Course doubts (Physio)

Becky_90

I've just finished my AS year and for a while now ive wanted to be a Physiotherapist,but would be more inclined to the sports side of things. (Mainly due to my interest in football aswell as other sports)
Recently ive been to a few Uni open days and had some Physio work experience but im not totally sure if its for me, for starters i dont think ill get the grades and well my past grades arent amazing.
Which leads me to thinking maybe i should study Sports Therapy.

So do you think it would be better to attempt to apply for Physio next year, or study Sports Therapy and then see, maybe after that what happens.

Sorry if im not making much sense, i just dont really know and wondered if i you guys had any insight for me.
Ive not always made the right choices and worked right before so this is really something i dont want to mess up and make the wrong decision over.

Thanks alot. :smile:

Oh don't get me started hahaha!!

as someone who's been there and done that I'd say - don't do it! I did a sports therapy degree - and the majority of people on my course couldn't get a job. If you stick my name into the search you'll find quite a few posts about sports therapy and what I think.

As someone who's done both sports therapy and is currently oing physio I feel relatively unbiased enough to give you a decent answer. Like you I wanted to do sports physio. I applied when I was 18, got a place but didn't get the grades. Opted to do sports therapy rather than doing a gap year. So I completed my degree, couldn't get a job as I wasn't a physio and ended up taking a year out as a physio assistant and going back to do my physio training. I thought sport was what I really wanted to do but since starting my physio training I found an interest in lots of different areas.

The jobs market in Physio is difficult mostly due to funding, but the sports therapy job market is even more difficult and most people don't really know WHAT it is and nearly everybody sees you as second rate physios or glorified masseuses. Out of the 50 on my degree I only know of about 3 who are practising as sports therapists, and another handful that have gone on to start their physio training. Yes I enjoyed my degree, but if I'd had my chance again I'd go for physio first everytime.......the broad training you get with physio is FAR superior to that of sports therapy. You get understanding of other conditions that you wouldn't have covered on a sports therapy course e.g respiratory and neuro. If you went into sport some of your patients might have conditions relative to these specialities but given the way sports therapy is taught at the moment you'd probably not have a clue about them. On my ST degree I didn't get any practical experience (on actual injured people) until the third year bar what I organised in my own time in my second year. The only uni organised experience I got was half a day a week in the uni clinic which had only just opened up and we were only treating staff and other students. Compare that to the 1200 hours I have to do as a physio student. When I left uni I got a part time job with MK Dons football academy.........they were the ONLY people I could get that were remotely interested in employing me. Everyone else I tried said no way becasue I wasn't a physiotherapist.

Another problem is that Sports Therapists do not have HPC (health professions council) registration and name protection so at the oment you could do a massage course and call yourself a sports therapists. And as a result alot of people are quite rightly wary of people saying they're in this profession. That said, the Society of Sports therapists is working hard to get HPC registration and to get people really behind them which is excellent. However it is a difficult and long winded process. We were told it would be completed and accepted by the time we finished our degree........3 years on and they're still waiting. Even after they get accepted I still think it will take a considerable number of years for people to really start taking them seriously and I personally wasn't prepared to sit around and wait for that to happen.

Contrary to popular belief you don't HAVE to work in the NHS once you've qualified as a physio (when I was 18 everyone was lead to believe you had to do your 2 year rotations but its not actually true at all), there is nothing to stop you walking straight out of uni into a sports physio job, absolutely nothing. And you can do specialist sports MScs and stuff too once you're qualified. Of course you would have to put up with a three year degree doing placements in areas that don't interest you elg. elderly but I would say it was worth it for the broad grounding it would give you.

That said, there were upsides to doing the degree and I have to say it has really helped with my physio training. If I had my time again I would do physio again but then I am in the relatively priviledged (if you call 16k work of student debt priviledged lol) of having done both so I can see both aspects. I personally felt that sports therapy had left me with alot of gaps in my knowledge which has been filled by physio, and I feel that as physiotherapist I have a greater amount of respect given to me compared to if I told someone I was a sports therapist. Sad, but true.

What areas have you done your worke xperience i? Have you done any sport/football specific work experience? The type of thing you would do as a sports therapsit and a physio in these areas are the same (unless you go somewhere that sees you as a glorified masseuse like I did!) Have you been to any sports therapy open days?

You could do what I did - do sports therapy and then do physio - but I would say its a waste of three years and then there is the funding issue of being on a second degree

I hope what I have said hasn't worried you - there are up and downsides to each of your options so you have to think it through properly. I would first get some work experience in a sporting environment - it may not be all you think it is. I would research the uni's doing sports therapy. See how much practical you get, look at how much work experience you get and see how many of their students are actually practising as sports therapsits and in what areas. I personally think 3 years doing physio and doing placements in areas you might not be keen on it worth the sacrifice in terms of the doors it opens for you and the level of grounding knowledge you get. But thats my personal opinion. If course, things have probably come on a bit since I left in terms of amount of experience, quality of teaching etc as it was 3 years ago, but to my knowledge the job situation remains.

Feel free to ask any more questions :smile:

edit: for more info on sports therapy check out the sports therapist society site http://www.society-of-sports-therapists.org/

Reply 2

Excellent post JackieS.
Now for my two-pence worth. I would suggest applying for the physio course regardless of being worried about your grades - you may well surprise yourself, and an offer may give you the motivation you need to get the grades they want. Even if you don't get them, many people are being put off applying by the situation in the NHS - there was a thing on the telly a few weeks back where newly qualified physio students were advising against applying! If you aren't that far of the desired grades, they may take you anyway.

You also have the option of being a mature student - once you are over the age of 21 by the time the course starts they take into account life experience. Get plenty of work experience and voluntary work in, not necessarily in physio either, and consider either re-taking your A level exams or other courses, such as those offered by the Open University. I did SK277 Human Biology because I didn't do biology at A level, and I was accepted on that, rather than my Foundation Degree!

I can't offer any opinions on Sports Therapy, but at the moment physio jobs in the NHS are thin on the ground. However you always have the option of working privately, either independently with a sports club, or with higher graded physios in a private clinic, or even for a company like Bupa? You may find that doing the course changes your mind with regards to what you want to do, or solidifies your desire. Either way having a broad base of knowledge is a very good idea, as many subjects that seem to be completely unrelated actually influence each other a lot. If Sports Therapy doesn't give you this broad knowledge, then I would recommend going for physio, as it should make you a better practitioner and far more hireable!

Reply 3

jinglepupskye

Excellent post JackieS.
Now for my two-pence worth. I would suggest applying for the physio course regardless of being worried about your grades - you may well surprise yourself, and an offer may give you the motivation you need to get the grades they want. Even if you don't get them, many people are being put off applying by the situation in the NHS - there was a thing on the telly a few weeks back where newly qualified physio students were advising against applying! If you aren't that far of the desired grades, they may take you anyway.

You also have the option of being a mature student - once you are over the age of 21 by the time the course starts they take into account life experience. Get plenty of work experience and voluntary work in, not necessarily in physio either, and consider either re-taking your A level exams or other courses, such as those offered by the Open University. I did SK277 Human Biology because I didn't do biology at A level, and I was accepted on that, rather than my Foundation Degree!

I can't offer any opinions on Sports Therapy, but at the moment physio jobs in the NHS are thin on the ground. However you always have the option of working privately, either independently with a sports club, or with higher graded physios in a private clinic, or even for a company like Bupa? You may find that doing the course changes your mind with regards to what you want to do, or solidifies your desire. Either way having a broad base of knowledge is a very good idea, as many subjects that seem to be completely unrelated actually influence each other a lot. If Sports Therapy doesn't give you this broad knowledge, then I would recommend going for physio, as it should make you a better practitioner and far more hireable!

Good advice jinglepupskye :smile:

OP - what are you predicted grades?

Reply 4

OP

Thank you so much, great help there.

The work experience ive done recently has just been in a private clinic. Im waiting for a few more places to get back to me (One specialising in sports injury) and also ive made out a few more letters tonight to other places.

Im predicted BCC. (I think)
In my last exams one of my Cs was just a couple of marks away from a B.
I suppose if i really really worked it could become the grades i need for Physio.

Reply 5

Becky_90

Thank you so much, great help there.

The work experience ive done recently has just been in a private clinic. Im waiting for a few more places to get back to me (One specialising in sports injury) and also ive made out a few more letters tonight to other places.

Im predicted BCC. (I think)
In my last exams one of my Cs was just a couple of marks away from a B.
I suppose if i really really worked it could become the grades i need for Physio.

I would work hard. You need BBB really, although depending on the competition from year to year BBC may be enough to get you through (provided you have a B in biology) but like I said its uni and competition dependent. What uni's do you want to apply to? Do you knwo what their entry requirements are?

If I was you I personally would apply for physio this year. If you miss the grades, take a year out, resit and reapply. There's no problem with resitting. Its not like medicine............but again this is my opinion (as this is what I wish I had done lol but you live and learn!)

Reply 6

OP

Thanks Jackie! :smile:

I havent really got a uni im really set on going to, im just trying to get a look at as many as i can.

Think you're right. It would be worth it i think, besides would only be another year.

Reply 7

Or you could simply forget about uni, do an apprenticeship in health and social care, and try to get placed as a rehabilitation assistant.

Work for a couple of years, go for the new advanced super therapy assistant course and then do a top up course to become a physio. No millstone of student debt around your neck and a guaranteed job at the end of the course.

Even if you don't get a physio job straightaway, you will still be working as an assistant, and will be top of the list when a real physio job comes up. You would know the staff, the procedures etc, and you would need to be a troll not to get any job that was going in your department, rather than an outside applicant.

Wish I had known about this before i started my course! Alternatively you could slog for three years, pile up the student debt and the overdraft and have no job to look forward to at the end of the course.

Reply 8

OP

Ohh thanks.
Sounds like a good idea! :smile:

My Biology teacher was asking today what i wanted to do when i left, so i told her i wanted to do Physio but didnt think i was good enough. She said i could always take a foundation course instead..or take something similar and then see if after the first year i could transfer to Physio.

Reply 9

iainmacn

10

Becky - I've been through a similar thought process and should be starting teh full physio course in September (and meeting Jackie S at last - yay!).

I did a few days in a private clinic and if yours was anything like mine the variety was really quite limited - whereabouts are you - if it's local to me I may have some numbers you can ring. There's a huge lot more to physio than you'll see in a private place, and you still have the option of sports physio afterwards, and you'll be better qualified.

I believe Lierpool Uni (think it's John Moore Uni) do physio foundation courses - a friend was looking at this, i can dig out the info if you want. Personally I'd go for the full physio grades and work your socks off - you can always put a foundation course down as one of your choices anyway

good luck :biggrin:

PM me if you've any questions too

Reply 10

OP

Cheers.

Yeh, my Biology teacher mentioned Liverpool Uni doing the foundation courses, so i had a look. Depending on grades possibly a good idea to use that as one of my options.

Proving quite hard right now to get a bit more of an insight. I sent off some letters and recieved two replies this morning, both of which said unfortunatly they couldnt help me/ offer me anything.
Keep trying places though.

Reply 11

iainmacn

10

I got really down at one point as I kept getting rejections/turned down - but then I picked myself up and kept ringing more places. I ended up doing single days in about six different places, and two days at a private place.

It's good to get some big places in there so you get a chance to see neuro and respiratory and stuff as well as o/p and things like knee op rehab, although that stuff is still interesting.

I found it easier to ring in most cases. Quite a few places said they'd get back to me but needed chasing, but did come through before the itnerviews started in January, and I got my UCAS thing in early.

If you're anywhere in South London I can suggest a few places :smile:

Just an idea - put down a few thoughts on this thread about what you've noticed already and I'd be happy to add any extra things that I noticed. I can probably remember quite a few of the interview questions I got asked too. My impression was really that they were just tryign to see that I'd given physio a lot of proper thought and knew what it involved. So, f'rinstance "What qualities do you think a physio needs apart from knowledge of anatomy etc?" (try to bring as many examples as you can from your observation in)

Reply 12

OP

Ok so got my AS results today and now im in a right tough situation....i completely screwed them up.

I got DDDE....im gutted beyond belief.

My highest mark was my Bio, missing Cs by just a mark or 2 but i know im nowhere near good enough to even attemp Physio with grades like this.
Im willing (and intend) to resit whatever i need and work my ass of this year but maybe its to late for all that.

Any words of advice guys? Im really at a loss.

Reply 13

Becky_90

Ok so got my AS results today and now im in a right tough situation....i completely screwed them up.

I got DDDE....im gutted beyond belief.

My highest mark was my Bio, missing Cs by just a mark or 2 but i know im nowhere near good enough to even attemp Physio with grades like this.
Im willing (and intend) to resit whatever i need and work my ass of this year but maybe its to late for all that.

Any words of advice guys? Im really at a loss.

Commiserations with the results!

How badly do you want to be a physio? That's the question. Enough to maybe work your socks off to improve your grades or will the issues which made your grades poor this time re-occur next time?

If you want to be a physio then you can be, but it needs work and it may not be straightforward. You may have to do an alternative course to bring yourself up to the required level. Are you prepared to spend maybe the next four or five years studying at uni after you complete your A levels?

The alternatives that I can see are:

1. You work your socks off and improve your grades to make a normal application.

2. You try for a foundation year into physio, but they are few and far between and the competition is tough.

3. You complete a Foundation Degree which will take you two years but you will gain experience at uni level and work experience as well. If you go this route you could try to get a place at the university you want to study physio in and get your feet under the table. Make sure that the admissions tutors become your best friends, lol.

You'll be starting to complete your UCAS form soon, so you really need to make sure that you do your research now. Look at the admission requirements from all of the unis regardless of where they are. Check that your GCSEs and work experience are correct for the institiutions.

Chose where you want to go being realistic and not over optimistic. There's no point getting an offer that you have no chance of meeting. Try one application at a place offering a Foundation year and one for a relevant Foundation Degree, so you should be guaranteed at least one offer next year.

After that you just have to make sure that you get your grades up. Good luck!

Reply 14

Hi, sorry to hear about your results, having been there befor I know how gutting it can be.......the first piece of advice I can give you is don't panic! The second - don't pick another course just because you think you've missed your chance. Having been there and done that I wouldn't recommend it!

I know you're disappointed and understandably upset but let me tell you - I got CCD at a-level........inc a c in biology. I thought my career as a physio was over before it had even begun. I picked my second choice course (sports therapy) because I thought I'd never get into physio and although its not something I majorly regret I do regret it at time (mostly when the student oan statement comes through the door :wink:

). And where am I now - at uni going to be a physio! So,m there are options for you and you CAN make it, it just may be more difficult now and require a few more years of hard graft

Jinglepupskye has summarised your options pretty well I think. If I had my time again I would have resat my a-levels and reapplied the following year. If your courses are mdoular you can just retake the modules you need to. The reason I wouldn't advocate another degree straight away is because of time really. Another degree would set you back 3 years, and you might then have to take a gap year as some physio schools won't accept people straight from other degrees and want them to have had a gap) and then 3 years of physio school. Means the whole process takes 6/7 years. If you retake your a-levels in a year and get in nex year that only amount to 4 years, plus there's the funding issue if you're doing a second degree.....because of this I would suggest resitting and reapplying. If you don't get the grades again then I would consider another degree and then applying to physio...........you'd need a science related degree,and your best options are something like biology, sports science, sports therapy etc, but within reason any science will do

there is another option and thats to get a job as a physio assistant and then apply for one of the corses that allows assistants to train up to physios (over 4 years part time) whilst working at the same time, however i odn't know what the grade requirements are for this so you would still have to check.

So, the key is to not rush into any decision. Time is on your side. Think through all your different options carefully, making lists of pros and cons, think about the financial, social and physical implications for each of your options and then pick carefully. DOn't be forced into decisions by anybody.

fingers crossed for you. If you need anymore advice you can caryr on posting here or you can PM me, and I'm sure the others would give you advice to :smile:

God - I wish someone had given me this advice when I was 18 - I could have been a Senior II by now lol!

Reply 15

iainmacn

10

Can't add to what's been said above really - except to see that as a teacher I've seen loads of people's grades go up dramatically between AS and A2 if they put their minds to it. You'll need to convince your teachers to give you good predictions so I'd go in and have a word and say "What do I need to do to get a B prediction?". Given they were predicting B and C that might not be too hard.

Good luck :smile:

Reply 16

OP

Thanks you three, thats great advice!
Seriously without it i think i would be a confused mental wreck by now! lol

Im just gonna have a good think, maybe a chat to my teachers aswell, see what else i can possibly do to push the grades up.

Its not the end of the world i guess, still another year and if it is the same story next year, well then ill just resit and re-apply the year after. Determined to get there in the end :smile:

Thanks again.

Reply 17

SamJL

1

My story is the same as Jackie- I got CCE for my A-levels and ended up doing another degree (sport science)....after a further 3 years of working in different areas I finally re-applied to do physio (on the 2yr masters course) and finish in October :biggrin:

So 6 years later I finally got where I wanted to be....only now there are no jobs! :mad:

Yep I'd also be a Sen II/I by now!

With hindsight I probably should have re-sat my Alevels but at the time I was so sick of it all that another degree seemed like a better option- however I now have 2 degrees to pay off so am in a huge amount of debt! For financial reasons only I wouldn't recommend doing another degree first....but there are a lot of skills from my first degree that transfer well into physio and I think I'll make a much better physio now (being a bit older) than I would have at 21!

So don't worry, there is always a way to get there if you are determined enough! :biggrin:

Reply 18