UCBSO

So the Interview Day for U.C. Berkeley Optometry School was February 2, 2008. Going into the interview, I was nervous because I would see the other, 124, applicants. I had already been accepted by SCCO, but I didn't want to rest on laurels going into the interview and not give it 100%. I wanted the option to choose between SCCO and UCBSO because staying in the Bay would be the smartest move because of the networking opportunities, and it is a bit cheaper, therefore, I would finish with less debt. But before I went to the interview, I was thinking that UCBSO would be the smart choice, and if I had the opportunity I would go there because it was the smart thing to do, and sacrifice the opportunities at SCCO. So there wasn't too much enthusiasm behind going to Berkeley other than it being the smart choice, and that all changed.

What was funny was that the first person I saw that interview day was a high school friend, that was first year opt student who was volunteering for the interview day, and I found out he was at UCBSO through facebook (the wonders of facebook). But after talking to him, I proceeded to register for the tour. Though I've been to Berkeley many many times, I've never seen the optometry school. Immediately I saw the other applicants and my competitive instincts kicked in. But I saw another familiar face, as much as my guard was up against my "competition," I lowered my guard as I talked to more of the applicants and related to them on experiences from working in optometry offices. It was weird hearing that people traveled from out of state to interview. There was an Asian girl talking about taking pictures, and I was like where are you from? And she replied, "Florida." I was stunned. Some of the applicants had already been out of school for 2-3 years, and one person I met got a Master's degree in Public Health, so I didn't feel that old being 7 months removed from undergrad.

My first impression from the tour was that Berkeley definitely did not have the same facilities as SCCO. The instruments were older, and there was only really one nice lecture hall. I wasn't too excited, but what changed my perspective was hearing all the first years talk about what they enjoyed about the school. A lot of them talked about volunteering at Suitcase clinic (clinic held at a local church where feet washing, and some preliminary vision screening takes place). Also they talked about traveling to Thailand and Nicaragua for Volunteer Optometric Services for Humany (VOSH). As a lot of the students were talking about community service, and the friendship they have in their class (60). I started to see how UCBSO would be a good fit for me.

UCBSO in some ways takes the undergrad creativity and implements it in the professional graduate school. Second years are Big Sibs for the first years, providing them with copies of old tests and helping them with books and what not. Volunteering points are accumulated in order to have the chance to participate in VOSH trips. Compared to other schools, UCBSO allows you to learn the parts of a full exam from the first day, and you're allowed to learn how to use different instruments. The excitement and enthusiasm for implementing what they learned and helping the community of Berkeley definitely appealed to me. SCCO wasn't presented in the same light, granted I only had one opinion, compared to maybe 20 at Berkeley.

I guess another thing that appealed to me was that it is a public institution, and you're kind of on the "grind". You're working hard versus throwing money at things to have the best equipment. Rocky versus Drago. Old school versus new school. You learn in an environment where you have a chip on your shoulder and always striving for the best. UCBSO is a boot camp for 4 years, but it prepares you with the knowledge and skills for success later. SCCO maybe a bit easier, but in the long run, I might come up short in terms of the education. In a nutshell, after the Interview Day, I felt that UCBSO was the best school for me, and if I do not get in I would be missing out. SCCO is not a bad school, but UCBSO just screams my personality. I don't think I've ever been so anxious to hear back from anything, or to have wanted something so much for myself. Choosing a college was never like this, but now we're talking about a career and life, and I guess it's a good thing that I want something so badly.

Again, I pray that hopefully God wants the same thing I do, if not, then I'll see what He has in store. If the Big G and I are on the same page, then I hope I will joyfully live out His will for me at UCBSO.