A Bachelor’s Degree in Vision Science from The University of the Incarnate Word is the first step in obtaining a Doctorate of optometry. What does an optometrist do? On a typical day an optometrist examines people’s eyes to diagnose eye diseases and vision problems, test patients’ visual acuity, perception, and ability to focus or coordinate eyes, prescribes prescriptions, contact lenses, and eyeglasses, and provides vision therapy or preoperative and postoperative care to patients in need of it. Many factors affect interest in the field such as future expectations, occupational job outlook, and schooling involved to complete Doctorate.
The prerequisite coursework, physics, biology, and chemistry, are not only strong academic points, but they are engaging. Prerequisites differ among schools, but the average GPA for Fall 2010 students into Optometry Schools across America ranged from 3.19 to 3.56. Therefore, one factor is that there is a natural passion for the subject, opposed to the fact that it is a practical career choice.
The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is required upon admission into all optometry schools. It is a standardized exam consisting of four tests: Survey of the Natural Sciences (Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry), Reading Comprehension, Physics, and Quantitative Reasoning. Testing is administered online and given continuously to the test taker based on personal schedules. So, the test can be taken unlimitedly, but fees equal to about $245 per test. Fall 2010, the average score for the incoming class was 324/400.
Secondly, optometrists are in high demand in the health profession. The field is expected to grow much faster than the average for all other occupations in response to a growing and a...
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...e three undergraduate years to enter Phase II. Phase I requires a 1200 SAT score and a 26 ACT score, a 3.5 high school cumulative GPA, and student must be prepared to begin in Pre-Calculus the 1st semester of freshmen year. It is an accelerated program for advanced undergraduates. Phase II requirements include a 3.3 Undergraduate cumulative GPA, an OAT score of 320, successful completion of 90 semester credit hours with a ‘C’ or better in prerequisite requirements, completion of application process, letters of recommendation, two shadowing experiences, and active involvement in community service. Upon acceptance into the professional program and successful completion of the first professional year, a B.S. in Vision Science is retroactively granted. At the conclusion of the 4-year block step profession program, a profession degree of Doctor of Optometry is awarded.
Press, Dr. Leonard J. “An Eye Doctor Answers Questions (FAQs) about Vision Therapy, Visual Training, Eye Exercises, Pediatric Optometrists, Developmental Optometrists, Ophthalmologists.” N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2013.
• make satisfactory academic progress (successfully complete courses with grade of A, B, C, D or P at least 66% of the hours attempted each term with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.)
My interest into becoming an optometrist had begun when I was in high school; it happened in an unconventional way. It was not through watching videos, or someone explaining to me what optometry was, but rather, seeing the power of it firsthand. There was a point in my life where I felt emotions that I was unable to comprehend at the time. Seeing a family member on an operating table was the most petrifying moment that I have gone through, especially when the person on the table was my father. My father had to get a chalazion removed from his right eyelid. The doctor told my family that my father would be susceptible to certain health risks because of his diabetes and the severity of his cyst. This procedure was the hardest thing I have had to deal with in my life because it made me feel helpless. Usually, when my dad needs help he always asks me, but this time I could not do anything. It is interesting to think that something so small had such a big affect on my life.
It has been said by many experts that there has been a surplus of physicians in the past, but that there will soon be a shortage of physicians. This shortage will have been instigated by many factors, and is predicted to have various effects on society, both immediate and long term. There have been proposed solutions to this shortage, but there is a fine balance to be found with these many solutions and factors. However, once this balance is found, the long-term mending of the physician shortage may begin.
As a student who is both fascinated with science and desires a career that is dedicated to improving people’s lives, the profession of optometry is a natural fit for me. Wanting to learn more about the profession, I began shadowing several optometrists throughout my time in high school and college. I shadowed in various settings, including two retail chain stores, an ophthalmology office, and a private practice. My goal was to soak up everything about the experience, learning as much as I could from the optometrists as they interacted with patients and assessed their ocular health. I was amazed at how much I was able to learn just from observing other optometrists! One of the most memorable experiences I had while shadowing was when a patient came in with shingles, which the optometrist, Dr. Chelsey Clemens, confirmed was spreading onto her cornea. Dr. Clemens promptly prescribed an antibiotic gel to the patient. It was exciting to observe this patient receive this much-needed care from her
What is a test? The Webster’s New American Dictionary defines a test as “a critical examination or evaluation”. The World Book 2000 Encyclopedia defines testing as “an attempt to measure a person’s knowledge, intelligence, or other characteristics in a systematic way”. The Wisconsin 2004 freshmen will have to take a graduation test in order to graduate their senior year. They have four chances to pass the graduation examination. This paper will explain how the current requirements for graduating compare to the graduation standardized test. Included are the obstacles that are involved with implementing the test, group and individual opinions concerning the graduation test, and a recent survey of people involved with the test.
The minimum requirement to be accepted into medical school is four years of a rigorous premedical program at an accredited college (2). Undergraduate work includes courses in physics, biology, mathematics, English, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry (1). Volunteering at local hospitals is a way to gain more firsthand experience (1). To be accepted into medical school the student must pass the Medical College Admissions Test (2).
Various educational requirements serve as a qualification to a career as a physical therapist. A person must earn a minimum of two degrees from accredited universities, perform volunteer service and comply with certification requirements to complete the educational requirements toward a career in physical therapy. First, the interested person must complete an undergraduate degree with either a Bachelor of Science, or a Bachelor of Arts with a heavy science background.. A common requirement among universities is a minimum grade point average of 2.5 in all basic courses and a minimum 3.0 in all science classes for entrance into a Master’s degree program. Important considerations by most, if not all, programs are the person’s grades and attitude displayed during a required personal interview with an executive from the university which the interested student plans to attend. The next stepinvolves earning a Master’s degree from an accredited university. Once into a Master’s program, the student must maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average throughout the two year program. A basic program, as described by The World Book Encyclopedia, consists of "courses in anatomy, clinical medicine, physiology, psychology, therapeuticexercise, and the use of various physical and electrical equipment" (Zeleny, 1986). Theseclasses should thoroughly prepare the student for their future care...
The number of core courses have been increased from 10 to 16 for the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) eligibility. In the 16 core courses the students who participate in sports must have a minimum grade point average of 2.3(up from 2.0). Not only was the grade point average requirement raised for core courses, SAT scores were also reviewed.
Second, every student who wants to get a good career has to meet the requirement they need in order to graduate from their major. Physical Therapy educational program required student who are interesting in this major, to first graduate with a master or doctor degree. Also, these students have to take some mandatory credits or course for the program. Applicants need to have a bachelor degree that include some required curses with are based in the program. In addition, a student who wants to be a Physical Therapy can complete a curriculum of a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a Master of Physical Therapy, or a Degree Mas...
I have always admired the work of healthcare professionals and other emergency services through not only being witness to, but also being on the receiving end of the amazing and professional care
What is a pediatrician? Pediatricians are doctors who specialize and focus in caring for babies to young adults (Career Cruising). They deal with childhood diseases and the care of infants with health and sickness (Elberts). The typical upper age limit of patients is from age twelve to age twenty-one (NetMed Pediatrics). They have to treat their patients as if he or she were going to change the world. Pediatricians complete many tasks in a day’s time. They perform physical exams and order tests that will diagnose diseases and injuries that have occurred. They advise surgery and medications and may also help patients through puberty and family problems (Career Cruising). It is their responsibility to make sure the patients are not only healthy, but also safe and happy. Some pediatricians communicate with social workers, family members, and health care workers to understand the entire situation as best as they can (Career Cruising). If the patient seems to have more personal problems, pediatricians have the opportunity to send them to other doctors like a psychiatrist for treatment. Others work as advocates by educating the community about car safety and the benefits from school breakfast (Career Cruising).
After I changed my major, I discovered that biology students were, understandably, focused on getting into medical school. I managed to come across a classmate, named Adriana, who introduced me to optometry. To be honest, I was not thinking about optometry. Most students who plan to apply to medical school major in biology. Adriana, however, held a different view, and that caught my attention. In addition, she has been working at an optometry office for quite sometime. I began to show interest in the optometry field, and I started to consult her and pulling information from her about the field. She helped me...
Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions a person has to make in their life. It is so important because that is what we will have to do to support ourselves throughout life. Imagine being stuck in a dead end job and having to go to work every morning and dreading it. That is no spending oneÕs time and life is too short to work 35 years and be unhappy with it. If a person likes the job they do then it is not work, because finding satisfaction out of a job can bring great happiness. That information has enabled me to make the decision of choosing my area of study and career in the field of Information Technology.