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Old 14-10-2008, 10:59 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Will I even get past the interview?

First of all, I'm not sure if this is the right area to post this in, but it seems just about right.
I'm 17, in my second year of A-levels and I've just sent off my UCAS form to Newcastle, Durham, Glasgow and Aberdeen. My GCSEs were pretty low 1 A*, 5 A's, 1 B, 2 C's and 1 E. I'm happy with my A-levels, I'm sitting Bio, Chem, Maths and Psych - Predicted 4 A's at A2. My UKCAT score seems pretty average (I'm not sure how they calculate it, so I'll just mention the scores I got per category - 600, 610, 550 and 690). I've also got plenty of personal extra curricular things to talk about, I'm not really worried about that.
Now, here comes my problem - My work experience. I was pretty content with it until recently. My experience involves shadowing a psychotherapist (Though, I must point out this person works from a home business rather than the NHS or something, and it was not a clinical environment), volunteering in an Elderly home (As I'm not 18, I can't perform any care, and today I found out I can't even witness others caring for them, my work will involve doing activities with them and talking to them) and working in a mental health clinic (Again, I only found out yesterday that this is a mental health 'sector' and not a clinic. This is rather, a place to care for people with conditions such as bipolar disorder and autism).
Now, my recent problems are that, though all my work experience is still relevant medicine, I now feel I'm lacking any clinically based work. From the impression I've been given, I won't survive 5 minutes in the interview without work experience in a clinic. I'm basically wondering... is the work experience I have already good enough? Or do I drastically need some more? =(
(Also, is there anything wrong with my UKCAT scores?)
Thank you in advance!
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Old 14-10-2008, 11:20 PM   #2 (permalink)
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I didnt apply to medicine straight from school so my knowledge is only looking at grad courses. Also I think it varies between med schools as to what WE they are looking for. However my advice would be to ask yourself some questions like: has your work experience given you insight into your decision to be a doctor? Has it given you experience of patient contact with a heathcare specialist? What insight has that given you? Can you comment on the importance of communication/ empathy/ decision making etc?? when asked 'why do you want to do medicine?' do you feel you can answer incuding showing how the experience you have gained has confirmed your belief?
As I say I know nothing about the unis you have mentioned but most of them seem to look for what you have gained form your experience and not necessarily a list of what you have done.

With regards to your UKCAT, again, no knowledge of your unis but it is above average (600) it shouldnt hold you back. although I have heard that newcastle have quite a high expectation.
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