Weekends during Optometry School?

[aarlan]

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To any students in Optometry school or recent grads,

Out of curiosity, how much of your weekends are taken up with school related activities (excluding studying)? Are you free to go home on weekends if you live close enough, or are there school related activities that are mandatory?

AA

 

[leelee]

To any students in Optometry school or recent grads,

Out of curiosity, how much of your weekends are taken up with school related activities (excluding studying)? Are you free to go home on weekends if you live close enough, or are there school related activities that are mandatory?

AA

What weekends? I'm a first year student, and my weekends = studying. For example: I just put in two 14-hour days studying (saturday and sunday) for my monday exam today. ...Ouch. It was worth it, though! 👍

Other than this past weekend, I am able to go home about once a month at the most. (I live about an hour away from school.) I haven't had anything else that is mandatory on the weekends besides studying!

I don't mind, because I expect school to be difficult and time consuming, but I also expect it to be rewarding, too.

I hear I will be able to have more free time as I get older! (3rd or 4th year perhaps?) If that's the case, I'm looking forward to it. 🙂

 

[vtrain]

Weekends were definitely available at NEWENCO. It's all about how well you want to do. Don't focus too much on grades or getting that 'A' because in the end, no one cares. Save your sanity and take your weekends (or at least one day somewhere in the week) off.

 

[rpames]

I agree w/ the previous posts. First year at ICO is pretty bad for weekends. You don't really have any mandatory things to do, but studying is pretty heavy. During second year it is the same, but you may have to work in the optical a Saturday or two. During third year you will most likely get stuck with one quarter of Saturday morning clinic.

 

[r_salis]

At SUNY the worst year for weekends is the second year -- between exams/quizzes and practicing, there are few weekends you get to yourself. You can manage a few weekends first year, if you manage your time well, and third year is a much easier pace. And at SUNY, we don't have Saturday clinic. 😀

 

[gsinccom]

any info on the busiest years at Pacific, SCO, or Nova? How about the weekends at these schools?

 

[eyes28]

how are the weekends at uab?

 

[jcaco]

what about ucbso? thanks

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

any info on the busiest years at Pacific, SCO, or Nova? How about the weekends at these schools?

Second semester, second year, and first semester third year are definitely the worst at UMSL. My 1 and a half cents

 

[eyestrain]

Wow, those are some pretty bleak weekends. Personally, I don't think it's that bad at all. I don't think I've spent any weekends just studying in two and a half years at IU. It's just not worth it when you can put in half the time and get a B or B+.

 

[ODhopeful]

I am currently first year in UHCO. Me and a couple of my classmates usually drink ourselves stupid Friday night, either at bar/club or at home. We then spend all day Saturday getting over our hangover by sitting around watching tv or surfing the web or just lay in bed all day. Do it all over again from Saturday night till Sunday night. We usually try to flip a couple of pages of notes, but then our heads usually hurt too much so we just go back to watching tv. Come to UHCO and experience it for yourself.

 

[UABopt]

how are the weekends at uab?

I would say at UAB you have about 1/4 to 1/3 of the weekends to yourself. Some people have more some people have far less. At first I spent a lot more time studying on weekends than I do now. I think part of it is that I have come to the realization that no matter how much you study, unless you are superhuman, it is not possible to learn, let alone master all of the material presented to you. I think I have gotten better at picking and choosing what is important and what I can live without knowing.

Some weekends you will be cramming for an exam, spending time in the anatomy lab, or practicing in the Preclinic for a practical. The only thing that we do on the weekends that is absolutely mandatory is if you miss community vision services and have to do a makeup working screenings at a health fair. Other than that there are lots of other things that tend to go on during the weekends that are not really mandatory, but are fun and good experience. Remote area Medical trips, Heath fair screenings, The Christmas party and Eyeball all take place on weekends.

 

[Elfego Baca]

UCBSO's clinic is open for business on Saturdays and Sundays, so kiss your weekend goodbye if you are unlucky enough to have one of those days. It's open on holiday weekends, too. There's also a 2nd year lab that meets on Saturdays in the spring, but 2nd years then have Monday off.

 

[eyestrain]

I am currently first year in UHCO. Me and a couple of my classmates usually drink ourselves stupid Friday night, either at bar/club or at home. We then spend all day Saturday getting over our hangover by sitting around watching tv or surfing the web or just lay in bed all day. Do it all over again from Saturday night till Sunday night. We usually try to flip a couple of pages of notes, but then our heads usually hurt too much so we just go back to watching tv. Come to UHCO and experience it for yourself.

This is how weekends should be done.

 

[ptran504]

This is how weekends should be done.

Sounds laid back. That is where I am going next fall.

 

[sco1styear]

any info on the busiest years at Pacific, SCO, or Nova? How about the weekends at these schools?

Your first year at SCO is pretty laid back so you have weekends to actually do non-school things. Second year is a little different and esp. the 2nd quarter there just isn't enough time. But I'm finished with that!!!! 😀 😀 😀
Also, the class officers work with professors to schedule tests so we learned having tests on Mondays and no longer schedule tests that early in the week. This helps free up weekends.

 

[cpw]

I am currently first year in UHCO. Me and a couple of my classmates usually drink ourselves stupid Friday night, either at bar/club or at home. We then spend all day Saturday getting over our hangover by sitting around watching tv or surfing the web or just lay in bed all day. Do it all over again from Saturday night till Sunday night. We usually try to flip a couple of pages of notes, but then our heads usually hurt too much so we just go back to watching tv. Come to UHCO and experience it for yourself.

I went to UHCO and didn't spend my weekends like that. 😉 Although, a good chunk of the class did

Don't let this post fool you.. first and second year at UHCO are ROUGH!

 

[Nimue619]

I am a senior in undergrad studies right now. I am having major senioritis. Will I be able to just shake it off and work really hard? Does anyone have a hard time making this transition to optometry school?

 

[anchan]

depends what kind of student you are, lots of people can get away without studying because they get a lot out of going to class while others have to put in more effort independently to learn the material. i wouldn't go by what anyone has said about the weekends in optometry school because it's different for each individual. you might gain the misconception that you can party all you want on the weekends and then end up failing. or conversely, you'll stress yourself crazy by unnecessarily investing all your weekends into books when you don't have to be.

but i'd say my weekends are pretty slack, though some weeks it gets busy but you do what you have to do and get on with it.

 

[lookintomyeyes]

At Nova we have tests each Monday and therefore have no weekends what-so-ever. If you want to go out, your best bet is actually during the week.

 

[smith351]

At Nova we have tests each Monday and therefore have no weekends what-so-ever. If you want to go out, your best bet is actually during the week.

Tests EACH monday, Yikes. 😱

 

[cpw]

Tests EACH monday, Yikes. 😱

Get used to it ! I had twelve exams in ten consecutive days once my first year in OD school.

 

[still_confused]

Get used to it ! I had twelve exams in ten consecutive days once my first year in OD school.

haha i was planning on buying a nice computer to play games for while in opt school but i just checked the suny first year's schedule, looks like i wont be playing any games!

 

[r_salis]

In 8 weeks I will be done with classes. Forever. *Moohahahahahaha*.

(Of course I still have a year left of clinic, some board exams, blah blah blah...)

This Public Service Announcment brought to you by somebody who is reallllllly tired of school. 😀

 

[cpw]

In 8 weeks I will be done with classes. Forever. *Moohahahahahaha*.

(Of course I still have a year left of clinic, some board exams, blah blah blah...)

This Public Service Announcment brought to you by somebody who is reallllllly tired of school. 😀

classes ? what are these classes you speak of ?? 😉 😛

Good luck in your last 8 weeks!! Externships are SO much more fun than lecture and school clinic. 😀

Although, you're never ENTIRELY done with classes..... there's still CE !!🙄

 

[stompy]

classes ? what are these classes you speak of ?? 😉 😛

Good luck in your last 8 weeks!! Externships are SO much more fun than lecture and school clinic. 😀

Although, you're never ENTIRELY done with classes..... there's still CE !!🙄

HA-HA! Classes fo life yo! 😍

*point and laugh*

 

[r_salis]

classes ? what are these classes you speak of ?? 😉 😛

Good luck in your last 8 weeks!! Externships are SO much more fun than lecture and school clinic. 😀

Although, you're never ENTIRELY done with classes..... there's still CE !!🙄

But CE will feel like Christmas compared to classes all week! (...though this quarter I only have classes M/F.)

I can't wait for externships!!! 😀

 

[r_salis]

HA-HA! Classes fo life yo! 😍

*point and laugh*

But you can take your CE in Bermuda. 😀

 

[prettygreeneyes]

Get used to it ! I had twelve exams in ten consecutive days once my first year in OD school.

I'm going to break out in hives just reading this!!!

 

[stompy]

But you can take your CE in Bermuda. 😀

I only know Bermuda for its Triangle... 😕 I suppose there could be something pleasant there as well.

 

[xmattODx]

I only know Bermuda for its Triangle... 😕 I suppose there could be something pleasant there as well.

CE is by no means pleasant!

 

[stompy]

CE is by no means pleasant!

Oh, I thought r_salis was making a point there's something nice in Bermuda, like a beach or something you could go to while you're doing CE there...

 

[xmattODx]

Oh, I thought r_salis was making a point there's something nice in Bermuda, like a beach or something you could go to while you're doing CE there...

You may be correct in that assumption but a day of CE can make the world's most beautiful beach look like a landfill. CE is like being stabbed in the eyes with a butter knife. 😉

 

[r_salis]

You may be correct in that assumption but a day of CE can make the world's most beautiful beach look like a landfill. CE is like being stabbed in the eyes with a butter knife. 😉

How much CE hours are you required to do per year? How much of it can you do online? (I see the occasional ad for a Carribean cruise CE trip and fantasize that's what I'm in for, I really don't know the reality of it I guess. 😉 )

 

[xmattODx]

How much CE hours are you required to do per year? How much of it can you do online? (I see the occasional ad for a Carribean cruise CE trip and fantasize that's what I'm in for, I really don't know the reality of it I guess. 😉 )

The answer to both of those questions is state dependent. Some states don't allow any online CE. I've never been on a cruise for CE maybe I'm missing out!

 

[cpw]

The answer to both of those questions is state dependent. Some states don't allow any online CE. I've never been on a cruise for CE maybe I'm missing out!

Florida's really strict about their CE (and everything else) ... I have to have 6 hours of TQ-CE. And a total of 30 hours every 2 years. And, I know there's a set number of hours that can be practice management (4 i think) Florida renews biennially.

My only CE needed this year I'm getting done on Marco Island at FOA in July. CE is better than school, but not by much since you have to pay a small fortune to take it.

 

[r_salis]

How much CE hours

Yeah, me real good speak like. 😎

So 15 hours per year in FL... Do the hours work out to be 1-for-1, so that you'd have to do a full weekend of CE (8 hours per day for 2 days) to get 16 hours?

 

[cpw]

Yeah, me real good speak like. 😎

So 15 hours per year in FL... Do the hours work out to be 1-for-1, so that you'd have to do a full weekend of CE (8 hours per day for 2 days) to get 16 hours?

yep 1:1 .... you get lots of sudoku puzzles done 😉 (depending on how interesting the speaker is)

 

[KHE]

99.99% of CE is a useless waste of time. It is usually either so horrifyingly basic (how many times do I have to hear about ocular allergy) or it is so horrifyingly beyond the scope of our practice. (I do not need to hear about the latest techniques for temporal artery biopsy or macular translocation surgery)

I went to the Optometric Retina Society meeting in Boston last week. On the whole, it was good but all the case presentations were ridiculous. One case presented was of a patient who had bilateral HSK, a branch vein occlusion in one eye, and a central vein occlusion in the other. How many of you would manage a patient like that? How many practicing ODs work in an office that has the facilities to manage that even if you wanted to? Very very few.

Part of the problem with many CE lectures is that they are given by people who work in tertiary referal centers. So by the time they are seen there, they have already seen multiple ODs and OMDs, none of whom can figure out what the hell is going on with the patient. Then, it is determined that they have some totally obscure condition that has an incidence of 1 per 5 million and is only seen in southern Bangladesh. That's not going to help me in my practice.

Oddly enough, the most interesting lectures were given by MDs who were not ophthalmologists. One was an endocrine guy and one was a nephrologist who gave very interesting talks on diabetes.

In Nevada, I have to do 30 hours PER YEAR! However, Nevada allows you to do ALL of your CE by correspondence and I learn way more reading journals and discussing things with other ODs than I EVER do sitting in a class for 8 hours a day surrounded by people reading the paper, playing hangman, or sleeping while listening to people drone on for the 400th time about 4th generation fluoroquinolones.

Florida's really strict about their CE (and everything else) ... I have to have 6 hours of TQ-CE. And a total of 30 hours every 2 years. And, I know there's a set number of hours that can be practice management (4 i think) Florida renews biennially.

My only CE needed this year I'm getting done on Marco Island at FOA in July. CE is better than school, but not by much since you have to pay a small fortune to take it.

 

[cpw]

Then, it is determined that they have some totally obscure condition that has an incidence of 1 per 5 million and is only seen in southern Bangladesh. That's not going to help me in my practice..

this is so true!

Are you in Vegas ? I have a Dr friend here in Tampa that's moving there this month.

 

[KHE]

this is so true!

Are you in Vegas ? I have a Dr friend here in Tampa that's moving there this month.

I no longer live in Nevada though I maintain an active Nevada license. I did live in Las Vegas for a short time.