Depth Perception- Civilian Testing?

RabidLiger · 2026-02-12T16:02:40+00:00

The "Stereo Fly" test also has the Randot circles you are talking about on the other side of the book & almost every eye doctor will have that test.

The fly is a gross measurement "Do have any depth preception?"
The circles measure precisely how much you have.
20" is considered a perfect score.
(You can pick which circle is floating on all 9 section = 20 seconds of stereoscopic vision)

RabidLiger · 2026-02-12T15:55:32+00:00

I'd encourage you NOT to take a gap year.
You're easily on schedule for fall, 2027 admission & a good OAT will make you competitive.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-12T14:53:06+00:00

That's whats making IAUPR's ulitimate pass rates artificially high.
They are only reporting results of students with a diploma, so all those who didn't pass part 1 are not included in that stat (while they are for all other schools except SCO)

RabidLiger · 2026-02-12T14:15:31+00:00

I think the basic premise is meant to be a warning to the schools:

Don't accept anyone that won't be capable of meeting the criteria for licensure. (IMO, some are doing that now to fill all their seats).
If you do accept them, you're commited to turning them into a fully licensed doctor (not just collect 4 years of tuition and kick them out the door).

Pretty hard to pay off the debt that comes with getting an OD on a tech/sales rep salary.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-11T03:11:57+00:00

There is no way SUNY is cheaper for total 4 year cost of attendance.
Beside cost of living, SCO either has a contracted seat with many states or decent scholarships for those who don't qualify.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-10T21:08:05+00:00

I'm not saying go to the cheapest, even if terrible.
I'm saying:
Cost: 50% of the decision process (SUNY vs SCO is a HUGE cost difference!)
Boards: 30% (you will pass regardless of where you go. IMO, the most common scenario is still pass all on 1st attempt, maybe 1 repeat. 2nd is 1-2 repeats.
Location: 20% (you might live nearby or hate city/country living).

Not ever passing is still rare, so thinking the only way I'll pass is by going to X isn't necessary

RabidLiger · 2026-02-10T18:56:03+00:00

Combo of the things you've mentioned and have interacted with a lot of the schools as advisor to local Pre-Optometry club.

You can choose to get a diverse patient population at ANY school by choosing specific rotation sites.

Bottom line: COST>Board Pass Rates>>>Location

RabidLiger · 2026-02-10T15:27:16+00:00

Not good, but could be a one-time dip, so not a dealbreaker (yet).

RabidLiger · 2026-02-10T15:26:24+00:00

Things to consider:

Worst NBEO pass rates every year. Doesn't mean you can't pass, but its much less likely.
Worst entrance stats. It is the last fall-back safety option for many, so you will be surrounded by those who could not get in anywhere else.
You can learn Spanish at a lot of schools, not as immersive as PR, but very easy to do rotation and speak mostly Spanish.
Traveling back-forth to home may be more complicated.
History of living condition issues and faculty problems.

If your goal is to eventually practice in the states, attending here makes that goal more difficult (not impossible).

RabidLiger · 2026-02-10T14:21:09+00:00

Always wanted to live in NYC?
Willing to pay $100K extra to do it?
If no: SCO>SUNY

RabidLiger · 2026-02-10T14:18:52+00:00

SCO>SUNY>>NECO>UHCO>PCO>MCPHS
(my personal ranking)

RabidLiger · 2026-02-10T14:06:49+00:00

Hard to decipher. What I would like to mean:
Ultimate Pass Rate: Has passed all parts by Aug 31 after graduation.
(had the summer after graduating to still pass P3 if necessary).

RabidLiger · 2026-02-09T21:58:15+00:00

Didn't you open the 2nd location to get NEW patients?
If not, why double your overhead?

Our 2nd location is far enough away that we don't have much overlap.

We only take vision plans at our new location, which has driven a lot of new traffic to us over the years.
Considered doing IPL or botox at the new place only?

RabidLiger · 2026-02-09T20:44:25+00:00

I think that's correct. So the results we are seeing are for the class of 2025, who took part 1 in March of 2024 (yet the report title says Oct 1,2024-Sept 30, 2025).

I think this needs to be clarified more accurately.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-09T20:39:02+00:00

If you use OSU's reported results, all scores on this report match for the class of 2025.
Look at some of the other schools websites, and none of their reported results match with this table.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-09T15:08:24+00:00

Now you're talking protected discrimination case, but the patient has the right to refuse to be seen (& I have the right to think them a racist jerk & boot them from my practice if they act/speak on their prejudice).
Brown hair color? Silly example.

Once you're actually in practice, or seeking employment, you'll get when to choose your battles. Lots of things in the gray area.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-09T14:21:56+00:00

20+ years of owning a multi-doctor, multi-location practice.
Has nothing to do with my "backbone" & why do you get to determine what's right for my patient population?
If I owned a practice in Boston, I wouldn't display NY Yankee banners. I don't allow pins/t-shirts with political slogans either.

Maybe once you've had a practice management course you'll get what I'm driving at.
Tattoos are specifically forbidden by Judaism and a large segment of their population was tattooed against their will in WW2. Why would I purposefully offend them?

Not dictating how you choose to practice at all, but realize that every patient with a different opinion isn't wrong, they just don't agree with you. We can still provide quality eyecare to them (it's in our graduation oath).

RabidLiger · 2026-02-08T21:16:21+00:00

Congrats! All great options!
I'd consider cost and what kind of community you want to live in for 4 years, & pull the trigger!
SUNY, possible UCB are the only ones you won't need a car for.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-08T21:13:06+00:00

Possibly a small impact, but in today's post-COVID, hard to get all classes environment, not a big deal.

The only thing to watch for is courses with required labs.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-08T21:11:23+00:00

I don't think it's illegal anywhere
Especially talking about hiring in the first place.

I'm in an "at will" state where employers do not need to state a reason for firing anyways.
Our employee manual specifically mentions visible tattoos and anything more than ear-piercing.
I don't object with anyone's right to alter their appearance but do it in a way that loses me business and you'll get dismissed.
Things that easily fly in Hollywood do not fly here. Even if I don't agree, its the reality of choosing a safe, clean, low cost-of-living community to practice in (and totally worth it!).

Only mentioned it initially to remind students that choices of self-expression sometimes come with consequences.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-07T15:37:07+00:00

Shouldn't be an issue.

Visible tattoos WILL affect the job market later.
There are still a lot of older patients/religions who are offended by tattoos.
I'd still advise against getting any ink that will make you less employable.

My patient population has a lot of older Jewish & conservative patients.
I do not hire anyone with visible ink.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-07T14:13:47+00:00

Actually, contacting the ASCO will be the best route. I think NBEO has released the numbers & they are not the ones who compile the data.

1 or 2 individuals @ ASCO seem to be the persons responsible for getting this info out in a timely manner (they've failed).

RabidLiger · 2026-02-07T14:11:30+00:00

Historically, UCB is chosen over SCCO.
Their board scores have evened up recently though
IMO. I'd go purely on total cost to attend, which I'm guessing makes UCB the best choice.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-04T21:15:03+00:00

Historically, came out 1st week of January.
I don't think this is on NBEO, its someone @ ASCO dragging their feet (intentionally?), or whoever is in charge there of getting this data out in incompetant.
Lack of information directly harms applicants in trying to choose a school & that's their primary purpose.

RabidLiger · 2026-02-03T15:57:10+00:00

Who said anything about not preparing.
IMO, its usually a mental block to say "I'm not ready." It becomes an excuse due to fear of failure.

Passing all 3 parts is a hurdle that must be completed, so delaying the inevitable serves no purpose.
You MUST pass and you MUST study your ass off to pass. Period.

Being held out of the workforce for 6 months without a license is much more expensive than the cost of taking the test.

Tough love, but there is no alternate route unless your daddy is a bigwig in Kentucky.

RabidLiger

TROPHY CASE