Any GEP applications got an interview

[Rachel_bluesky]

Hi Ben.
Nice to have an actual GEP student here.
Can I ask...most of the students on the GEP hold what kind of previous qualifications/ experience?
Are you enjoying Leicester?

[BenH]

The previous qualifications and experience are fairly varied. There are a fair few physios, pharmacists, nurses, radiographers and other clinicians. There is also a vet, a few psychology students and I have no clinical experience at all, having worked as a management and leadership trainer for senior doctors previously. Those that came more or less straight from uni did have HCA or other work experience in a caring role.

I think we all have some sort of 'health sciences' based degree, but I understand it is now possible to get in having studied other disciplines.

Am I enjoying it? Absolutely!!!! It's hard work, but the kind of people who get on the course are all very easy to get on with and you get thrown in to the work very quickly. Leicester itself is not the most exciting place on the surface of things, especially when you've arrived via London and Manchester, but 8 weeks in and I'm finding plenty to entertain myself with (perhaps too much with all the work that needs to be done). And Leicester was just named University of the Year in The Times (I think?).

Any more questions out there?

[Rachel_bluesky]

Thanks for your reply, Ben. Very helpful indeed.

When were you called for interview and how did you find it? Had you applied elsewhere and if so, any success?

I was a bit hesitant when deciding to apply to Leicester because it seemed from their website that they did prefer those who had qualifications in healthcare and lots of work in care. But now they are recruiting people from any degree. My degree is a BSc but it is heavily arts based and I do have a lot of work experience/ voluntary/ care work so fingers crossed!

[physiohannah]

Hiya, yeah the title somewhat gives it away! I've been a physio for a few years - had quite a range of experience since graduating and have also done some voluntary work in Thailand as a physio before getting a job in the NHS. Why the move? The dreaded interview question! I suppose it's because I enjoy the medical sides of things rather than the rehab/therapy aspects so figured medicine was best suited for me. I also reckon (hope) it will be a little more exciting/interesting and challenging as I'm currently working as community locum, which isn't very stimulating! I think they interview a high percentage of applicants and if it's any consolation and hope for people with lowish UKCAT score, my lowest was 500 so think I probably would only have got 2 points for that! Suppose it's reassuring that my personal statement and reference must have been good.

[physiohannah]

Oh, forgot to mention, I recieved a letter inviting me to interview - think it was dated 7th Nov and I got it a couple of days ago - honestly guys, I shouldn't worry if you ahven't heard anything yet - my surname begins with 'C', so probably helps!

[BenH]

I don't think I got my invite until late December and my interview was end of January.

The interview itself is very relaxed and free flowing, rather than others which felt a bit like interrogation using a pre-set list of questions. There aren't any surprises that I remember, just the things you will have read on these forums and would generally expect. If you really understand why you want to do medicine above all else and can articulate it well, preferably in an original way, you should be fine. I didn't actually have the right answer to the 'why medicine?' question until 18 months after I'd decided to apply and the day before my third interview!

I applied to the very limited options I had, given my background, so Leicester was always my best chance. I did get a place at Swansea and was torn between the two, but opted for Leicester in the end.

[CrazyMiner]

Originally Posted by physiohannah

Oh, forgot to mention, I recieved a letter inviting me to interview - think it was dated 7th Nov and I got it a couple of days ago - honestly guys, I shouldn't worry if you ahven't heard anything yet - my surname begins with 'C', so probably helps!

Slightly worrying as my surname begins with C too:P

[petzneo]

Originally Posted by BenH

The previous qualifications and experience are fairly varied. There are a fair few physios, pharmacists, nurses, radiographers and other clinicians. There is also a vet, a few psychology students and I have no clinical experience at all, having worked as a management and leadership trainer for senior doctors previously. Those that came more or less straight from uni did have HCA or other work experience in a caring role.

I think we all have some sort of 'health sciences' based degree, but I understand it is now possible to get in having studied other disciplines.

Am I enjoying it? Absolutely!!!! It's hard work, but the kind of people who get on the course are all very easy to get on with and you get thrown in to the work very quickly. Leicester itself is not the most exciting place on the surface of things, especially when you've arrived via London and Manchester, but 8 weeks in and I'm finding plenty to entertain myself with (perhaps too much with all the work that needs to be done). And Leicester was just named University of the Year in The Times (I think?).

Any more questions out there?

Hey, I am a first year pharmacy student and i want to appply for graduate entry. Can you pleae tell me what they got in there degrees and how much do they look at your A levels.

Also I only got BBC and I do want to resit one of my modules to bring the C up to a B. Is there a point in doing it, and will I be disadvantaged by doing it?

thanks

[Doc Skin]

They told me at the open day that 3 C's at A level is fine for graduate entry applicants, but if you are applying a few years down the line their critea may change.

[BenH]

They don't look at your A-levels for the grad entry course. They want at least a 2:1 at degree level, so technically there's no need to resit.

I couldn't say what grades the pharmacists got, other than it must have been at least a 2:1 for their degree, as above. Given that they accept people from arts and science backgrounds, I would suggest that there is a great deal more emphasis on the experience gained in a caring context. Read the admissions criteria and work out how you will demonstrate the various aspects they want to see in candidates.