How I Got Into Every Optometry School I Applied To: Joining your Pre-Optometry Organization
Written by: Chris Nguyen | 🕙 10 minute read
If you’re someone who is interested in becoming an optometrist or someone who just wants to know what optometry is in general, join your school’s pre-optometry organization. At the University of Houston, this was called “POPS” but your school might go by something else! (For instance at UC Berkeley, it’s called “Foresight” - catchy right?) .
For my fans going to the University of Houston (Who’s House? COOGS HOUSE!), I’ve just got to put a plug in here - POPS is a student organization known to help students like yourselves learn about the field of optometry. They provide students with exposure to the optometry field through their volunteering events, shadowing opportunities, and panel events where they host optometrists from all over to speak about their experiences. Not only does POPS educate you on the field of optometry, but they also offer students information about the requirements, benefits, and admission process for all optometry schools around the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
4 things I gained from my POPS experience
Shadowing - an unpaid “internship” where you mostly observe what optometrists do during the office while the optometrist shares his/her experience in the field and tips that may be useful for you when applying for optometry school - or to follow the theme of being a “yuffie” - how to build your own clinic. You’re probably wondering, “How do I even find these shadowing opportunities?” Well, the only way is to ask around. Luckily, POPS helps start the conversation by giving you a list of super friendly people who’ve let students shadow them in the past! Don’t be shy and ask! (If your school doesn’t have a pre-optometry group, just find some local optometrist offices and reach out! Some people in the medical field refer to this as “cold calling” - don’t be afraid, just do it! The worst they can say is “no”).
If your POPS organization is on social media, try to post on their group page saying that you want to find shadowing and ask if there are any optometrists that are willing to take in students to shadow (also feel free to search for some previous posts of any doctors that have already posted that they were down to let students shadow them and reach out directly! Nobody likes someone who’s lazy and hasn’t done the legwork to see what’s already available in the group).
Remember, you’re about to join a community of optometrists, so eventually current and past members may comment on your post about some practices that might be willing to take in students. Once you find some practices to shadow for, try to call their office and ask if you can shadow their doctor. It might take some time for them to call you back and some might not even answer you at all, but if they aren’t accepting any students to shadow at that time, DO NOT GIVE UP. Get another optometrist’s practice’s phone number and call again until you get one. Trust me, I’ve been in your shoes when I tried to find shadowing. It took me about 7 tries until I actually found an optometrist who took me under her wing. (Fun fact, one of my friends found a shadowing opportunity by following one local optometrist on instagram and just sending them a DM!)
I know you guys are thinking, “Every club offers volunteering, so what’s so special about POPS?” Well have you ever wanted to work the machines they use in the office? In most pre-opto orgs, their volunteering events are mostly associated with giving students some hands-on experience in the field of vision health. These hands-on experiences may include:
Sighted guide techniques to help the blind or visually impaired
Preliminary distance and Far Visual Acuity tests (done in every optometry office)
Vision screening*
*For vision screenings, you are required to have a license/certification before you can actually do them, but might as well get ahead right?
On the bright side, if your organization is partnered/has connections with the Prevent Blindness organization, you do have the opportunity to get a vision screening certification (at least at the University of Houston) by participating in a 3 hour course from Prevent Blindness. Not only will you get hands-on experience from these volunteering opportunities, but you will perhaps get a chance to meet and talk with optometrists or vision health representatives from Prevent Blindness or IBUG (IBlind Users Group) who are in charge of the events. You’re LITERALLY going to be a few feet away from people who actually WANT to network with you. Cause let’s face it, your net worth is dependent on your network - might as well get started now.
When I was a member of POPS, I got to volunteer at an event hosted by the See to Succeed Out-reach program where they provide free vision exams for students from elementary schools to high schools. From that event, I learned how to do some preliminary exams like visual acuity exams (which you will learn in optometry school) and met an optometrist, Dr. Mendes, who was in charge of the event and really opened my eyes to what optometrists could do (way more than what you might imagine from the practice at your local mall).
Wanna earn some side money while building your resume? Look at your pre-opto org’s assistant job list if they have one! For most POPS organizations, they will provide a list of places that you can work as an optometric assistant (someone there has a list, sometimes found on their website, other times compiled by generations of wise-alumni before you, freely available IF YOU ASK). Members of any facebook/social media groups are often giving back and posting about how their doctor’s practice has job openings available for you. YES, this is a subtle hint to say - remember to give back to the next generation of optometrists.
This was probably the biggest thing I gained from my pre-opto org. It’s a scary place out there in the world, and trust me you’re not alone in thinking that. Some people can be real jerks, while others are cocky pricks, who’s entire life is meant to bring you down and push them up. Don’t fall prey to that. College is already hard enough, so find your second family in a pre-opto org (or any org in that case). Think about it - you’re already expanding your network of friends that will be with you throughout the ENTIRE process! I mean they have similar goals and will probably be your colleagues in the future. Who knows, future business partners? Might as well make friends that are willing to help EVERYONE get into optometry school together than try at it alone.
Don’t know how to find your local pre-opto group?
For my future optometrists out there, your college/university will host events that let you see several organizations and give you a chance to meet with their officers either at the beginning of each semester (Fall and Spring) or during the summer if you’re an incoming freshman/transfer student. But, these totally depend on the school, so make sure you’re keeping your eyes peeled!
Essentially it boils down to these 3 things: Check out (1) your schools organizations page, (2) surf facebook and (3) check out all those other social media platforms - there’s bound to be one nearby for you!
What if your school doesn’t have a pre-opto org?
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE! SEIZE THE DAY! Form your own group at your school! Think about it - you get to build your resume AND pick the people you want to be around. If you’re really determined to pursue optometry, this is a no brainer! A good friend of mine who’s currently in optometry school with me told me how his undergrad didn’t have a pre-opto org so he and a few friends made their own!
What if my pre-opto org doesn’t have all those things you mentioned?
We all know that every organization is different in each school. So if your school’s pre-opto org isn't providing everything you hoped for, REACH OUT TO THEM. Speak up and provide suggestions! Who knows, they may put you in charge - to which, YAY! You can design it how you want and have another thing to write about in a personal statement or at least add to your resume! But really, what’s important is creating better resources for your community - so if you aren’t being heard and you’re ready to be a leader, put yourself out there and do it!
So what’s my big takeaway for joining your pre-opto org?
If you still haven’t gotten the message at this point, it’s okay. You don’t NEED to be in a pre-optometry organization to get into the optometry path. There isn’t like a solid pre-requisite or anything, but I just wouldn’t know where I’d be if I never looked into it. I mean come on, who wouldn’t recommend joining an org that will provide you with a strong foundation, countless opportunities, and a safe network to share your experiences and grow with? If you’re just getting started on your optometric journey, there’s no better place to start than here!
Are you currently interested in being an optometrist? Keep up with my blog series where I talk about my journey on becoming an optometrist!
Disclaimer: Nguyening Lifestyles is not a registered educational service provider and does not give educational advice. Nguyening Lifestyles is not affilated with any of the links mentioned above. All information in these posts are for entertainment purposes only. Nguyening Lifestyles is not liable for any actions or outcomes that transpired after your reading of the following post.
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