Urgent help required- Graduate entry medicine

**darkstar1000** · 09-09-2010, 06:35 AM

Hi,

I have recently graduated from University with a 2.1 degree in Biology. I have recently just considered applying for medicine this year for 2011 entry. Currently, I have no work experience within healthcare. However, I have arranged work experience in a Hospital, which I will start in october. I just wanted to ask if there would be any point in me applying this year, as I have no work experience, but I do intend to undertake work experience quite soon. Should I just get lots of experience this year, and apply next year?

Also, I have still to write my personal statement and take the ukcat. I can probably get an reference arranged for the end of this month. I still have until 15th october to complete my ucas application, so I have about a month if I start just now. Would it be possible to get it completed by then?

Another thing is that since I have no work experience, how would I explain on my personal statement that I intend to undertake work experience. Can anyone direct me to example medicine personal statements which show that the individual has no work experience, but intends to undertake some.

There are some things that I could mention in my personal statement, such as, I was class representative in my course. I have won a teamwork award in a business enterprise competition, etc.

I would really appreciate any help. Thank you for your time.

**DLS** · 09-09-2010, 07:21 AM

I would advise completing atleast some Work experience before you apply. Otherwise, how do you know its for you? Completing experience is more than just 'ticking boxes'. Its so that you know the decision you have made is the correct one. I would personally advise applying in 2011 for 2012 entry, as applying this year with no work experience may be unwise. If you don't apply this time round you could always still take the UkCAT as a practice run, so you know what to expect next year. This way you have a better chance of getting the high scores need for GEP entry, obviously this isn't a necessity

If you do choose to apply GL, and when doing your personal statement you should just explain what work experience you have already arranged, but you would also need to explain how you know medicine is for you, which is where you may hit difficulties.

**kaodeve** · 09-09-2010, 12:39 PM

You could still apply and make sure you mention you are undertaking work experience in your PS. I would
suggest at least speaking to your own GP and any other health professionals you may know to give you
some insight into the job and then you can mention the understanding you have. Remember also that
you have your own patient experience. If you get to interview, then you would need to expand on what you
learned from your WE.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

**louise colette** · 10-09-2010, 07:03 PM

If you want to apply this year then don't let anything stop you. You WILL already have experiences in your life that you can call on for your PS. As mentioned above it isn't about box ticking, but about reflecting and learning from your experience. I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't get some healthcare experience under your belt - you definitely should - but that shouldn't stop you submitting an application anyway. Does that make sense?

Try to pick apart the role of the doctor into different skills - team working, leadership, caring, communication etc and demonstrate how you could meet them. They want someone committed to medicine and someone who is compassionate and well-rounded etc but you don't need to be a mini-doctor already...

Food for thought

**darkstar1000** · 10-09-2010, 10:59 PM

Thanks everyone. I think that I will certainly apply this year for 2011 entry. I have spoken to a GP and a hospital doctor, just to give me an insight into medicine. So, I am aware of the advantages and disadvantages of medicine. Do you think that I should mention this in my personal statement?

I think that I can cover the various skills that are looked for- For teamwork, I did win a business enterprise award for teamwork. For communication and leadership, I could mention my role as a class representative. However, I am not sure what I could mention for caring.

Another thing is that I do have some work experience arranged in a hospital, which I should start in around late October. It would involve assisting the activities co-ordinator within the hospital, to deliver a range of activities for elderly patients in a ward. Some of these patients have dementia. I will have to talk to the patients, read to them, as well, as play games with them.

When writing about the work experience in my personal statement, would I be able to say that I have done the work experience because I already know what is involved, instead of just saying that I will be undertaking the work experience. I am only asking because admissions will expect some work experience within a hospital or healthcare. I will certainly be doing the work experience, but is it ok to write in my personal statement that I have done it. It is not as if when it comes to the interview, that I will not have done the work experience, as the interviewers will be able to see through this.

**louise colette** · 10-09-2010, 11:30 PM

Absolutely. Write it as though you've done it, as you WILL have done it by the time you get to interview... I'm sure I'll be shot down in flames for this but when they ask you about it you will telling the truth; it'll just be the timeline that's a bit skewed. And I'm sure we're all guilty of 'embellishing' slightly.

**mark9213** · 11-09-2010, 03:33 AM

Writing as though you've done it is an option.

Another option would be to write about what you hope to gain from the experience, and writing about how the qualities you already have will help you with your work experience placement, for example having a 'caring nature' etc (i hope that makes sense).

I suppose it's down to you how you wish to spin it, or 'skew' the timelines as the above post nicely put it lol

**Jolt** · 11-09-2010, 04:57 AM

Lie through your teeth!

**louise colette** · 11-09-2010, 12:03 PM

Lol!

**AlaCourt** · 13-09-2010, 03:21 AM

And sure, if you get any interviews, even if they reject you for not having any actual work experience, you'll still have interview experience that you can draw on and improve your chances for next year.