Does what you do in med school matter?

X · 19-08-2005, 03:07 PM

Hi guys,

I'm just wondering if what you do in med school - your 1st and 2nd years in particular have any impact on when you apply for F1/F2 jobs? For instance if you were part of your med schools or halls committee or a sports rep. Apart from the personal development of taking on these roles are there any other benefits?

Thanks

**Spencer Wells** · 19-08-2005, 03:12 PM

Yup, extra curricular stuff can be important with some consultant when deciding whether to employ you. Of course, other things are more important, but it may very well help.

**Cymro** · 20-08-2005, 03:41 PM

I think most, if not all, UK Med Schools use Medical Societies for their student representation with the faculty. Being a senior member of a MedSoc committee certainly gives you access to the important people and makes it a lot easier to "network". Remember, it's who you know not what you know.

Cymro.

**rjm** · 21-08-2005, 01:45 PM

I'm not sure "networking" will be that useful anymore as F1 applications will be done by an anonymous national matching scheme. The application form has not been released yet but I have heard it will have space for examples of team work and leadership.

X · 21-08-2005, 01:56 PM

Interesting.

**exms** · 21-08-2005, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by rjm

I'm not sure "networking" will be that useful anymore as F1 applications will be done by an anonymous national matching scheme.

I hope you're right - but then I'm rather idealistic and think that posts should be awarded to those with ability rather than to those who ingratiate themselves with the 'right people'.

Of course, this is probably just because I am awful politically

-- A.

**rjm** · 21-08-2005, 07:22 PM

Students are randomly allocated to firms for clinical attachments and those students may have an unfair advantage because they have happened to work with that consultant. The anonymous aims to eliminate this. I understand that within a hospital jobs will be allocated based on a points system - those that have more points will have first pick of rotations. However, having a child gives you more points, is this fair?

**pilly84** · 21-08-2005, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by rjm

However, having a child gives you more points, is this fair?

Really? I didn't realise. Then no it is not fair.

**Cymro** · 21-08-2005, 08:01 PM

Well, the whole of MMC was obviously put together by the most impractical person that could be found. However, I think it's entirely fair that applicants with children should get more points. They have more commitments and a huge responsibility in relation to most other applicants and surely it's right for them to have more choice in their rotations in order to accomodate their needs?

Of course, in an ideal world, everyone would be judged on their merits alone, but the NHS and Medicine as a whole is firmly based in the real world. The amount of applicants with children constitutes a small minority of the cohort anyway. I guess this is as good as an excuse as any to get knocked up tho... Would carrying the lovechild of a consultant get you bonus points?

Cymro.

**exms** · 21-08-2005, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Cymro

However, I think it's entirely fair that applicants with children should get more points. They have more commitments and a huge responsibility in relation to most other applicants and surely it's right for them to have more choice in their rotations in order to accomodate their needs?

It's their choice to take on those extra responsibilities: why should they have first pick of the competitive specialities?

-- A.