A series of articles written by SCCO Student Ambassadors.

Applying to Grad School | A First Generation Experience

by SCCO Student Ambassador, Stephanie Nguyen

As a first-generation student, the thought of attending optometry school felt like a dream that was far out of reach. Without much knowledge about the application process, it became normal to go the extra mile to seek the correct resources to answer my questions. In addition, my family moved to another state so it was very difficult to find a close, supportive community that could encourage me to pursue this career goal. Despite these personal challenges, my passion for becoming an optometrist slowly began to transform into reality as I set flexible goals and maintained an optimistic mindset.

Growing up, taking national exams was intimidating for me due to the test length and broad content. Therefore, the OAT became one of the greatest hurdles for me throughout the application process. While I prepared for the exam, I struggled to find a study schedule that best suited my needs. Although there were some subjects I excelled in college, the low scores I received on my practice exams did not accurately demonstrate my true knowledge.

Once I recognized that I needed to improve on managing my time for each question, I refined my study schedule where I set five hours every week to take a full-length practice exam in a realistic testing environment. To factor in time for the written portion of my application, I balanced studying for the OAT with writing my essays for optometry school by setting aside one to two hours each night. Let’s be real – there were days when I experienced burnout with this schedule. Breaks are important for a healthy mind, so I overcame these negative feelings by taking one day a week where I could de-stress with my friends or take myself on a date. With every schedule, it’s important to be flexible as needed for your mental health.

Although I could commit to this schedule, navigating the ropes of post-graduate life was overwhelming to do without a mentor. I lacked self-confidence because I was worried that I did not have “enough” optometric experience to be a competitive applicant. When I graduated from UC San Diego, I decided to prioritize seeking optometric experiences throughout my gap year to ensure that becoming an optometrist was the ideal career for me.

I became an optometric technician at a local private practice, where my optometrist fulfilled a mentor-like role in my journey. He inspired me to find unique experiences beyond shadowing. I participated in pre-optometry camps, webinars, and workshops which all helped me expand my knowledge about the profession and deepen my passion for optometry. By attending these events, I was able to network and connect with students and faculty from diverse backgrounds and experiences. As I listened to current optometry students share their personal stories and received warm words of wisdom from the faculty, I recognized that I also have great potential to become an optometrist.

When I reflect on my personal experience applying for optometry schools, my path is nowhere near linear. There are many steps to the application process that were intimidating to me at first glance. Although I have experienced personal obstacles in my journey, I was able to successfully complete the application process by embracing these changes and finding a strong support system in my life. It was easy to fall into the trap of comparing myself to others, but I now believe that my identity as a first-generation student is my greatest strength. When it comes to setting yourself apart in a pool of talented applicants, I learned that owning confidence in your personal and optometric experiences can truly make you shine. No one can share your story like you can.

Thank you so much for reading my story and best of luck. Feel free to contact me at stephanienguyen.scco27@ketchum.edu!

Click here to read Student Ambassador bios on our website!