SUNY help from current students

[muenster200]

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I have been accepted to both SUNY and ICO and I am having trouble deciding where to go for next fall. I interviewed at SUNY over break so I did not meet with any students. I was wondering if any current students could tell me about the atmosphere at SUNY or what they think of their decision to attend SUNY?

I am not really worried about the board pass rates and I was offered a scholarship at ICO, so although SUNY would still be cheaper, the price is pretty comparable given the cost of living in NY.

Any advice through posts or PM would be appreciated. I am also gonna be in NY this wednesday and thursday, so if anybody would be willling to meet to discuss this school more, that would be wonderful.

Thank you

 

[GGelato9]

Actually I am deciding between ICO and SUNY too...
I made a little excel spread sheet btwn the two schools and everything hahah.
SUNY makes more sense for me to go to financially...but ICO felt so comfortable...
When I went to SUNY the two students I talked to liked it there but then a classmate of mine went and she heard the complete opposite from the students she was able to talk to...and she decided to attend SCCO even though SUNY had been her first choice school. 😕
But of course everyone's experiences are different so I'm trying to keep that in mind...I don't know why I am having such a hard time deciding...aahh...

Suny students, how do you like it there? experiences?

 

[ac05]

Hello, I'm a first year at SUNY, according to the rumors, suny is probably one of the more demanding schools of optometry. I definitely felt the stress 2nd quarter, and if you asked me then, I would have told you to definitely go to another school. I am not saying that this quarter is any easier, but I think you get used to the stress and workload and just learn to deal with it. professors are generally very good, and i have definitely learned a lot. The only 'fact' that I can tell you to help you out is that 3 people have dropped out of the class so far. technically 5, but the other two were special cases. I don't mind showing you around, if you come this week, you should come on thursday because we don't really have class on wednesday. okay good luck

 

[still_confused]

base it on location, where you feel the most comfortable. If you are afraid that a certain school would be harder and attend an "easier" school then you shouldnt be an optometrist.

 

[EyeBaller]

School is hard. The difference is that some people understand that, and some people don't. The ones who don't complain and hate school. The one's who do still complain day to day.. but know they are getting a good education and don't hate school.

You'll always get mixed opinions from students, so basing your decision on what a student or two said at your interview/tour isn't a smart move. Talk to students but always take everything they say with a pinch of salt (probably including what I'm telling you). Try and make lists of pros and cons, look at COST.. it's a major factor, as well as location.

I used to do interview tours at SUNY (and still do them occasionally), and I always tried to be as impartial as I could. It's a demanding curriculum, it can be long hours and it does suck to be in clinic from 9am-7.30pm and then have a quiz the next morning.. but you deal with it...

In the end, you make time for yourself too and enjoy NYC and all it has to offer. I'm happy with my decision and ultimately if you make the most of your 4 years in optometry school you'll enjoy it too, wherever you decide.

 

[Buboo]

Hi!
I'm a first year at SUNY, and let me tell you, it's been quite a ride so far! As "eyeballer" said, school is hard, and no matter where you go, you'll have a tough schedule and you just have to figure out a way to deal with it. I had to make a decision b/t 5 schools, and I picked SUNY because it's known for it's academic excellence, and when else would you get to live in NY! NYC is awesome! I live in the city, and there's nothing like it. I'll tell you what my employer (an optometrist) told me..pick a school where you'll be happy for 4 years. All schools will teach you the same thing, you'll come out a doctor regardless of where you go...but don't go somewhere where you'll be miserable for 4-5 yrs (school schedule will DEFINATELY make you miserable, so being somewhere you hate will just add to that!). He told me that doctors never look at what O-school you graduated from when hiring you...so anywhere you go, you'll get a good education..although, I've heard from 4th years that are doing their externships, that they usually feel more prepared that other schools. We also havea craaaaaaazy schedule..like 23 credits or so PER QUARTER, so that's like 10 weeks I think. So that's like taking 50 credits a semester! But you get used to it. It's 3rd quarter now, and we're doing okay. As someone already said, 3 people have already dropped out, and they were all very smart. Sooooooo...it's all about where you wanna live! And wherever you go, you'll make many friends and have awesome experiences 🙂
If you'd like a tour, I can show you around too, along with ac 😉
Good luck with everything, you'll need it. haha..jk!

 

[doofy]

We also havea craaaaaaazy schedule..like 23 credits or so PER QUARTER, so that's like 10 weeks I think. So that's like taking 50 credits a semester! But you get used to it.

It's actually 23 quarter credits or so per quarter in 10 weeks (With holidays and religious observances, it's more like 10-12 weeks + 2 weeks of finals). It's really more similar to taking 23 semester credits a semester, which is very similar to most US optometry schools.

 

[sunyopt]

The school is very demanding. I would advise you to find out about the scope of practice in the area you plan on working. Just talk to a local optometrist. NY has some of the most restrictive laws in the US. I don't know the scope in Chicago, but I would find out which area is more in line with how you plan to practice. I have seen charts that outline the laws of all 50 states, try google. Don't let $ make your decision. The difference will be less than 6 mo. of salary.
Another important factor is what the school chooses to emphasize. For example SUNY likes to emphasize VT (the other clinics are still great). Find out if this is the case at other schools and make your decision accordingly.
My take on the course load is, the class load isn't well distributed. The first quarter always seems to be ok but the second quarter is always crushing. The third quarter of first year is cake, but second year did not ease up. I never looked into this at other schools but if the course load is evenly distributed I would give it at least 2 pluses on that excel sheet.