Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I got accepted to both schools, ICO and the new school at Midwestern in Arizona. I am born and raised in Chicago so I know the area well. However, I have been living in Arizona for the past year and absolutely love it here compared to Chicago. After weighing the pros and cons for both schools I am still having a hard time trying to decide. I know I will get a better clinical experience at ICO as it is more renowned. But, it will also cost anywhere between 50-90 grand more to attend ICO, including the cost of living. I prefer living in Arizona, but there are still too many unknowns with Midwestern, such as how the NBEO pass rates will be and how big of a patient base their clinic will have. Their clinic is still in the process of being built and wont be done till I start, where as ICO usually has 80,000 patients a year. I am also not sure whether or not Midwestern offers residency programs but I was told that Arizona optometrist cant technically be classified as specialist in particular sub fields. Oh, I also plan to practice in Arizona one day, but you never know plans can always change. I would appreciate any advice anybody has to give.
