MEGATHREAD - Hyper Awesome mega thread for simple applicant questions!

Does anyone know if vocational GCSEs count as... well, GCSEs? The grades I have are given in letter form like my other GCSEs but they're isolated and called "vocational".

Reply 781

Beska

21

Original post by Unbiased Opinion

Does anyone know if vocational GCSEs count as... well, GCSEs? The grades I have are given in letter form like my other GCSEs but they're isolated and called "vocational".

Generally no. Contact specific medical schools to make sure though - policies differ.

Reply 782

Unbiased Opinion

9

Original post by Beska

Generally no. Contact specific medical schools to make sure though - policies differ.

Thanks.

Guess I'd better avoid the GCSE Nazis then.

Reply 783

sablarrr

Hey guys,

I'm considering what I want to take to A2, the most obvious choices being Biology and Chemistry. I also do Maths and Sociology but I don't know which one I want to drop. I'm way better at sociology than I am at maths, but is soc still seen as a soft subject? Plus, I don't really want to take all 4 to A2, cos I'm lazy :tongue:

.

Advice much appreciated! :smile:

Reply 784

Beska

21

Original post by sablarrr

Hey guys,

I'm considering what I want to take to A2, the most obvious choices being Biology and Chemistry. I also do Maths and Sociology but I don't know which one I want to drop. I'm way better at sociology than I am at maths, but is soc still seen as a soft subject? Plus, I don't really want to take all 4 to A2, cos I'm lazy :tongue:

.

Advice much appreciated! :smile:

Sociology is generally seen as a soft subject yes, but in this context as long as it is presented alongside chemistry and biology it should be completely fine. I'd advise against taking more than the required 3 for A2. :smile:

If you'd like some authoritative confirmation, I suggest emailing medical schools you're interested in and asking for their opinion. As far as I know, taking sociology will only prevent you from applying to a handful of Cambridge colleages, and that's it.

Reply 785

nicolaangel

6

Is a HCA the same as an Auxiliary Nurse?

Do you need any training to be an Auxiliary Nurse?

Reply 786

SteveCrain

Original post by sablarrr

Hey guys,

I'm considering what I want to take to A2, the most obvious choices being Biology and Chemistry. I also do Maths and Sociology but I don't know which one I want to drop. I'm way better at sociology than I am at maths, but is soc still seen as a soft subject? Plus, I don't really want to take all 4 to A2, cos I'm lazy :tongue:

.

Advice much appreciated! :smile:

Hmm; I think there is some preference given to students who have 3 hard A levels, to A2. But if you can't get an A in Maths, take Sociology, as if it does put you at a disadvantage it will only be a slight one.

Reply 787

sablarrr

Original post by Beska

Sociology is generally seen as a soft subject yes, but in this context as long as it is presented alongside chemistry and biology it should be completely fine. I'd advise against taking more than the required 3 for A2. :smile:

If you'd like some authoritative confirmation, I suggest emailing medical schools you're interested in and asking for their opinion. As far as I know, taking sociology will only prevent you from applying to a handful of Cambridge colleages, and that's it.

Thanks, I'll email towards the summer :h:

I won't be applying to Cambridge anyway, don't stand much of a chance, ha!

Original post by SteveCrain

Hmm; I think there is some preference given to students who have 3 hard A levels, to A2. But if you can't get an A in Maths, take Sociology, as if it does put you at a disadvantage it will only be a slight one.

I'll bear this is mind :smile:

I'm doing the EPQ as well, will that "balance" things out a bit?

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 788

SteveCrain

Original post by sablarrr

Thanks, I'll email towards the summer :h:

I won't be applying to Cambridge anyway, don't stand much of a chance, ha!

I'll bear this is mind :smile:

I'm doing the EPQ as well, will that "balance" things out a bit?

EPQs are not regarded at all as a grade. They are useful in that they give you something to talk about at interview, but in no other ways.

Reply 789

tiggix

Can anyone recommend some good medical ethics books?
Not particularly for application purposes, just because I've just finished the "A very short introduction..." volume on medical ethics and really enjoyed it.
I'm wondering where to progress to now?
All suggestions welcome :smile:

faaanks!

Reply 790

Beska

21

Original post by tiggix

Can anyone recommend some good medical ethics books?
Not particularly for application purposes, just because I've just finished the "A very short introduction..." volume on medical ethics and really enjoyed it.
I'm wondering where to progress to now?
All suggestions welcome :smile:

faaanks!

Hippocratic Oaths by Raymond Tallis starts off with a very ethics/philosophy related introduction, and then goes onto analyse general medicine (eg MMR scare, doctor/patient relationships) with a very philosophical undertone. It's not exactly medical ethics, but it's that kind of thing and very, very interesting. It's extremely heavy reading, though.

Reply 791

tiggix

Original post by Beska

Hippocratic Oaths by Raymond Tallis starts off with a very ethics/philosophy related introduction, and then goes onto analyse general medicine (eg MMR scare, doctor/patient relationships) with a very philosophical undertone. It's not exactly medical ethics, but it's that kind of thing and very, very interesting. It's extremely heavy reading, though.

Thanks, sounds interesting, I'll look out for that one :smile:

Reply 792

Beska

21

Original post by tiggix

Thanks, sounds interesting, I'll look out for that one :smile:

It shaped most of my opinions on 'medicine' as a concept so I owe it a great lot, but I think it needs 2-3 reads to get the full impact from the book. Or maybe I'm just dumb. :p:

Nearly 1/3 of the pages are taken up with a bibliography!

Reply 793

tiggix

Original post by Beska

It shaped most of my opinions on 'medicine' as a concept so I owe it a great lot, but I think it needs 2-3 reads to get the full impact from the book. Or maybe I'm just dumb. :p:

Nearly 1/3 of the pages are taken up with a bibliography!

nice

crikey, sounds like something I may need to tackle with notepad and pen in hand!

Reply 794

nicolaangel

6

Can you recommend any good medical related books in general?

Reply 795

Beska

21

Original post by nicolaangel

Can you recommend any good medical related books in general?

As always the standard recommendation is any of Max Pemberton's books, and there are a lot other recommendations on the wiki page: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medicine_Applications_Further_Reading

Reply 796

nicolaangel

6

Original post by Beska

As always the standard recommendation is any of Max Pemberton's books, and there are a lot other recommendations on the wiki page: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medicine_Applications_Further_Reading

Thank you

Wow really? I thought I'd practically memorised every medical wiki page on here :O

Reply 797

kissandsell

Do medical schools take your religion into account at all?

Like religious beliefs you may have on certain aspects like euthanasia, abortion and other issues like this?

Reply 798

Penguinsaysquack

16

Original post by kissandsell

Do medical schools take your religion into account at all?

Like religious beliefs you may have on certain aspects like euthanasia, abortion and other issues like this?

Medical schools (or anyone for that matter) are not allowed to discriminate based on race, gender or religion etc, so in that essence your religious beliefs wouldn't be taken into account.

However at interviews if you discuss interviews matters like euthanasia/abortion and only argue your religious belief you could come across as narrow minded or unapproachable so that could cause a rejection.

But if you discussed abortion and were asked if you would allow a woman to terminate her pregnancy, you could outright say no as the GMC allows you to refuse this based on your religious beliefs.. however they are allowed another doctor iirc

If someone else could comment to back me up/correct me if I'm wrong :colondollar:

Reply 799

kissandsell

Thankyou!

So when you're a doctor are you allowed to be religious, this is worded poorly, but I mean do you have to kind of forget your religious beliefs whilst at work as a doctor?