Orthoptics 2015

Anyone wanting to apply for 2015 entry where you want to study and why you intend to do it

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Hi! Don't see many Orthoptics related posts so good to see this one. I intend to apply for Sheffield (Liverpool is too far away due to family commitments) about to start an Access to Science Pathway 1 year course (mature student) and hoping that I have a chance against a-level students! I love that it is a fairly niche area to specialise in, I love working with people and I have just always been fascinated by the human eye. I have also had had a fair amount of exposure to the proffession itself as my daughter attends appointments at the local hospitals Orthoptics department every 8 weeks. Hoping to get some work experience booked in soon and crack on with some personal statement prep!

Reply 2

cupcakes87

Am half asleep at the moment so this post is me.subbing thread!

I shall add soon!!

Glad to see an orthoptics thread! :biggrin:

Reply 3

ray96

I'm currently on a gap year and deciding between pharmacy and orthoptics. What do you guys think of the salary 21k starting would you say that's reasonable?

Reply 4

ray96

Original post by Ema_lou8

What made you want a career change if you don't mind me asking

Reply 5

cupcakes87

Original post by ray96

I'm currently on a gap year and deciding between pharmacy and orthoptics. What do you guys think of the salary 21k starting would you say that's reasonable?

hey! i just completed AS and am gonna take biology history and politics next year.

i think 21k is a good start especially as career progression is fast!

what has made you think about orthoptics?

Reply 6

Ema_lou8

Original post by ray96

What made you want a career change if you don't mind me asking

In honesty, for 10 years I have been very motivated by money, determined to be self employed and successful but my priorities have changed since getting older and now I really want a job that I just love again. I have managed pubs and restaurants for the past 10 years and my heart is not in it anymore.

The starting salary is ok I suppose, on one hand it's no more than I was earning 10 years ago as a newly appointed manager which is scary but go up a band (band 6 I think??) and you're looking at £30k and then there's option of head of department which I imagine is significantly more, private work, lecturing etc so there's potential to earn more in years to come I suppose.

Reply 7

ray96

Original post by cupcakes87

hey! i just completed AS and am gonna take biology history and politics next year.

i think 21k is a good start especially as career progression is fast!

what has made you think about orthoptics?

Seems like an interesting profession hospital based and really enjoyed my work exp.

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Reply 8

ray96

Also no tuition fees !

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Reply 9

yaknow 66

Really wanted to apply for this but I'm struggling to find work exp do you think it will disadvantage me a lot?
I have volunteering and other things but not sure how much this will be able to relate :/
Thanks

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Reply 10

yaknow 66

Also I really want to go to sheffield! :smile:

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Reply 11

cupcakes87

Original post by ray96

Seems like an interesting profession hospital based and really enjoyed my work exp.

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Original post by ray96

Also no tuition fees !

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ive loved it for a very long time now! i had a squint as a child so im hoping that i get to do this really badly!

and yeah! when i found out that there are no tuition fees i was like wow what a bonus! :biggrin:

have you been to the open days?

i loved both liverpool and sheffield but i like sheffield more!

Reply 12

Ema_lou8

Original post by yaknow 66

Not sure how much of a disadvantage it will be but if you're really struggling then maybe just try and do as much relevant volunteer work as possible, research, background reading etc etc to show your understanding of the field and your commitment. Hope you manage to get something sorted! In trying to sort some work experience out too!

Reply 13

cupcakes87

Original post by Ema_lou8

hi!

when i went to the open days they said that in the persoanl statments they wanted them to be orthoptics centred and basically showing a lot of dedication towards the course!

i emailed one of the admissions advisors and she gave me a list of contacts for orthoptic departments where i live!

i can give you their email if you like? :smile:

Reply 14

ray96

Original post by cupcakes87

have you been to the open days?

i loved both liverpool and sheffield but i like sheffield more!

Yeah exactly same ,Sheffield just stood out more! I'm from Sheffield so it's more convenient ,will you be moving here?

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Reply 15

Audiology-Med

Original post by ray96

I'm currently on a gap year and deciding between pharmacy and orthoptics. What do you guys think of the salary 21k starting would you say that's reasonable?

I was deciding on the same thing, but realised that pharmacy isn't actually something i would be interested in doing for long term, The only thing which was putting me off orthoptics was the pay at first compared to optometry, but then again, you can work your way up to 30 -40k or even 60k, also to that I think theres better working hours and your not going to be in large debt when finishing university. Plus you can always develop your career later on and specialize in a certain area. Also I think there would be more benefits for working for the NHS.

Reply 16

Ema_lou8

Original post by cupcakes87

hi!

That would be amazing yeah thank you, getting no where fast at the min!!!

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 17

Alia_Harrison

Hi everyone, I'm one of the Orthoptic student ambassadors at Liverpool, if you've got any questions we're always happy to help, and you can also like us on Facebook or follow us on twitter (@livuniorthoptic) to see a bit of what we do on a daily basis, interesting new research in Orthoptics and some of the questions we've answered before. We've also done some you tube videos to help you get a feel for the course and answer some questions :smile:

Reply 18

Daisy452