What do you guys think....

[vornskr1030]

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I'm going to be a junior at UCB, and for the past year, I had been leaning towards doing optometry. I've shadowed a few optometrists, so I have an idea of what it's like, and I thought it was something I could see myself doing. But lately, I've been having some doubts about it. I keep hearing about competition from retail and other ophthalmologists, legal issues with ophthalmologists, etc. While these may be arguable, my biggest concern is that the job saturation in California (esp the Bay Area) is quite high, and I'd like to stay close to home.

Do you guys think that these concerns are valid? And if not optometry, what other fields should I consider (I've been thinking about pharmacy)? My grades are pretty nice, but I'm a little lacking in the extracirricular department.

Now that I'm going to be a third-year, I feel like time is running out for me to pick something....

 

[rpames]

Those are all very valid concerns. Quite honestly, the one that would make me the most leery is that you want to stay in the area. Opening up shop or even looking for a job would be very competitive in any area in which a OD school in located. I guess you should talk to the ODs in the area. Ask them what it is like to work in the area. You clearly have to do what you think would make you happy, but my second choice was dentistry.

 

[Kristene9]

I agree that you have some very good reasons to be doubtful. Have you asked the Optometrist in the Area? I talked to 4 OD's before applying to Optometry school because I was worried about the type of job I would get and the salary. They were from the states that I will most likely end up in and all but one told me that I should go for it.

My second choice was Physician’s Assistant becuase it would have only taken 2 years to complete a Masters and then 1 year residency. Also there are lots of opportunities to practice in difference areas of medicine, and for less time and money they don’t make that much less then optometrist, well depending on where and what you end up doing as an optometrist.

 

[drbizzaro]

I agree that you have some very good reasons to be doubtful. Have you asked the Optometrist in the Area? I talked to 4 OD's before applying to Optometry school because I was worried about the type of job I would get and the salary. They were from the states that I will most likely end up in and all but one told me that I should go for it.

My second choice was Physician’s Assistant becuase it would have only taken 2 years to complete a Masters and then 1 year residency. Also there are lots of opportunities to practice in difference areas of medicine, and for less time and money they don’t make that much less then optometrist, well depending on where and what you end up doing as an optometrist.

many people speak about the appeal of money.. but i think the largest appeal of anything is the job itself... without that, going through this much school isn't worth it...

 

[drbizzaro]

True, but even if you loved the job would you do it for 60k? even after 8 years of school and over 100K in debt? thats just stupid. If you read some the yahoo optometry sucks forum and just look at stats, it does happen. check out this site think about were you would want to practice.

http://www.acinet.org/acinet/occ_re...1&nodeid=2&soccode=291041&stfips=01&x=43&y=19

that's not stupid... 100K in debt is only temporary... i mean, you can say that it's stupid, but lets say alternative is making some good money in a job with less schooling.... i really dont think that'll lead someone to be that happy in the end... unless of course money is the only thing they care about...

there are people who have saved up over 2 million dollars and died without spending very much of it... and all because they were money hungry... money doesn't equal hapiness...

with 100K in debt, it'll have paid off in due time.. plus there are ways around the system... (ie. one doctor who makes a very high amount of money/year is on a repay sched. of paying it out for over 60 years) -> this makes the interest increase, but it makes it so you can spend money every year... plus, no one cares about spending when you are 80+ anyways....

 

[Da ObtURator]

100k in debt?? I wish I had such little amount to pay off, as a graduating dental student, I will have 250k of the golden handcuffs. Stop crying and whining about only 100k of debt, that is not much, even for optometrists. Work hard and treat your patients right and you'll be cleared in no time.

 

[odstudent]

100k in debt?? I wish I had such little amount to pay off, as a graduating dental student, I will have 250k of the golden handcuffs. Stop crying and whining about only 100k of debt, that is not much, even for optometrists. Work hard and treat your patients right and you'll be cleared in no time.

250k!!?? omg.. I thought I had it bad.. .. 😱

 

[Abner Yokum]

There's a big shortage of experienced machinists in the Bay Area -- enough that the big refineries and factories are putting ads all over the country begging qualified machinists to move there. Pay is over $100K, no student loans, you get union benefits and job security, and you aren't scheduled to work weekends. Just say your nickname is "Doc" and you have the best of all worlds.

 

[drbizzaro]

There's a big shortage of experienced machinists in the Bay Area -- enough that the big refineries and factories are putting ads all over the country begging qualified machinists to move there. Pay is over $100K, no student loans, you get union benefits and job security, and you aren't scheduled to work weekends. Just say your nickname is "Doc" and you have the best of all worlds.

"just say your nickname is "doc""... that's too funny man!!!