Medlink 2013 Get Support for Medical School Here Now!

Many people who do things like Gap Medic make a real sacrifice (or their family does), to fund the experience. So there is no assumption of privilege. What really counts is your ability to communicate the experience both via your personal statement and in an interview. Very important to show what you gave to those who you spent your gap time with and secondly what they gave you, how the experience changed you and made you a person of more depth and experience and a more likely future doctor. Given that nearly everyone applying is the same age, background, experience etc it is really important to consider anything that will make you standout.

We disagree, it is never a waste of time meeting and interacting with real people who share your hopes and goals. Facts can be gained from the internet and there is probably not a fact taught in medical school that cannot be found online. But there are no online medical schools. The patients that people meet at Medlink and Medsim, their symptoms can be found online, but patients are more than symptoms and an internet search and meeting with them in person is not a waste. Durham Medical School, Bristol Medical School, The Royal College of Surgeons, the BMA and Lord Robert Winston, to name a few would not agree that they wasted students time and money and we are sorry to read that you think that we did. You are correct a Google search from your bedroom will give you, for example, details of Lord Winston and for you that might be enough, but please allow there are some who want to hear him live who want to meet him and ask him direct questions and the same is true for students interactions with the rest of us. We think it is great that you have offered to help others from your computer, but please allow that those of us who attended Medlink can help also by talking face to face.

First of all medical schools do not look favorably on things like gap medics they do infact actively ignore it and I know this from talking to the admissions staff. It doesn't show anything about you other than that your parents have a few grand to spare. You would get more valuable work experience for free in the UK. Also they don't want applications that stand out they want applications that tick their score sheet boxes.



Robert Winston may be great (I myself am still traumatized from a video we watched about his sperm at school) but he is not worth hundreds of pounds. What you do is solely for profit and the only people it benefits are those that are too lazy to research it for themselves. To be honest there's way more insight into the application system on here than you can stick in your silly conference. I managed four offers without wasting my money and christmas with you guys and I would advise applicants to consider what else they can spend their money on because I've never heard a single person say medlink helped their application.

First of all medical schools do not look favorably on things like gap medics they do infact actively ignore it and I know this from talking to the admissions staff.

Agreed - at least at a few universities, anyway.
I took a gap year and had mentioned my (self-funded, non-Gap Medic / let's try to save the world) travel plans and got asked at my interviews "Have you organised this yourself or is it a company-run thing?"
Could tell they were a little bit cynical (to say the least) at paying a company to organise work experience abroad..

At least you self funded

I paid over £200 for a motivational pep talk, a few lectures from different specialists and a rubbish CD.....complete moneymaking farce and hasn't helped me in the slightest! It's a great business model, take advantage of people who desperately want something!


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What is the importance of extracurricular activities when applying for Medicine? I know work experience is essential but what else should be done?

What is the importance of extracurricular activities when applying for Medicine? I know work experience is essential but what else should be done?

Extracurricular like playing an instrument to grade 6 or above or playing a sport at state level is good. It shows commitment, teamwork and leadership. I think universities are more likely to give you a place if you're really good as well because they want you to play for their team.

Extracurricular like playing an instrument to grade 6 or above or playing a sport at state level is good. It shows commitment, teamwork and leadership. I think universities are more likely to give you a place if you're really good as well because they want you to play for their team.

It would be an absolutely fantastic opportunity to give a guest post. Of course I want to do it! I may have some time to write it over the next couple of weeks, if this is ok? Would you like me to focus on why I am interested in neonatology, or something more medical- for example, a specific complication that can arise in neonates?

Thank you for your kind help.
Susanne de Vrijer

The fact that you play something, do something or have experience working in a care home etc. means nothing UNLESS you can demonstrate what you learnt from that experience or can show your skills during interview. I highly doubt any university will let you into medical school because they want you play your instrument for them.

I agree with the others regarding the usefulness (or lack thereof) of medlink,
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Hi Medlink is only of value to those who attended, we would imagine that you would have gained some value if you had. For a 'good' student everything is of value. Meeting with patients in any situation can be useful, can some situations be more useful than others? Yes of course but we are not talking either or, but doing as much as you can. You are of course entitled to an opinion on an event you never attended, but really your thoughts and advice would be more useful for the things that you have actually done. So what did you actually do that helped you and might help others? Really that is the point of the thread - to help people based on our own knowledge and experience. So please share yours we honestly would like to read it.

Hello! I went to the Dentistry course at the same time as Medlink and it was unbelievably useful, especially Mr James Ridgeway and his Edge talk, so a massive, massive thank you to anyone who organised it or talked during it! I have a few questions, however. Firstly, at the UKCAT talk we were told that we were going to be emailed practice questions but I haven't received anything..? Also, I can't seem to find the links Mr Ridgeway told us would be on the a Medlink site, but I believe that's a problem from my side bc I cannot navigate the website, so a link would be brilliant, if possible.. Lastly, where could I find Mr Ridgeway's contact details? I'd love to email him some questions and stay in touch!

Thanks!
Sara