Student Life Blogs

The 2nd year students have been doing pre-clinic checkouts for the past two weeks. I'm up tomorrow. We have an hour to perform an exam on a fellow student while being graded by a staff doctor. The exam includes a case history, chair skills, a refraction (determining the patient's prescription), evaluating the health of the front and back of the eye, and measuring eye pressure. I will finalize the preparations this afternoon but I'm sure I'll be nervous going into it. A passing grade is our... Read More

Well, it's almost time for sleepless nights, long hours in the library, and night after night of constant cramming.  It's almost time for finals.  In less than 2 weeks, I will be taking my 6 final exams.  I'm going to start reviewing and getting prepared for them tonight.  I know I probably should've started weeks ago, but it's hard to keep up with studying for mid-term exams (regularly scheduled exams) and still try to study for final exams.  A word of advice for interested students, try to... Read More

Less than 2 weeks left as a 3rd year student!  We have 3 finals next week and then 3 days of clinic the following week before it's official.  This will be our easiest finals weeks yet.  We are used to having 5-6 finals in one week with at least one final a day.  Next week we have a final every other day; Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  I'm really looking forward to a week break before summer externs begin.  My summer extern site is twice as far from home as I am now, so I'm planning to go... Read More

Tonight I am helping organize the North Central States students Optometric Association (NCSsOA) meeting.  An OD from Iowa is visiting to speak about practice management.  Each one of the state representatives will be presenting the requirements needed to practice in each of the North Central States and the major meetings associated with each state.  At SCO there are many state and regional groups that meet to discuss practicing in a specific area.  It allows students to be in contact with ODs... Read More

This week marks the last week of classes for the third year class here at SCO. Next week we have finals. I can't believe how fast these past 3 years have gone. From what I hear, forth year is the best because as an extern we see patients all day every day with no classes in between. I can't wait! This past week my wife and I had the opportunity to go to the beach with her family. Her sister has breast cancer and just completed her final chemo session, so this was a "celebration" trip. I... Read More