Eric Watanabe, WUCO Class of 2025

1.) What does your first year of optometry school consist of?

The first year of optometry school consists of lectures, labs, proficiencies, exams and vision screenings. Lectures are recorded so you can view at 1.5 and 2x speed, but I do not recommend skipping lectures. Going to lecture keeps you connected and engaged with the material. Labs are fun for PPO (Primary Care Exam Testing) and Optics where we learn how to conduct basic eye exams and learn about geometric and ophthalmic lenses. Proficiencies are the tests we have for the PPO and Optics labs I mentioned where we have a certain number of minutes to complete the exams, but do not fear! They are not as spooky as you may think. Exams often come once a week, and I would say to focus on Anatomy and Vision Science because your first semester these will be your hardest classes. Stay on top of information and test yourself! Last, but not least, vision screenings, my favorite, where we conduct screenings on elementary schoolchildren in the surrounding Pomona area, where we can check a child’s vision and may be the first to spot that a child may be struggling in school simply because he or she cannot read the board and needs glasses. We make a difference starting from year 1 and it feels great!

2.) Mindset?

My biggest mindset coming into optometry school is Mamba Mentality. Optometry is not for the faint of heart, but do not let it scare you! I understand you put in a lot of effort just to get this far, but also, you did not come this far just to come this far. My two friends who went through optometry school at SCCO and are now practicing optometrists told me “get organized” and “do whatever it takes”. The last one resonated with me. I believe mindset is everything. If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, then let your fear of failure drive you, ask for help like our wonderful LEAD counseling office for study tips and emotional support like my guy, Dr. Patel, who is the best! I firmly believe in rewarding yourself. When you finish an exam or study over the weekend and get a lot done, reward yourself! My best advice: stay grounded, remember you are here for a reason, have your intentions and goals, and stick with it. Rome was not built in a day. I personally write down my goals every morning. My goals consist mostly of studies and lectures, but I started a happiness goal as well, because balance is key. If you have the mindset that you are here for a reason, and that is to help people through the platform of optometry, then you will find your inner Mamba Mentality and do your best these four years, because at the end of it, you will become a doctor!

3.) What do you think about group study vs. individual study?

Well, optometry school is very much independent study. However, I am personally in a few study groups and have a few friends I like to Zoom with and discuss certain topics and test each other before exams. However, I would warn that while some people may be great social friends, they might not make the best study buddies.  Try a few things out, such as a review with a group or a friend and see if that person matches as a study buddy. Overall, I would recommend studying most of it by yourself, and if you have questions, testing yourself is always a good idea.

4.) How do you study in optometry school?

Many people have many different study methods (Anki, Notion, Quizlet, Outline, Mind Maps …  there are so many!). My advice: try a few of them out and stick to the one you are most comfortable and confident with. Build on that. The sooner you get used to your study method, the better! Start slow and build and build.

I can tell you about my personal study journey. I did SPARC, and that was a great head start to start thinking about study methods since I had been out of school for a few years. I started with Anki flashcards, which I loved at first, until I found out I spent more time doing than actually studying. Then I tried Notion to organize my notes, which was great for organization but also time consuming. Then I tried Quizlet, which I am comfortable and confident with, but sad to say I went away from it, too, because of time consumption. I realized the most important thing is the number of passes that I do. I made an Excel spread sheet called “Passes for Classes.” If you know what a pass is, then pass No. 1 is the first time you go through the information, pass No. 2 would be the second time you go over the information. Each of us is different, so we all need different amounts of passes (example 5 vs. 3) but I believe the more passes you do, the better you will understand and remember and connect the information. The best thing for a visual and writing learner is that it helps for me to look at and draw corresponding images and test myself over and over on the material.

5.) Biggest adjustment for me?

The commuting. I come from Tustin/Irvine, so it takes me 40 minutes to get here and one hour back with traffic.

The speed. Having one exam at least every week. The amount of depth the material goes into is complex. I had to learn and am still learning to get all of the intricate details; for example, all 12 cranial nerves and their branches. Repetition is key. Hard work is essential. Balance in all aspects of life is needed, but most importantly, a resilient attitude! Good luck. You’ve got this.