University of Houston

[HighlyFanatic]

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hey cpw, i think ur the only one representin UHCO 😀
im also seriously considering UHCO, after i finish my essays im sending in my application.

what do u think is great about UHCO? for me, i just care about getting the best education, lots of patient experience, and knowledege in different specialties--n become a well rounded optometrist.

sorry, but im kinda comparing to ICO--are there a lot of scholarships available to apply for? research grants? im tryin to get a better idea of student life, and other clubs (ex. private practise, trips to developing nations, etc.) ...

thanks in advance,

Tony

 

[r_salis]

SUNY SUNY SUNY!

(oh... sorry... I guess you didn't ask about SUNY... 😉 )

 

[cpw]

hmmm where to start. (and there are a few other UHCO people here, they can chime in too... hi hema 😉 and TAL 😉 )

UHCO is a very intense program where you take 20 to 21 hours a semester (which is probably the same as any other school) You start learning clinical procedures from day one and you're sent out on vision screenings starting your second semester. You're in the clinic seeing patients starting your second year. After the end of your second year to start to rotate through other clinics (other than family practice.. where you start out). Right now I'm in Family Practice, Pediatrics, Ocular Disease and Contact Lens. Next semester we pick up Neuro-optometry and Low Vision.

Your fourth year you do specialty rotations in peds, low vision, contact lens, family practice, ocular disease/glaucoma. (since we have glaucoma rights in Texas). I'm not sure how you pick speciality rotations but I know there's some kind of choosing going on there.

The professors here are great. There are a few that are average (but you'll get that anywhere). The academic part is great and UHCO has one of the highest first time pass rates in the nation on national boards. (make sure you ask at interviews what their FIRST TIME pass rates are.. most schools only tell you their pass rates AT GRADUATION!) I would hope everyone coud pass part one two years after their first try. --- we just got our board results yesterday. (I passed!!! ... but I digress)

Yes, there are scholarships a plenty and even tutition wavers for those that qualify. There are state contacts with states that don't have OD schools. (I'm not sure if we contract with your state.. ) Another thing I like about UHCO are all the activities. We have volleyball tourneys, halloween parties, deck parties (UHCO has a huge back deck where we all sit and socialize and eat lunch) , etc. There are mission trips to Honduras and Haiti (this year.. they're differ from year to year). They usually take 15 or so students a year.. although they run a volunteer group that runs out into the community to do vision screenings in less than privaledged communities of Houston.

Overall, I'm very happy with my education at UHCO. I do like the fact that my class is HALF the size of ICO and you get state school tuitition. (even out of state it's cheaper than most private OD schools). --- which is definitely something you have to think about when choosing.

If you do decide to come for an interview.. let me know which day you're coming. I'll show ya around. (maybe we can grab lunch or something and you can meet some students, see the clinic, etc)

Hope this helps.. let me know if you have more questions I didn't hit here.

 

[HighlyFanatic]

sweet! thanks for the very informative response....

also, i think learning about therapeutics and pharmacology is a definite plus, most schools teach such courses, but again the depth varies between schools. how does UHCO stand?

i guess u could also say i have an obsession with new technology (for diagnosis), and medical innovations or procedures dealing with eyecare....any school that emphasizes learning this is also attractive. how does UHCO deal with all this 'new stuff' ? 😀

also, in terms of comparison to ICO's student organizations http://www.ico.edu/ico2/prostud/stulif/studorg.html how does UHCO stand, i couldnt find much on the website, and i know theres gotta be more. the more clubs the merrier; not necessarily that one would join all 😎

i found some info about the scholarships too...http://www.ico.edu/ico2/prostud/scholar.html looking at the GPA of UHCO, it looks like u've got a pretty smart entering class 😀 no wonder ur always stressin out, and workin yur butt off 😀

like u said, being a public school UHCO is very attractive.
ICO tuition over 4 years is about 168K for a non-resident (2001 stats), and UHCO is about 139K (for a 2002 student). its a 30K difference, damn...

http://www.ico.edu/ico2/prostud/best_investments.html#oncampusemployment
http://www.opt.uh.edu/prospective_students/academics/od/financial_budget.htm

oh, and if i actually GET an interview *please, please, please* we''ll defintely hookup, and i can tag along with you 😎

thanks in advance,

Tony

 

[HighlyFanatic]

Originally posted by r_salis
SUNY SUNY SUNY!

(oh... sorry... I guess you didn't ask about SUNY... 😉 )

if all else fails michele, SUNY is my backup plan! but big cities scare me 🙁

 

[J.opt]

Wow, when you add tuition + books and equipment + living expenses it all really adds up to be a lot of money

How much does the least expensive school cost?

 

[r_salis]

Originally posted by HighlyFanatic
if all else fails michele, SUNY is my backup plan! but big cities scare me 🙁

NYC isn't *that* big, plus you know people here now! 😀
(I'll admit the weather is a litle better in Houston, though...)

 

[HighlyFanatic]

cpw, im eagerly waitin' for your response

 

[cpw]

UHCO definitely covers therapeutics and pharm. You take a full semester of general pharm (a 4 hour class) and another full semester of ocular pharm (a 3 hour class). Professors also make you look up drugs with all your patients in clinic.. so you get to know all the really common rx's right away.

Technology wise UHCO is on top of it. We have an entire diagnositc ocular imaging center. Complete with GDx, HRT, Fundus photography (stereo, flat fundus, and red free), visual fields and FDT, and we even got a new 100,000 dollar OCT.. and recently (just a few weeks ago) got an Optomap. It's a techie's dream here!! The OCT is AMAZING!! Actual micron thickness views of the macula and retina. Today on the OCT we saw a central serous detachment with central RPE detachment that you could BARELY see with a dilated 78. VERY COOL!!

As far as clubs go we have:

BSK (the honor society)
DOSA (diverse optometric students association) -- helps promote minorities in optometry
AOSA -- the optometric student organization
STOA -- the Texas optometric student organization
SVOSH -- student volunteer optometrists serving humanity. (this is the organization that goes on mission trips to honduras)
FCO --- fellowship of christian optometrists (also go on mission trips to countries.. last year haiti)
Casino Night Comittees
Banquet Night Comittees
Graduation Comiittees
and Chairpersons for the Second Year Clinical Competency Exam

Hope this helps. Thanks for pointing the thread back out.. I've been super busy this week. (and every week.. what else is new) 🙄 😉

 

[cpw]

We also have a note service that you can get paid to do.

ICO does seem to have more organizations based on ethnicities..but keep in mind the classes at UHCO are half the size

 

[HighlyFanatic]

UHCO is defintely lookin VERY good to me 😎 ; its really competitive to get in (OAT/academic avg.), but i HOPE i at least get an interview there

Originally posted by cpw
It's a techie's dream here!! The OCT is AMAZING!! Actual micron thickness views of the macula and retina. Today on the OCT we saw a central serous detachment with central RPE detachment that you could BARELY see with a dilated 78. VERY COOL!!

😱 👍

 

[simplyanny]

Just want to drop in and say good luck to you, Tony. Next year it will be my turn!


And another hi for cpw, just want to wish you best luck at school too! Been superly busy myself and know how that feels like!



lots of luv

😍

 

[Simisn]

Yeah good luck with UHCO Tony, I had a meeting with the new dean of UHCO last week, he seems nice and all about taking UHCO to the next level!

 

[HighlyFanatic]

thx simplyanny, and simisn....if i get in, im there to help both of ya out all the way 😀