Failed 2nd year Optometry

15

I failed 1 exam out 6 in second year optometry, since I failed the resit in august I have been withdrawn from the course. I appealed because I suffer from anxiety, which gets worse in exam conditions, but the appeal was rejected since ECs must be considered to be unforeseen at the time of exam.

I'm upset because I had to learn all the diseases of the eye and all the Visual science behind the eye etc and passed most of it, but since I failed that exam I am withdrawn. I also had a hefty amount of biology to learn the previous year :frown:

I can't transfer to second year of pretty much any other uni except maybe one, because first year modules are compulsory, I was wandering whether I should pursue optometry or change course, I was thinking chemistry or economics, but am also scared of failing again.

Please give advice,
Thanks.

Reply 1

Tangotangodelta

4

Do you still want to become an Optometrist .
If the answer is yes then change uni / retake 1st year etc... and go for it. If its no then change course...

You should analyse the reason why you failed: if its only exam stress, then doing another course wont solve the problem and you are likely to fail again. Maybe see a psychologist ?
if its because you find optometry too difficult and you hate biology, then by all means change subject/career...

Which uni are you going to ?

Reply 2

Legendairy

OP

15

Original post by Tangotangodelta

Do you still want to become an Optometrist .
If the answer is yes then change uni / retake 1st year etc... and go for it. If its no then change course...

You should analyse the reason why you failed: if its only exam stress, then doing another course wont solve the problem and you are likely to fail again. Maybe see a psychologist ?
if its because you find optometry too difficult and you hate biology, then by all means change subject/career...

Which uni are you going to ?

Hi.
I went to Bradford. I would like to be an optom because the job is good and well paid, customer interaction etc. However I'm not took keen on studying optics, visual optics, human bio again ...they don't interest me...i am interested in some year 2 modules, like eye disease and visual neurology, so its a tough decision. I've never had an optical consultant job to see in detail what an optom does, its been too hard to find!

I was hoping exam stress would affect me less on another course because it might be a bit less tough, I'm not really one to see the psych, expensive and not really my kind of thing.
What year are you in, do you enjoy studying your modules?

Reply 3

Tangotangodelta

4

Original post by Legendairy

Hi.
I went to Bradford. I would like to be an optom because the job is good and well paid, customer interaction etc. However I'm not took keen on studying optics, visual optics, human bio again ...they don't interest me...i am interested in some year 2 modules, like eye disease and visual neurology, so its a tough decision. I've never had an optical consultant job to see in detail what an optom does, its been too hard to find!

I was hoping exam stress would affect me less on another course because it might be a bit less tough, I'm not really one to see the psych, expensive and not really my kind of thing.
What year are you in, do you enjoy studying your modules?

I am in 2 nd year and i love it (1st year was great too)
My personal advice would be you find an optical assistant job right now so that you know if optometry is really what you want. you ll find a job if you try hard enough. Go to see every single opticians within a 5mile radius and you ll get in...All the students i know who failed and had to take a year out were able to get an optical assistant job.
. From what i saw, 50 percent of optoms love their job and 50 per cent hate it and find it incredibly boring and useless, so really make sure it matches your own tastes and personality.
Everyone is different and is looking for different things in life.
Dont focus too much on the 3 years at uni and the subjects you have to study.. What matters is what you are going to do after that for 10, 20, 30 years... This applies to every single career path not only optometry !
Did you apply and get any summer placement/pre reg interviews during 2nd year?

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 4

Legendairy

OP

15

Original post by Tangotangodelta

I am in 2 nd year and i love it (1st year was great too)
My personal advice would be you find an optical assistant job right now so that you know if optometry is really what you want. you ll find a job if you try hard enough. Go to see every single opticians within a 5mile radius and you ll get in...All the students i know who failed and had to take a year out were able to get an optical assistant job.
. From what i saw, 50 percent of optoms love their job and 50 per cent hate it and find it incredibly boring and useless, so really make sure it matches your own tastes and personality.
Everyone is different and is looking for different things in life.
Dont focus too much on the 3 years at uni and the subjects you have to study.. What matters is what you are going to do after that for 10, 20, 30 years... This applies to every single career path not only optometry !
Did you apply and get any summer placement/pre reg interviews during 2nd year?

Cool I will try that - the question is how did they get to resit the year! I guess they must have extenuating circumstances. No didn't bother with any of that lol .