Voluntary Work and A-Level Choices

**Steve1234** · 25-02-2007, 03:52 AM

Hey, i'm an AS student looking to apply for 2008 entry.

I do Chemistry, Biology, Maths, Business and Economics

When i chose my AS options i considered physics instead of Bus. Eco. but decided to follow the economics course due to greater interest in the subject. I am however slightly confused. i've been told by some people that having a contrasting, non- scientific course such as Eco is often beneficial when applying but also i've been told by others that it doesn't really help you. Could anyone please help clear this up?

Also in Year 13, i want to do an extra AS in french as well as my 4 A2 levels. This is partly due to my interest in french but i'm curious whether it is likley to bring any benefits???

Finally; voluntary work. This is a pain for me because my birthday is in June so i have to wait until then to get any work in hospitals/nursing homes etc.
I just wondered how much voluntary work is required and what sort of types. Presently i work in a charity shop on a saturday morning and at my school i am a "Bully Mentor" and a "Reading Improvement Mentor" where i try improve the reading standards of younger students. I am also looking to do voluntary work at my GP's surgery or maybe in a nursing home. Is this likley to be enough and also sufficiently relevant???

Thanks

**gymmet** · 25-02-2007, 04:08 AM

Some unis such as UCL may exercise a *slight* preference for those who have 2 sciences and a different subject at A level... but otherwise you're at no disadvantage at all. I took Biology, Chemistry, Maths and History at AS and I've got 4 interviews. So your subject combinations are fine, particularly as you have a better chance of doing well in an AS that you enjoy.

Taking an extra AS in French would only be beneficial on a personal level (if you really love it and do it almost as an extra hobby) or if you wish to take part in any Erasmus schemes at any of the unis (i.e. you spend a year at a European university). In terms of applying, it won't make any difference as the grade requirements are only ever going to be 3 A levels and 1 AS. Remember that some schools may not allow the students to take more than this, so it would be unfair to give those who can an advantage. It's important to remember that doing so many subjects could seriously impinge on your social life, which is important too!

There is no set amount of voluntary work and what you have is a great start. A part time job involving the public could be a worthy addition to your PS. Try ringing around the hospitals in your area asking if there are any volunteer schemes, or visit www.do-it.org (or similar) as it's a good volunteers website, or www.vinspired.com . You don't have to be 17 to volunteer. Alternatively, you could join a First Aid organisation like St John Ambulance. This way you can do First aid, get qualifications and caring experience too. It's great

Best of luck!

**Steve1234** · 25-02-2007, 06:01 PM

thanks a lot for the advice and good luck!

**Gayathriy** · 01-03-2007, 12:42 AM

im a first yr medic at kings and from what i have seen about their applicants from last yr they do like people who do voluntary work. kings are probably more sympathetic and understand that it is hard to get work experience in hospitals and shadowing doctors - everyone i know that did do shadowing had connections in hospitals. i wasn't able to get any hospital work experience so to make up for that i did quite a bit of voluntary work at different health centres, nusing homes and fundraising and cancer awareness stuff. doin volunatry work shows ur caring empathetic side and so will help u a lot. u should try and do other extra cirriculars eg sports music etc. but by the looks of it u seemed to be doin pretty well.
as for a levels i did a non science subject and i think it is beneficial- it shows that u are not just a science geek and u are more well rounded. i did history which was really good and is helping me in the area of writing essays, something u cant learn from doin physics! and to tell u the truth i only know of one person who got into medical school who did all sciences. a lot of them did a non science. the number doesnt seem to matter by the looks of it. entry into uni seems to be soo random. i know someone who got into imperial with AAB and i got rejected by the stupid imps and i got AAAA! oh well im glad im @ kings and hopefully u will be glad with ur application. i hoped i helped and not just rambled about jack all! good luck with ur application!

**Medic2013** · 01-03-2007, 12:53 AM

gymmet pretty much summed it up!

i would merely add that there are many people who do the old SJA, nursing home blah blah blah.....not to say its bad (i would seriously recommed doing all that), but lookout for something really POW to stick in yer PS-something that interviewers will remember you by.

for example, mine was as a aid worker overseas. maybe you could look for something like "parkland ranger" or part-time superhero-y'know-summthing to make yer PS stand outta the crowd dude.

the most important thing to remember is to enjoy it as well, and thats what i have found to be most rewarding with the a levels and extra-curricular activities ive done!

best o' luck

**Steve1234** · 01-03-2007, 11:28 PM

thanks for your help guys! I really appreciate it!

**prempcd** · 01-03-2007, 11:54 PM

elo! u praobably got enough advice but here goes..

well i had 2 weeks at royal free hospital, like 6 weeks of saturdays in a scope charity shop, prefect, inclass support, student council duke of edinburgh, millenium volunteers and ongoing at the local GPs

not a lot of medical related experience compared to a lot of people i kno and all very ordinary and nothing POW! as mubeen suggests.

june isnt too late as i said i put my work experience at GPs as ongoing as i had only done 3 days when i finished my personal statement. do as much as you can until you finish you statement(start this early like summer hols cus its quite stressful doing loads of drafts in a very short period of time).

from what ive heard unis like artsy subs along with the regulars. if you think you can cope and you like the subjects i would do it. but i cba with the 3 im doing now u kno, i duno how ill be with more exams and possible retakes etc if i did more subs. they only ask for 3 A2 and 1 AS and if your serious about medicine then i advise doing just do 4 then 3 in A2--you can concentrate on achieve you best in this and it leaves time for extracurricular, work at home, more voluntary options, socialisng time etc. at the end of the day you are looking for offers from your first choice uni.. research how much preference that uni gives to artsy subs..

good luck!!

**becca230289** · 02-03-2007, 12:27 AM

Well I had nowhere near as much experience as others here - experience of any kind (either voluntary or med-related) is thin on the ground in Ireland and I was lucky to be able to get a week at Belfast City Hospital. However I'm also heavily involved with music in my school (help with junior orchestra, deputy and leader of the senior orchestra, play in string quartet, play three instruments) and I have worked in a restaurant for two years as a general skivvy. Despite this complete lack of experience I have two offers and one pending so what seems most important is not necessarily the volume of experiences you have, but how you discuss them in your PS and at interview and what you learn from them.

Things like St Johns are very good to get involved with but really anything that involves contact with people. Even a part-time job that involves interaction with people (money + good for your communication skills!) You seem to have an awful lot already (compared to me at least)

On the arts subject thing. It isn't going to hinder the application but I doubt it helps it much! Take up french if it's something you really want to do but beware....modern languages seem to take over peoples' lives (and make them constantly PMSy!)

**Lorah** · 02-03-2007, 12:58 AM

its true modern languages do take over your life!

i have to have lessons in my lunch hour due to subject clashes and a conversation lesson with a native speaker in my frees!! aside from that, i do think they are useful... i just wudnt wanna do them for the rest of my life!!!

**Jbez** · 04-03-2007, 06:08 PM

Hi im in year 11 going to take my GCSE , and hoping to get high grades , as i did well im my mocks , and im planning on doing medicine , i would rather do all 4 science subjects for AS maths physics chemistry and biology. Does that put me in a slight disadvantage compared to other students who will be doing non acedemic subjects apart from chemistry and biology ?