How much work experience / volunteering do you need?

**Heshi** · 23-10-2008, 01:37 AM

Hi,
I have sent letters around for work exp and volunteering, but how much is essential?
Also, gap year, if i were to do most of my volunteering then, would that count? Or do they want it all before?
If it helps, i am involved in school stuff too. Im just really confused on what to get.
To make matters worse, i just dont know whether i am "working right"
When should revision for January start?
Thanks.

**Gizmo says -** · 23-10-2008, 01:47 AM

enough to genuinely convince you that you want to do medicine.

that is all.

**Heshi** · 23-10-2008, 01:49 AM

A thoughtfull answer that is.
But what exactly? As well as some wrk exp now, can i put most emphasis on the gap year?

**Gizmo says -** · 23-10-2008, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by Heshi

A thoughtfull answer that is.
But what exactly? As well as some wrk exp now, can i put most emphasis on the gap year?

ow mush do you need to convinvce yourself?
thats all you need to ask yourself.

personally, for me if i wasnt doing a gap year, i would get a job in full time or part time 'ealthcare where you can see medical care every hour of the day for months, with the chance to arrange placements vistis or escort work to every medical department you are interested in.

if i was tekking a gap year, that implies i would ave already applied previously, and would ave already decided, therefore no work experience in necessary.
but in that circumstance, my desire to work in ealthcare would lead me to get a full time ealthcare job for that gap year.

so i ope you'll forgive me for finking that your question is inherently flawed, you are a bit different from me.

the other angle is that if there is summat you want to passionately do wif your last full teenage year you should do it this gap year, becos oyu wont get this year again ever.

**rat-a-tattat** · 23-10-2008, 02:18 AM

Originally Posted by Heshi

Hi,
I have sent letters around for work exp and volunteering, but how much is essential?
Also, gap year, if i were to do most of my volunteering then, would that count? Or do they want it all before?
If it helps, i am involved in school stuff too. Im just really confused on what to get.
To make matters worse, i just dont know whether i am "working right"
When should revision for January start?
Thanks.

wel with regards to ur gap year, i think st andrews (you may not be applyin there but oh wel) tends to "like you more" if you spend ur gap year doin somethin medically related, or voluntary, so in that case the voluntary work in your gap year would be as important as the one you doin now.

**Gizmo says -** · 23-10-2008, 02:24 AM

you dont find that if applying in a GAP year then you wouldnt need to do more work exp? becos tekking a GAP year implies that you already decided to do medicine based on previous adequate work experience?

this is ow an admissions tutor sees it.

**Moho** · 23-10-2008, 04:24 AM

I think that having some experience in a hospital and a GP surgery, plus a long-term caring/voluntary role would be adequate enough. You would've observed the roles of doctors in two different settings and have the chance to gradually develop your interpersonal skills in the long-term experience.

Work experience is what convinces a lot of people to study medicine, so I think you should have done yours by the time you sent your UCAS. I think a gap year is a good time to start or carry on with your voluntary work. It all helps in getting you more experience.

**Darren A..** · 23-10-2008, 03:15 PM

In interviews you may have to answer the question 'why not a nurse/paramedic?' etc. so doing some w.exp in related healthcare areas could also be useful. Try to get a placement riding with an ambulance crew (great fun) and hospital volunteering would cover the nursing side of things