Why are you guys interested in doing Optometry?

[the Undergrad]

Hey guys, well I am fairly new with optometry. Throughout college and my education, I've envisioned that I'd go to medical schools one day and take the MCATs... and then, I dunno, I just sort of "lost interest" in applying to medical school for two main reasons:

1.) My Science GPA sucks. I've received a "D" in GChem I three times [I was going thru some serious issues] and my other science grades aren't very solid either. Actually, to be honest, I didn't know what I really wanted during my undergrad years. It was was like I was traveling this road just to have the support of family and doing things to please them [read: taking science courses to become a doctor]. Well, anyway long story. However now I have somewhat figured that my interest lies in humanitarian issues. I really want to study further in Social Works/Sociology but at the same time I know that these fields are not very financially stable. I mean, as a male coming from a culture where the eldest son is supposed to look after his parents and raise a family, I think right now my temp solution is another sub-field of medicine [let's face it, anything in health care means big bucks] like optometry. Plus I really [I can't stress this enough] want to study science and do well. I still have not come to terms with the fact that I've done not-so-well in my science pre-reqs and, basically, I just want to prove myself that I can do well in these courses when I am not going through personal problems and become what I want while being in health care. That leads me to my second reason...

2.) I've done some research on the "fears" of the future of Optometry [i.e. LASIK]. However, like I said in #1, my biggest ambition is to make people's lives better.... as in those who are deprived of things such as eye care. So my reason to do Optometry co-incides with reasons above and, later when I have an O.D. degree, I could perhaps work/apply for a position in a relief organization of the U.N. In fact just the other day I was reading somewhere at this forum about another optometrist working for some Vision-related social organization. See, that's exactly what I'd like to do in my future after Optometry school (work in less-developed countries as an optometrist). I am sure in such environments, technologies like LASIK isn't a threat. SO... in a nutshell... being an Optometrist will not only fullfill my ambition to do well in a medicine field but also enable me to do what I ultimately want to do.

I'd like to hear/read some other responses for sure. Oh, and feel absolutely free to comment on my reasons to apply to Optometry schools.

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[still_confused]

shadow optometrists, read up on these forums, retake ochem, and then make your decision.

in all honesty, you are going into optometry for all the wrong reasons (cant make med school and to make your family happy). your ambitions to help people is commendable and you should look into a MPH or PhD degree in public health. this will allow you to stay in a healthcare profession while not having to deal with the hard science material. relief organizations usually hire public health graduates and do not really hire ODs (at least not on a fulltime basis). and most public health graduates have no problem finding jobs and keeping them, though high pay are reserved for phds.

again, just being honest, with 3 D's, problems or not, you have no chance at any school, med, opt, grad. even with a retake and an A, you will need a very understanding committee to overlook your grades. and then comes the interview where you will find a hard time justifying your decision to any committee unless you shadow and research extensively.

but then again, there is the caribbean med schools who are the most forgiving and you can try your luck there.

regardless, shadowing and researching is your best mode of action right now.

good luck in your decision and hopefully you will find what is right for you

 

[xmattODx]

*cut*

So my reason to do Optometry co-incides with reasons above and, later when I have an O.D. degree, I could perhaps work/apply for a position in a relief organization of the U.N. In fact just the other day I was reading somewhere at this forum about another optometrist working for some Vision-related social organization. See, that's exactly what I'd like to do in my future after Optometry school (work in less-developed countries as an optometrist).

I'd like to address your second reason for becoming an optometrist.

I applaud your interest in joining the noble profession of optometry. I am also delighted to see you express interest in doing global health work.

As I'm sure everyone knows optometry can play an integral role in combating preventable blindness. In fact, refractive error is a leading cause of "blindness" in the world due to the lack of refractive care and distribution networks of spectacles in the developing world. Optometrists can also be involved in cataract care (the leading cause of blindness), trachoma care and more.

That said, I would advise against becoming an optometrist for the sole purpose of doing global health work. In many parts of the world Optometry is not a profession. That is, you will not be able to practice health care in most countries. Very few eye health care non-governmental organizations employ optometrists. The CDC (obviously not an NGO) only has one OD on staff and I doubt the UN/WHO has any (but I may be wrong).

There is room for optometrists in global health but it will be a fight to be included and respected in the development of health care in developing countries and will require you to have at least an MPH as well as an OD degree.

If you are up for a struggle to be included as a public health practitioner by all means go for it but if you think that you'll be able to apply to development/aid organizations based on your OD degree alone I'm sorry it won't happen... yet.

In the pursuit of peace, love, and justice,
xmattODx

 

[britbits]

Hey guys, well I am fairly new with optometry. Throughout college and my education, I've envisioned that I'd go to medical schools one day and take the MCATs... and then, I dunno, I just sort of "lost interest" in applying to medical school for two main reasons:

1.) My Science GPA sucks. I've received a "D" in GChem I three times [I was going thru some serious issues] and my other science grades aren't very solid either. Actually, to be honest, I didn't know what I really wanted during my undergrad years. It was was like I was traveling this road just to have the support of family and doing things to please them [read: taking science courses to become a doctor]. Well, anyway long story. However now I have somewhat figured that my interest lies in humanitarian issues. I really want to study further in Social Works/Sociology but at the same time I know that these fields are not very financially stable. I mean, as a male coming from a culture where the eldest son is supposed to look after his parents and raise a family, I think right now my temp solution is another sub-field of medicine [let's face it, anything in health care means big bucks] like optometry. Plus I really [I can't stress this enough] want to study science and do well. I still have not come to terms with the fact that I've done not-so-well in my science pre-reqs and, basically, I just want to prove myself that I can do well in these courses when I am not going through personal problems and become what I want while being in health care. That leads me to my second reason...

2.) I've done some research on the "fears" of the future of Optometry [i.e. LASIK]. However, like I said in #1, my biggest ambition is to make people's lives better.... as in those who are deprived of things such as eye care. So my reason to do Optometry co-incides with reasons above and, later when I have an O.D. degree, I could perhaps work/apply for a position in a relief organization of the U.N. In fact just the other day I was reading somewhere at this forum about another optometrist working for some Vision-related social organization. See, that's exactly what I'd like to do in my future after Optometry school (work in less-developed countries as an optometrist). I am sure in such environments, technologies like LASIK isn't a threat. SO... in a nutshell... being an Optometrist will not only fullfill my ambition to do well in a medicine field but also enable me to do what I ultimately want to do.

I'd like to hear/read some other responses for sure. Oh, and feel absolutely free to comment on my reasons to apply to Optometry schools.

Wow, that is quite a cooment! There is very little work for optometrists. They aren't really needed anymore,and aren't recognized as a true health profession.
I would look into something else. I am speaking as an optometrist that changed professions because it was so bad in California
Don't take my word for it. Just go job searching and see just how much work is out there..........

 

[Commando303]

Reading your post, it doesn't seem to me, right now, you really want to be an optometrist. Your reasons for pursuing the profession seem to be,

1. You're academically incapable of getting into med. school (from what you've said, you're not likely to make it into optometry, either).

2. You want to please your family (tell them they should be happy because you're happy).

3. Money (optometrists usually don't make millions, and there are plenty of other people who do).

I feel the best reason to be an eye doctor is understanding what the profession entails and, thus, being interested in it -- do you think this describes you?

 

[jymezg]

Wow, that is quite a cooment! There is very little work for optometrists. They aren't really needed anymore,and aren't recognized as a true health profession.
I would look into something else. I am speaking as an optometrist that changed professions because it was so bad in California
Don't take my word for it. Just go job searching and see just how much work is out there..........

Troll much, homie?

 

[OD4eyes]

Wow, that is quite a cooment! There is very little work for optometrists. They aren't really needed anymore,and aren't recognized as a true health profession.
I would look into something else. I am speaking as an optometrist that changed professions because it was so bad in California
Don't take my word for it. Just go job searching and see just how much work is out there..........

Don't mean to be intrusive or anything... but what are your doing now since you are no longer practicing optometry... are you anywhere near the scope of profession or healthcare?

 

[britbits]

Don't mean to be intrusive or anything... but what are your doing now since you are no longer practicing optometry... are you anywhere near the scope of profession or healthcare?

Not at all, I now serve in Healthcare regulatory compliance, so I work M-F with full benefits. Its great to be out of the "trenches" where I enjoy good, solid work. That's the secret!
Then you won't be a frustrated practitioner such as the toddler who resorted to name calling earlier.
Health care admin is where its at!

 

[KHE]

Not at all, I now serve in Healthcare regulatory compliance, so I work M-F with full benefits. Its great to be out of the "trenches" where I enjoy good, solid work. That's the secret!
Then you won't be a frustrated practitioner such as the toddler who resorted to name calling earlier.
Health care admin is where its at!

If the goal is to work M-F with "full benefits" there are plenty of jobs out there that will allow you to do that without resorting to 8 years of post secondary education and hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt.

The upside of a profession like optometry is that it allows you to create your own benefits.

 

[Rusty Ryan]

The correct answer is because you get to shine lights into people's eyes.

 

[IndianaOD]

Go to a less prestigious MD school and make yourself happy. There are several MD / DO schools that will take lower scores; even lower than OD schools.