[TuesdaysChild]

I hope I'm posting this in the right place, and I apologise if I'm not!

At the moment I'm on my gap year, having applied for medicine twice and failed to gain a place both times. The first year I applied with pretty much no work experience (This was partly due to a chaotic year family-wise and partly due to the fact that I had little guidance about my appliaction soon enough.) and didn't even get an interview (no suprise there in hindsight!). The second year I packed my bags and volunteered on a medical/HIV programme in Kenya for 8 weeks, and gained other useful work experience as well. Subsequently I was invited to 2 interviews, both of which I then flopped.

While I was in Kenya, I was able to observe several paramedics/community workers/nurses in action. They were awesome - I'd never really seen that side of medicine portrayed to me, so the whole experience was certainly an eye opener!

Anyway, currently I have an offer (which I've accepted) to study biochemistry at the University of Surrey. I chose biochem, because I know it leads well into forensics, which was my original plan B.

But now I'm thinking more and more about becoming a paramedic. I don't really want to apply for medicine for a third year in a row. I just don't. I think I need to let this sleeping dog lie. A paramedic course would only last for 3 years, and honestly, the shorter period of study time is appealing to me. And the thought of being stuck in a lab all my life is also getting to me.

What I'm wondering is this:

1) How does funding work (especially since paramedic studies are funded by the NHS) if you switch from one degree to another. Say I went from biochem after the first year and jumped into a paramedic course (which Surrey also has)...does anyone know what would happen with funding? What about if I were to do this after my biochem degree? Would I still get any NHS funding?

2) How competitive is it to get into a paramedic degree? I mean, in comparison to getting into med school. I have the grades for med school, and a truck load of work experience, but I do know I'd have to get better at my interview skills.

3) What, really, is the best route to go down? University degree or on the job training?

4) About that work experience...do you think I could use the same examples I had for my med school application? (I also attended St John training sessions for about a year). If not, what work experience do you need to become a paramedic?

Sorry for the long winded-ness! I'd really appreciate any nuggets of wisdom people could throw my way!

[jtnf]

1) I know the NHS only fund your first degree, but I don't know whether the Biochem or paramedic degree would be classed as your first seeing as you never graduated and don't have a BSc.

2/3) Sorry, I don't know.

4) I'm sure any healthcare orientated work experience/volunteering would be a massive plus in your application

I wasn't that much help but I tried!

[Happy_Holidays]

(Original post by TuesdaysChild)
1) How does funding work (especially since paramedic studies are funded by the NHS) if you switch from one degree to another. Say I went from biochem after the first year and jumped into a paramedic course (which Surrey also has)...does anyone know what would happen with funding? What about if I were to do this after my biochem degree? Would I still get any NHS funding?

Not all Paramedic course are NHS funded. In fact the majority aren't and for those that are a number are now moving away from it. This means it will all be done through student loans/own pocket. If you decided to do the first year of biochem I would check whether you could still get a student loan should you wish to do a paramedic course.

2) How competitive is it to get into a paramedic degree? I mean, in comparison to getting into med school. I have the grades for med school, and a truck load of work experience, but I do know I'd have to get better at my interview skills.

Paramedic courses are very competitive. For example, for a course with 20 places you might have 600 applicants and the number is rising each year. You have to show a very good knowledge of the job and the work involved and preferably have a good amount of care experience as well as being able to show you can study to a higher education level.

3) What, really, is the best route to go down? University degree or on the job training?

If you want to be a paramedic your best route is probably university. There are still a few trusts doing it on-the-job but these are even harder to get on. London are currently doing a 4 year employed route with learning done through the Open Uni (currently advertising), South Western are doing a ?4 year employed route through Open Uni however the training is self funded, South Central may allow you on an Open Uni paramedic courses after becoming an Emergency Care Assistant, and the Scottish Ambulance Service run an employed route through Glasgow Caledonian where you train to be an ambulance technician first (currently recruiting techs).

4) About that work experience...do you think I could use the same examples I had for my med school application? (I also attended St John training sessions for about a year). If not, what work experience do you need to become a paramedic?

You can certainly use the experience you used for your med school application. Just keep gaining experience and knowledge.

[Happy_Holidays]

Whoever negged me is an idiot.

[Anthony_D_S]

(Original post by Happy_Holidays)
Whoever negged me is an idiot.

I shall restore the equilibrium.

In a nutshell you are spot on, If any I would recommend taking an adult nursing pathway and then further training to become an advanced paramedic/paramedic equivalent.

A

[zippyRN]

funding for paramedic pre-registration education is still vested with the trusts - hence the difficulties

as for someone suggesting Nursing as a route into being a Paramedic - why repeat substantial parts of the theory learning ... and as the SCAS Ambulance nurse pathway appears to have faltered and the majority ofd Services have comprehensively ****ed up ECP there's little benefit at the preset time for someone who wants to work pre-hospital becoming a nurse rather than applying for a Pramedic pre-reg course ...

[Zmit2260]

Lq


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[shanghaichica]

(Original post by jtnf)
1) I know the NHS only fund your first degree, but I don't know whether the Biochem or paramedic degree would be classed as your first seeing as you never graduated and don't have a BSc.

2/3) Sorry, I don't know.

4) I'm sure any healthcare orientated work experience/volunteering would be a massive plus in your application

I wasn't that much help but I tried!

Is this true? maybe it's different for different courses but they will fund nursing courses even if it's your second degree. I already have a degree (BSc) and the NHS fund my nursing degree which is a second degree. Because my degree is NHS/Healthcare related I am also eligible for a student loan.

[Bubble87]

(Original post by shanghaichica)
Is this true? maybe it's different for different courses but they will fund nursing courses even if it's your second degree. I already have a degree (BSc) and the NHS fund my nursing degree which is a second degree. Because my degree is NHS/Healthcare related I am also eligible for a student loan.

Hi! How did you go about applying for SFE funding? I'm starting Radiotherapy next month as my second degree and have my bursary all sorted but applied for a student loan online and got a no because ive already had one! I have heard before that even if it's your second degree you can still get some funding

NHS bursaries will fund you on an eligible course no matter how many degrees you have as long as they have never funded one for you before.


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[shanghaichica]

You have to fill in a paper application. Last year I had the same problems. I called up and was told that yes I could have a loan as it was an NHS funded course. Went online and was told that I wasn't entitled to anything. So I rang up the SLC again and was advised to fill out a paper application form. I filled out the form sent it off and was then awarded the maintenance loan.

Posted from my Galaxy note

[Billton]

(Original post by TuesdaysChild)
I hope I'm posting this in the right place, and I apologise if I'm not!

At the moment I'm on my gap year, having applied for medicine twice and failed to gain a place both times. The first year I applied with pretty much no work experience (This was partly due to a chaotic year family-wise and partly due to the fact that I had little guidance about my appliaction soon enough.) and didn't even get an interview (no suprise there in hindsight!). The second year I packed my bags and volunteered on a medical/HIV programme in Kenya for 8 weeks, and gained other useful work experience as well. Subsequently I was invited to 2 interviews, both of which I then flopped.

While I was in Kenya, I was able to observe several paramedics/community workers/nurses in action. They were awesome - I'd never really seen that side of medicine portrayed to me, so the whole experience was certainly an eye opener!

Anyway, currently I have an offer (which I've accepted) to study biochemistry at the University of Surrey. I chose biochem, because I know it leads well into forensics, which was my original plan B.

But now I'm thinking more and more about becoming a paramedic. I don't really want to apply for medicine for a third year in a row. I just don't. I think I need to let this sleeping dog lie. A paramedic course would only last for 3 years, and honestly, the shorter period of study time is appealing to me. And the thought of being stuck in a lab all my life is also getting to me.

What I'm wondering is this:

1) How does funding work (especially since paramedic studies are funded by the NHS) if you switch from one degree to another. Say I went from biochem after the first year and jumped into a paramedic course (which Surrey also has)...does anyone know what would happen with funding? What about if I were to do this after my biochem degree? Would I still get any NHS funding?

2) How competitive is it to get into a paramedic degree? I mean, in comparison to getting into med school. I have the grades for med school, and a truck load of work experience, but I do know I'd have to get better at my interview skills.

3) What, really, is the best route to go down? University degree or on the job training?

4) About that work experience...do you think I could use the same examples I had for my med school application? (I also attended St John training sessions for about a year). If not, what work experience do you need to become a paramedic?

Sorry for the long winded-ness! I'd really appreciate any nuggets of wisdom people could throw my way!

I know a few paramedics
None of them went to Uni though, they all spent years working for St. John's Ambulance, volunteering in residential care homes, working as Health Care Assistants... basically building up as much, consistent work experience as possible. It's super competitive, and one of my friends applied when she was about 27 I think. They've all said that the mature applicants outnumbered the younger ones though, so that could have something to do it. They said they prefer people with a bit more "life experience"
This is hear'say though, and not particularly the rule!
Good Luck

[Happy_Holidays]

(Original post by Billton)
I know a few paramedics
None of them went to Uni though, they all spent years working for St. John's Ambulance, volunteering in residential care homes, working as Health Care Assistants... basically building up as much, consistent work experience as possible. It's super competitive, and one of my friends applied when she was about 27 I think. They've all said that the mature applicants outnumbered the younger ones though, so that could have something to do it. They said they prefer people with a bit more "life experience"
This is hear'say though, and not particularly the rule!
Good Luck

It's only recently they've had to start going to uni.

[Billton]

(Original post by Happy_Holidays)
It's only recently they've had to start going to uni.

It's only recently my friends applied (i.e. last year they qualified.)
They chose not to go down the University route because on-the-job was better for them

[Bubble87]

(Original post by shanghaichica)
You have to fill in a paper application. Last year I had the same problems. I called up and was told that yes I could have a loan as it was an NHS funded course. Went online and was told that I wasn't entitled to anything. So I rang up the SLC again and was advised to fill out a paper application form. I filled out the form sent it off and was then awarded the maintenance loan.

Posted from my Galaxy note

Awesome thank you! I'll try filling it out on paper then, not gonna lose anything if they still say no!


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