Any help/comments would be much appreciated

[IAR]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and I hope you guys can help.

Just recently graduated and got a 2:1. I'm hoping to apply for grad entry by 2010 but I need some help with regards my work experiance situation.

Currently I have no formal experiance other than the following:

I am a father of two and attended all pre and post natal clinic appointments with my wife, was present during two c-sections, was in hospital all day after birth to care for mother and child (both times) was with her both times throughout the days prior to birth, for inducement, epidural etc etc

for 10 years or so I have been attending GP appointments with my mother as a translator as well as all other appointments for her other conditions (osteoporosis, diabetes etc) in addition to regular GP visits included, translating during consultations at hospital, eye check up (diabetes) etc etc

obviously attend GP appointments with children as well as experiance of how healthcare assistance work when we would go to weekly/fortnightly baby clinic etc etc

during my teens my late father had a stroke so during his time in hospital (2-3 months) would regularly go into to see him with my mother and carry out auxillary nurse duties,

In addition to this I'm hoping to gain some regular GP practice work off of a friend which will start in mid-July hopefully

And on top of that want to get into st johns ambulance as well this I have an application for a Pgce during this year so I have experiance with kids and leadership skills, communication etc

I also completed my degree with a 2:1 while my wife gave birth to our two children, so I had to really manage my times etc

I also work near enough to full time during my studies and at my work I engage with many elderly residents and their carers (I'm concierge) and thus help them with entering building and settling into their homes etc helping them get up if they fall in their flats etc

just wondering with regards my family orientated clinical experiance, my work, would that be a bonus or not relevant? And if relevant how much so would you think?

Also how do medical schools view candidates who have attained a decent degree 2:1 even with many responsabilities like fatherhood, husband, working, facing many family hardships yet still progressing etc etc

feedback would be much appreciated

[Zabier]

The best thing, I think, is for you to be able to talk about your experiences in interview and personal statement.
You have obviously done allot of hard work and talking honestly about your experiences may be good.

[giella]

You would do well to sort your experiences out.
Which experiences motivated you?
Which experiences deepened your understanding of medicine as a career?
Which experiences have improved your sense of community awareness and responsibilty?
Which experiences equipped you with useful skills?
Which experiences have shaped your goals? What are your goals?
This is why experience is useful/necessary for medicine. Obviously, if you look at the questions, it is not always necessary that this experience be directly related to medicine. However, direct observational experience does help you to shape your understanding of why your other experiences will be useful.
Interests in health, community and science are essential, so you could think about how you can demonstrate that through your experience.

[Dr.Thor]

To be honest, I think you can only talk about work experience through being with your family so much. I dont mean to say that attending these appointments was pointless as im sure you enjoyed not only the experience but supporting your family.

From what ive heard/done, med schools like people that have had experience acting in a care settings themselves. Obviously you can put in your statement, your first experience in medicine came from being with your mother, and you experienced secondary care etc. You could also say about being a father at uni was difficult but its enhanced your time management.

I guess what im trying to say is that the main bulk of your personal statement needs to be about your own work experience; and at 4000 characters your fairly limated. St. Johns is a good start, make sure you get that GP placement, and maybe something in a hospital? If not just help out in reception for a few days; try and speak to as many people as you can!

Hope this helps, and good luck applying for 2 courses. Risky strategy! Your obviously limated with family commitments though!

Luke

[latestarter]

I agree with previous posts. Although you have a wealth of personal experiences which have obviously shaped your desire to become a doctor yourself (as it was in my case), you need to make this experience more formal through volunteering and/or working in a care related environment.
The information on time management is interesting and may attract selectors who lean towards matures - so do your homework on where to apply. You haven't mentioned where you are applying, as I know this can be a tie when you have family. The fact that you got a 2:1 when you had family etc. doesn't seem to get much weight in my opinion - a shame I know.
You may have already done some research, I can't tell from the post but don't underestimate the hard slog ahead - and think carefully before embarking on a PGCE whilst applying to med as you should be clear why you are changing career path. (I also considered this as a back up)

[IAR]

thanks guys, some really important info

I'm gonna be applying to only London based uni St Georges, Kings and QMW I may try for a 5 year but that will be something I need to look into.

The reason I'm doing a PGCE is because by 2010 I need to either be working or studying med, so a long shot I know but I got to give it a go. So my back up as a family man and sole provider for my family is that I haven't got time to waste.

As regards studying and attaining a 2:1, I thinking but please do give and thoughts, I have been through many issues family wise which made me average a 3rd class in the 2nd year I had to work quite hard to get the 2:1....

Sorry just got tied up more info late

Cheers

[dances_with_lamposts]

st georges want a lot of work experience for their graduate course. more than a year. you may struggle with there, dont know about the others.

for your work exp, what you have is ok if its all you can get, but try to get some more clinical stuff if you can. med schools want people to have done work experience so that they can tell that the applicant has made an informed choice about medicine, its all well and good that you were there for the birth of your kids, but what exactly was it that made you want to go for medicine?

im not trying to be harsh here, but i want you to have a good shot at getting in this year.

[Dr.Thor]

NB: ignore my comment 'good luck applying for 2 courses. Risky strategy! Your obviously limated with family commitments though' i read Zabiers sig as yours. I am retarded

[IAR]

Last time I checked st georges wanted 6 months

thing is if I get a guaranteed interview depending upon my gamsat, do I mention dates etc on the personal statement or at the interview?

I have been told just now thank god- I can start a placement at the GP surgery which will be three months by mid-oct, so could I just put this as a general thing on my PS or a specific date?

[dances_with_lamposts]

for st georges - you have to fill in a work experience declaration thingy, that includes dates and responsibilities etc, aswell as getting confirmation of work experience from the place you did it ( just a short note on letterheaded paper).

great news about your placement. dont forget to take the time to reflect on what you see and do.