Top 3 Highlights from My 1st Year at SCCO
Top 3 Highlights from my 1st Year at SCCO: Western Regional Conference, AOA on Capitol Hill, and Getting Food with My Friends
Top 3 Highlights from my 1st Year at SCCO: Western Regional Conference, AOA on Capitol Hill, and Getting Food with My Friends
As I am writing this, I am in my first (and last) summer break of optometry school. I can’t tell you how ecstatic I feel about accomplishing my first year of school already. It sped by so quickly, and I’m so happy to share some of the things that surprised me about my first year of optometry school at SCCO.
Embarking on my journey at SCCO, I anticipated a year filled with challenges and triumphs, but nothing could prepare me for the whirlwind of emotions and experiences that awaited.
It is hard to know what to expect from optometry school. We all have questions and try to compare it to past experiences. However, I have come to the realization that optometry school feels like a restart in the best way possible.
First impressions matter, especially when it comes to job interviews. As a prospective student, presenting yourself professionally and confidently can greatly enhance your chances of success. Contrary to popular belief, dressing for success doesn’t have to break the bank. In this article, we’ll explore how to make a […]
It can be said that a gap year offers a great opportunity to gain experiences, save money, and have time to refine your application. However, because I was eager to start optometry school and felt like I made the most of my undergraduate years, I opted not to take that gap year. I had enjoyed my undergrad experience fully, I took every opportunity to be involved in variety of experiences by graduation. To not take that gap year was a personal choice for me that also meant finding ways to balance the OAT and application while still taking courses and finishing up my undergrad degree.
Before entering optometry school and after finishing undergrad, I took three years to “test out” optometry.
Deciding to attend optometry school can be a big decision to make, and I wanted to ensure that it was something I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to. I worked full time in private practice to gain some preliminary skills which had the bonus of giving me incredible insights into the field. I also wanted a reset after finishing my undergraduate education. This time allowed me to rediscover some old hobbies like reading and cooking, and also to do some traveling. However, getting back into the swing of school, specifically optometry school, with a rigorous schedule was initially daunting.
Dr. Jane Ann Munroe, Assistant Dean of Admissions at the Southern California College of Optometry is honored by Marshall B. Ketchum University for her service.
Taking a gap year was the best decision I’ve made during my application process. Instead of rushing to fit a certain timeline, I decided to take a mental break from school and spend more time expanding my patient care experience. This extra time before optometry school helped me become a better prepared and more confident applicant when completing my applications.
I applied to optometry school as an out-of-state student during the summer of 2020, right in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, unfortunately I was unable to visit the optometry schools I applied to; however, I still managed to pick the school that fit me best, and here’s how I did it!