Why are the applications decreasing?

[valine1212]

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Isnt it weird when medical and dental schools applications are going up while the opometry schools application are going down?

What are people's thought here? I heard from my advisor that professional schools application will be increasing the next 2~4 yrs starting last year because we are in a big economy slump. This is true with my college's med and dental schools. However, the optometry application had been sliding big time the last 5-7 yrs. Why is this happening? Is it because the fear of refracting opticians or the corporate optometry?

I actually asked one school's admission office and they told me it's because less people from the low academic range are applying now. I dont think this will have a dramatic impact on the applicants pool but last year about 2400 applied and 1700 got in. So from my stats formula i figure every applicant will get in by the time of 2014. I am not trying to make this a big deal but I am kinda worried since I got into both dental and optometry schools...I need a decision!

 

[christie]

I don't believe that optometry applications are sliding b/c of fear of refracting opticians or corporate optometry. A lot does have to do with our economic situtation right now.

Also, when i went to one of my optometry inerviews last year, a director of admissions told me that optomtry is a "hidden jewel", people don't know as much about optometry as they do about MD or dentist. When i was in college, I did not know much about optometry, it wasn't as advertised on the science bulletin boards, as med schools/dental schols or grad schools were. i don't know if this was the same in other schools though.

 

[TAL]

UHCO's application numbers actually went up last year. The numbers are in the school's most recent newsletter. I will try to get the exact numbers if I remember to. I also know that the number of applications is still down a good percentage from the all time high, something like 7 years ago. I think that optometry school applications will follow the same cycle as medicine (apps up when economy is bad), but the reaction may just be a little slower. I guess we will see in the next few years.

 

[rpames]

I may very possible be wrong, but I thought that applications to medical school were decreasing as well. This is due to the life style in which people are starting see, that an HMOs and all that crap. As far as OD applications decreasing, I think a lot of it is due to chain stores and the commerciallization of optometry. I still can't understand why someone would go to college for a minimum of 8 years (maybe 7) and then work at Walmart. A lot of people now days only see ODs at these chain stores and think that is the only place where an OD can work. Because of this, they don't ever consider OD. I really don't think I would have ever considered the OD route unless my father was one, and I knew I would be able to have a private practice. The field has a lot to offer that most people have know idea about, but the draw backs of very known. Because of this, the field is getting a bad rap.

 

[OD or Not]

I don't know anything about the theory of "hidden jewel". wow what a load of crap whom ever try to boasting optometry like that. Walmart is on the list of top ten chain store in us. No1 lenscrafter, 2. pearle/cole/target/sears 3. walmart.....

guess who is working at those locations? OD does. for every patient seen at walmart, there is one less for private OD. it's all becoming a big commercial movement.

if you call that's the hidden jewel, then someone did a really good job of brain washing. chain accounts 40% of optical goods sold in the states. who is offering eye exams at those locations? OMD? not a chance. if you need self-respect and some from you patient, do the hard way. go to MD/DO/Dental school. wish someone told me about this hidden jewel before i got taken. 100k and 4 yrs of my life is gone forever. oh, ya my school just called me for donation. I am sure I will send them a big check so all of them could keep their jobs and bs more future students.

 

[cpw]

we get it.. you're bitter. can we move on to something productive now. 🙄

 

[rpames]

Well said CPW!