Hi,
I've been committed to studying medicine for about a year and a half now, but I cannot for the life of me find any sort of shadowing placement at a hospital or GP.
It's gotten to the point where I've been asking teachers to ask their friends and I can still find absolutely nothing.
I've been emailing clinics, hospitals and GPs directly, and on the off-chance they reply, it's a rejection.
I have, however, been volunteering at a local care home for months now, and could easily reflect on a lot of experiences from there in my personal statement and interviews (if I get them) when I apply next October.
I was just wondering how essential hospital placements are. Everyone else seems to be getting them because they've got contacts, but I don't, and I feel like I don't stand a chance against the people who have gotten loads of different placements in an actual medical environment. Will the universities be understanding of that? Is there still a reasonable chance I'll get an offer based on my care work?
Thanks