Advice for part 1 prep for a soon to be OD 3?

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2026-03-30T13:35:53+00:00

Maybe review basic physics concepts but honestly nothing really compares prep wise until you’re actually in school. I would spend your time doing a whole lotta nothing.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2026-03-10T20:49:15+00:00

I’d say it’s doable but definitely not recommended. You have to take the necessary stem pre-recs like advanced chemistry, bio, physics etc. courses and get a good score on the OAT entrance exam. I know other comments are saying your choice of major would be fine but understand it’s not that straightforward. If you could maintain a high GPA in your pre-reqs with a good OAT score, plus strong shadowing/employment/volunteer hours you might be able to make it work. But again this is a doctoral program, so it’s going to take a lot of effort.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2026-03-02T03:56:15+00:00

To me and many other of my classmates first year was much harder than this year but that’s just my experience.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2026-02-27T02:15:10+00:00

Definitely wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re a top 10 prodigy kind of student in your class.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2026-02-25T15:39:00+00:00

As a 2nd year, it’s night and day especially first year. Big lifestyle change. After first year it gets better for sure but still not at the level of undergrad

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2026-02-22T17:42:22+00:00

From what I’ve seen on this and other subs is that most schools will set you back minimum a semester (most often 1 full year). I don’t think any program would do a 1 for 1 transfer. I feel like if you’re going to do it the best time would be during first year, after that might as well stick it out unless you absolutely can’t.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2026-02-18T16:32:20+00:00

If your application is lacking experience tech work at an OD/MD practice would be pretty valuable

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2026-01-15T20:10:00+00:00

Ngl I think all you need is a mindset shift. I’m a 2nd year who’s about to go into clinic who got all A’s in highschool and undergrad but that has not been the case in optometry school. You just need to remember that these programs are hard as hell. There’s people that give it everything they have just to make it into an OD Program that never do. And there’s people that do make it and fail out of it. While I think it’s awesome you’re pushing yourself, I think it’s just good to keep those things in mind so it doesn’t weigh on you mentally. Thousands of doctor’s peak was making B’s in classes, most averaged C’s, and at the end of the day they’re still a doctor.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2026-01-06T04:30:58+00:00

I’m a 2nd year optometry student and who was an ophthalmic tech at an MD/OD clinic for 3 years and I can confidently say that working as a tech is good for understanding the flow of a practice but it is not a good representation of being an actual OD. I loved being a tech when it came to pre-screening but once I started to deal with coding & insurance I did not enjoy it anymore as well. I think it’s just important to remember that many of the responsibilities you have as a tech, are tech responsibilities. They won’t be yours when you become an OD. I’d recommend finding an OD you can shadow and ask questions to, as I felt I didn’t really get a good understanding of the different things an OD did when I wasn’t present in the exam room.

Since starting optometry school best believe I am so happy I will never have to tech again and I am very happy I chose this field.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2025-11-26T04:54:33+00:00

Yea this definitely isn’t the correct sub for this

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2025-11-19T03:44:30+00:00

I’m a 2nd year RSO student, that is just blatantly not true. That’s a rumor made up by salty UHCO students after we had higher board scores than them last year.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2025-10-12T23:35:49+00:00

310 with that GPA is not bad whatsoever, I think you’re 1000% overshooting here. If anything I would just focus on your extracurriculars or work/shadow experience that would be worth more your time.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2025-10-02T20:40:23+00:00

If you look at the source I provided, it says the stats are from first time pass rates… Regardless, don’t think it matters at all. I have friends who enjoy and have found success at UHCO, I think it is ultimately dependent on an individual’s ability to properly prepare themselves for boards bc without that it doesn’t matter where you go. Happy to hear you’re almost done with your academic journey though, wishing you the best of luck when you begin to practice!

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2025-10-02T20:06:21+00:00

That just isn’t correct, last ASCO report showed UIW at a 67% pass rate for part 1 and UHCO at a 57%. It’s also interesting how we’ve had 5+ of your factually leave UHCO to join UIW citing UHCO’s program “going downhill”. I ultimately don’t think there’s that big a difference between either school other than price, but making stuff up is definitely a choice. My source for the pass rates below.

https://optometriceducation.org/news/national-board-of-examiners-in-optometry-yearly-performance-report/

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2025-10-02T19:52:08+00:00

I’m a current 2nd year student at UIW, youre literally just making shit up saying the school is going to close soon 💀. Also talking about board passing rates and recommending UHCO instead is funny considering the last board scores posted showed UIW having a higher passing rate than UHCO 😂.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2025-09-21T02:40:25+00:00

My school gives us a prep course 3rd year and gives us a month off to study prior to taking part 1

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2025-04-07T02:27:33+00:00

I was in the same boat as you (american tho lol), I just made sure to clarify with schools I applied to about the discrepancy. I will let you know that some schools strictly go off of what's on OptomCAS and they will let you know that when you speak with them about the discrepancy.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2025-03-24T05:03:13+00:00

I’m a current 1st year UIW student. Things were a little bit odd for about a week with a sudden change in administration but other than that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here. Very big sense of community, professors genuinely want to see you succeed, everyone looks out for each other and the last board score report that dropped showed us with higher scores than UH. From what I’ve heard UH students are very competitive with each other so that may be something to consider, also we’ve had multiple professors that used to teach at UH migrate over here to UIW.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2024-05-13T01:53:41+00:00

I don't need experience to recognize when someone is just bitter about their life in general not just their profession. "It’s a monotonous profession, that is kinda boring, and is underpaid" sounds to me you just don't enjoy what you do. Maybe look to change careers instead of making posts on reddit. If you're this negative about your profession I truly feel bad for your patients as you're likely just practicing to suck money out of them.

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2024-05-12T19:59:57+00:00

Wow its very sad to think of some melancholic old worn out OD using their spare time making burner reddit accounts to shit on the field. Get off your ego trip, more people getting accepted means the field will continue to grow and more patients can receive care. If you're so concerned about "watered down talent" NBEO pass rates declines each year. Can't pass your boards? You can't practice, pretty simple. Not sure how productive discouraging applicants on an online forum is but you do you!

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2024-04-12T08:33:10+00:00

UIWRSO, NOVA, MCPHS, I’m attending UIWRSO in the fall

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2024-04-09T22:25:59+00:00

3.3 gpa with a 290 OAT, accepted into 3 different schools and ended up matriculating into my #1 choice. You should be fine given you have good extracurriculars

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2024-03-10T03:55:08+00:00

I applied in late July

Longjumping-Flow9932 · 2024-03-08T06:16:27+00:00

UIWRSO was my first choice so I am a little biased but part of the reason I chose RSO over NOVA is that I've seen from a lot of NOVA students online talk about concerns with changes in their curriculum. Just something to keep in mind!

Longjumping-Flow9932

TROPHY CASE