar this weekend and try to get a feel for the school. They were on spring break when I interviewed so I didn't get to speak to many students what they thought and why they picked the school. I think after my trip I will have my answer. Hopefully, anyways.

I really appreciate everyone's input. It's very helpful to see others' POV when trying to make a tough decision.

 

[hanhuynguyen]

SCO DO IT! Ill be there, and im from Sacramento too. It'd be nice to have a fellow Sac/CA person there! I had trouble deciding too, but my interview at SCO left me more inspired to become an O.D. so i chose SCO. There are just so many advantages to going there.

 

[Mewcakes]

I ended up going to SCO. 😛

 

[DawgOD]

I ended up going to SCO. 😛

 

[Rinny]

Congrats on your decision, Mewcakes! I look forward to meeting you there 🙂

 

[Mewcakes]

Ohh I didn't know you ultimately chose SCO!! How exciting! Hurray!

 

[JMU07]

Congrats, you guys! We'll have to meet up sometime in the fall. 🙂