Meet Us: Canadian Students

Joy Harewood
Class of 2011
Trinity College, University of Toronto
jharewood@berkeley.edu

The decision to come to Berkeley was not the easiest choice that I have made, although I think it is one of the best. When I decided to apply for optometry school, I knew that I only wanted to go if I could go to the best school possible. I told myself that if I were lucky enough to have the opportunity, I would take it. I was fortunate to have a choice of where to go, and that is when I really had to think about the merits of leaving Canada to come to California and Berkeley.

The warmth and welcoming nature of the Berkeley Optometry Admissions staff made my deliberations much easier They were more available than any other school to answer my questions. They sought me out to give me the information I needed to really compare my choices. They also linked me up with other Canadian students at Berkeley Optometry so I could learn first-hand about what they had to go through to be here. Before I even accepted the admissions offer, I felt as though I was part of the family. To have that personal connection at one of the best public universities in the world was great. The opportunity to study in an optometric program that is part of a larger University was a major draw. There are so many perks of being a student at Berkeley, from discounted performances, to Cal sports (GO BEARS!), to lectures by scholars in many different fields. When I sat in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union building last fall listening to former Black Panther Angela Davis speak, I knew that I had made a good choice.

Life at Berkeley Optometry also offers opportunities to engage with students from other disciplines. As it is easy to have tunnel vision when you are in graduate school, being able to discuss politics with a sociology major, or talk business with an MBA candidate from the Haas School of Business enriches my experience far more than if I had been at a stand-alone optometry college. My closest friends span departments from anthropology to transport engineering. These interactions are definitely preparing me to treat patients from all walks of life!

The best resources for my move were the Berkeley Admissions staff, the Government of Canada website, studentdoctor.net, as well as other students who became my classmates. They were able to tell me the little things that you need to remember to do as an international student, as well as giving me tips about financing my education. They also pointed me to banks that are eager to support students who are in school to become healthcare professionals. I use a combination of personal savings, parental support, government loans, and a healthcare professional line of credit. Paying international fees can seem daunting, but I unequivocally believe that my education is worth it. The other administrative part was getting my student VISA. Canadian students are lucky. Canada has special arrangements with the US to allow people to study here on an extended VISA called an I-20. This document allows you to stay in the country for the duration of you academic program, only having to get a signature every year to renew it.

Although the decision ultimately rests within each person, without question I know that the University of California, Berkeley, School of Optometry, will make me the best optometrist I can be. The clinic, the classroom, and the environment guarantee it.

Alison She
Class of 2011
University of British Columbia
a_she@berkeley.edu

Greetings! I am from Vancouver, Canada. As much as I loved living in a temperate rainforest, the opportunity to attend Berkeley Optometry was one that I could not resist. The Admissions and Student Affairs Office (ASAO) made the process of applying, interviewing, and preparing for life as an optometry student very smooth. I was also assigned a "Big Sib" who gave me great tips on what to expect in first year, as well as a library of old exams to study!

Since I pay international student tuition, I was concerned with finances. Luckily, Berkeley Optometry gives grants to students, regardless of citizenship or residency status, and there are additional scholarships available throughout the year. The Berkeley International Office also offers grants based upon need, regardless of citizenship.

I definitely do not regret my decision to spend four years of OD studies at Berkeley Optometry. The application process and subsequent settling in was no more strenuous than my friends' experiences, who decided to stay in Canada. Best of all, there was very little "culture shock" coming from Canada to the United States — I just say "zee" for the eye charts and keep "zed" for everything else!