Best Way to spend a year before medicine?

[Ali M]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a graduate student in psychology (2:1 BSc Hons) and I really really want to go to medical school with the intention of pursuing a career in psychiatry. I am applying for 2008 entry so I have the next year to work and gain jobs that would be appropriate for medicine, but I'm also aware that I've got a degree in psychology so should I put that to use?

I currently volunteer at both Mencap (a charity for children and adults with learning disabilities) and at the local NHS trust working with children in an outpatient unit. However I need to fund myself for this year as am living away from home, so would working as a HCA or a support worker through an agency be a preferable option?

I am taking biology AS, A2 and chemistry AS this year as I didn't do any of those at A-level and I think I am applying for some 5-years that require these (UEA/HYMS/Leicester). I am hopefully getting work experience at both the Maudsley and at another NHS trust and I was wondering if there was anything else I should be doing to strengthen my application form to medical school? Any advice on anything I've talked about or your opinions on the suitability of what I'm doing would be greatly appreciated! Good luck to everyone who's applying!

Ali

[Elvis03]

Hi Ali,

I would say that working in a psychology related are would strengthen your application as you know it is where you want to go after med school. To say in an interview you know what area of medicine you want to go into because you've worked in a similar field and have a degree in it as well can only be a good thing because it means you have commitment and staying power.

But have you thought about applying this year anyway (nothing to loose)? There are courses that don't require science a-levels. e.g. the warwick 4 yr course

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/med/study/ugr/place/

as its a 4 yr grad course, there are substantial financial incentives too!

Sam

[Ali M]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, I think I'm going to go onto a 5 year course as they seem to be more suitable for me despite the financial downside and that is what I'm using this year for. I am thinking of probably going for a research assistant within a psychological field e.g. psychiatry which should strengthen that commitment to both medicine/psychology? I was thinking about the Warwick course but I'm well aware that they take predominantly biological sciences graduates rather than graduates from other disciplines, which is why I'm thining of Leicester as they seem to be more accepting of other degrees than biological sciences. Do you think all the work experience and A-levels will satisfy the minimum entry requirement?

Ali

[Elvis03]

Hi Ali,

I'm not sure about leicester - I think they only accept health science degrees but yours probably comes under that category. Best to check with the admissions office though, and explain how you're sitting a-levels this year.

Sam

[Brooke]

If you can get a job that pays decently with your degree, I would say get that because it will allow you to get experience in your field and save some money for the next five years. Getting a place on your local nurse bank as an HCA is a good idea, too, though. The one in Edinburgh only requires an average of one or two shifts a month, so it's completely flexible. The good thing about getting a job like that is that you will get very used to working with patients, having to approach them in awkward situations and you will get over seeing them in personal situations very quickly.

[hellybelly1]

The only thing I'd add to the very sensible advice you've got from others, is to perhaps try to also get some non-Psych related work experience. Interviewers will undoubtedly ask why you want to be a psychiatrist and not a clinical psychologist, and getting some more general experience will help convince them that you're making the right choice, and that you're properly informed. You need to be prepared to explain your choice, in any case.

Good luck!

[Emerald]

Hi Ali you seem to have very similar background to me. Im a psych graduate, then did work experience within SLAM (maudsley) Be careful about using your year out too specifically on psychology field (ie assistant psych roles) as that begs the interview question why not clin psych. I was an assistant psych and a researcher in psychiatry in my couple of years out and with good personal statement wording and lots of networking in my jobs to gain a variety of experince have managed to clear myself from the why clin psych assumptions.
Personally i think research jobs are fantastic experience and have helped me very much to get my place at UCL. They give you a good NHS understanding, understanding of the importance, limitations and benefits of research (which is an area both of my interviewers seemed to love) and open the door for some much needed client contact not in the plain Work experience observing sense.
As a psychology graduate any psycho/social, psychiatric research units will love you especially with your SLAM and mencap experience. Ive had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with some of the most challenging and difficult patients on a one-to-one basis and what ive learnt and experienced seemed to be liked by the unis i applied to.

Like i said ive had a very similar background to you, so if you wanna ask anymore questions or PM me, feel free

[jxh487]

Gap years are ridiculous...load of bull, they're for lazy people who have life too easy. So make sure you get the most out of yours. Auxilliary Nursing for a year would be adequate

[imanbansal]

I think gap years are awesome - make sure you do a variety of things - you'd be amazed at how much will be useful for your application - enjoy yourself while you can too!! xx