Which SChool? Is it easy to transfer?

[Jeterz]

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Originally from Alabama, go to undergrad in Chicago.. didn't get into UAB..which I thought was the best school.

I got into ICO and Nova for 2006.

UAB would be half the price Chicago would be...but I didn't get in. I live in Chicago, kinda tired of the cold. But I heard Nova had a bad rep in the past. ICO has one of the best reps clinically. Are all the exams for Nova at 8 am. However I want to save money. Nova would be 4 grand cheaper a year. Any opinions? Does it really matter what optometry school I go to? The rents are telling me to go to Chicago..because I am more acquainted to it. I'm in a big dilemma. Help! Can someone break down the life for either school for me so I can make a clear decision.

Ajay

 

[Canadian26]

Originally from Alabama, go to undergrad in Chicago.. didn't get into UAB..which I thought was the best school.

I got into ICO and Nova for 2006.

UAB would be half the price Chicago would be...but I didn't get in. I live in Chicago, kinda tired of the cold. But I heard Nova had a bad rep in the past. ICO has one of the best reps clinically. Are all the exams for Nova at 8 am. However I want to save money. Nova would be 4 grand cheaper a year. Any opinions? Does it really matter what optometry school I go to? The rents are telling me to go to Chicago..because I am more acquainted to it. I'm in a big dilemma. Help! Can someone break down the life for either school for me so I can make a clear decision.

Ajay

Im pretty sure that ICOs exams are all at 8 as well... Im not sure about NOVAs rep, but as far as Im concerned I dont think it really matters what Opt school you go to because the cirrc. is generally the same for most schools. What i would look into are the board passage rates, I know ICO is in the higher 90s Im not sure about NOVA.

 

[stompy]

Originally from Alabama, go to undergrad in Chicago.. didn't get into UAB..which I thought was the best school.

I got into ICO and Nova for 2006.

UAB would be half the price Chicago would be...but I didn't get in. I live in Chicago, kinda tired of the cold. But I heard Nova had a bad rep in the past. ICO has one of the best reps clinically. Are all the exams for Nova at 8 am. However I want to save money. Nova would be 4 grand cheaper a year. Any opinions? Does it really matter what optometry school I go to? The rents are telling me to go to Chicago..because I am more acquainted to it. I'm in a big dilemma. Help! Can someone break down the life for either school for me so I can make a clear decision.

Ajay

Someone could correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that NOVA at one point in the past lost their accrediation but is now reaccrediated. It doesn't matter which optometry school you go to even if it has low board passing rates. If you consider yourself to be hardworking and/or plan on working hard, then you could be one of the few people in your class that do pass (if indeed you chose a low board-pass rate school).

The rest of the factors you mentioned really just depends on your personal situation and preference.

If it were me, and given your brief background, I would choose NOVA over ICO.

 

[ML1983]

Im pretty sure that ICOs exams are all at 8 as well... Im not sure about NOVAs rep, but as far as Im concerned I dont think it really matters what Opt school you go to because the cirrc. is generally the same for most schools. What i would look into are the board passage rates, I know ICO is in the higher 90s Im not sure about NOVA.

Actually ICO has an 80% pass average for Board I which is really all that is hard. http://www.ico.edu/ico3/generalinformation/faq.html

 

[cpw]

Yeah, ICO's scores are no where near the upper-90s.

(taken from above website)

Basic Science Examination (Part I)
ICO National
Year %pass %pass
2005 80% 72%
2004 72% 67%


And.. schools make it damn near impossible to transfer. They generally don't want you to. We had one student in my class who transfered from IAUPR. They basically made him start over as a first year. he was the only transfer student in the entire school.