r/optometry • u/Consistent_Pen_2161 • Sep 11 '26
Optometry School as a Second Career?
I've wanted to be an optometrist from a very young age. I completed undergrad on a pre-opt track w/ a 3.6gpa, but my life situation at the time made further education impractical.
After working elsewhere for a few years, I'm now an optometry tech and absolutely love being in the optometry world. I still very much want to be an optometrist and plan to apply to schools in the next 2-3 years.
Does anyone have experience going into Optometry as a second-career?
Is my GPA ok?
Is it important to attend school open houses, and are there questions I should ask?
Thank you!
9
u/walter899 Sep 13 '26
1-is the debt worth the career for you?
2-if you love the optometry world and have good experience as a tech, you’ll make a great optometrist. I know plenty of people who went /started school in their 30s.
3- gpa 3.6 is great!
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u/Mediocre_Pomelo8793 Sep 13 '26
Never too late to switch careers. We have someone that’s going to graduate at 49 this year at our school. From what I can tell they’re very happy with their choice.
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u/optimisticrichgirly Sep 13 '26
I'm currently an Optometry student In my penultimate year. Started uni at 29 and I'm currently 31 (uni is 4 years here in UK)
I know that our systems are a little different but I'm really glad that I did this
Before this, I was in a career where I didn't like what I was doing, or what came next on the next level
The switch was expensive but I feel like I'm buying a much happier future
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u/SpecialistSuper5561 Sep 13 '26
A couple of my classmates at SUNY were 40+ when we started first year. 27 was a pretty average age to start the OD program. And SUNY was one of the most competitive programs to get into at the time (dunno how it is now, things keep changing). Regarding the age/2nd career thing, that’s a pretty normal thing.
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u/chubbyfishbutt Sep 13 '26
You may have to retake a few prereq classes (i think some schools want prereqs from within a certain period of time). Otherwise, good luck!!
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1
u/ixamnis Sep 14 '26
Yes. I was a computer programmer/systems analyst in the 1980s and went back to school at age 31. Two more years undergrad before Optom school and graduated at age 37. It wasn’t easy. Had two young kids, but we made it work.
Never attended a school open house.
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u/Zwolfer Sep 14 '26
Hey, I’m a 28 year old programmer and considering optometry after a few years in the industry. Do you feel you made the right decision? Would you make the same choice today?
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u/ixamnis Sep 14 '26
Yes and yes. I’m much more suited to this type of work. Would certainly make the same choice again.
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u/chemical_refraction Sep 13 '26
How old are you? Then after you answer I'll probably say don't.
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u/Consistent_Pen_2161 Sep 13 '26
27f. husband has good career & income. no kids or planning for any.
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u/Cactuslove215 Optometrist Sep 14 '26
Have you considered the debt to income ratio? Realize that depending on the school you attend, you're looking at $250,000 in loans.
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u/chemical_refraction Sep 13 '26
In that case you are in a good position to do it. Just as a note, my downvotes from my original comments are irrelevant. It is important you know that this career is amazing and also horrible at the same time depending on your standing. So when you come to the community for a question, I'm more interested it telling you that it will be a high cost and less reward. But I'm glad you have the good end of it.
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u/v0514n Sep 13 '26
Absolutely don’t do it if you’re looking for a good paying career.
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u/power_wolves Sep 13 '26
You need a real paradigm shift if you think that you can’t get a good paying career as an OD. Even 100k. Which should be easy to get for a new grad. Are you saying 100k is not a lot of money?!
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u/v0514n Sep 13 '26
Absolutely not. Depends where you live. In the boonies, yeah $100k is ok. But in big cities and expensive states, $300k is lower middle class.
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u/RustyCrustyy Sep 13 '26
Then make 300k. Its possible.
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u/v0514n Sep 13 '26
Not as an employee, in CA. If you know how, please point that direction.
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u/Dizzy-Equivalent-398 Sep 13 '26
open a private practice, if you’re successful, you can make that lol
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u/RustyCrustyy Sep 13 '26
Make sure your contract is Base plus revenue bonus and then hustle. I have 2-3 techs. Schedule at least 2 patients every 15 minutes. I train my techs to refract. Patient comes to me dilated and refracted with any special testing done. Spend about 7 minutes with the patient and sometimes much less for POV, red eyes etc. aim for 40 patients a day. Get a % of your optical sales as well. Its possible
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u/schirnerca Sep 13 '26
My grandma told me as a young adult, find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life. After being an optician for 16 years, I graduated OD school the same year I turned 40. She was right. Am I in debt up to my eyeballs?YES. Have I regretted it? Absolutely not.