true expectations after graduation

[andy sweetcandy]

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Hi, guys! Nice fourm - I have been lurking for a while and now have a question.

My wife is currently looking for a change in career and realy wants to get into OD program at UAB. She works there now as a scientist (MS in molecular biology) but hates to depend on NIH grants to support her salary.

The question is what would you expect to earn right after graduation. can you give me a range?
Another question - is it possible to work part time while at school? She may be able to get a part time position in her current lab... question is "Is it possible to juggle 2 things at a time"

Thanks a lot

 

[maddi]

The question is what would you expect to earn right after graduation.

Right after graduation.... between 250,000 and 600,000. And it only gets better as time goes by.

Another question - is it possible to work part time while at school? She may be able to get a part time position in her current lab... question is "Is it possible to juggle 2 things at a time"

Of course it is. Since classes are clearly organized back to back in a small time frame through out the day, she shouldn't have a problem working 20-30 hours part time and weekends. There should be plenty of optometrists in your area eager to hire her and mentor her during this time.

Good Luck

 

[aam0050]

Most students do not work during school, and the ones that do have jobs offered by the college usually aren't allowed to work more than 20 hours a week. If she wants to work a part-time job, I would suggest asking an admissions counselor or somebody at the school what they suggest is the best for her. I'm sure she's capable of working and schooling, since she has already gone through a rigorous MS degree 🙂 but it doesn't hurt to ask someone at the college that knows the curriculum. Good luck to both of you!

 

[4Eyes]

Right after graduation.... between 250,000 and 600,000. And it only gets better as time goes by.



Of course it is. Since classes are clearly organized back to back in a small time frame through out the day, she shouldn't have a problem working 20-30 hours part time and weekends. There should be plenty of optometrists in your area eager to hire her and mentor her during this time.

Good Luck

What a troll.

Anyway, I'm no expert in the salary department (but I know enough to know the above numbers are highly...and deliberately...inflated).

As far as work, it is possible to work a little bit, but just enough for a little extra cash...it likely won't be paying the bills. At my school, work study students are only allowed to work 3, mayyyybe 6 hours a week. That is partly due to the number of work study hours available, but mostly because much more will also leave one exhausted and overwhelmed.

A few students work outside of school, but that only amounts to maybe a full day on Saturdays and mayyyybe one half day a week. There is typically very little, if any, down time on weekdays. In general, working is not exactly encouraged.

I have chosen not to work during school for two reasons. 1) the course load, so far, has been more than enough to keep me busy, and 2) when I do have down time, I want to spend it with my husband. If I worked, we would scarcely see each other, which was just not okay with us.

Good luck to you and your wife. 🙂

 

[luckyfool]

Hi, guys! Nice fourm - I have been lurking for a while and now have a question.

My wife is currently looking for a change in career and realy wants to get into OD program at UAB. She works there now as a scientist (MS in molecular biology) but hates to depend on NIH grants to support her salary.

The question is what would you expect to earn right after graduation. can you give me a range?
Another question - is it possible to work part time while at school? She may be able to get a part time position in her current lab... question is "Is it possible to juggle 2 things at a time"

Thanks a lot

real expectation of salary should be 80k-120k/yr mainly depends on where you work. your wife may also become a consultant at some medical company to earn a little extra, since she has strong background in the sciences.

dont work during school if you want to graduate on time. lol

 

[andy sweetcandy]

Thank you guys, point taken.

 

[maddi]

What a troll.

You think? I've had so many negative comments for being blunt and honest on this forum that I thought I should sound a little more positive.... no matter how ridiculously naive the answer... Dang there is just no pleasing this group

 

[ODhopeful]

Right after graduation.... between 250,000 and 600,000. And it only gets better as time goes by.



I don't know where u get that kinda number from, but those ODs must be selling crack on the side for the majority of that paycheck.
How I wish it were true................... I'd probably study harder....

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

Hello,

As I'm in my first year out, I would have to say those figures are inflated, even some of the smaller ones. I would say 60k you're first year out is more realistic. I work all the time, just because that's who i am. I'll make over a 100k my first year, but i choose to work a lot. Income goes up with experience and # of years of practice. Generally private practice makes more over the long haul, than other modalities of practice.

I worked around 15 hrs/wk my first year. Second, third year it was between 20-30 hours a week. Fourth year, with clinical rotations around 12 hours of actual work. I gave up a lot of social activities with school to work evenings and every weekend. I don't regret working at all, since it gave me the extra cash to have my own place. I had a 4.0 in undergrad, and still did well in OD school, but it does wear on you juggling a lot of hours and work.

Best of luck.

Ryan

 

[luckyfool]

I worked around 15 hrs/wk my first year. Second, third year it was between 20-30 hours a week. Fourth year, with clinical rotations around 12 hours of actual work. I gave up a lot of social activities with school to work evenings and every weekend. I don't regret working at all, since it gave me the extra cash to have my own place. I had a 4.0 in undergrad, and still did well in OD school, but it does wear on you juggling a lot of hours and work.

Ryan

Hi Ryan,
The 15hr/week you mentioned in your first yr of optometry is the work outside of school or school work itself?

I would say 60k you're first year out is more realistic. I work all the time, just because that's who i am. I'll make over a 100k my first year, but i choose to work a lot.

I'm a little confused here. The earlier statement you said the figures are inflated and the real expectation should be only 60k. Then you said you like to work all the time but would make only 100k your first year out. Do you mean if you choose to work a lot?

 

[rpames]

Hi Ryan,
I'm a little confused here. The earlier statement you said the figures are inflated and the real expectation should be only 60k. Then you said you like to work all the time but would make only 100k your first year out. Do you mean if you choose to work a lot?

I think he is saying that most people will make around 60k (which I believe is accurate), but he busts his but and will be making much more than that.

 

[Ryan_eyeball]

Hi Ryan,
The 15hr/week you mentioned in your first yr of optometry is the work outside of school or school work itself?



I'm a little confused here. The earlier statement you said the figures are inflated and the real expectation should be only 60k. Then you said you like to work all the time but would make only 100k your first year out. Do you mean if you choose to work a lot?

All hours I mentioned were actually paid job hours worked, not hours spent studying.

I highly doubt any private practice will offer you 80k your first year out, unless your in a high cost area of living like New York. Right now, i choose to work a lot to make more than most new graduates my first year out. Again that's a personal choice, and not for everyone.

 

[cpw]

Right after graduation.... between 250,000 and 600,000. And it only gets better as time goes by.

Please don't post misleading advise/statistics to the students. You KNOW ODs don't make that much.

 

[Opii]

You might want to go to conferences and network with more seasoned O.D.s. They could give you ideas for good job opportunities.

 

[mpbruin108]

Hello,

As I'm in my first year out, I would have to say those figures are inflated, even some of the smaller ones. I would say 60k you're first year out is more realistic. I work all the time, just because that's who i am. I'll make over a 100k my first year, but i choose to work a lot. Income goes up with experience and # of years of practice. Generally private practice makes more over the long haul, than other modalities of practice.

I worked around 15 hrs/wk my first year. Second, third year it was between 20-30 hours a week. Fourth year, with clinical rotations around 12 hours of actual work. I gave up a lot of social activities with school to work evenings and every weekend. I don't regret working at all, since it gave me the extra cash to have my own place. I had a 4.0 in undergrad, and still did well in OD school, but it does wear on you juggling a lot of hours and work.

Best of luck.

Ryan

You're my hero! I would have broken down and run amok doing all of that...I guess I need my social activities that I was in to keep me sane..plus the networking opportunities were a huge plus.

 

[planex]

Right after graduation.... between 250,000 and 600,000. And it only gets better as time goes by.



I don't know where u get that kinda number from, but those ODs must be selling crack on the side for the majority of that paycheck.
How I wish it were true................... I'd probably study harder....

Me too...maybe they meant rubles instead of dollars😀