Optometry school is a difficult yet exciting time. When school can start to feel tedious, there are so many great opportunities to get involved and really connect with your fellow students. As one American Optometric Student Association Trustee put it, getting involved “helps keep the passion of the profession when times get tough in school.” You also can learn so much from these experiences to supplement your learning in class. Here are a few ways to engage in extracurriculars throughout your optometry school years!
- Join any clubs that interest you!
If you are even a little bit interested in a certain club, join it and attend some of their events! This is a great way to meet other people, learn about different groups and aspects of optometry, and find out what you enjoy. Many schools have events to showcase their clubs, because they will vary from school to school; some examples of common organizations are:
- American Optometric Student Association (AOSA)
- Student Council/ Student Government
- National Optometric Student Association (NOSA)
- American Academy of Optometry (AAO) Student Club
- Optometry Student Ambassadors / Orientation Leader
- Canadian Association of Optometry Students (CAOS)
- Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH)
- Private Practice / Practice Management Club
- Ocular Disease Club
- Contact Lens Club
- Vision Therapy Club-OVRDA
- Sports Vision Club
- Armed Forces and Federal Optometric Services (AFOS)
- Fellowship of Christian Optometrists
- And so many more!
Check out your school’s resources for more specific club information!
- Attend as many social/extracurricular events as you are able to.
Advice from an AOSA trustee: “Take advantage of all the opportunities available! You’ll end up meeting a lot of cool people and gain a lot of experience either clinical, academic or personal. You won’t regret it!”
- Participate in community outreach.
This allows you to not only give back to the community but also make use of the specific skills optometry has provided you thus far. Caring for others is at the heart of our profession. Community outreach can be providing eye exams to underserved populations or volunteering your time at local philanthropies. Volunteering at these events is such an impactful experience!
- Reach out to a faculty member about research opportunities on a topic of interest.
There is so much to be learned from research, and this is a fantastic way to make connections with faculty and build your resume. Not interested in research yourself? Help your classmates by being a participant in their study!
- TA or tutor for a class/lab you enjoyed and did well in.
This is a great way to get to know students in other classes, as well as keep up with your skills and knowledge as you prepare for clinic and boards!
- Attend conferences (such as Optometry’s Meeting® next summer!) and events hosted by your state association.
Network with professionals and start making connections now—you’ll thank yourself later! Events such as these also are an opportunity to explore how you want to practice optometry when you graduate.
Whether you dip your toe into one of these areas or want to try them all, remember that it’s important to find a good balance for you between school, extracurriculars, and “you” time. Each is important to your optometry school experience, and this balance will look different for every person! Make time for things you enjoy, get involved, participate in events that interest you, and know when you need to take a step back or ask for help when your studies need your full attention. Enjoy these short four years you have as an optometry student!
