Gap year 2017 medicine

When I went into the hospital for my healthcare assistant nterview yesterday, and getting to know all the nurses there, and the atmosphere itself, gave me soooo much more motivation to pursue medicine. I can't wait to start my work and getting to also know all the doctors there.

What motivates you guys to become a doctor?

just a FYI, although you will probably see the doctors about as a HCA, your actual contat with them will be minimal since they'll be so busy!

Your UKCAT last year wasn't the best, I would reccommend you get that score higher to be competitive.

As for what motivates me... difficult to put into words, more of a feeling, I remember struggling how to put it into my personal statement. In the end I think I used the classic science + people route, along with how my work experiences (volunteer at hospital 1.5 years, shadowed various doctors for 2 weeks and started HCA just before submitting my PS) to support why I wanted to be a doctor.

Graduate entry medic here

Oh ok thanks for the information! But it's good that I get to work on the wards right, with a huge amount of patient contact?

Yeah I am working much harder than last year for UKCAT. I know where I went wrong

Whether you work on the wards as a HCA depends on the position you applied to. HCA's can work in out patients too, but yes. You will have lots of patient contact, probably far more than doctors since you generally won't need to type up notes/paperwork etc.

And its great that you're working hard for your ukcat! I applied a few years ago (back when imperial still had a 4 year graduate entry programme and required the UKCAT for it) and I used the 600Q book (now 1000Q book) and then I used medify. Main tip is to do as many questions as possible!

I applied for the stroke/neurology department, and they said it will be really busy with lots of work. They said I could do blood pressure and several other things with the training.

Ooooo that sounds amazing...doing medicine in imperial must be fantastic! May I ask what year you are in now and how you are finding it?

your main task will probably be washing patients, changing their bedding, obs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature) and taking bloods. To be honest, I don't envy you! stroke ward means that patients will proably have some mobility issues. which can make your job more difficult, but don't give up!

Its enjoyable! A LOT!!!! of work, don't think i've ever worked this hard before in my life haha. Can't wait to gradute but I know this is what I want to do!

Yeah I understand hca can be really challenging at times, but I also can really understand how difficult being a doctor is at times!

Wow just keep going...u will be a doctor one day!

How did you guys apply for the healthcare assistant in a hospital because i cant get hold of a healthcare related job for my gap year i've been looking since mid June

How did you guys apply for the healthcare assistant in a hospital because i cant get hold of a healthcare related job for my gap year i've been looking since mid June

Have a look at the NHS website - that's what I did in my gap year. I got rejected for all the HCA roles though and mentioned is applied on my PS...they didn't seem to mind at interview when I said I didn't get them though, as long as I explained what I was doing instead (I.e. Increase volunteering elsewhere).**

Are you doing medicine at university now?

Yeah, about to start my second year at Imperial (and am now wondering if I've met Freyr before... )

Yeah, about to start my second year at Imperial (and am now wondering if I've met Freyr before... )

When I went into the hospital for my healthcare assistant nterview yesterday, and getting to know all the nurses there, and the atmosphere itself, gave me soooo much more motivation to pursue medicine. I can't wait to start my work and getting to also know all the doctors there.

What motivates you guys to become a doctor?

Hi guys,I am on a gap year and looking to apply for 2017 entry. However, I did not apply last year. I really wanted to get more work experience, as I felt I didn't have much and I wanted to know my A level grades.
Here are my stats so far.
GCSE: 4A* 5A 1C( c in art lmao!)
AS level: AABB
A level - what I think I will get: A*AA
Work experience: 1 week in GP, 1 week hospice.
Voluntary: 6 months care home, 5 months in charity shop.
UKCAT: 635 last year...yet to do my ukcat this year.
.Gap year: I will be working as a healthcare assistant in a hospital... I got my job offer yesterday! I will also be volunteering in a hospice. I really want to travel across Europe as well with my friend...

I thought I will start it off, hoping others can join in with what their plans are...

Have a look at the NHS website - that's what I did in my gap year. I got rejected for all the HCA roles though and mentioned is applied on my PS...they didn't seem to mind at interview when I said I didn't get them though, as long as I explained what I was doing instead (I.e. Increase volunteering elsewhere).**

I have yes but there wasnt any in my area
So what did you do for your gap year though
Also this year because of my predicted i couldnt apply to med this year so i applied to biomed instead therefore if i get AAA min ( i was predicted A*AB) ill take a gap year and apply for 2017 entry the thing is if apply for the job and not end up taking a gap year can i still cancel the job offer???