Medicine 2012...(hopeful entrants) !!

Ahhh, good point! When do you recommend people start getting ready for the UKCAT?

Edit: oh, you're a Y12. Nvm.

Wowww that's a lot!

I know, my work experience looks so little in comparison

Yess same! I have 3 medical work experiences, with only 1 in a hospital, then 2 more that aren't really medically based.

Very similar to mine, I've got 1 week shadowing various doctors, and then 1 week as a teaching assistant and I've recently started charity shop volunteering every weekend. If I could get some at a GP's office, and a job at a care home I think that should suffice, but I know several other applicants in the area who will probably apply there too.

It's quality, not quantity when it comes to work experience. There is a post grad in my year who only had one day at a GP's and still got in

I'd say it is more important for you to work out what you learned from your placements, rather than trying to cram in as much as possible

Yes, I realise that, but I think it'd be a good idea to get that as well so that I can demonstrate things like empathy skills, teamwork etcetera, and the GP's office would be good to show insight into medicine. Just trying to get a decent amount done now so that I'm not clutching at straws when it comes to writing a personal statement.

Yes, I realise that, but I think it'd be a good idea to get that as well so that I can demonstrate things like empathy skills, teamwork etcetera, and the GP's office would be good to show insight into medicine. Just trying to get a decent amount done now so that I'm not clutching at straws when it comes to writing a personal statement.

Ive only done one and i'm going to do a second one soon, i'm gonna start voluntary work soon. I only now making my choice in life so I'm really behind but I am looking for places and I have found a few just need to book them next week

Don't get me wrong , if you can get more then go for it Just remember that there is only so much space in a PS and you may have to pick and choose what to include.

I'm going to start volunteering at a nursing home soon as well - stupid places don't allow you to volunteer before you turn 17

Now to find a reference

Good
Your not really behind, you've still got plenty of time before applying don't worry!!

I know.. it makes a change from my school, it's like all the people with 10 A*'s talking about the people with only 2 A*'s applying etccc.. I wish it wasn't so competitive.

I got 647.5 first time and I revised for like a month, though that's mainly because I flopped 3 sections and aced the QR which is much easier in the exam. Just do the 600 questions and do the practice questions on the website.

QR seems like the hardest section (actually, so does AR... and the last section... ok, they all look terrifying. ). Thanks for the advice, I'll get the 600Q book after my exams are done. Are you reapplying for 2012 cycle?

Yup if I get 3A's, though that's easier said than done. AR is a killer, but I guessed half of them and didn't even finish and I got 590. I guessed most of VR as well, QR was easy and DA was last and I thought I failed so I got bored so I got 570 for DA. I was so shocked when I saw my QR result I was like 850 wtf, then I counted the results and I said that's alright lol. I was failing QR until the day of the exam, I did a GCSE maths paper in my head so I think that helped.
It's just practicing an IQ test, if you're applying for medicine you already have a high IQ.

I know, A2 sounds so hard. :/ Do you know what grade you need to get in June for each subject to get an A overall?

850! That's incredible! So basically you're sorted for this year cos you know where you went wrong and stuff.

Probably true, but everyone else sitting the UKCAT will have a high IQ so it balances out. Plus I once did this IQ test that told me I had an IQ so low it was in the realms of disability. Oops.

About how much of your PS did you talk about work experience? Like a third?