AboutJanet Carter Expertise Optometry. I am an optometrist in practice for over 25 years in the Reno area I would be happy to answer any questions about optometry, entrance requirements, education, licensing, etc...
Question Hello. My name is Rubi and I'm currently a junior in highschool. I've been a consistent A- to B average student so far with my lowest grades always appearing in my mathematics and science classes. I enjoy them both but I don't seem to be very good at them. To each his own, I suppose. But optometry seems so interesting that I can't help but want more information which brings me to a few questions that I hope you can answer for me.
-You've repeated before that highschool courses and grades aren't important. To what extent does that hold true? Should I not freak out over the occasional C?
-What would you recommend majoring (and minoring) in?
-I know you've said to just ask a college couselor when the time comes to plan what college courses to take but is there any specific class you wish you had taken or you strongly encourage aspiring optometrists to take before they embark?
-After college, what obstacles (tests, interviews, applications) do you have to go through to get into a optometry school (like the one at University of Houston)?
-Assuming I get into the optometry school, is it difficult to find a job? Did you get assistance with establishing your career? Do you just send resumes to offices?
-Is there any part of the career that surprised you when you actually joined? Maybe a requirement you didnt realize was necessary?
Thanks for your time. I appreciate you reading this.
Rubi
Answer These are a lot of questions to answer, and I don't know the answer to all of them. I don't know much about school admission: Remember, its been over 30 years since I applied to optometry school and the requirements have changed greatly!! I suggest you google the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, the University of Houston School of Optometry, and the American Optometric Association and go to those websites. You'll find more accurate information there!
I will tell you that high school grades don't matter for optometry school, but they DO matter in the sense that you need good grades to get into a good college, and that does matter. So do your best.
If you don't like science and math, you won't like optometry school all that much. Sorry. You'll have to study both a lot. Majors don't matter...as long as you have the prerequisite courses. Again, I can't help you with that...requirements are so different now than they were 30 years ago. The college websites have all that information.
Take as much math as you can. To get into school, you will have to take the optometry admissions test (OAT). Again, look at the schools website for information on this. Yes, there will be an application, and no doubt an interview. Once you are in school, it is four years, and the school will have programs to help you find employment upon graduation. Finding a job isn't difficult; it might take awhile to find one that is the perfect "fit."
No, nothing surprised me about the career. But then, my father was an optometrist, so I had plenty of basic knowledge going in.
Sorry I can't be more help. Again, you need to talk to the schools of optometry to get this kind of information. Also many colleges have a "pre-optometry" club and that can be a big help. Good luck!
