would you pay more?

[cloud99]

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Would you ..

Pay $22,000 more in combined tuition and fees (over the course of the 4 yr program) to attend a "better school" (better reputation, better clinical experience, etc...) or...

Save the $22,000 and attend the "lower" regarded school. (It's not one of the new 3).

I could be happy at either. Each has other positives and negatives. I will be funding my education entirely through loans, and both schools will cost in excess of $160,000.

 

[DawgOD]

i would go with cheaper tuition..

 

[OD4eyes]

Would you ..

Pay $22,000 more in combined tuition and fees (over the course of the 4 yr program) to attend a "better school" (better reputation, better clinical experience, etc...) or...

Save the $22,000 and attend the "lower" regarded school. (It's not one of the new 3).

I could be happy at either. Each has other positives and negatives. I will be funding my education entirely through loans, and both schools will cost in excess of $160,000.

PAY LESS!!!!!!! Especially if you see yourself happy at either school, I would pay less.

 

[cloud99]

OD4eyes -

even if the better school is PCO?

 

[achirum]

Pay less.

 

[Commando303]

Which schools? As far as I know, there's no "better" or "worse" when it comes to the American colleges of optometry (no one bring up Puerto Rico or the three schools established in the 21st century).

 

[Mewcakes]

I would say go to the more expensive school if price is the only thing that's telling you not to. Out of all the choices one makes in life, this is probably one of the ones you don't want to regret, right? In 10 years if you have a hard time finding a job, will you ask yourself if it would still be this way if you had a degree from PCO? You will eventually erase your debt, it may take 5 more years, but you will do it. But you'll never be able to take back the decision of what school you went to and you might always be asking yourself how life would be if you spent the extra money.

Some real life and *slightly* relevant stories.

My dad is a CPA and makes good money, but there was a time when he was considering dental school. In the end he decided not to go because of his gf at the time (no my mother). He always wonders how different life would have been if he was a Dentist. Would life be easier? Would he be happier? Who knows.

My bf was admitted to Stanford for his undergraduate degree but in the end decided he couldn't afford it (he didn't want to take any loans out) and went to UC Davis instead. Of course if he hadn't gone to UCD we'd never have met and all that junk, but with the economy nowadays, would he be having an easier time of it with a Standford degree? Who knows.

So there's a lot of what ifs, but if you think you what have less "what if"s if you went to PCO, then go there. Do what's best for you, don't worry about the money, you'll eventually pay it off.

 

[cloud99]

Which schools? As far as I know, there's no "better" or "worse" when it comes to the American colleges of optometry (no one bring up Puerto Rico or the three schools established in the 21st century).

I really don't want to name the "worse" school to avoid a flame war. I don't want to bash the school or anyone that goes there. PCO is just definately better in its clinical program, with 18 months of externships throughout the country, and has the reputation of being a very good school academicallly as well. The other one just does not have the great reputation of PCO.
No doubt, the debt will be huge either way. 172K vs. 193K. I plan to spread the payments over 30 years to not get crushed when I just graduate. Anyone a math whiz who can tell me what my payments would be for either school?

 

[achirum]

I would say go to the more expensive school if price is the only thing that's telling you not to. Out of all the choices one makes in life, this is probably one of the ones you don't want to regret, right? In 10 years if you have a hard time finding a job, will you ask yourself if it would still be this way if you had a degree from PCO? You will eventually erase your debt, it may take 5 more years, but you will do it. But you'll never be able to take back the decision of what school you went to and you might always be asking yourself how life would be if you spent the extra money.

Some real life and *slightly* relevant stories.

My dad is a CPA and makes good money, but there was a time when he was considering dental school. In the end he decided not to go because of his gf at the time (no my mother). He always wonders how different life would have been if he was a Dentist. Would life be easier? Would he be happier? Who knows.

My bf was admitted to Stanford for his undergraduate degree but in the end decided he couldn't afford it (he didn't want to take any loans out) and went to UC Davis instead. Of course if he hadn't gone to UCD we'd never have met and all that junk, but with the economy nowadays, would he be having an easier time of it with a Standford degree? Who knows.

So there's a lot of what ifs, but if you think you what have less "what if"s if you went to PCO, then go there. Do what's best for you, don't worry about the money, you'll eventually pay it off.

i honestly don't think that is the case.

 

[optsuker]

Would you ..

Pay $22,000 more in combined tuition and fees (over the course of the 4 yr program) to attend a "better school" (better reputation, better clinical experience, etc...) or...

Save the $22,000 and attend the "lower" regarded school. (It's not one of the new 3).

I could be happy at either. Each has other positives and negatives. I will be funding my education entirely through loans, and both schools will cost in excess of $160,000.

If it's not one of the new three, you'll find that there's very little difference in the quality of your education.

If you're being told one established school is far superior to another, it's either marketing by the school or the biased opinion of it's alumni.

I've had students from 6 different schools rotate thru our clinic & all did fine.

I still strongly believe that Western, Midwestern, & UIW should be left for those rejected by the others.

 

[itek2OD]

Pay less! Ten years from now, how are you going to pay off that extra money you borrowed? By that time its unlikely it will matter more to you to rid yourself of the loan burden than your job status - you'll have enough experience to off-set any difference btw any OD school.

Just my canadian 2 cents.

 

[KHE]

Would you ..

Pay $22,000 more in combined tuition and fees (over the course of the 4 yr program) to attend a "better school" (better reputation, better clinical experience, etc...) or...

Save the $22,000 and attend the "lower" regarded school. (It's not one of the new 3).

I could be happy at either. Each has other positives and negatives. I will be funding my education entirely through loans, and both schools will cost in excess of $160,000.

If it's $22000 more for the ENTIRE 4 years, I would go to the "better" school.

If it's $22000 more PER YEAR for 4 years for a total of $88000, I would DEFINATELY go to the cheap school.

 

[sugarhype10]

Hm, what if the difference between the two schools is about $45,000 after four years? Would your suggestion be different?

 

[cloud99]

If it's $22000 more for the ENTIRE 4 years, I would go to the "better" school.

If it's $22000 more PER YEAR for 4 years for a total of $88000, I would DEFINATELY go to the cheap school.

It's $22K more for the entire 4 years.

 

[KHE]

Hm, what if the difference between the two schools is about $45,000 after four years? Would your suggestion be different?

Probably. $22000 over 4 years is 5500 per year. $45000 is 11250 per year. That's real money.

Not that $5500 isn't real money but over the life of a student loan payment will probably end up costing you $25-$27000. That $45000 could easily end up costing you $60000 extra. That's too much difference IMHO.

 

[KHE]

It's $22K more for the entire 4 years.

I would take the more expensive school then.

 

[changingcareers]

i'm looking into applying in the next year or so. can you tell me which one of the 19 schools is the cheapest?

 

[Commando303]

i'm looking into applying in the next year or so. can you tell me which one of the 19 schools is the cheapest?

Check out http://www.opted.org for statistical information. In the mean time, as I recall, Northeastern State University's (N.S.U.'s) College of Optometry is cheapest, though admission is open only to residents of certain states.

 

[JMU07]

i'm looking into applying in the next year or so. can you tell me which one of the 19 schools is the cheapest?

SCO is the cheapest, or at least it has been the past few years. If you can get in-state somewhere then that may be cheaper. the Oklahoma school may be cheaper, but like someone else said they only accept people from like 9 different states.

 

[cloud99]

The thing that attracts me the most to PCO's program is their extra 5 months of externships. The funny thing is, this is also the thing that scares me away. In order to fit in those extra 5 months, classes really seem to be crammed into the early years, with 27 credits the first semester (yet they have a very low rate of attrition.) It's great that they have 160+ externship sites all over the country, but this also means moving more often which increases the cost of pco even more. I think their budget sheet given at the interview had costs over $60K for OD4 year alone. I'm sweating bullets about that. What do people do 4th year? Get rid of their apartment, put their stuff in storage and just move every 3 months?

 

[OD4eyes]

The thing that attracts me the most to PCO's program is their extra 5 months of externships. The funny thing is, this is also the thing that scares me away. In order to fit in those extra 5 months, classes really seem to be crammed into the early years, with 27 credits the first semester (yet they have a very low rate of attrition.) It's great that they have 160+ externship sites all over the country, but this also means moving more often which increases the cost of pco even more. I think their budget sheet given at the interview had costs over $60K for OD4 year alone. I'm sweating bullets about that. What do people do 4th year? Get rid of their apartment, put their stuff in storage and just move every 3 months?

I am also concern on the add on expenses during the 4th year. I am from NY and PCO does not offer any externships in NY due to NYS law. I plan to complete my externship work either in PA or NJ, which will allow me to live in NY with family and commute to NJ. I am trying to locate an academic calendar but have had no luck. I am not sure if we get any time off because of the large load of course work within the first 2 years. From the optometrists that I have spoken to, they all assured me that PCO's program is clinically and academically strong and challenging. I would advise you strongly speak to both schools in regards of financial planning. Also, speak to students or past alumni regarding the schools' strengthens and weaknesses. I have met a few doctors and residents from PCO and they are all very skilled ODs. Good luck in your decision and maybe I will see you on campus!

 

[JMU07]

PCO does not offer any externships in NY due to NYS law.

What law is this? Just curious why PCO wouldn't have any externs in NY. SCO has one.

 

[Eye-Spy]

I'm also curious about this "NYS law" that prevents PCO from having externship sites in NY. ICO has several sites there.

Also, go to the cheaper school if you can see yourself equally happy at both. PCO is a great school, but not enough better than the other mainstream opt schools to justify the money, in my opinion. Of course, I go to ICO and pay big bucks, so who am I to talk!

 

[OD4eyes]

I'm also curious about this "NYS law" that prevents PCO from having externship sites in NY. ICO has several sites there.

Also, go to the cheaper school if you can see yourself equally happy at both. PCO is a great school, but not enough better than the other mainstream opt schools to justify the money, in my opinion. Of course, I go to ICO and pay big bucks, so who am I to talk!

Well, during my interview I asked if their where any externships in NY and I was told no because NYS only allows students from NY schools to participate in externships in NY. Well, that was what I was told....

 

[cloud99]

I asked to see a list of externship sites and was provided with what looked like a "master copy" to view while waiting, but unfortunately not to keep. I also looked for new york state and there were none on the list. There were many in the northeast, as well as throughout the country, and several offered stipends or free/reduced housing. Wish I had that list now....

 

[KHE]

Well, during my interview I asked if their where any externships in NY and I was told no because NYS only allows students from NY schools to participate in externships in NY. Well, that was what I was told....

I've never heard of such a law. 😕

 

[cloud99]

What law is this? Just curious why PCO wouldn't have any externs in NY. SCO has one.

Is sco's NY externship a VA hospital site?

I've also heard (but can't remember where) that SUNY had locked up all the NY sites. I never heard that it was a legality though.

 

[JMU07]

Is sco's NY externship a VA hospital site?

I've also heard (but can't remember where) that SUNY had locked up all the NY sites. I never heard that it was a legality though.

No, it's a private practice.

 

[KHE]

No, it's a private practice.

Some states have some laws on the books that state that certain portions of an exam can not be delegated to a non licensed person. I guess that would be a conceivable reason for this type of problem. I am an unaware of what the rules are for New York.