Even our moderator wouldn't do it again...

[Shnurek]

I bet the satisfaction rate in non-clinical jobs is much higher for MDs.

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[Optomchick]

You can always do post-baccalaureate work and raise those grades if there is something else out there that you may want to pursue. If you are having doubts about the profession now, I would highly recommend thinking about something else. I'm not trying to scare you like some of the other posters, I just think you need to give yourself a fair shake at what you want to truly do with your life and not have to settle.

I just retook physics and got a C+ lol my grades aren't going upward >< I actually do want to be an OD, I'm just jealous PA is 2 years instead of 4, but I'd much rather be an OD.

 

[Shnurek]

I just retook physics and got a C+ lol my grades aren't going upward >< I actually do want to be an OD, I'm just jealous PA is 2 years instead of 4, but I'd much rather be an OD.

1/3 or more of the stuff in optometry school has to do with physics or more specifically optics. I love physics and I got A's in undergrad so it is not difficult conceptually for me (not to brag). Optometry or how it was previously known as "physiological optics" used to be part of the physics programs in many universities. I am considering the possibility of doing a physics related PhD. program a few years after I graduate if daily optometry is not enough for me or I'd want to teach at a school. That is why I am so fascinated with lasers and the increase in scope of practice of the profession.

You have to ask yourself, do you want to deal with eyes and maybe own your own practice one day? or do you want to deal with the whole body or different specialties of the body and you are fine with working for someone else.

 

[thanotoriousfob]

I just retook physics and got a C+ lol my grades aren't going upward >< I actually do want to be an OD, I'm just jealous PA is 2 years instead of 4, but I'd much rather be an OD.

Ouch. Good luck to you in opt school.

 

[Leukocyte]

I bet the satisfaction rate in non-clinical jobs is much higher for MDs.

As a Family Medicine physician who is now doing a fellowship in Preventive Medicine (a relatively less clinical specialty), I agree with this statement. Clinical medical specialties, in general, pay more than non-clinical medical specialties (except for Radiology), but the stress level is huge....and is not worth the lower quality of life.

Medicine as a career is way too over-rated. Unless you absolutely know what you are getting into when applying to medical school (no medical student REALY knows what REAL day-to-day clinical medicine is), do not ignore other good career options that might leave you more satisfied in the end.

 

[Optomchick]

Ouch. Good luck to you in opt school.

Well I didn't really try, but having just retaken Optics, I feel more prepared than students that haven't taken it in years......starting Western Optometry tmw, wish me luck, guys!

 

[thecgrblue]

I bet the satisfaction rate in non-clinical jobs is much higher for MDs.

This is somewhat the feeling I've gotten. Rads is my field of choice at the present moment and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't b/c of some of the crap I'll get to avoid.

 

[q1we3]

Well I didn't really try, but having just retaken Optics, I feel more prepared than students that haven't taken it in years......starting Western Optometry tmw, wish me luck, guys!

best of luck

 

[Shnurek]

This is somewhat the feeling I've gotten. Rads is my field of choice at the present moment and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't b/c of some of the crap I'll get to avoid.

I just spoke with a radiology resident a few days ago. He says that pretty much everyone has to do a fellowship nowadays. So be prepared for 10 years of training. I think interventional radiology sounds great actually. But another thing is that radiology reimbursement was cut 4% by CMS and ophthalmology actually went up 9% possibly due to some optometry lobbying that benefited both optometrists and ophthalmologists. Then there is also that scandal that popped up about radiologists cheating on the test to become board certified: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/13/health/prescription-for-cheating/index.html

 

[Jason K]

But another thing is that radiology reimbursement was cut 4% by CMS and ophthalmology actually went up 9% possibly due to some optometry lobbying that benefited both optometrists and ophthalmologists.

Shnurek, is there a gas leak in your parents' home? Where do you come up with this stuff?

Then there is also that scandal that popped up about radiologists cheating on the test to become board certified: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/13/health/prescription-for-cheating/index.html

Thankfully, ODs don't have to cheat on our "Board Certification" exams - the ABO just quietly raises the pass rate......for "political reasons." Awesome.

 

[thecgrblue]

I just spoke with a radiology resident a few days ago. He says that pretty much everyone has to do a fellowship nowadays. So be prepared for 10 years of training. I think interventional radiology sounds great actually. But another thing is that radiology reimbursement was cut 4% by CMS and ophthalmology actually went up 9% possibly due to some optometry lobbying that benefited both optometrists and ophthalmologists. Then there is also that scandal that popped up about radiologists cheating on the test to become board certified: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/13/health/prescription-for-cheating/index.html

IR seems pretty cool, but I'm more interested in MSK.

I'd rather train for 6 or 7 (not 10) years after med school and do something I love than the alternative. That'll put me at 33-34 years old and another 30ish years of my life to practice. I'm in no hurry, my short-sightedness is what initially turned me away from medicine and I'm glad I overcame that.

4% cut . I'm running straight for FP or IM now!!! Sign me up for SNAP! I'm gonna be broke!

What does a scandal have to do with anything? Lets not be sensationalists now. There is also a scandal that of OD students cheating on the boards, so y'all you should drop out of school since the moral code has been compromised...or at least don't attend NECO.

Shnurek, is there a gas leak in your parents' home? Where do you come up with this stuff?
.

The 9% increase is actually "true" from what was gathered by the Medscape Physician Compensation survey for 2012 (which had a sampling pool of about 24k, 3% of which were OMD).

http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/compensation/2012/public

 

[Jason K]

The 9% increase is actually "true" from what was gathered by the Medscape Physician Compensation survey for 2012 (which had a sampling pool of about 24k, 3% of which were OMD).

I was referring to his suggestion that the increase was due to heroic "optometric lobbying," which I found hilarious. What's not hilarious is the fact that, under ObamaScare, specialists will take a nearly 17% pay cut over the next three years.

 

[Shnurek]

IR seems pretty cool, but I'm more interested in MSK.

I'd rather train for 6 or 7 (not 10) years after med school and do something I love than the alternative. That'll put me at 33-34 years old and another 30ish years of my life to practice. I'm in no hurry, my short-sightedness is what initially turned me away from medicine and I'm glad I overcame that.

I mean 10 with medical school 4+1+4+1 assuming you do a fellowship

 

[Meibomian SxN]

Shnurek, is there a gas leak in your parents' home? Where do you come up with this stuff?

LMAO!!!!


No way can you compare an anesthesiologist to an OD's salary. That extra amount of years in training after residency is a small paycheck and after residency/fellowship will be x3-4 what an OD will make. Just the hurtful truth.

 

[cvod]

I just retook physics and got a C+ lol my grades aren't going upward >< I actually do want to be an OD, I'm just jealous PA is 2 years instead of 4, but I'd much rather be an OD.

You could get a PA and work for an OMD and do the same thing as an OD. I work in that scenario. I work for an ophthalmologist. She has a PA working for her and does basically what I do.

 

[Tippytoe]

You could get a PA and work for an OMD and do the same thing as an OD. I work in that scenario. I work for an ophthalmologist. She has a PA working for her and does basically what I do.

You could get an associate's degree in auto mechanics and work as an OD in an OMD office. You would be called a certifed opthalmic tech and do 99% of what ODs do (minus the retinal view but imaging system are quickly negating that difference).

 

[Optomchick]

You could get a PA and work for an OMD and do the same thing as an OD. I work in that scenario. I work for an ophthalmologist. She has a PA working for her and does basically what I do.

PA schools require a lot of actual experience working in the field like being an EMT or nurse, which i do not have lol.

 

[Optomchick]

best of luck

thanks, it's been A LOT harder than I thought :/

 

[Tippytoe]

PA schools require a lot of actual experience working in the field like being an EMT or nurse, which i do not have lol.

That's actually not true any longer. Used to be, and still is at some big name schools, prior health care experience is a requirement.

But PA schools are opening so fast, this requirement has been dropped for most schools. The one I teach at recommends it but many are accepted without any experience. (Not saying that's a good thing).