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- Pre-Optometry
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sco.
- Thread starter jdom29
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2011
- Messages
- 312
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- 11
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- 4,601
- Location
- Berkeley, CA
- Optometry Student
does anyone know the safest locations to live for SCO?
also, if you are currently a non-regional student, can you apply to be a regional student the year after? if yes, who is eligble to apply for this? do you have to meet certain criteria?
Mud Island is the nicer area where a lot of students live. If you live there, go for a gated community as that increases security (and you aren't that far from downtown still).
I don't think you can apply for a regional seat later on. There are very few spots available as is (not even all the TN students get one). I am pretty sure your residency status stays the same. But they are well-funded for scholarships, so those will probably improve as you build your reputation there.
I was accepted there but have decided to attend another school. I also know someone who is a current student, so that's where my info comes from.
If you visit for an interview, they do an excellent job of laying out your different options during their housing session (they even had a current student there to help answer questions during my visit). But like optoapp2012 mentioned, many students live on mud island which is relatively safe. However, there are also other safe neighborhoods in suburban areas a little further from campus, which are where many students with families choose to live. But they'll give you a map and booklet covering all the different regions in the Memphis area.
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2011
- Messages
- 312
- Reaction score
- 11
- Points
- 4,601
- Location
- Berkeley, CA
- Optometry Student
if you don't mind me asking, what made you decide between SCO and the other school? (because i am also deciding between schools)
I thought the school and facility were great. I loved how attentive the staff/faculty/students were and how they made me really feel like they wanted me there. That was also the best interview I had, because I felt like I connected so well with the professor. I know a first year student there who has loved his experience.
Buuuuut....I really did not like Memphis - I'm much more of a big coastal city kind of person. I absolutely could not picture myself living there. I'm from the midwest and was in a huge hurry to get out of there and don't really have a desire to go back. I'm pretty liberal too, so TN just wasn't cutting it for me. Everyone I met was so nice, but made very conservative religious comments (all with the kindest intentions) and that's just not me at all. I also wanted a school that was part of a larger university campus. I think it's an excellent program, but the life there wasn't a match for me.
I'll be moving to Cali in August. I just interviewed for Berkeley and am keeping my fingers crossed that that's where I get in! If not, I have a deposit down at SCCO (which I liked as well, but Berkeley is a much better fit for me...smaller class size, part of a large university, SF rather than LA, more eye disease in the clinic, etc).
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2011
- Messages
- 312
- Reaction score
- 11
- Points
- 4,601
- Location
- Berkeley, CA
- Optometry Student
yes, i really did not like memphis either. but best of luck to you! 🙂
I think overall it's not a huge deal. If I were to evaluate the city where my undergrad was with the same thinking I am using toward Opt school, there's no way that I would have gone where I did. But I never really noticed in undergrad and I certainly enjoyed my time completely. I think the city won't be as big of an issue once you actually start there (wherever you go). You will be super busy studying, and honestly you will spend most of your time with classmates just hanging out or dining out. I think I am being overly picky right now 😉
Good luck with your decision!
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- Pre-Optometry
You will be super busy studying, and honestly you will spend most of your time with classmates just hanging out or dining out. I think I am being overly picky right now 😉
Good luck with your decision!
I personally did not feel like I would get along or get to be myself with the students at SCO. I am from the liberal East coast, and I was pretty nervous about how conservative and religious everyone in Memphis and SCO seemed. That was just my impression, but it was a pretty big factor for me because I knew it would have a huge impact on my happiness. I'm sure you'll be happy wherever you decide to go 🙂.
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2010
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- Optometry Student
does anyone know the safest locations to live for SCO?
also, if you are currently a non-regional student, can you apply to be a regional student the year after? if yes, who is eligble to apply for this? do you have to meet certain criteria?
As some have mentioned, no, you cannot change your regional status. However, SCO has one of the lowest tuition rates (plus one of the lowest costs of living). I think SUNY might be the only one that does allow it, and they're really not supposed to.
I'm from the "liberal east coast" as well, and rarely notice or am bothered by anything overly religious or conservative here. Again, like someone said, I spend most of my time studying, or hanging out with classmates, who are from all over and fun people, even if we're from different places.
As far as safety goes, request an apartment that's not on ground level, and as mentioned, gates help.
