Will I Be Ready

[keyenzon]

Hello

I'm in my second year of BSc in psycology at aston uni, and i have recently read in a newspaper graduate section that it's possible to study medicine on a four year accelerated program, after a bit of research i've found out that most of these institutes require a Science degree (1st or 2:1), and psychology would normally be suitable.

My question is when i graduate i'll be 21, will i be able to start after the exam (GAMSAT) & interview or do you need some kind of work experience of several years beforehand?

(this is assuming i pass everthing)

[mussed]

Look around here a bit more. You can probably do some work experience at uni (I know I managed - volunteering is usually quite strong at uni!); you also might not have to sit GAMSAT. If you go into the Mature Students section then the guide there should be helpful.

[MaybeForMe]

Like mussed said you can do your work experience whilst at uni, and i assume you are in 2nd year of a 4yr course so id wreckon 2 years is more than enough time to get some good experience under your belt! This site and www.medschoolsonline.co.uk are good for familiarising yourself with the different requirements for each course whether its a 4yr or a 5 yr you decide to apply for. It also has info on how many graduates the courses take and handy stuff like that........gud luck!

[keyenzon]

why do i need work experience, i would be starting from scrach, what would i need to learn that an 18yr old med student already has?

[montreux]

Originally Posted by keyenzon

why do i need work experience, i would be starting from scrach, what would i need to learn that an 18yr old med student already has?

Basically you need to be able to prove to yourself and others that you really understand what it is actually like 1) to work with sick/disabled/vulnerable people in a very hands-on and often intimate (obviously I don't mean sexual) way and 2) to work in the NHS. And, having done this, you still want to be a doctor. Hope that makes sense.

[keyenzon]

what kind of work is required?, I know it should be hospital/ nursing home based but what will it intail? office work, because thats the only thing i can see available

[mussed]

Phone a local nursing home, hospital or, often better still, hospice (as more of these are charity-run) and ask to speak to the head of volunteering. Many of these places rely on volunteers for all sorts of stuff, including things involving patient contact. At the hospice I volunteer at, they need people to drive patients to the hospice (day patients), help with bathing, chat to patients, work on reception... everything.

[keyenzon]

how often are these GAMSAT tests

[montreux]

Originally Posted by keyenzon

how often are these GAMSAT tests

Once a year. Used to be in January (last one was a couple of weeks ago) but will be in September from this year.

[keyenzon]

Originally Posted by montreux

Once a year. Used to be in January (last one was a couple of weeks ago) but will be in September from this year.

when would i apply, say i finish about june/july 2008, would i have to apply 2009 give to gie a suffisent amount of time to revise for the GAMSAT, am i right in saying that