Trouble finding a job?

[BobDoleX]

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well i guess if you're even halfway familiar with this forum, you would always notice those people that are worried that optometry is gona crash and burn especially since of the oversaturation. I don't have much experience in this, so i was really hoping the current optometrists or even people who have really intimate ties to the industry to help me with this question...

I know this sounds a little arrogant, but i plan on doing exceedingly well in optometry school. I already do well in a rigorous science heavy curriculum and many times within the top 10 or so in classes of 400/500. I dont think optometry school will be too difficult and i feel that i can rise to the top. Now, i'm hearing all this business about where you go to school doesn't matter and basically all that matters is that you're an O.D. Does this really just mean doing awesome in optometry school won't get you any more/better job opportunities than someone who did mediocre or even in the lower half? I know there isn't much a demand for optometry but I would imagine if you can really differentiate yourself from others in opt. school, you wouldn't have a problem getting a well-paying job easily? Any opinions?

 

[qwopty99]

Now, i'm hearing all this business about where you go to school doesn't matter and basically all that matters is that you're an O.D. Does this really just mean doing awesome in optometry school won't get you any more/better job opportunities than someone who did mediocre or even in the lower half?

In general, your class rank doesn't mean anything. Better determinants of future salary:
(1) location of practice
(2) ambition
(3) chance/luck/connections

 

[BobDoleX]

see in all honesty i find that very discouraging. i mean, i like working hard but if at the end, it's gona yield the same results as someone who just goofed around is really just a kick in face. It seems like, in med school at least, the smarter kids usually get the better jobs.

how important would you consider residency? i know people say it's kinda not that useful. i was also contemplating doing a navy optometry thing; i think a three year commitment and the work experience could be useful. any thoughts?

i guess what im worried about is that ill get out of optometry school, spent about 300,000 in undergrand and opt. school, and be making 60/70 grand, which is what's expected from an undergrad engineer (at least at our school). i dont mind working hard for the money, i just don't like having my life depend on chance

 

[KHE]

see in all honesty i find that very discouraging. i mean, i like working hard but if at the end, it's gona yield the same results as someone who just goofed around is really just a kick in face. It seems like, in med school at least, the smarter kids usually get the better jobs.

how important would you consider residency? i know people say it's kinda not that useful. i was also contemplating doing a navy optometry thing; i think a three year commitment and the work experience could be useful. any thoughts?

i guess what im worried about is that ill get out of optometry school, spent about 300,000 in undergrand and opt. school, and be making 60/70 grand, which is what's expected from an undergrad engineer (at least at our school). i dont mind working hard for the money, i just don't like having my life depend on chance

Optometry is not like law school, where for example the top of his class graduate from Harvard law school or Stanford law school is going to be fawned over and offered multiple 6 figure salaries with top flight law firms. Optometry just doesn't work that way.

So no, your performance in optometry school will not parlay into a high salary like it would in other fields. In fact, when I look to bring on associates, I almost never ask for their GPA or board scores. What I'm interested in is the following:

Can this person make money for me and my clinic?

Knowing ever subtle nuance of obscure retinal dystrophies or the exact physiolgical mechanism of the troxler phenomenon normally doesn't help generate money for me and my clinic, and as such is not helpful.

 

[KHE]

I know there isn't much a demand for optometry but I would imagine if you can really differentiate yourself from others in opt. school, you wouldn't have a problem getting a well-paying job easily? Any opinions?

Your ability to generate a "well-paying" job is going to be tied directly to your ability to generate revenue for whatever clinic or practice you work in. As I mentioned in another posting, the fact that you may have performed well in optometry school and possess a large amount of obscure knowledge about obscure eye conditions doesn't translate into increased revenue for a practice in most cases. Try to think about it in those terms:

 

[daysend85]

I know this sounds a little arrogant, but i plan on doing exceedingly well in optometry school. I already do well in a rigorous science heavy curriculum and many times within the top 10 or so in classes of 400/500. I dont think optometry school will be too difficult and i feel that i can rise to the top.

A little arrogant? If you are a regular on this forum, you should already be aware of the fact that optometry school is way different than undergrad. I did VERY well in undergrad and I was a bio major. I think optometry school is difficult. Is it impossible? Definitely not. Is it harder work than undergrad? Yes, mainly because it involves more studying.

I have to agree with the other posters. If you think you're a genius and gunna get 100's in all of your optometry school courses and rise above those students who get B's and C's, etc., you're picking the wrong profession. The exception, as has already been pointed out, is that when applying for a residency, it is important to have good grades. There are differing opinions on the importance of residencies, but I believe a residency is highly suggested, if not required, to teach in optometry school. It is also highly suggested to have a residency under your belt when looking into work at an OMD office.

 

[BobDoleX]

well of course how you do in undergrad and your oat's aren't the only determiner of how you'll do in opt. school, but i would imagine there'll be a strong correlation, thats all im saying

also, so KHE, i do actually understand where you're coming from. i guess the question is now, what would you say determines if someone can make money for a practice? What qualities would you look for specificially to see if he's right for you? stuff like good people skills?

 

[eyestrain]

well of course how you do in undergrad and your oat's aren't the only determiner of how you'll do in opt. school, but i would imagine there'll be a strong correlation, thats all im saying

also, so KHE, i do actually understand where you're coming from. i guess the question is now, what would you say determines if someone can make money for a practice? What qualities would you look for specificially to see if he's right for you? stuff like good people skills?

I'd say #1 is people skills. Honestly, you can probably get away with being a pretty crappy doctor as long as people like you and you're able to do a decent refraction. Most people have no clue what you're actually doing with any of the tests, so they don't know if you're doing a good job or not.

 

[zyg0te]

see in all honesty i find that very discouraging. i mean, i like working hard but if at the end, it's gona yield the same results as someone who just goofed around is really just a kick in face. It seems like, in med school at least, the smarter kids usually get the better jobs.

how important would you consider residency? i know people say it's kinda not that useful. i was also contemplating doing a navy optometry thing; i think a three year commitment and the work experience could be useful. any thoughts?

i guess what im worried about is that ill get out of optometry school, spent about 300,000 in undergrand and opt. school, and be making 60/70 grand, which is what's expected from an undergrad engineer (at least at our school). i dont mind working hard for the money, i just don't like having my life depend on chance

If you want your intellectual superiority to be rewarded, as mentioned earlier, go to law school or medicine and specialize.

Even if I could breeze by all their classes in opt school, I would still try my best. Not because I hope it would bring me an increase in salary, but because it is something I would be doing for the next 30+ years of my life and I don't do anything just to be mediocre. I don't feel the need to be the best at what I do, but I do want to be great at it.

 

[KHE]

also, so KHE, i do actually understand where you're coming from. i guess the question is now, what would you say determines if someone can make money for a practice? What qualities would you look for specificially to see if he's right for you? stuff like good people skills?

"People skills" is too generic a term, but that's basically it.

Does the person have any sort of personality?
Can they carry on a conversation like a civilized person or is every question like pulling teeth?
Can they exhibit empathy?
Do they seem like a go-getter or a time clock puncher?
Are they genuinely interested in other people, or does their conversation always revolve around them?

Really, the person who graduates last in their class in optometry school will be able to handle about 90% of the clinical situations that arise in 99% of the optometric practices out there.
So, graduating top in your class is all fine and dandy, but if your an arrogant jackass, no one is going to want you working for them.

 

[qwopty99]

see in all honesty i find that very discouraging. i mean, i like working hard but if at the end, it's gona yield the same results as someone who just goofed around is really just a kick in face. It seems like, in med school at least, the smarter kids usually get the better jobs.

Did you ever choose a doctor based on his med school GPA?