Why do we love SCO? Even if you were to extract this school from the diverse flavor of Memphis itself, SCO would still stand as a fascinating place to grow in. Hopefully you will begin to see what I mean as we journey through our campus, which consists of the Tower, Annex, Activity Center, and The Eye Center.
The Activity Center overflows with opportunities for exercise and fun. Games such as pool, ping-pong, foosball, racquetball, basketball, and shuffleboard are great ways to pass the time before or after class. If you are planning to get into shape, the gym will be your hotspot for the whole year, as it has become mine. Intramural volleyball, basketball, and indoor soccer are always a blast to watch or participate in! Whatever athletic tendency you have, it can be accommodated here at SCO.
The Eye Center is where patients are given comprehensive eye exams from 3rd and 4th year students who are supervised by licensed optometric physicians. This allows our students to have over 3,000 patient encounters before they graduate from SCO. Such hands-on experience is why our school is known for its clinical prestige.
The Annex can be used for many auxiliary events. I personally enjoy FCO (Fellowship of Christian Optometrists) meetings there once a month. It is a smaller separate building tucked in the center of campus and is a perfect place for miscellaneous events.
From the top of the Tower in the president’s office down to the recycling room of the basement, you will find loving and warm people full of smiles. Our mail room and bookstore workers, security, maintenance and janitorial staff create a delightful atmosphere that serves as that small pick-me-up you need before heading to class. The professors, even outside of the classroom, are courteous and always open for a long chat in their office. The students here receive much needed financial supervision, career guidance, and real-life preparation from some of the best professors and staff I have ever had the privilege to know.
It may seem like I’m saying, “SCO is the best place on Earth,” but every person here is still 100% human. No facility is perfect, and that must be considered, especially for the students when we tend to set up unrealistic expectations for our professors and their teaching abilities. Although, you may be amazed at how well the material is delivered in some classes. I believe that you wouldn’t want to leave, as you became more acquainted with a present day, and no less magical, version of Hogwarts. For an optometric college, private education and personal enrichment have never been quite so well intertwined. Why would YOU love SCO? We welcome you to come and find out firsthand!