Gap Medics??????????

Yeah whatever

I think admissions tutors like to see that you have some sense of society in the UK outside of your own family and community. Many medical school applicants have come from quite sheltered family backgrounds and it helps to show that you have some understanding of social problems and how they can influence health. I'd recommend people look at volunteering opportunities in the UK with homeless people, and also with drug / alcohol outreach services. Working with people with communication difficulties can also be helpful; I did this and it went down well at interview.

I agree that UK experience is very important; this is after all the society you will be training in and hopefully working in after qualification. Going overseas for a couple of weeks can be interesting and illuminating, and can serve as a contrast, but shouldn't take the place of UK experience and certainly isn't necessary for a strong application.

Im looking for some advice on whether i should take a gap year, and if i could benefit from it in a non educational way, such as becoming more mature.

If i may ask, what did you get up to in your gap year IndiePixie ?

BS, it definitely helped mine this year. It depends on what you do though - i volunteered in ghana for a couple of weeks, it was actually pretty hard work, but also the most amazing experience ever

Yeah whatever

wow, really well thought out reply there

Hi, I worked as an HCA on an acute stroke ward. The work was hard but very rewarding. It gave me lots to talk about at interview - multidisciplinary teamwork, working with patients with communication difficulties, importance of nutrition / feeding issues. carer support etc. I also volunteered once a week with a charity that provides hot breakfasts for rough sleepers in the city.

It's as well thought out as your post. You are in cloud cuckoo land if you think 'a couple of weeks' volunteering in Ghana made much or any difference to your application, or to the people of Ghana

As a reapplicant the biggest boost to your application would be that you had your A-level grades in hand. Depending on your year 12 performance, your predicted A2 results and reference may not have been as strong as the medical schools want.

For example, for year 13 applicants who didn't get AAA or AAB at AS level and are having to resit modules, the referees have two choices (a) don't mention module resits or the AS results and make A2 predictions that are unsupported by any evidence, or (b) mention resits and the AS results and try and put a positive spin on them when predicting A2 performance. For students in this situation, gap year applications are often far more successful than year 13 applications simply because their academic referee can confidently talk about actual grades.

When I spoke to the admissions guy who was on of my 3 interviewers for Manchester, he mentioned that he was impressed with the way I related my experiences in Ghana to medicine

Seriously, what is your problem?

When I spoke to the admissions guy who was on of my 3 interviewers for Manchester, he mentioned that he was impressed with the way I related my experiences in Ghana to medicine, so I'm pretty sure that it did make a difference to my application this year

And whilst we may not have made a significant difference to the people of Ghana, we have started up a new charity, built a new school in the vicinity of lake volta.

I was only there for 2 weeks and I went up to mole national park (15 hour drive!), lake volta (was only around the corner anyway, although I wasn't teaching down there), kumasi and rainbow lodge at lake bosemtwe. In the summer you only teach from about 9-12, so you have the rest of the day and weekends free. The volunteers have always got trips and stuff organised for the weekends too, so tehre's always something to do

i volunteered in ghana for a couple of weeks, it was actually pretty hard work, but also the most amazing experience ever

What admissions guy and at what stage did you speak to him? I'm at Manchester and I've never heard anyone speak positively about these schemes. I'd be very interested to know who this is.

It's also very unusual for candidates to get such specific feedback after interview. You wouldn't get such feedback on the day. Unsuccessful candidates usually just get some bland statement sent by post / e-mail if they request feedback and I've never heard of a successful candidate requesting feedback.

Given the cost of these programmes, I think people should be realistic about the limited value it adds to applications. If they are monied, then fine but I would hate for anybody to think that they need to fund this sort of ego trip in order to make a successful application to medical school.



This doesn't seem very plausible. Hasn't Manchester moved to the 3 or 4 minute OSCE style interview stations after a group exercise? At what point were you given this feedback?



All in two weeks. I am impressed How much of this can you personally claim credit for?





If you think that was 'pretty hard work' you are in for a shock when you start medical school.

Take it easy guys, dont burn him for his experience.

Lets leave it at this :

1)if you have the money to 'Burn' and free time, then go on this trip for some small educational benefit and lots of fun

2)If you dont have money to 'Burn' but free time, then take a job as a HCA etc, get lots of 'educational' benefits, but not much fun ( You are rewarded in other ways, satisfaction)

Tbh, at the end of the day Saab, the excitement and fun aspect of the trip was a major component in deciding whether to go or not. But if you had the chance to go, then brilliant.

People who are going and been to Tanzania what vaccines did you all do??? Also is the area we are going to a Rural area? i'vebeen told i need hep A and B, yellow fever, rabies and typhoid.. can't think of any more right now.

I think we are going to it's kind of a small town?

anyways please get back to me

Heyy I'm thinking of going to Tanzania as well!! I haven't paid my deposit yet cos I'm not sure what dates to go and how long to stay - need to discuss with my parents as well When are you thinking of going?? Haha would be cool if we bumped into each other there

Also if there IS anyone who has been to Tanzania it would be great if you could answer those questions that I just quoted plus what's the accomo and food like? How long did you stay for, roughly how much extra money did you take and where did you mostly use it on? Oh and what did you do in the free time you were given i.e. afternoons and weekends? THANK YOU xD