shadowing

[RagOptUz]

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Hey guys.
Im currently an undergrad studying in some college in NY. Ive been reading several threads from this forum for a couple of weeks now and i have come to notice that extracurriculars are #3 right after gpa and oat. I was just wondering, how do you go about shadowing an optomitrist? Do you look up optometrist in the yellow pages and just call them up? or do you just walk in?

 

[sportsdude00]

Hey guys.
Im currently an undergrad studying in some college in NY. Ive been reading several threads from this forum for a couple of weeks now and i have come to notice that extracurriculars are #3 right after gpa and oat. I was just wondering, how do you go about shadowing an optomitrist? Do you look up optometrist in the yellow pages and just call them up? or do you just walk in?

i just found one close to me and walked into the office and asked.

 

[hurricaneuro]

I was having a casual conversation with mine while getting my prescription checked and told her I was interested in it, and she invited me to stay! I think you'll find most are really friendly and don't mind you following them around (in private practice atleast).

 

[w44jmw]

I made a list of the nearest optometrists, wrote up a short letter about myself and what I was looking for (to shadow, chat, or even do some volunteer work) and dropped it off with the receptionists. Most places called me back very quickly! Most places invited me for a single afternoon, while one doctor was very welcoming and invited me to come back anytime as long as I call ahead to make sure there will be lots of interesting appointments.

 

[Oogilily]

I did the same thing. I just called ones that were close to me and told them I was planning on going to optometry school and askd if I could shadow them. All of the ones that I called were very accommodating (no pun intended opt students....) and helpful. So I would just call them up and ask. I even did a commercial place and the doc there was very nice, my favorite even.

 

[RagOptUz]

ok so i did. I called up the closest one and got my appointment to shadow the optometrist. But what to exactly do there? I mean i know i just basically whatch him do his work, ask some simple questions. Anything you guys recommend me do? Questions that would help me out in the future?

 

[FSU PreOpt]

It really depends on the optometrist that you shadow... one doctor I shadowed greeted me for the first time with "Just sit back and watch what I do since you don't know anything yet." And after one day of shadowing said "Now you know what an optometrist does...good luck." And that was that. But when shadowing my optometrist, he'd ask if I had questions, he'd be like "hey come look at this!" if something interesting was happening with a patient's eye, and let me run some tests and prep patients if he was swamped, and always asked if I'd like to come back.

But, assuming you get a nice doctor, I'd say just jot down some things that are on your mind to ask during the day. For example, if you're worried about debt, ask if that was a concern for them too; and if it was, were they able to manage? If you're not sure what type of practice to go into, ask how they picked. Otherwise, just observe the exams and form questions from there. Lots of interesting things happen in those little rooms!