UAB vs. SCO

[blueeyedOD]

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Hey,
I'm applying to both UAB and SCO, and have visited both. For students from each (or those who applied to both), what opinions do you have, both good and bad?
Thanks!

 

[JMU07]

I didn't even consider UAB b/c of cost, but SCO is my top choice. My optometrist wanted me to apply to UAB but I really do not want that much debt...

as far as SCO goes, they have a very high NBEO pass rate. Their Eye Center is the largest in the country of its kind and it has amazing facilities. The tuition is low and they have the most scholarships of any of the schools, and they try to give as many as they can to the students from non-regional states to help lower their costs. They also have the largest library on vision resources that's free to students but students at the other OD schools have to pay to access it. I really enjoyed Memphis when I visited and hope to get a better chance to explore when I go for my interview next week... sorry I can't help you as far as UAB goes but those are some of the reasons why I want to attend SCO!

 

[blueeyedOD]

What day is your interview? I'll be there Friday.

 

[JMU07]

Mine is Friday too, at 1:00 🙂

 

[brownyeyed]

Hey,
I'm applying to both UAB and SCO, and have visited both. For students from each (or those who applied to both), what opinions do you have, both good and bad?
Thanks!

i interviewed at uab this past week....the school looks very nice and the students and faculty were extremely kind and cheerful....the city itself looks very enjoyable but i did not have time to explore the place. i would be an out of state/no contract student at uab so like mentioned earlier the tuition would be high...but they told me that had the merit scholarship for out of state students only where it would reduce to cost by 1/3 making it about 24K / year, which actually is fairly reasonable considering up north is about 26-28K/year. but yes sco is cheaper but i have not visited the school yet but have heard great things about it! good luck with everything!

 

[brownyeyed]

oh yeah, you also have to take into account the class size...uab has only 40-45 students enter each year so for about the first two years you have all the same classes with your class, which i think is extremely nice because you get to know the faculty real well and the other students too....and sco has a large entering class about 120 (i think) which is also very nice because you get to know more people and have more classmates to study with and help you along.....it really depends on what you prefer and feel comfortable with!!!