Month: February 2020

Work Experience Checklist

Congratulations, you have successfully arranged your work experience, now you need to ensure that you make the most of your experience.

One thing many fail to realise is that it is not the duration of your work experience that matters, but, what you learn from it. The time between your work placement and interview may be a couple of months, hence, we advise that whilst you are on your work placement write a diary.

A diary? I know, it sounds crazy but it works.
In your diary, for each day of your placement, write down interesting things you see, key things that you observe, what you learnt and how it made you feel. Then at the end of your work placement elaborate on the items that you wrote in your diary and keep this information in a safe place.

The notes you make in your diary are very important, so ensure you allocate enough time for elaborating on your notes and make sure they are detailed.

For example, if you were fortunate enough to witness a surgery, do not just write down in your diary ‘I saw a surgery today and it was super cool.’ If you are invited to an interview, your interviewers may want to know more about your experience and having that as a reference may not help jog your memory. Instead be inquisitive, ask questions and do research on the surgery you saw. A better diary note will mention: the name of the surgical procedure, the duration, the reason why the surgery was performed, feelings the surgery evoked and so forth.

Another important factor is evidence.
Try and obtain a certificate or letter with the official institution letterhead which confirms the dates of your work placement. Unfortunately, individuals may lie about a work experience, so, it is important that just in the event where the university request for proof of your work placement, you are able to provide it.

Work Experience Locations

Medicine is a competitive profession that has the interests of many people so obtaining work experience may seem difficult. However, do not be in despair, there are so many work experience opportunities out there.

When people initially think of work experience for a potential Medical student, they think of a hospital. A hospital is a great place to have your work placement, do not get me wrong, but it is not the only option – sometimes you need to think outside the box.
Other places include but are not limited to:

  • An elderly home
  • A local primary school
  • A Pharmacy
  • A charity shop
  • A Hospice
  • Mental Health Centres
  • Blood Donation Centres
  • GP (General Practice) surgery

Remember, it is not where you have your work experience but what you take away from the experience and how it relates to life as a Medical doctor. Regardless of where your work experience is done, you will come into contact with different people and will see different cases which are unique to that individual; this parallels Clinical Medicine to an extent.
Do not be disheartened if you are rejected, keep on going and you will eventually sort out your work experience. You must start applying for your placements early as occasionally places are limited and go on a first-come-first-served basis.

Good luck!

Choosing a Medical School

A-Level students always ask us: ‘how did you pick your medical school as they are so many?’ Choosing the right medical school for you is crucial as you will be there for a considerable amount of time. It is important that you take time to research each of the universities prior to making your decision and selecting your top 4.

At MedSimple, our advice to you is to first of all decide whether you would like to embark on the 5-year programme or the 6. The difference between the programmes is that for the 5-year course an intercalated year is optional whereas on the 6-year course it is compulsory. An intercalated year allows you to study a particular area of interest in depth in one year and will result in the receipt of an additional qualification.

Another factor is the entrance exam for entry into the university; the UKCAT or BMAT. Some students study for both exams whereas others study for one and therefore apply to universities which accept that exam. If you do not want to study for both exams, choose the exam which is centred more on your strengths and you will more likely do well in it. So, if you choose to sit only the UKCAT exam then you can apply to universities which only accept the UKCAT.

Do you need help with the UKCAT? We offer many services so click here to find out more.
The course structure is a deciding factor for some as some universities allow patient contact from the first year, whereas, others do not until you reach the clinical years of the programme which is year 3 at most universities.

Lastly, the good ‘old miles. How far are you willing to move away? Some people do not wish to move to far so that they can pop back in for food and to have their laundry done. By deciding how far you are willing to move and travel you will hopefully be able to narrow down the list of universities.

Good luck ☺