UVa ‘13
Southern College of Optometry
What led to your interest in optometry?
I have always been interested in the sciences and the human body so I always knew I would be happiest in a career in healthcare. In my first year at UVA I was planning on attending medical school and was shadowing medical doctors in the area. I had the opportunity to shadow both a medical doctor and optometrist working in the same practice which introduced me to the idea of optometry. From that point on I became fascinated with the eyes and the complexity of the visual system and visual perception. It is a very rewarding feeling to someone's vision or to discover a rare disease by looking through the patients eyes. I am reassured every day I go to class the optometry was the right choice for me.
Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in optometry?
I was inspired to pursue a career in optometry after learning about the uniqueness and significance of the career. It is common that an patient’s optometrist will be the first to recognize signs of diabetes, hypertension, brain tumors and many other diseases or abnormalities that may be present. Additionally, within the career there is a lot of versatility by way of specializing in a specific branch of optometry. The optometry specialties range from pediatrics, to sports vision therapy, to ocular disease, to more.
What did you major in and what inspired you to choose this/these area(s) of study?
I majored in Biology. To be honest, the reason I originally chose to this major was because the large overlap in the courses required by the major and those required by health professional schools. That being said, I am extremely happy I chose that major. All the upper-level bio courses were extremely interesting. Personally, I am most interested in the small things related to biology such as genetics, microbiology, and biochemistry. Because of my major I truly feel that have a better understanding of how the world around me works and interacts.
What activities did you participate in at U.Va.?
I was a pole-vaulter on the UVa track team, founder of the UVa Pre-Optometry Club, and a member of Athletes Committed to Excellence
How did you prepare for the application process to optometry schools?
I prepared by getting all my prereqs for optometry school done early. By doing this it allowed me to start focusing on the entrance exam early giving me the option to take the test multiple times and not have to sit out a year. Since I completed all the requirements prior to the opening of the application cycle, I was able to apply on the first day the application cycle opened. I got offers for interviews at all schools I was interested in and I learned later that my proactive approach is very attractive to schools looking to fill their enrollment.
What resources did you utilize, if any, from health professions advising that was helpful to you in the application preparation/process?
I utilized many of the resources from the health professions advising. I used their personality test in determining which branch of the healthcare I should enter. I did multiple mock-interviews. Sometimes I stopped in just to look at my course schedule and make sure I was meeting all of my requirements.
How do/did you balance the demands of optometry school with additional obligations and challenges?
Don't let anyone fool you, optometry school is hard. In fact, any health professional school is going to be hard. Depending on the school you will take about 25 credits of coursework per semester and you can expect to be at school all day for class. I meet the demands of school by trying to live as balanced of life as possible. Meaning I keep up a few hobbies, work out, and do some social activities on the weekend. I have found the best way to keep stress under control is to study early and often but also plan some fun events to keep me motivated and relaxed.
What optometry school are you attending and how did you decide to attend this institution?
I am attending the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis Tennessee. I decided to go here over other institutions because of their focus on minimizing debt and securing jobs for the graduates in private practice. There is one whole department of the school that is dedicated to getting graduates jobs and providing networking opportunities to the current student. Not to mention SCO has one of the largest and most advanced eye centers in the world which is a testament to the their dedication to advancing the career of optometry.
What advice do you have for new applicants considering a career in optometry?
Take the OAT early and apply early. As I mentioned before this will take an immense amount of stress off of you as well as be more attractive to the schools of your interest.
