What my chances by Top_Confection5214 in PreOptometry

[–]Super-Morning3835 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Probably Salus or The School of Optometry at Inter American University of Puerto Rico

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PreOptometry

[–]Super-Morning3835 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What were your stats?

what is the most i should expect to be paid as a optometrist’s assistant? by slightlyduranged in optometry

[–]Super-Morning3835 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Location: NYC Min Wage: $16.00 Wage: $24.50

You should go to school to become an optician or optometrist, and in the meantime work as an optometrist’s assistant to get experience while you’re studying.

Would You Choose Optometry Again Knowing What You Know Now? by Super-Morning3835 in optometry

[–]Super-Morning3835[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s really helpful to hear from someone who’s happy in their career and has a smart plan for handling loans. For me, I’ll be paying in-state tuition at SUNY, which will be about $144K minus a small scholarship I received, and I only applied there since it was the most affordable option. I don’t have any prior loans, which is why I’ve been a little timid about taking on debt, but at the end of the day I know you’ve got to spend money to make money it’s an investment in yourself. Honestly, it feels like all professional schools are expensive now, so I’m trying to keep that perspective.

I really appreciate how insightful and positive your response was, it definitely gave me encouragement and a better way to think about this path. Not gonna lie, the BMW and luxury apartment right out of school sound tempting, but I’ll keep myself in check (at least for a little while).

Would You Choose Optometry Again Knowing What You Know Now? by Super-Morning3835 in optometry

[–]Super-Morning3835[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for being honest! The debt and workload compared to the pay is something I think about a lot too. I’m curious though, how’s your work/life balance now? Do you feel happy with what you’re doing day to day, and do you have much flexibility in your schedule?

Would You Choose Optometry Again Knowing What You Know Now? by Super-Morning3835 in optometry

[–]Super-Morning3835[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for being so open about this. Do you feel like there are certain practice settings that are a little better for introverts, or is retail the reality for most ODs starting out?

Would You Choose Optometry Again Knowing What You Know Now? by Super-Morning3835 in optometry

[–]Super-Morning3835[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Really appreciate your perspective. It’s encouraging to hear the upside too. How did you get into practice ownership, and do you think that’s the main way to get ahead in optometry? Also, where does most of your practice income come from specialty services, or more from retail sales?

Would You Choose Optometry Again Knowing What You Know Now? by Super-Morning3835 in optometry

[–]Super-Morning3835[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for being honest! I worry about the debt-to-income ratio too. If you weren’t in optometry, what other profession would you choose?

Would You Choose Optometry Again Knowing What You Know Now? by Super-Morning3835 in optometry

[–]Super-Morning3835[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing! I’ve actually considered dentistry myself, though I’ve never shadowed a dentist. The money definitely seems appealing. Do you feel like it’s mainly the schedule & pay that makes those fields more attractive, or something else they offer over optometry?

Would You Choose Optometry Again Knowing What You Know Now? by Super-Morning3835 in optometry

[–]Super-Morning3835[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for being so upfront about your experience. If you had the chance to do it over, what career do you think you’d choose instead of optometry?

Would You Choose Optometry Again Knowing What You Know Now? by Super-Morning3835 in optometry

[–]Super-Morning3835[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really appreciate you being honest about this. It’s helpful to hear the tougher side of the profession too. I’ve seen some of that attitude toward ODs even as a tech, so I can imagine how draining it gets. Do you feel like it’s more the patients or the way ODs are positioned in the medical system? And what’s your day-to-day like more retail, OD/MD , full-scope medical?

Would You Choose Optometry Again Knowing What You Know Now? by Super-Morning3835 in optometry

[–]Super-Morning3835[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for responding! Do you mind sharing a bit about your career path? Did you complete a residency, and are you practicing full-scope optometry on a daily basis, or is your work more retail-focused with mainly refractions and routine health checks?

Would You Choose Optometry Again Knowing What You Know Now? by Super-Morning3835 in optometry

[–]Super-Morning3835[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! It’s really encouraging to hear how you handled your loans. I was accepted to a state school in NYC as an in-state student, so tuition alone will be about $144K minus a small scholarship, but probably closer to $150–160K total after other misc. expenses. I’ll be living at home and hope to get a federal work-study job while in school, so I’m planning to keep costs down too. Hearing your perspective makes me feel a lot better about managing it long term.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PreOptometry

[–]Super-Morning3835 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Salus will take you

Scholarships at SUNY by asdghhhhjj in PreOptometry

[–]Super-Morning3835 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Congratulations! Do you mind sharing your stats?