WesternU College of Optometry

[hellooo_123]

Hello all,

I am trying to decide between Western and Pacific right now and I'm going to submit fall grades for SCCO. I decided to withdraw my application from ICO and PCO after being invited for interviews.

To give you some background, I'm from Southern California and I think I would like to stay closer to home for personal reasons. However, I've read a lot of different threads that have mentioned staying away from the "newer" programs just because they aren't as established and the programs aren't as good? But I've also read that it doesn't matter where you go, as long as the school is accredited.

I would just like any other opinions on this matter and Western in particular (and opinions from those lurkers who are already in school). Anything helps at this point really, just trying to see it from a different perspective. Thanks in advance.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[GetOffThisForum]

You would still get the same license and bare-necessary education to do primary care (eg pass boards) regardless of where you go, but the quality of the program may differ. More reputable schools one would argue would have a higher likelihood having all of the bugs/curriculum/teacher experience worked out to make it a smoother, more effective program. If I had a choice between community college and Harvard, I'd go to Harvard even though community college is closer to home; but that's me personally. I know folks who dropped out of Harvard because they got homesick.

 

[OpticalBlackOut]

Hello all,

I am trying to decide between Western and Pacific right now and I'm going to submit fall grades for SCCO. I decided to withdraw my application from ICO and PCO after being invited for interviews.

To give you some background, I'm from Southern California and I think I would like to stay closer to home for personal reasons. However, I've read a lot of different threads that have mentioned staying away from the "newer" programs just because they aren't as established and the programs aren't as good? But I've also read that it doesn't matter where you go, as long as the school is accredited.

I would just like any other opinions on this matter and Western in particular (and opinions from those lurkers who are already in school). Anything helps at this point really, just trying to see it from a different perspective. Thanks in advance.

The problem with this request is that you're again getting more varied opinions from more strangers. Who's right?
I think your best route is to ask the optometrists that you have shadowed what their views are on the new schools. That way, you have a verified view from doctors that you know and trust.

Now, the consensus from what I've read throughout the years:
yes, graduation and passing boards will give you the same degree no matter where you go.
However, getting a job from your future colleagues/employers will be totally different because practicing doctors are not fond of the new schools.
Western was unnecessary with SCCO so close by, and driven by profit. They've directly led to over-saturation (southern california is impossible) and a decrease in salary across the board.

 

[myopiastigmatism78787]

i really enjoyed western and the people i met there. the students, especially. even the folks in my interview group were genuinely nice. the interview was the best i had so far, in that it was fun! i know that it's "new" but i don't think that makes it one of the lower end schools. in fact, a lot of people in my interview group already were accepted into more well-known schools like SCO, SCCO, and OSU but were seriously considering Western as well due to their facilities, humanist approach, and unique faculty/curriculum. we all enjoyed the students we met (3 married guys who were the chillest of the chill), the faculty (from nova, neco, suny, etc), and the atmosphere (random dental students decided to join our tour group LOL). i actually declined my NECO acceptance for Western.
i think the new schools just "threaten" the traditional schools as more competition means you have to do more to impress your recruits. the new schools have given some of the others a run for their money, for example NECO didn't fill their class size last year (119 out of 146). just because it's new doesn't mean it's worse. you can only go up, not down. western has all the resources to become one of the best.

 

[hellooo_123]

i really enjoyed western and the people i met there. the students, especially. even the folks in my interview group were genuinely nice. the interview was the best i had so far, in that it was fun! i know that it's "new" but i don't think that makes it one of the lower end schools. in fact, a lot of people in my interview group already were accepted into more well-known schools like SCO, SCCO, and OSU but were seriously considering Western as well due to their facilities, humanist approach, and unique faculty/curriculum. we all enjoyed the students we met (3 married guys who were the chillest of the chill), the faculty (from nova, neco, suny, etc), and the atmosphere (random dental students decided to join our tour group LOL). i actually declined my NECO acceptance for Western.
i think the new schools just "threaten" the traditional schools as more competition means you have to do more to impress your recruits. the new schools have given some of the others a run for their money, for example NECO didn't fill their class size last year (119 out of 146). just because it's new doesn't mean it's worse. you can only go up, not down. western has all the resources to become one of the best.

Thanks a bunch, I appreciate your input! I had a very similar experience during my interview and I felt the same way. Glad to know I'm not the only one. Looks like we might be classmates 🙂

 

[myopiastigmatism78787]

Thanks a bunch, I appreciate your input! I had a very similar experience during my interview and I felt the same way. Glad to know I'm not the only one. Looks like we might be classmates 🙂

yea definitely! optometry schools don't have a ranking, so it's all about fit. i had a magical time at western, and i'm pretty sure things like passing boards and doing well in clinic are as much up to the student as it is up to the school. as you can tell, optometry schools shuffle in their reputation constantly. at one point, nova was seen as an okay school and now they're at the top with those boards scores. pco and neco used to be legendary and now they've fallen off BUT seems like they realize that and are trying to reinstate their reputations. at the end of the day, it depends on you and what you make of your opportunity.
for me, seeing the faith all these professors (successful optometrists themselves in hospital/private practice settings) from other great optometry schools have in western really made me confident about the school. i also really liked my interview group and it was further evidence of the type of people western attracts - really kind people. at my other interviews, i didn't like the interview groups as much. people were cockier, less humble, and more fake. at this age, we can all kind of read people and tell who's superficial or not.
best of luck to you @hellooo_123 ! if we do choose western at the end of the process, it'll be cool to meet you!