Newbie looking for advice

**Marioptera** · 10-11-2009, 11:06 PM

Thanks everyone for your input, it is much appreciated. Is it true that from all three tests GAMSAT is the most difficult, but the easiest to prepare for? To me it seems rather similar to the MCAT test in North America, which is one brutal test in the sense that very little time is given to answer any one particular question.

To Goldenhawk: I'm unsure, but i am gravitating towards some of the universities extensively mentioned in this forum, such as Warwick, Nottingham, King's College, Birmingham. That being said, i will have to wait for a response and see what the requirements are for each of them before i submit an application. There's nothing worse than applying to a Uni whose criteria one cannot meet.

I also read that it is very important to work in healthcare, but that is rather difficult to do here, unless volunteering at the local hospital counts as work. I am also teaching labs at Uni and have been doing that for quite some time, so hopefully it will count for something...

**Goldenhawkw** · 10-11-2009, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by Marioptera

Is it true that from all three tests GAMSAT is the most difficult, but the easiest to prepare for? To me it seems rather similar to the MCAT test in North America, which is one brutal test in the sense that very little time is given to answer any one particular question.

Susposedly yes. I've not taken this year as I haven't had the time to put towards studying for it. But I will take it next year if I fail to secure a place this year.

The universities that you are looking at are certianly very good. Good luck and I do hope they will be happy to take you!

Originally Posted by Marioptera

I also read that it is very important to work in healthcare, but that is rather difficult to do here, unless volunteering at the local hospital counts as work. I am also teaching labs at Uni and have been doing that for quite some time, so hopefully it will count for something...

When I was in the US I did 4 years of volunteering at the local hospital. The work I did was very similar to the Healthcare assistant's position in the UK. So, depending on what your volunteer position is, it should certainly count towards showing motivation for medicine and experence of working within a caring environment. You could also consider joining a first aid group such as the Red Cross or St. John Ambulance (or equivelent). Learning a bit of first aid certainly won't go amiss and you get some limited patient contact through them.

**Marioptera** · 12-11-2009, 11:11 PM

Thanks for sharing this information. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of volunteer position did you undertake when you were in the US?

Originally Posted by Goldenhawkw

Susposedly yes. I've not taken this year as I haven't had the time to put towards studying for it. But I will take it next year if I fail to secure a place this year.

The universities that you are looking at are certianly very good. Good luck and I do hope they will be happy to take you!

When I was in the US I did 4 years of volunteering at the local hospital. The work I did was very similar to the Healthcare assistant's position in the UK. So, depending on what your volunteer position is, it should certainly count towards showing motivation for medicine and experence of working within a caring environment. You could also consider joining a first aid group such as the Red Cross or St. John Ambulance (or equivelent). Learning a bit of first aid certainly won't go amiss and you get some limited patient contact through them.

**Goldenhawkw** · 13-11-2009, 05:01 AM

I worked as a volunteer nurse's assistant in the operating theatre of our local hospital. It was excellent experience. I got a fair amount of patient contact assisting in prepping the patient for surgery with the anaesthetist. I got to watch the operations (if there was time). I also had to sort the instruments and get all the theatre kit together for each operation, during surgery I would fetch extra kit for the doctors and nurses, and afterwards I would recount the kit, and send it off for sterilization. At the end of my 4 years I was drawing up the theatre lists in the morning, fetching the patients from the wards, organizing all the kit for the day’s surgeries, keeping things running smoothly, and supervising another volunteer who wanted experience in theatre. Working there is what really made me want to be a doctor, but the time wasn't right so I had to wait till now, about 10 years later to apply.

**Marioptera** · 21-11-2009, 08:06 PM

Impressive, i am sure you will have no problem getting in with that kind of experience. That kind of volunteering is quite hard to find here. I wish you all the best of luck with your application.

**Goldenhawkw** · 22-11-2009, 09:08 PM

It was 10 years ago and in the US. I heard about it through a friend while I was at school. She heard about it through her mum who worked in the A&E there.
I've not been able to find another position in any hospital since, in either the US or UK. I've applied to be an HCA which is probably the closest I can get.