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potential 2012 optometry applicants

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Original post by legend2011
Hey, im not sure IF im posting this in the right place but its just a quick question for someone with the knowledge of the optom job market.

I have a place at anglia ruskin university to study optom, i didnt apply when everyone else using ucas did so i just saw the courses available through clearing. I keep hearing negative things about ARU, will studying there affect my ability to get a job after i graduate?

I wouldnt think it mattered considering its accredited.

Thanks.


Optometry at Anglia Ruskin is fantastic; the facilities they currently use are brilliant (I've seen the Manchester practice rooms and much preferred our ones) and there'll be a new optometry building in the near future, last I knew they were projecting November 2012 for it being finished.

AFAIK, everyone in my class has got a pre-reg optometrist job. Because the GOC regulate all the courses, companies don't see a quality difference between an ARU optometry graduate and any other optometry graduate.

Enjoy your degree; I'm sure you will. :smile:
Original post by TheSownRose
Optometry at Anglia Ruskin is fantastic; the facilities they currently use are brilliant (I've seen the Manchester practice rooms and much preferred our ones) and there'll be a new optometry building in the near future, last I knew they were projecting November 2012 for it being finished.

AFAIK, everyone in my class has got a pre-reg optometrist job. Because the GOC regulate all the courses, companies don't see a quality difference between an ARU optometry graduate and any other optometry graduate.

Enjoy your degree; I'm sure you will. :smile:

what are the differences between the Bsc and Msc courses at Manchester?
Original post by TheSownRose
Optometry at Anglia Ruskin is fantastic; the facilities they currently use are brilliant (I've seen the Manchester practice rooms and much preferred our ones) and there'll be a new optometry building in the near future, last I knew they were projecting November 2012 for it being finished.

AFAIK, everyone in my class has got a pre-reg optometrist job. Because the GOC regulate all the courses, companies don't see a quality difference between an ARU optometry graduate and any other optometry graduate.

Enjoy your degree; I'm sure you will. :smile:


aw thanks for that info!!! really appreciate it.
Reply 783
I am really interested in studying Optometry at Manchester and was wondering if I could get any help or advice on my personal statement from those of you who have been successful this year?
Much appreciated :smile:
Reply 784
You guys definitely dont do optometry, my best friend is an optometrist and she said the state of the profession is shocking. She says the wages are getting lower every year, with some of her university pals starting on as low as £16,000 but the worse thing is it increases very little with experience unlike medicine.
She says her day to day work is so boring and she gets to do very little medical stuff as they only trust optometrists to sell glasses! Stay clear unless you want a sales job with low pay!
Original post by lind6765
You guys definitely dont do optometry, my best friend is an optometrist and she said the state of the profession is shocking. She says the wages are getting lower every year, with some of her university pals starting on as low as £16,000 but the worse thing is it increases very little with experience unlike medicine.
She says her day to day work is so boring and she gets to do very little medical stuff as they only trust optometrists to sell glasses! Stay clear unless you want a sales job with low pay!


I'm a pre-reg optometrist. I love doing what I do.

I get a real kick out of helping people, and there's little better than having a patient leave with their problem solved. The tests are repetitive, but every person is unique and has their own problem to solve - when you can appreciate that rather than just go through the motions, that's when you start to enjoy it.

I know I'll never be rich as an optometrist, but the salary is above national average and you can live a comfortable life. You can get more money doing other jobs, but is the satisfaction there? I was heading into finance before I changed to optometry - I would have earnt twice as much, but enjoyed it half as much. Worth the sacrifice? I think so, yes.

I don't know your friend, your post could be a completely unfair reflection on her ... but it sounds like she wanted to pretend she was a doctor. I wouldn't recommend going into optometry if you want to do that, your contact with 'real' medicine is limited to minor eye infections, diseases that have no real cure and referring. But if you want a 'puzzle solving with people' job, it's great. It's also a job that gives you the time to enjoy life outside of work as well.

Spoiler



By the way, 16k is a good optometrist starting salary seeing as you first have to enter an 'on the job training' position rather than a 'fully qualified professional' position.
Reply 786
Hi does any body have any suggestions to how I could start my PS for Optometry or what things I should include, that will benefit Optom students particularly?
Thankyou :smile:
Reply 787
Hi I'm applying for Optom next Sept 2013 and really stressing out wiht my PS... does any body have any suggestions to how I could start my PS for Optometry or what things I should include, that will benefit Optom students particularly?
Thankyou :biggrin:
I completed my first year of Biomedical Science at King's before the summer. I wasn't very happy on the course and after doing lots of research over the summer, finally decided to apply at City for Optometry. I hadn't joined UCAS so I emailed City directly last Friday, and received an offer from them yesterday, to join them this year. I haven't received any information about enrolement or about the course, yet. But I read somewhere that we have to buy our own equipment... is this true? What I read said that its about £1300 for first year equipment. So I'm panicing a bit
Original post by TheSownRose
I'm a pre-reg optometrist. I love doing what I do.

I get a real kick out of helping people, and there's little better than having a patient leave with their problem solved. The tests are repetitive, but every person is unique and has their own problem to solve - when you can appreciate that rather than just go through the motions, that's when you start to enjoy it.

I know I'll never be rich as an optometrist, but the salary is above national average and you can live a comfortable life. You can get more money doing other jobs, but is the satisfaction there? I was heading into finance before I changed to optometry - I would have earnt twice as much, but enjoyed it half as much. Worth the sacrifice? I think so, yes.

I don't know your friend, your post could be a completely unfair reflection on her ... but it sounds like she wanted to pretend she was a doctor. I wouldn't recommend going into optometry if you want to do that, your contact with 'real' medicine is limited to minor eye infections, diseases that have no real cure and referring. But if you want a 'puzzle solving with people' job, it's great. It's also a job that gives you the time to enjoy life outside of work as well.

Spoiler



By the way, 16k is a good optometrist starting salary seeing as you first have to enter an 'on the job training' position rather than a 'fully qualified professional' position.



I have done a degree in Biomedical Science (Graduates in 2011) and was struggling to find employment in a pathology lab, but in a way i thought of it as fate as i dont think id ever be happy working in a lab as my passion is in working with people in a healthcare style setting. I wanted to originally do optometry after my A levels in 2008 but never got the grades so i went on to study biomedical science. After my degree i wanted to do either dietetics/optometry as a second degree which would be the career i pursue. But having investigated both careers, ive realised the job shortages for dietitians are worse. Optometry jobs may be falling but it seems like prospects for dietetics are even worse. So i looked for vacancies through clearing and managed to secure a place to study optom in city uni for 2013. And since then ive spoken to a few students, one was a bit of a dick and said "dont do optometry mate, il let u find out for yourself why" he wouldnt clarify what he meant! Another was helpful, told me to find work as a optical assistant etc to make my chances of getting a pre reg after optom easier. I spoke to a specsavers optometrist and he said the salary is slowly falling and that for specsavers the starting salary after pre reg is about 28 000? Is this right? Im sure the guy on this discussion who said 16 000 is talking about pre reg?

I just want a career like optometry where i am with people, helping, solving problems, making that difference and earning an above average salary where i can live comfortably. The optometrist said there are plenty of areas for career development and specialising, do you think these prospects are realistic or sugar coated? Bearing in mind that i will graduate in 2016! =/
Original post by supercalafraja
I completed my first year of Biomedical Science at King's before the summer. I wasn't very happy on the course and after doing lots of research over the summer, finally decided to apply at City for Optometry. I hadn't joined UCAS so I emailed City directly last Friday, and received an offer from them yesterday, to join them this year. I haven't received any information about enrolement or about the course, yet. But I read somewhere that we have to buy our own equipment... is this true? What I read said that its about £1300 for first year equipment. So I'm panicing a bit


Good choice, changing from biomed to optometry, there is almost no graduate oppurtunities for biom -_- its shocking. Universities are giving places to students in degreed where there are hardly any prospects. Optometry job opurtunities are still fairly good! Although relocating is a given these days!! I am a biomed graduate and got offered a place for 2013 at city university (they already filled the number of places they are allowed to give to graduates for this year, the lady on the phone was really nice and offered me a 2013 place :smile: ) best of luck in the future! :smile:
Original post by ThatAamirGuy
I'm going city uni to do the foundation course which will lead me into optometry.
Anyone else doing it?


Nice to hear I'm not the only one lol.
Reply 792
Original post by Kasx8
does anyone know how many teaching hours there are for optometry at aston university?


There are 6 hours of practicals and 8.5 hours of lectures per week for the first year according to the optometry open day.
Reply 793
I applied at City, Manchester, Bradford, ARU and Liverpool (orthoptics). My UCAS application was sent off last week. My replies so far:

University of Bradford: Conditional offer (AAB)
ARU: CONDITIONAL OFFER (ABB)
Univeristy of Manchester: Interview invitation
University of Liverpool: No reply
City University: No reply

I'm studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths. I've always wanted to do Optometry but these replies are very shocking! I achieved BBDE at AS Level, B's in Chemistry and Maths, D in Biology (resitting), E in History. My predicted grades are BBB and I actually don't know why I have been accepted. I'm happy but confused at the same time. SOMEONE TELL ME WHY?????
Reply 794
Original post by ThatAamirGuy
I'm going city uni to do the foundation course which will lead me into optometry.
Anyone else doing it?


do you mind me asking what a level grades you achieved? also what grades were city aksing for optom,?
Reply 795
Hey guys,

I was wondering whether you know if you can still do Optometry if you retake your year 12 year?
I'm interested in going City Uni :smile:
Reply 796
hey guys from the looks of it competition for a place at aston seems very competitive, as well as city.
dya think i have a chance for 2014 entry?
I achieved ABBB at as (bio, chem, maths, econ respectively)
I have no work exp. at an optician but have done a lot of charity work, voluntary work, community work etc.
Btw im very keen on completing a masters in optom, thats one of the main reasons i really wanna get in to Aston, any words of advice?

thanks x
Original post by MrAnom12
I applied at City, Manchester, Bradford, ARU and Liverpool (orthoptics). My UCAS application was sent off last week. My replies so far:

University of Bradford: Conditional offer (AAB)
ARU: CONDITIONAL OFFER (ABB)
Univeristy of Manchester: Interview invitation
University of Liverpool: No reply
City University: No reply

I'm studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths. I've always wanted to do Optometry but these replies are very shocking! I achieved BBDE at AS Level, B's in Chemistry and Maths, D in Biology (resitting), E in History. My predicted grades are BBB and I actually don't know why I have been accepted. I'm happy but confused at the same time. SOMEONE TELL ME WHY?????

hey are you studying optom now if so what uni u studying at?

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