COWA - 2010 Entry

**rob09** · 10-08-2009, 04:53 PM

Hi,

Firstly can I just say having just discovered this website and spent the last few days reading over the posts, how much useful information is in it!

I'm 24 years old and live in Edinburgh. I have recently discovered the Access to Medicine course at COWA. This sounds like the best way forward for me. I am planning to apply for entry to COWA for 2010. However, I currently have no experience of healthcare or voluntary work. I work in retail management just now - so totally unrelated! I have started trying to get some voluntary work and will hopefully start that soon. I'll probably do a couple of different things when I have days off from work etc.

My question is...would that be enough experience for COWA? I don't know how much experience they expect from candidates...by the time I start to apply to COWA (hopefully in a few months) then I will only have a few months voluntary experience.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Rob

**elz** · 10-08-2009, 05:36 PM

firstly how do u know u wanna do medicine if u dont have any work experience? just curious.
one or two things would probably be enough for cowa, but u would need some sort of experience. but whether this would be enough for med schools is a diff matter, bareing in mind u will start writing your personal statements as soon as u get to COWA.
it can be hard to get work experience in a hosp, but sometimes u can find jobs that are a few hours a week, so look on the job website too. nursing homes are easy to get some work or vol experience in, ie i worked in one for afew months just helping at meal times and chatting to residents. you can sometimes get work experience at gp surgeries or out with the health visitor or sumthing, which is at least patient contact.
a few months of good work experience would prob be ok if u can get that. hav u thot about joining st johns first aid or sumthing too?

**Sammyfc** · 10-08-2009, 05:46 PM

I applied for the access to medicine course at CoWA with only a month of volunteer work with the British Red Cross and I was given a place on the course. But I was told that I would need to do more if I wanted to obtain a place at uni.

**rob09** · 10-08-2009, 05:52 PM

Thanks for your reply Elz.

I applied to medical school (pre-med route) when I was at school and got an offer, which I rather foolishly didn't take up due to personal circumstances. I done loads of voluntary work back then, but that's a good 6 years ago now, so obviously wouldn't count! So yeah, I defo know I want to do medicine - that has never changed, I just didn't realise I could actually go back and make it happen!

I've just phoned up loads of places and sent off emails, so hopefully will hear something back. Try and get some voluntary work with the Red Cross too, although they aren't looking for people in my area just now!

I will be applying for medical school next year for 2011 entry, so hopefully by the time it comes to applying I will have a good year or so of various voluntary work.

One question though - do you think it would be beneficial to my COWA if I were to leave my current retail job and work in a more healthcare role (i.e. carer)? Or do you think voluntary work would be enough.

Congrats on your many offers btw!

**rob09** · 10-08-2009, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by Sammyfc

I applied for the access to medicine course at CoWA with only a month of volunteer work with the British Red Cross and I was given a place on the course. But I was told that I would need to do more if I wanted to obtain a place at uni.

Oh...that's good to hear! Well done! Thank you...I can concentrate on getting some voluntary work then. I was really worried I was going to have to defer doing COWA until 2011! Phew!

**Sammyfc** · 10-08-2009, 06:02 PM

Yeh thats what I would do. Voluntary work really helps with your application. I would recommend that you try and save up as much money as possible for when you start the course at the CoWA because there is very little financial support available

**elz** · 10-08-2009, 06:05 PM

well i think if u had the chance to work in healthcare it would be better for u. it wouldnt make much difference to COWA, but would be good for your medschool interview, talking about examples etc. but with the nhs it does normally take several months betwn being offerd the job to starting, just to bare in mind.
o im in 2nd yr now just havnt updated!