Work Exp?

[hoonosewot88]

Hi
I'm applying for some graduate entry medicine courses in October and Newcastle is one of my choices. I was wondering if there are any current newcastle students on here that could tell me what kind of work experience they had when they applied successfully so i can see how i may improve mine.
My work experience to date has been:
. 2 weeks work experience on a rheumatology and acute care ward: I was basically a HCA during my time on this ward, mucking in with a variety of care-based jobs such as bed-bathing some very ill patients as well as feeding changing beds and just generally looking after patients. I also accompanied patients to some of their procedures eg. sigmoidoscopy, CT scan, ultrasound etc. and got to watch them being carried out.
. 1 week as a work experience volunteer on a rehabilitation ward: Not as hands on as the other placement, instead performing housekeeping duties and a lot of patient interaction, just generally cheering them up or keeping them happy however possible. This was very useful to get an insight into the lives of people hit with severe injuries eg.double leg amputees and gave me a chance to understand their mindsets and the situations they faced when they got home.
. 1 week shadowing a surgeon: As it says on the tin, i followed around a surgeon, doing minor tasks for him along the way and stood in on some surgeries (which was awesome).
. 1 week shadowing a GP: Again as it says on the tin. Watching the GP interact with such a variety of patients was interesting and i felt it was useful seeing the contrast against the surgical shadowing.
. 1 month volunteering at a care home (ongoing): Basically a HCA at a care home along with housekeeping duties, though this is part time, only two afternoons a week.

Sorry to bore you all with the list but i just wanted to make clear what i've done so far and get any feedback on what people feel i could do to improve it. I realise its not quantity but quality, and that it is how you can talk about the exp that matters, and I have garnered plenty of ammo for my personal statement.
However i'm worried about not having any paid work experience (other than 4 months in a hospital laboratory which is only slightly relevant), my efforts to get a HCA position have been fruitless and i'm scared it could cost me as I don't have great A levels (i know they're not taken into account but they're sat there on the UCAS form ina ll their C'ish glory screaming "this kids not good enough!!!") so work experience is important to my app.
As i say any feedback would be really appreciated, particularly on my chances at Newcastle assuming i had a good UKCAT score (fingers crossed) to go with my BMS degree 1st.
OK! Essay over, sorry!

[MCStott]

I would say you have enough work exp, but I'm not that sure on what they look for for the GEP programme. However, you have a 1st. I would say that they might ask you why you have decided to study medicine at this stage and not post A level (maybe not, cos its probs jst the grades). I dont think its important to have paid experience, especially if you have just graduated and you have volunteered experience.

[AimsRJ]

Hey-
You've got a lot more than me!
Think you'll be fine for Warwick I know of at least 2 people I worked with that have got places over the last couple of years with much less hands on experience than that. I am (and they were)Pharmaceutical reps- we can claim that we spend all day with DRs so have a realistic idea of what they do/ pressures of the job/ how the NHS works etc but it obviously isnt hands on- caring experience. I have spent individual days shadowing a variety of Drs but have had no HCA experience. I dont think they did any of this and got places (certainly 1 and I think both got 2:1s too). Fingers crossed for us!

[Liz!]

Don't worry about your a-levels as they will be more concerned with your degree results! I had crap a-levels and they didn't take them into account, just my performance on the degree I was on. They'll want to know if you've applied before and if not, why not (A-levels)? Don't worry about paid work experience at all, it's more about long term experience. Keep at your care home volunteering HCA job.

They will want to know what you have learnt from your work experience and how you reflect on it. There is not point having loads of work experience if you have nothing to say about it, but it sounds like you have a lot to say!

It sounds like you already have more than enough, good luck!!