To current or prospective ICO students, Why did you choose to apply or attend ICO? What makes ICO stand out from other optometry schools?
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
Why did you choose to Apply/Attend ICO
- Thread starter ChokherOD
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- Oct 3, 2014
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I was deciding between ICO, PCO, and SUNY and decided to go to ICO for a couple reasons. Chicago is an awesome city, theres a lot going on and it was a lot cleaner than NYC haha. I first applied to ICO because they were consistently among the highest for percent of students passing boards. What I liked about ICO over the other two is that everything is close. The clinic is attached to the school and you can live across the street. At SUNY the clinic is attached but would require a commute to school everyday due to the cost of Manhattan, and at PCO the clinic was a 15 minute drive and I didn't want to bring a car. ICO also had really beautiful facilities. The library was just redone and it was gorgeous. I know I'll definitely be spending a lot of time there haha.
I also really liked the Resident Complex (RC). It's across the street and 1st years are guaranteed a spot. I really didnt want to commute to school and am moving from Florida so I'm excited to form that close bond with my classmates that would be harder to do in an apartment. Also, meals are included in the school caf which is great for someone who doesn't cook (me). The RC also offers excursions around the city that are offered to RC residents first, then to other students for great discounts. You can go catch a cubs game or a broadway show with your classmates! Also living completely with students, everyone is on the same schedule so you dont have to worry about raging parties the night before an exam.
ICO also had a lot of great academic programs, complete sets of notes are printed by the professors and distributed to students for every class for free so you only have to take notes on what matters. Other schools have a note taking service that costs money. Students said due to these notes they never bothered buying textbooks even. The lectures are all recorded also so you can go back and listen again. They also had some optional electives like Spanish for Optometrists (essential down here) or dealing with finances etc.
Overall I had a really positive experience at my interview and just really saw myself there. Very happy with my decision and beyond excited to start there this August 🙂
I also really liked the Resident Complex (RC). It's across the street and 1st years are guaranteed a spot. I really didnt want to commute to school and am moving from Florida so I'm excited to form that close bond with my classmates that would be harder to do in an apartment. Also, meals are included in the school caf which is great for someone who doesn't cook (me). The RC also offers excursions around the city that are offered to RC residents first, then to other students for great discounts. You can go catch a cubs game or a broadway show with your classmates! Also living completely with students, everyone is on the same schedule so you dont have to worry about raging parties the night before an exam.
ICO also had a lot of great academic programs, complete sets of notes are printed by the professors and distributed to students for every class for free so you only have to take notes on what matters. Other schools have a note taking service that costs money. Students said due to these notes they never bothered buying textbooks even. The lectures are all recorded also so you can go back and listen again. They also had some optional electives like Spanish for Optometrists (essential down here) or dealing with finances etc.
Overall I had a really positive experience at my interview and just really saw myself there. Very happy with my decision and beyond excited to start there this August 🙂
for me it was fairly simple why i chose ICO. Out of the 4 schools i interviewed at (ICO, PUCO, Indiana and NOVA), it impressed me the most without actually trying to impress me. I believe they have the one of the best if not the best clinical program period and their externships for 4th year are expansive. The only negative to the school really is its cost. I went to a undergraduate university with little to no flair (simple but functional) and ICO matched that the most. If you are looking for "classic college experience" indiana is for you. If you like to party then NOVA is for you. If you are a west coast hipster then PUCO is for you.
