Relevant work experience and is it too late?

[blooberry]

Hi everyone. I'm a bit of a newbie having only decided in the last few weeks to seriously consider applying to do medicine as a graduate. I know deep down that I've always wanted to do medicine but when I was younger I had such a defeatist attitude and when I knew my A-levels were not going to be up to scratch I gave up on my dream But since I've gained my business degree all I can think about is that I don't want to work in business and my desire to study medicine started bubbling to the surface again.

I'm a bit worried though because I have never done any relevant work experience. I'd like to know what I should be looking to do and also is it now too late? I will be applying for entry in 2006 and it's 6 1/2 months until the closing date. So if I am lucky, the most I will have gained is 6 months of work experience. I am also worried that universities might think that my decision to study medicine was just a casual decision I didn't put much serious thought into because I don't have any early work experience to back it up.

Any thoughts and advice would be very much appreciated!

[exms]

I'm a bit worried though because I have never done any relevant work experience. I'd like to know what I should be looking to do and also is it now too late?

Have a glance at the Mature FAQ - it's FAQalicious.

Short answer is it's not too late, but you want to start looking *now* - if you're required to do a criminal records check you can end up cooling your heels for six weeks.

HTH

-- A.

[rubytuesday]

Hi everyone. I'm a bit of a newbie having only decided in the last few weeks to seriously consider applying to do medicine as a graduate. I know deep down that I've always wanted to do medicine but when I was younger I had such a defeatist attitude and when I knew my A-levels were not going to be up to scratch I gave up on my dream But since I've gained my business degree all I can think about is that I don't want to work in business and my desire to study medicine started bubbling to the surface again.

I'm a bit worried though because I have never done any relevant work experience. I'd like to know what I should be looking to do and also is it now too late? I will be applying for entry in 2006 and it's 6 1/2 months until the closing date. So if I am lucky, the most I will have gained is 6 months of work experience. I am also worried that universities might think that my decision to study medicine was just a casual decision I didn't put much serious thought into because I don't have any early work experience to back it up.

Any thoughts and advice would be very much appreciated!

Hi blooberry...

No, it's absolutely not too late at all!!
I'm completely in the same boat as you...I just began to think seriously about applying to med-school as a graduate in january so i know how you feel. It is all a bit confusing (and scary in terms of financial implications of returning to do a second degree...but we'll gloss over that one - denial seems the best option for me at the moment!!), but this forum seems to be an absolute godsend in terms of information/advice plus everyone seems so friendly and encouraging!

you should definately go for it if and follow your heart if it's what you want to do!! 6 months of volunteering would give you a lot of experience in terms of things to include on your PS...and there are so many opportunites on offer!

from what i've read, doing a regular voluntary placement ie. volunteering weekly at an old people's home etc seems to be looked on very favourably in that it shows commitment! there's also organising work experience at your local hospital or shadowing at a GP surgery to give you an insight into medical conditions/how a hospital operates etc. or you could try to gain work as a Health Care Assistant, Auxiliary Nurse etc (where you earn pennies too...always good).

am sure i am probably repeating *LOTS* of info you already have/is posted elsewhere on this site...(sorryeee!)...so i'll stop rambling on for now, but PM me or just post another post if you want to ask anything else!!

rubytuesday x

ooooh - i've just volunteered with the RED CROSS to work at The Special Olympics in Glasgow as a first aider (they train you too!)...i'm not sure if you're anywhere near glasgow to volunteer for that specific event but they run things all over the country where you could gain first aid experience!!

[blooberry]

Thanks Exms and Rubytuesday!

I had a long read through the FAQs after I posted and it's been such a great help. Thanks so much for putting it together Exms. It's great to read something so informative from the point of view of a mature student.

Rubytuesday, you've put my mind at ease. It's good to hear there are others in the same boat. Thanks for the tip re the Red Cross. I'm not near Glasgow but I'll try to look into any events near me. I did a St. John's Ambulance first aid course years and years ago which I loved so something like that would really interest me. I think I'm going to start looking for some voluntary work as a starting point to get myself going. Oh and don't worry about rambling! Any info is really useful. This forum is fab. I'm still trying to catch up!

[DH2005]

Welcome to the fight, Blooberry.

You've read the exhaustive FAQ so you know all the options already. The route I'm taking is Access to Medicine at King's Lynn (I start this September) with a view to starting medical school in September of 2006. My reasons for not getting into medical school sooner are similar to yours - I got a law degree, but I could never kick the thought that I wanted to study medicine. Having worked myself into the ground for a couple of years and repaid most of my debt, I can now afford to do something about it.

[christie]

Hi Blooberry

Im in a similar situation to you- i did a business related degree and am now working in finance which is not particuarly inspiring.

I had a short period of full time volunteering at UCL which was so eyeopening, ive work shadowed a team of doctors at my local hospital which really got me kick started into going for medicine and im currently volunteering for a couple of hours at a local hospice on weekends. This has shown me a less glamorous more realistic side to medicine.

You should contact old peoples homes and hospices as they are usually crying out for people, and can process applications quite quickly. I applied in January this year and started working in February!

[monkey boy]

definitely don't think its too late - I didn't start volunteering until after I had written my PS for UCAS, and it didn't stop me getting interviews, but then I had enough to put down already! I would however recommend getting started asap. because not only will it help you to decide whether its right for you but it will enable you to have covered all the skills that they seem to ask for in interviews nowadays!!

[blooberry]

Thanks for the support! My plan today is to email a list of universities to see if they will consider me if I apply. I have Chemistry and Biology A-levels (got a B in both) but I sat them in 1999 and I'm hoping they will still be valid for most unis because I would hate to sit them again But then again if that's what it takes, then that's what it takes

[jane2]

They will still be valid.

[DH2005]

Yep, they'll be valid. Did you get a 2.1 in your degree? If so, there are a number of medical schools that will consider you as you are - Cardiff require minimum grades of BBC when you have a 2.1 and I think Edinburgh require BCC. GKT also say that, where candidates can offer a 2.1, they don't need to hit AAB... I think Barts would be open to you, too.

There you go - that's four medical schools! Get that UCAS form filled in!