Warning: Don't waste your time on trying to bridge through the IOBP at Waterloo!

[eighteen]

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I’m writing this because I wish someone had warned me. Anyone from Canada considering studying optometry in the UK, DON’T DO IT! unless you plan on living there forever. The states will be a lot more expensive, but the uncertainty, stress and years wasted on trying to bridge back to Canada is not worth it!

If you’re coming back now from the UK to Canada now, don’t waste your time on trying to write the evaluating exam and trying to bridging through the IOBP at Waterloo. The whole process is just a scheme set up against you. Even if you do well on the exam, you are not guaranteed to get into the program and getting in seems to be all based on luck during the exam. There are lot of qualified people that haven’t gotten in and some that you wouldn’t expect to have gotten through, did, (some don’t even have undergrad degrees) so it makes no sense. A lot of things are being done that are unfair and there's no transparency, it’s just not worth wasting your time on uncertainty. Also, the people running this could care less if you’ve invested your whole life into this and just say too bad. They even canceled the shorter bridging program last minute AFTER people had already done the exams and some even qualified for it, so people just wrote exams under false pretenses. They were basically leaving them no choice but to complete the longer bridging program now which costs more than triple the money!!! If they wanted to get rid of the shorter program they could've just been upfront about it so people didn't waste their time and money.

Now there is only one program left which only takes the top few people based on a single exam and the rest can’t practice optometry even if they’re good optometrists. Compare that to if only the top scoring optometrists on the final boards were allowed to practice, and the rest were told too bad, even though they passed, I wonder how people would react then.

Many wish we hadn’t bothered with the IOBP and gone straight to the states so don't waste your time!!!

 

[Jane.88]

I’m writing this because I wish someone had warned me. Anyone from Canada considering studying optometry in the UK, DON’T DO IT! unless you plan on living there forever. The states will be a lot more expensive, but the uncertainty, stress and years wasted on trying to bridge back to Canada is not worth it!

If you’re coming back now from the UK to Canada now, don’t waste your time on trying to write the evaluating exam and trying to bridging through the IOBP at Waterloo. The whole process is just a scheme set up against you. Even if you do well on the exam, you are not guaranteed to get into the program and getting in seems to be all based on luck during the exam. There are lot of qualified people that haven’t gotten in and some that you wouldn’t expect to have gotten through, did, (some don’t even have undergrad degrees) so it makes no sense. A lot of things are being done that are unfair and there's no transparency, it’s just not worth wasting your time on uncertainty. Also, the people running this could care less if you’ve invested your whole life into this and just say too bad. They even canceled the shorter bridging program last minute AFTER people had already done the exams and some even qualified for it, so people just wrote exams under false pretenses. They were basically leaving them no choice but to complete the longer bridging program now which costs more than triple the money!!! If they wanted to get rid of the shorter program they could've just been upfront about it so people didn't waste their time and money.

Now there is only one program left which only takes the top few people based on a single exam and the rest can’t practice optometry even if they’re good optometrists. Compare that to if only the top scoring optometrists on the final boards were allowed to practice, and the rest were told too bad, even though they passed, I wonder how people would react then.

Many wish we hadn’t bothered with the IOBP and gone straight to the states so don't waste your time!!!

This process of coming back is described 100% accurately. The IOBP program is not worth it. The college of optometrists for Ontario do not want internationally trained Optometrists. Period. Every year they will continue to screw people that are qualified out of coming back home to Canada. Do yourself a favor - avoid the uncertainty and bureaucracy of the IOBP and the college and go to the states for a more certain future and less stress for you and your family.

 

[Optogal]

The college of optometrists for Ontario do not want internationally trained Optometrists. Period.

Umm... The College of Optometrists of Ontario ALLOWS for internationally trained optometrists to enter practice in Canada. If I'm not mistaken, I don't see any UK grads entering practice in the U.S. Why aren't you criticizing the 50 US states for not recognizing your degree?

 

[eighteen]

Umm... The College of Optometrists of Ontario ALLOWS for internationally trained optometrists to enter practice in Canada. If I'm not mistaken, I don't see any UK grads entering practice in the U.S. Why aren't you criticizing the 50 US states for not recognizing your degree?

You are mistaken. The States have a FAIR process in place where internationals can get placed into advanced standing based on their educational credentials, work experience and recommendations. It is not the nightmare that has become the bridging process in Canada where getting in is based on a single exam, on getting lucky and by being from a certain province (Ontario) where people before you could help you, where programs are cancelled last minute which people had qualified for, where fees are doubled within 1 year, where no one can make informed decisions. This has all happened since the College of Optometrists of Ontario got involved because they were against the IOBP.

 

[Optogal]

No. You both are mistaken. You both make seemingly irrefutable claims that are completely factually incorrect.

This process of coming back is described 100% accurately... The college of optometrists for Ontario do not want internationally trained Optometrists. Period. ...go to the states...

Lessee... COO 100% doesn't want international grads so your advice to Canadians is for them to go to the US for their education. Hmm....

States have a FAIR process in place where internationals can get placed into advanced standing...

Like I said. No US state recognizes your degree. Perhaps there are some SCHOOLS that offer bridging but no STATE BOARD recognizes the B Optom for entry to practice. They require the OD. Canada, which you criticize, does not.

You seem to think your position is irrefutable and yet you are completely wrong in your basic arguments. No offense, but if the above is representative of your analytical ability, then maybe there's a reason you (two) didn't get the grades necessary to get educated in Canada.

 

[eighteen]

No. You both are mistaken. You both make seemingly irrefutable claims that are completely factually incorrect.



Lessee... COO 100% doesn't want international grads so your advice to Canadians is for them to go to the US for their education. Hmm....



Like I said. No US state recognizes your degree. Perhaps there are some SCHOOLS that offer bridging but no STATE BOARD recognizes the B Optom for entry to practice. They require the OD. Canada, which you criticize, does not.

You seem to think your position is irrefutable and yet you are completely wrong in your basic arguments. No offense, but if the above is representative of your analytical ability, then maybe there's a reason you (two) didn't get the grades necessary to get educated in Canada.

First of all, your rude and ignorant comments are unnecessary. You said "If I'm not mistaken, I don't see any UK grads entering practice in the U.S. " so I responded by saying they have a fair process in place. There ARE UK grads that have entered practice in the US after going through that process.

I'm not sure how you can determine we didn't have the grades to get educated in Canada. Canada only has 1 English teaching school, competition is intense and majority of students accepted are from Ontario. With all of these factors, many people don't even bother to apply to UW and go elsewhere. So guess you're saying saying anyone that went to the UK or States wasn't intelligent enough to be an optometrist and Canadian trained optometrists are superior. Wow.

Above all, I'm sharing my experience for others in this position. You haven't been this through this experience so not sure why you felt the need to get involved so aggressively. Your comments only demonstrate your level of intelligence. Go find something better to do with your time.

 

[aries09]

Unfortunately, many people like Optogal, have preconceived misconceptions that those that chose to study in the UK must be subpar. Since Canada only has one school, a lot of people do have to study outside of Canada and there is no need to insult their intelligence for that. Not everyone can afford to study in the US or wants that much debt, so people go to the UK as there was a process available for them to bridge back which has significantly changed in the past few years. Fair enough, the scope of practice isn’t the same in the UK as in Canada but it’s not that drastically different either; the scope of practice in the US is even wider than Canada. However, that is what the IOBP is for. It is supposed to ensure Canadian standards are met and everyone should be given a fair chance to do so with a transparent process. Each year internationals are being further restricted. The people going through it are the ones that can actually make those claims.

 

[Optogal]

I'm going to give you some advice..

Deleted because no replies.

 

[Optogal]

Deleted because no replies.

I think I've spilled my 0.02. I'll await replies if any.

 

[iBALL]

I’m writing this because I wish someone had warned me. Anyone from Canada considering studying optometry in the UK, DON’T DO IT! unless you plan on living there forever. The states will be a lot more expensive, but the uncertainty, stress and years wasted on trying to bridge back to Canada is not worth it!

If you’re coming back now from the UK to Canada now, don’t waste your time on trying to write the evaluating exam and trying to bridging through the IOBP at Waterloo. The whole process is just a scheme set up against you. Even if you do well on the exam, you are not guaranteed to get into the program and getting in seems to be all based on luck during the exam. There are lot of qualified people that haven’t gotten in and some that you wouldn’t expect to have gotten through, did, (some don’t even have undergrad degrees) so it makes no sense. A lot of things are being done that are unfair and there's no transparency, it’s just not worth wasting your time on uncertainty. Also, the people running this could care less if you’ve invested your whole life into this and just say too bad. They even canceled the shorter bridging program last minute AFTER people had already done the exams and some even qualified for it, so people just wrote exams under false pretenses. They were basically leaving them no choice but to complete the longer bridging program now which costs more than triple the money!!! If they wanted to get rid of the shorter program they could've just been upfront about it so people didn't waste their time and money.

Now there is only one program left which only takes the top few people based on a single exam and the rest can’t practice optometry even if they’re good optometrists. Compare that to if only the top scoring optometrists on the final boards were allowed to practice, and the rest were told too bad, even though they passed, I wonder how people would react then.

Many wish we hadn’t bothered with the IOBP and gone straight to the states so don't waste your time!!!

I truly feel for you. I hope you've found a way to bridge back to Canada or USA. I was in the UK previously as well and dealt with IOBP. Good luck in whatever brings you home.

 

[withwap]

I’m writing this because I wish someone had warned me. Anyone from Canada considering studying optometry in the UK, DON’T DO IT! unless you plan on living there forever. The states will be a lot more expensive, but the uncertainty, stress and years wasted on trying to bridge back to Canada is not worth it!

If you’re coming back now from the UK to Canada now, don’t waste your time on trying to write the evaluating exam and trying to bridging through the IOBP at Waterloo. The whole process is just a scheme set up against you. Even if you do well on the exam, you are not guaranteed to get into the program and getting in seems to be all based on luck during the exam. There are lot of qualified people that haven’t gotten in and some that you wouldn’t expect to have gotten through, did, (some don’t even have undergrad degrees) so it makes no sense. A lot of things are being done that are unfair and there's no transparency, it’s just not worth wasting your time on uncertainty. Also, the people running this could care less if you’ve invested your whole life into this and just say too bad. They even canceled the shorter bridging program last minute AFTER people had already done the exams and some even qualified for it, so people just wrote exams under false pretenses. They were basically leaving them no choice but to complete the longer bridging program now which costs more than triple the money!!! If they wanted to get rid of the shorter program they could've just been upfront about it so people didn't waste their time and money.

Now there is only one program left which only takes the top few people based on a single exam and the rest can’t practice optometry even if they’re good optometrists. Compare that to if only the top scoring optometrists on the final boards were allowed to practice, and the rest were told too bad, even though they passed, I wonder how people would react then.

Many wish we hadn’t bothered with the IOBP and gone straight to the states so don't waste your time!!!

Guys listen, Optometrists in Ontario are struggling to find work. The market is saturated like crazy. Canada's population is very limited hence not enough patients unlike California where all optoms are extremely busy.

I dropped out of optometry recently in the UK and started law school instead. I have a much better prospect as a lawyer than I have as an optometrists. If law society of upper Canada were caught doing what College of Optometrists of Ontario is doing, they would have been sued a long time ago. The College has a egotistic power that they have abused in my view.

I plan to sue the Association of Optometrists and the College when I graduate as a lawyer. Guaranteed!

 

[eighteen]

Guys listen, Optometrists in Ontario are struggling to find work. The market is saturated like crazy. Canada's population is very limited hence not enough patients unlike California where all optoms are extremely busy.

I dropped out of optometry recently in the UK and started law school instead. I have a much better prospect as a lawyer than I have as an optometrists. If law society of upper Canada were caught doing what College of Optometrists of Ontario is doing, they would have been sued a long time ago. The College has a egotistic power that they have abused in my view.

I plan to sue the Association of Optometrists and the College when I graduate as a lawyer. Guaranteed!

Guys listen, Optometrists in Ontario are struggling to find work. The market is saturated like crazy. Canada's population is very limited hence not enough patients unlike California where all optoms are extremely busy.

I dropped out of optometry recently in the UK and started law school instead. I have a much better prospect as a lawyer than I have as an optometrists. If law society of upper Canada were caught doing what College of Optometrists of Ontario is doing, they would have been sued a long time ago. The College has a egotistic power that they have abused in my view.

I plan to sue the Association of Optometrists and the College when I graduate as a lawyer. Guaranteed!

Good for you. Smart move in switching to law school. If fair changes are not made asap, a class action is inevitable and I would be interested in joining you. It's interesting how Ontario is so saturated yet the majority they accept are from there.

 

[Optogal]

All these posts specifically relevant to your situation and the one that gets responded to is the fanciful claim of a lawsuit against the COO.

I see why people in this thread are hopeless, helpless, and clueless. Speaks volumes about the "why's" of the situation you find yourselves in.

The alleged future lawsuit will not recoup even one penny for anyone. You heard it here first.

You guys are beyond help.

 

[Optogal]

So at a time where you're wanting to make a complaint/appeal/lawsuit, what you should be doing is gathering as much information as you can about the program, both good and bad. The IOBP was probably around when you were in middle school so there is a long multi-sided history to it. I was willing to go offline and help you where I could with some basic facts about the program, and I was willing to do that in a way that protected both my and your identity.

Instead, you choose to defend your fragile ego by ignoring everything I've said. It's not even your ego. It's your online username. You pretend I have nothing of value to you. You couldn't be more wrong. I get the sense I could've written here in plain English the exact steps for you to take to get out of your situation, and you wouldn't have acknowledged them. I'm guessing your problems are far more deep than just the IOBP if it's too much for your pride to get help from someone who pointed out glaring mistakes made in a few posts written by you. You're perfect. Everyone and everything else, including the IOBP are all 100% wrong. And complaining is the answer.

Good luck. In my opinion, you should be trying to seek any and all the help you can get. But you have to come to that conclusion yourself.

 

[siddom]

So at a time where you're wanting to make a complaint/appeal/lawsuit, what you should be doing is gathering as much information as you can about the program, both good and bad. The IOBP was probably around when you were in middle school so there is a long multi-sided history to it. I was willing to go offline and help you where I could with some basic facts about the program, and I was willing to do that in a way that protected both my and your identity.

Instead, you choose to defend your fragile ego by ignoring everything I've said. It's not even your ego. It's your online username. You pretend I have nothing of value to you. You couldn't be more wrong. I get the sense I could've written here in plain English the exact steps for you to take to get out of your situation, and you wouldn't have acknowledged them. I'm guessing your problems are far more deep than just the IOBP if it's too much for your pride to get help from someone who pointed out glaring mistakes made in a few posts written by you. You're perfect. Everyone and everything else, including the IOBP are all 100% wrong. And complaining is the answer.

Good luck. In my opinion, you should be trying to seek any and all the help you can get. But you have to come to that conclusion yourself.

I was reading without being signed in and you deleted all your posts, can you sen me a private message with what you might have said? i am considering the program.

 

[Optogal]

I didn't keep a copy of my posts. You can try finding them in cached links in google.

My sense is, the OP believes it isn't worth going to the UK if your goal is to become an optometrist in Canada. My sense is he/she would probably advise people get educated in the US > UK, even if the US is more expensive, due to the stress/uncertainty involved in going the UK/IOBP route. I'd imagine this is probably good advice, because the amount you potentially "save" in going to the UK isn't worth the stress/uncertainty involved. The point seems to be, there is no guarantee you will be able to come to Canada to work after getting educated in the UK.