Inmy gap can I do an apprenticeshi as a healthcareassistant and apply to med next yea

During my gap can I do an apprenticeship as a healthcare assistant and apply to med next year .
Does this damage my chancees of going into med

Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum. :biggrin:

The Medicine forum gets a high volume of questions being posted, and some of these are already answered by the resources and Megathreads that members of the community and volunteers have created. This is an automatic post which is designed to highlight these resources. Below is a list of threads and articles that could answer your question (you should be looking in the original post of the megathreads). If one of the below threads is a more relevant place to ask your question, please post a reply in that thread to ask your question. If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked below, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.

Megathreads
(Please read the first post, before then posting any further questions you have within that thread.)
The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work

2023 Applicants:
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2023 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2023 Entry
Medicine 2023 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2023 Entry
Medicine Interview discussion 2023 Entry
2023 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Index of Individual Medical School Applicants' threads 2023 Entry

2024 Applicants :
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2024 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2024 Entry
GAMSAT 2024 / 2025 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2024 Entry Discussions Megathread

Other application years:
Graduate Entry Medicine 2025 Entry
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2025 Entry

Useful Articles:
GCSE Requirements for Medicine
Everything you need to know about the BMAT
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application

If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked above, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.

Reply 2

GGIN

Experience as an HCA will not damage your application for medicine. Indeed when reflected on properly is likely to enhance it.

To be honest though I am not sure that the apprenticeship part would be ideal.

This is just my personal view but the apprenticeship programme and HCA / social care workforce is under so much pressure that taking an apprenticeship spot from somebody who might need the job and continue in it as a career seems a bit off.

If this was the only way in for you then I guess, but apart from my reservations on the point above, there are just so many HCA/care jobs in nursing homes available out there with no experience needed that thereb is just no need to take an apprenticeship slot.

If doing it that way look for a vacancy in a care home providing nursing care ideally, not just social care. This will provide more opportunities for medical reflection. A care home will provide a lot of opportunities for caring which is also very important for your application.

Both will support you to undertake training if you wish.

HCAs/care workers are not paid as much as they deserve. But they are paid a lot more than an apprentice HCa/care worker if that matters to you.

Good luck with your gap year, making it a productive one is the most important thing imo and it sounds like yours will be.

(edited 6 months ago)

Reply 3

GGIN

Original post by fa9089

During my gap can I do an apprenticeship as a healthcare assistant and apply to med next year .
Does this damage my chancees of going into med

My comments above are about the HCA part, but out of curiosity, did you mean apply next year for entry in 2025 so taking 2 gap years?

Or applying this year for entry in 2024, so taking 1 gap year?

Reply 4

fa9089

Original post by GGIN

My comments above are about the HCA part, but out of curiosity, did you mean apply next year for entry in 2025 so taking 2 gap years?

Or applying this year for entry in 2024, so taking 1 gap year?