what's optometry school really like?

[balu222]

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I had decided I wanted to apply to optometry school and during the process I became filled with doubts. It would really help if I could get an idea of how much time you really have for family, a significant other, and friends during school. Family is number one to me, so I have been struggling with how much time I will have for my family. I just really want to know how things really are because so far I've just gotten a lot of generalized views. 🙁

 

[eyestrain]

Well, I can tell you how it was for me if that helps at all. Optometry school is more difficult than undergrad, but I don't think it was that much more time consuming. Undergrad was filled with writing papers and daily assignments. Optometry school was mostly studying for tests. Pick your poison, I guess. I much prefer studying, which is why I didn't think optometry school was too bad. I honestly think I had more free time in optometry school than I did in undergrad. But again, that was my experience. I think if you're one that works your ass off in undergrad, you'll be miserable in optometry school.

 

[rodomon]

I'd agree; it depends on how fast you can learn material. Some people who recently had similar classes in undergrad and are generally fast learners study a few hours before each test. That's very rare, though; most people study at least a few hours every night, and some study more (4+ hours a night and weekends).

Use your undergrad biology classes as a guide because it's more of the same. At UHCO, the first-year classes that take the most time are Advanced Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Neuroanatomy. Optics is just geometry, although the homework takes some time. Vision Science and Optometry are much lighter subjects. Plus there are labs for all of them, although if you study for class you shouldn't have to study labs too much because they cover the same material. There's also variability in teachers, notes, etc that will matter.

The good news is that you see many ideas multiple times. The sympathetic nervous system and spinal cord tracts come to mind; we've covered them in all 3 bio classes, so it gets easier each time.

For me, it's a little less free time than what I had during undergrad when I had lots of biology classes and a lot less free time than when I was taking more economics, history, philosophy, etc classes that took less studying.

On average, I'd say maybe an hour or two of free time per weekday and then most of the weekend free (although, depending on the school, there are classes and clinics on the weekends).

Of course, consider the long-run, too. Any professional program will suck up most of your free time for 4 years, and you'll probably have to put in another 5-10 years of fairly hard work to pay off loans and get settled, but after that you'll probably have more free time than most people. I know plenty of MDs, ODs, and DDSs that work 3-4 days a week by the time they're, say, 40, and making more money than most people still working 5 days a week. Plus, many plan on retiring by 55 and not working as a greeter at Wal-Mart to make ends meet afterwards. So, short-term sacrifice for long-term payoff.

 

[JAZZEYE]

delete

 

[ODduck]

I don't think that the material is any harder than undergrad, in fact, I would say that at least half of it is straight up review from my undergrad classes (I took a lot of neuro and bio classes).

The hard part is that you are taking so many dang classes at once. Once midterms roll around and you are in your third straight week with multiple tests you just think its never going to end.

There are definitely people that need to study every single day, but others study the day/night before tests and do just fine, it just depends on how you function as an individual.

As far as free time to spend with friends/family. It is VERY doable if you just budget your time well. The thing that saves me from going insane is that I force myself to go out and do things for fun that have NOTHING to do with optometry. If family is important to you, then you definitely can make time for them, there are many married people in my class, and several have children.

Optometry school is what you make of it. If you want to get straight C's and get that OD, then you can do that, and have a lot of free time too. If you want to study your tail off and get a 4.0, then that is doable for anyone with the credentials to get into OD school, but it will subtract from your free time. It all comes down to time management, that is the single most important part of OD school IMO. The classes aren't THAT hard, you just are constantly bombarded.

 

[Eye-Spy]

So far, I have found optometry school to be much more time consuming than undergrad. Although so far the material isn't necessarily harder per se, as fonziefonz mentioned it moves really fast. At least at ICO, there are a lot of tests and a lot of material on every test.
If you're a fast learner and a good studier you should be fine, although personally I find it to be really a lot of work.

Good luck with your decision making!

 

[docwatson]

Optometry and Medical schools are all about memorizing. If you can memorize lots of information on multiple subjects then you will do well. Stick it in your brain and regurgitate it on the exams. That's it.

If you have a superbrain then you'll do fine, but otherwise, you better compensate by being extremely organized. I went back to school after working as an engineer for five years. At 29, my brain just did not work the same as when I was 22 so I had to compensate by keeping extremely ordered. I can't tell you how many multiple colored highlighters I went through in 4 years!!

I think it's best to be a single person when going to college--especially graduate school--because it really does take up a lot of your time. You can have a family and still make it but it will create tremendous friction. Your spouse better understand that he/she better assume the role of bread winner and you will assume the roll of studying like a dog and the two shall not mix. I dragged my family along and my school years were the worst years of my life. But I got through it!

Really, it's a choice. Do you want to spend time with your family, or do you want to put your remote on pause for 4 years? It's really about the future is it not? If the future looks good for you after completing optometry school then by all means, do it--go to OD school. If it means extreme sacrifice for your family, then you might want to reconsider.

Not going to sugar coat anything. This was my reality. Take it for what it is worth.

Please PM me if you want to talk more...

 

[nova2010]

Ask The Class Of 2010, Since They Are The Guinea Pigs For The New Cirriculum. Their Requirements Are Different Than The Classes Before Them. It Is Much Tougher Now. Sorry, But It's True. They Used To Be Able To Get A D And Still Pass A Class. No Longer. So, Class Of 2010, Let This Person Know What It Has Been Like For You, So Far.

 

[eyestrain]

Ask The Class Of 2010, Since They Are The Guinea Pigs For The New Cirriculum. Their Requirements Are Different Than The Classes Before Them. It Is Much Tougher Now. Sorry, But It's True. They Used To Be Able To Get A D And Still Pass A Class. No Longer. So, Class Of 2010, Let This Person Know What It Has Been Like For You, So Far.

You have to stop capitalizing every first letter. Its more difficult to read than typing in all caps.

Also, you can't get a D and still pass? NOOOOOOO!! What is the world coming to? I hate it when schools at least attempt to have standards.

 

[cpw]

They Used To Be Able To Get A D And Still Pass A Class. No Longer. So, Class Of 2010, Let This Person Know What It Has Been Like For You, So Far.

It's always been that way at UHCO. You get a D it's the same as getting an F. Better luck next year when you repeat the class.

 

[IndianaOD]

Two C- at IU and you're repeating classes.

 

[alferec]

Hey balu222, here is some noteworthy advice: get your priorities straight when you get into optometry school. Some people put academics first, but other people (like myself) put my friends, sig other, and family (not in any particular order) a top priority. I feel like that if I don't find enough time to hang out with my family, friends, or significant other, then I start getting upset that I don't find enough time to hang out with them, and thus my academics suffer. So make sure you have fun outside of school because it can only help your studying. Now, I'm not saying to completely push aside your schoolwork of course, but make a time for studying and make a time for hanging out. I study hard and efficiently as a motivation to make some free time to hang out with friends. I try to make Friday and Saturday nights my free time to hang out - it works out really well actually. So basically I make a routine so it makes it simpler to figure out when to tell my friends/family/sig other when I'm free.

 

[EnvisionOD]

Hey balu222!

Your Q caught my eye because I had similar concerns when I was entering optometry school. I don't have any kids, but I am married and have a lot of family nearby my school. They are the most important thing to me and so is my future. The way I look at it is that what is good for me is good for them (i.e. my spouse and future kids will directly benefit from my income and level of self-fulfillment). They all want to see me succeed and achieve my goals, and I am sure your family does too. Make sure both you and them are very clear on what is going to be expected from you. There is room for a "real life" outside of student life in optometry school but it all depends on how good you are at budgeting your time. What it comes down to is--can you trust yourself? If you schedule in an hour of studying for each subject per night, will you actually complete it--or will you end up squandering time or making excuses?

Like everything else in life, being successful in OD school is all about self-discipline. If you have the strength to make yourself study and prepare when you know you should, there will be plenty of time for friends and family with NO GUILT and no work hanging over your head!

BOTTOM LINE: IF YOU WANT TO BE AN OD, YOU DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO. BE PREPARED, BUT DON'T OVERTHINK IT--JUST DO IT AND IT WILL BE OVER BEFORE YOU KNOW IT!! AND WHAT IS WORSE--A COUPLE BUSY YEARS OR A LIFETIME OF REGRET? 🙂 Good luck as you make your decision!

P.S. Also--you are not alone--some schools have student groups for students with kids, families, etc. and they are all there to help you manage your time, bounce ideas of each other, etc. There are several adult students in my class and some young ones with kids. They are some of the best students in our class--families can be the best motivators and the strongest support system!

 

[daysend85]

I will admit that optometry school is a lot different than how I thought it would be before I got accepted. I put as much time in or more than I did in undergrad, probably more. There is a ton of info thrown at you that you are expected to memorize in entirety. Here at PCO, the exams are very detail oriented, so you have to know the notes inside and out to catch every last detail. My grades are also considerably lower in opt school versus undergrad. To do very well you pretty much have to study a couple hours every night PER SUBJECT. I don't do this, and as a result I don't get straight A's of course. I have to study to do well but have short retention of minute details, so I generally study for exams beginning 3 days or so before the exam. We typically have 1-2 exams and/or practicals per week, as well as assignments that have to be turned in. We have evening assignments that must be completed when classes are not in session, so extra time outside of class is required. There are quite a few lectures per week, lasting 1.5-2 hours each, so much time is devoted to attending them (at PCO, most lectures are not mandatory).

The overall point is that you can get bogged down VERY quickly in optometry school. Yes, most of the concepts are understandable but when you have so many different things thrown at you at once, sometimes concepts can become blurred. Stay on top of things and learn to manage time well. If you do both of those, you will have some free time.

 

[cunikki]

i think that it is what you make of it. i certainly do not spend hours a night studying each class... or even one class. my school has tests 2x a week and so it just rotates what you are studying for. basically this equates to taking fri night off... studying sat and sun.. taking a test mon... then taking mon and tues night off and studying wed and thurs for fridays test.
my strategy is to go to all the classes.. but i know a lot of people who dont go. really this makes no sense to me because the teacher can teach it in an hour and it would take me at least 2x as long to learn on my own.
i think if you just do what you are supposed to be doing and studying a night or two before each test you will do fine (i have a 3.85 gpa in my 3rd year)...
i really dont think studying more would have changed any grades and if i had i wouldnt have gotten to make the friendships i have or have any fun at all...
to me its basically sad when no one in your class knows you cause all you do is study... go out and have some fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!