Does a social science grad have any shot?

[Iceman10]

It wasn't fun, but after a lot of practice I got 100% in that module so I can't complain too much. Eeek children, good for you! Cardiology sounds awesome too, I've always had a fascination with the heart. Ever since our GCSE biology teacher had a mental breakdown and quizzed us on the different parts of it in every lesson for six months, it's been hard to forget really! I think I'd like to go into surgery though - I know it's competitive but I think it'd suit me. I've never been squeamish, work well under pressure and am really good with my hands (hahahahaha), anything small and technical I can master. From sewing to expert guitar hero I got it down haha.

I have thought about surgery, it does look exciting but also high pressure. The only thing I can compare it to is pc repair, when I open a pc to take something out and put something in. It can be quite tight and I sometimes leave the pc on so I've got about 4 or 5 fans spinning and I have to be careful with the wires lol. It can be quite cramped, small hands are definitely better for this.

Its good that you're not squeamish, i think I'd die of embarrassment if I was the kid that fainted during a teaching session. It reminds me of school, someone fainted at school during sex education, I'm not sure what set him off because it wasn't graphic. I did get to see a consultant cutting up some lymph nodes during a work experience placement, luckily I didn't faint.

He runs a company rescue business and an investment/business asset sale company. I'm currently working for the latter building databases etc, so dull!

That sounds quite a way away from medicine or journalism, building relational databases at A Level almost brought me to tears. Many to many, 1 to many etc etc.

And I'll be the one chatting to EVERYONE and hopefully breaking the ice. Deffo making up for the fact I never spoke until the age of 14.

Lol

Pretty much the same! I've lived here 4 years, since I first came to uni, and I just love it. The people, the place, the fact it's basically a big version of my hometown (which is only an hour away). And I did a year of a marketing degree at Newcastle before transferring to the Poly so I know it's a great place to study. Yeah living costs being down would be great but I don't think I could move back without going insane, though I've saved about £500 being home for 6 weeks so it does work. Are you living at home at the minute?

Living at home is definitely cheaper, I'm living at home at the moment, this is my third uni but I've never moved out (I've changed course too).

Oh jeez I hadn't thought ahead to student loans - too wrapped up in getting into to the damn places! Never been the best with money :/ we won't have to start paying our first til we're earning money, so probs when we're F1s. It's about £5 a week repayment, so maybe we'll pay £10 in total for both loans? Who knows, it'd be interesting to find out. Are you confident you'll be able to fund the first year's tuition? I'm definitely not!! Haha. I think they still look at your household income but I'm not sure xx

You're right probably not until F1 year, I haven't paid a penny of my first loan as I've not earned enough. I'll find a way of funding the first year, if I have to sell a kidney, I'll do it! I've signed up for medical trials and the like to help financially, I'm just hoping I get chosen so I can take part.

Hmm, not sure what I did there - I seem to have lost half of that last comment.

What it was meant to say was Iceman10 - if you find out about the SLC independent student status I would be really grateful if you could post a generic version of what SLC says. I'm planning to go the open day (Provided they have space - I'm still waiting on a confirmation email) and I was planning to ask similar questions about finances myself so I can feedback any information I get if you need it.

M150 & NotADumbBlonde

I just finished a marathon phone call with SFE and I've got some information which will be pretty useful for all matures, especially GEM applicants.

If you are over 25 you will be granted independent student status, I asked specifically whether that would change if I was living with my mother, they said no. I will not be earning a significant income so assume I should be eligible for full maintenance loans etc.

In regards to what happens to previous loan and the repayment schedule I was advised that from 2015 all loans taken prior to 2012 entry will be bumped up to the new system. In my case my repayment threshold will jump up from £16k to £21k. We will all move to the new system which means we're likely to pay more than we would have previously. You start paying when you earn more money but the interest is higher, so for people with a previous loan, its not great. On the other hand killer Cameron wants us to work until we're 90 so that's plenty of time to pay back...

[M150]

Woo! Thank you Iceman10 One good thing about being old! (I still haven't gotten over not being 19 anymore). The paperwork for loans was always a nightmare when I was assessed on my parents income.

From 2015? Do we no get bumped if we get in for 2014? Or is that a typo. Although I already owe them so much money I'm expecting it to get written off anyway. Will have to remember to buy a euromillions ticket for tonight anyway. Medical trials as a way to make money sounds like an interesting idea Iceman, I think I'll try and work as a personal tutor for GCSE/A Level students if I get in.

[Iceman10]

Woo! Thank you Iceman10 One good thing about being old! (I still haven't gotten over not being 19 anymore). The paperwork for loans was always a nightmare when I was assessed on my parents income.

From 2015? Do we no get bumped if we get in for 2014? Or is that a typo. Although I already owe them so much money I'm expecting it to get written off anyway. Will have to remember to buy a euromillions ticket for tonight anyway. Medical trials as a way to make money sounds like an interesting idea Iceman, I think I'll try and work as a personal tutor for GCSE/A Level students if I get in.

The lady did say 2015 but I took it to mean that the old loans will be converted over to the new system at this time. All those who start their course 2012+ will be on the new system anyway whether its their first degree or not.

The only caveat to the independent student thing was that the lady said if you had a partner or something, they would look at their income as well. She used a word which I can't quite remember but it was on those lines. I'm not sure whether it would have to be marriage, boyfriend, girlfriend etc.

I owe SLC a fair bit too, it'll have to be written off at some stage. The clinical trials is a bit of a funny thing, I signed up even before I was considering medicine. I might be cheeky and ask if I can shadow one of the doctors if I get picked.

Out of interest have you tried to get work experience at St Helliers or St George's?

[M150]

Ah well, even if it does get converted then its still less time paying the higher rate of interest on my current degree. Unfortunately I have a PCDL as well so I need to pay off as much of that as possible. Had a quick Google and may sign up for some of the clinical trials when I get home.

St Heliers don't do work experience anymore - Epsom do but its further away:

2013 programme

Please find detailed below the dates for the 2013 work experience that Epsom will be working to and suggest that applicants interested in obtaining experience contact Claire Potter by email at claire.potter@esth.nhs.uk no earlier than 31 August 2012.

*

Monday 18th - Friday 22nd February 2013
*

Tuesday 2nd - Friday 12th April 2013
*

Monday 27th - Friday 31st June 2013
*

Monday 29th July - Friday 30th August 2013

Dates after this period will be released in February 2013.

Once I get my dissertation finished I'm planning to try and see if I can get any work experience with St Heliers by targeting some departments directly. St Heliers also have a volunteering section who I'm going to get in touch with once I get back. I think chances of work experience might be higher with hospices. Or in terms of paid jobs that might be helpful, have you considered childcare? I don't know what your hours are like at uni but you might be able to get a job at an after school / holiday club.

[M150]

Ah well, even if it does get converted then its still less time paying the higher rate of interest on my current degree. Unfortunately I have a PCDL as well so I need to pay off as much of that as possible. Had a quick Google and may sign up for some of the clinical trials when I get home.

St Heliers don't do work experience anymore - Epsom do but its further away:

Once I get my dissertation finished I'm planning to try and see if I can get any work experience with St Heliers by targeting some departments directly. St Heliers also have a volunteering section who I'm going to get in touch with once I get back. I think chances of work experience might be higher with hospices. Or in terms of paid jobs that might be helpful, have you considered childcare? I don't know what your hours are like at uni but you might be able to get a job at an after school / holiday club.

[M150]

Epsom work experience programme:


2013 programme

Please find detailed below the dates for the 2013 work experience that Epsom will be working to and suggest that applicants interested in obtaining experience contact Claire Potter by email at claire.potter@esth.nhs.uk no earlier than 31 August 2012.


Monday 18th - Friday 22nd February 2013

Tuesday 2nd - Friday 12th April 2013

Monday 27th - Friday 31st June 2013

Monday 29th July - Friday 30th August 2013

Dates after this period will be released in February 2013.

[Iceman10]

Cheers. I got a week at the Marsden, but that was in the biomedical science department. I did ask about clinical work experience but the lady said I'd have to apply to the department as she has nothing to do with that side.

Do you think that you're more likely to be able to get work experience at teaching hospitals? I only ask as St Helliers isn't a teaching hospital if I remember correctly.

[M150]

(Apologies for the late reply - currently working on my dissertation)

Possibly, I think the main issue with work experience in hospitals will be how many people want to do it and how busy everyone is - I think we just need to be imaginative when looking for work experience, it doesn't have to be in a purely medical environment just as long as you can show your a caring person and you understand the realities of the job. I think something longer term and more caring would look better than an impresive sounding two weeks shadowing a doctor. I think the biomedical science dept would be useful because it shows you have researched other options and have given the decision to apply for medicine some significant thought.

[Iceman10]

(Apologies for the late reply - currently working on my dissertation)

Possibly, I think the main issue with work experience in hospitals will be how many people want to do it and how busy everyone is - I think we just need to be imaginative when looking for work experience, it doesn't have to be in a purely medical environment just as long as you can show your a caring person and you understand the realities of the job. I think something longer term and more caring would look better than an impresive sounding two weeks shadowing a doctor. I think the biomedical science dept would be useful because it shows you have researched other options and have given the decision to apply for medicine some significant thought.

No worries, I know how dissertations can be all encompassing. I think that's an important point you've made about the work experience. A fortnight with a doctor does little to dissuade the admissions tutors that you are a rounded individual and not just an exam robot / monster. The different experiences are useful and might well be a question at a potential interview.

I generally get firsts in most modules and should hopefully come out with a first.

I would like to say I'm doing that well but it would be a total lie. How do you get such good marks?

[TheTool]

Hi NotADumbBlonde

I actually know two people who managed to get into universities with only a few weeks experiences (it was in a nursing home). What they did was draw on their experiences form their degrees and the activities that they did whilst at uni. Perhaps you could reconsider applying to uni this year and you still have till october to sit the UKCAT!