Becoming Comfortable in an Accelerated Doctorate Program

The Accelerated Scholars Program at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University is an opportunity for highly motivated and well-qualified applicants to earn a Doctor of Optometry degree designed specifically with them in mind. This program provides students the opportunity to complete all of the same traditional program optometry degree requirements in an accredited 36-month, year-round, campus-based program.

Each year, an entering class begins in July, and students enrolled in the Accelerated Scholars Program earn the same credit equivalency as that of students in the Traditional Program.

Below is part of an ongoing series focused on current students and why they chose this program. It also dives a little deeper into what they wish they knew prior to entering the program. The students include: India Donofrio '24OD, Shale Beharie '24OD, Amaka Okeke '23OD, Benjamin Gutsin '23OD, Courtney McCall '23OD, Lilly Matheney '23OD, Jonathan Hamilton '24OD and Alaine Castillo '23OD. 

Getting Used to Grad School:  India Donofrio '24OD and Shale Beharie '24OD

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and how you think undergraduate differs from graduate education?

Donofrio: Hi, my name's India Donofrio. I'm from Albany, New York, and I studied biological sciences at the University of Rhode Island.

Beharie: Hi, my name's Shale Beharie. I went to St. Mary's College in Maryland and I was a biology major and neuroscience minor. One of the biggest transitions moving from an undergraduate institution to a graduate institution was the level of independence I feel like we have here. Our education is really in our own hands and we're in command of it. There's not a lot of hand-holding that goes on, especially in the Scholars program, and I think that aspect works well for a lot of students in our program.

Donofrio: Going off of that, I think it's really important once you get to grad school, don't be afraid to try out different things or different ways that might work for you. What worked in undergrad might not necessarily work in graduate school, so don't be afraid to step out of that comfort zone. Try different ways of studying. I know personally, the way I studied in undergrad doesn't work for me for grad school. So, talk to upperclassmen, talk to your professors and get some ideas. Don't be afraid to try out new ways of studying, because it is more on you and you're responsible for what you're learning.

Beharie: Exactly. And, with that being said, I think the content we were studying in undergrad and the reason we were studying is a lot of different from what we're doing now. In undergrad we were studying a lot just to take an exam, but here, although there are exams, we're also studying to actually see patients one day and to actually use it in lab, so we have to retain more of the information. And, I agree with India, we have to change our studying styles because we're not used to studying that way.

Q: What would be the biggest tip to making the grad school adjustment?

Donofrio: I think my biggest tip would be to hold yourself accountable and make a schedule. A lot of my friends and I plan out our weeks, write out all of our classes and what you have due. Write out things you want to get done that week and then break it down day by day, what you need to accomplish that day. That way you have more free time each day to do things that aren't school related because that's important too. You don't want to burn out. So, if you don't have a schedule or a list of things you need to accomplish or get done, you're just going to keep going, going, going, and eventually burn out. It's important to schedule things, hold yourself accountable, and that way, you have free time to relax with friends.

Beharie: I agree. And, with that being said, one of the things that India and I, and a lot of people in our program also had to realize is you can't really be too hard on yourself here. You can't really get 100 in everything like maybe some people did in undergrad. I think it's important to realize that the grades aren't really reflective of your education.

Mythbusters, It's Possible: Amaka Okeke '23OD and Benjamin Gutsin '23OD

Okeke: Hi, my name's Amaka Okeke. I'm from Maryland and I went to the University of Maryland, College Park, where I majored in public health science. I am currently a second-year student in the Scholars Optometry program.

Gutsin: And, my name's Benjamin Gutsin. I'm from Buffalo, New York. I studied at the University of Buffalo, where I majored in business administration and finance. I'm currently also a second-year student of the Scholars program.

Q: How do we manage our schedules?

Gutsin: Taking all these classes in a three-year period sounds like it would be really difficult. And, while I don't want to say that it's not difficult, I think there's definitely some strategies you can employ and that we found successful going through this program. Some of those include not always watching things synchronously. Sometimes I know schedules can get a little bit hectic and you need to focus on material that's more pressing or closer to a test date. So, especially if lectures are recorded or if we're in a hybrid program, like we are in the Scholars program, it's great to be able to have that flexibility. Some people work in the morning, more productively. I'm one of those people. Some people prefer to stay up later and it's really just a matter of your personal preference and what works best for you.

Okeke: I agree. I just want to say the Scholars program is definitely possible. If you don't believe me, just think about all the students who have already graduated from the program. So, if they did it, you can do it too. One thing that's very important in this program is time management and that looks different for different people. But for me, I personally plan out every second of every single day. I look at my class schedule, my clinic schedule, my work study schedule, and I write down all the tasks that I need to accomplish every day. And then I see, do I have time for the gym? Do I have time to watch my favorite TV show? And, my goal at the end of each day is to cross off all of my tasks. It's important not to over-schedule yourself because you will get burnt out and you will not be able to accomplish everything. It is trial and error, but just make sure to make your schedule very reasonable for yourself and you will be able to do it.

Gutsin: And, to parallel off of that, while Amaka finds value in scheduling things A to B, 15-minute intervals or something along those lines, I very much don't do that. It's not my study schedule and not my style. Having that flexibility, working around your strengths, what you've done to get accepted to this program, or having the interest in this program is likely what you're going to do throughout the program. So just relying on the study skills and habits that you've developed in college.

School Life Balance: Courtney McCall '23OD and Lilly Matheney '23OD

McCall: Hi, my name's Courtney McCall. I am from Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. I went to college at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, and I studied biology and I'm currently a second-year Scholar.

Matheney: Hi, my name is Lilly Matheney, and I'm currently from Ohio where I went to undergrad at Ohio University. I studied biology and I am also currently a second-year Scholar student.

Q: How do you balance your school work and your personal life?

Matheney: I think it's really important to get a planner and make a to-do list of everything you want to get done during the week. Write down the lectures you want to watch, the assignments you have due, and all the exams you wish to study for per week. Then I would break it up into what's more important. What's something that you want to get done toward the beginning of the week, rather than things that are okay to wait and get them done at the end of the week. I typically prioritize them day by day. That way I'm only doing a couple of things on my list per day, and it makes it a little less stressful for me.

McCall: I also think it's super important to set time aside for myself. So, during the week I try and get all of my work done. And, then if I get all of my work done, I like to do something for me, whether it's during the week or the weekend. Even sometimes if I can get all my work done, I'll find more time to set aside for myself because it's super important to find that time to relax and detox from all the schoolwork and give yourself some time to breathe.

Matheney: I think another great thing is to find a friend, find multiple friends who are going to motivate you and push you and then will help you celebrate at the end of the week, too. It's very important to have a really good emotional support system.

McCall: Yep. And, I'm lucky to have found mine here.

Bigs and Littles: Jonathan Hamilton '24OD and Alaine Castillo '23OD

One of the founding concepts of the Scholars program was close mentorship among faculty and students alike. The formal Big and Little set up is to give each incoming student a 'contact person' for their questions and the Big someone to help guide through the difficult first months of the program (but also throughout the duration of the program). 

Hamilton: Hi, my name is Jonathan Hamilton and I'm from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I majored in bio psych at McMaster University and right now I'm a first-year Scholars student.

Castillo: My name's Alaine Castillo. I'm from North Carolina. I majored in neuroscience at North Carolina State University and right now, I'm a second-year Scholars student.

Q: Tell me more about bigs and littles and how they are chosen?

Castillo: Every year before the first years come in, we get to either choose the Little, or we get randomly assigned to the Little. My Big is in the year above me. And, because of COVID, we only got to really text or call each other. I called her after every practical and before every exam, because I had so much anxiety and she helped me through that. And, then I chose Johnny as my Little.

Hamilton: Grad school can be tough. And, it was really helpful having Alaine here to help me assimilate into the program and teach me the first ropes of grad school as well as the optometry program. So, I'm very thankful for her and grateful for this Big Little system that is in place.