2012 Medicine Re-Applicants Mark I

Original post by twelve

Ahh I need a job :frown:

I can tell you from experience with any type of job, calling is a waste of time. Even if they have vacancies, they really cba to direct you further than the website.
Better to apply through NHS jobs (what i did for my hca and my other midwifery assistant one - which my mum had nothing to do with this time and i still got invited to interview) and match your supporting statement to the person specification (acctually use the words they use) because this is the only way that they can match you against the criteria in selection for interview - person who interviews hca's actually told me this.
Either that or start off as a ward volunteer and ask them to take you on after a while.
But it really depends on your area, i know that many hospitals in london experience a large turnover fo hca's around this time of year (mostly going onto medicine)

Original post by Tinth

Is it bad that I just want to enjoy my summer :/ Everyone's so eager to get a job, this might be the only time we'll get to relax properly for a long time...

The whole process takes ages so applying now won't mean you start right away :rolleyes:

I think most (like myself) are rushing to get some new experience in before they start drafting their personal statements
But i sorta disagree with you about the relaxing part, think how much more relaxed you'd be this time next year knowing you had an unconditional place at medical school!

Reply 2662

twelve

Original post by Tinth

Is it bad that I just want to enjoy my summer :/ Everyone's so eager to get a job, this might be the only time we'll get to relax properly for a long time...

Noo I'm the same really, its just my parents pushing me to get a job :/ And it is the whole thing that even if I get a job offer today, I won't start for a while, and experience. I'd find it difficult to talk about getting a job giving me more independance and helping me mature etc in a personal statement, if I don't actually have a job.

I'm asking my parents and their friends if they have any odd jobs needing doing at the moment really :/

And seriously, if anyone knows any doctors in the West Midlands area I could do work experience with, I would be eternally grateful :frown:

Reply 2663

-Taz-

Random question, but are most medical schools open for you to contact throughout the summer, or do they shut from July-September with the exception of results day?

Reply 2664

highopes

Original post by tome27

Well that might work, but a really low AR will drag everything down.
AR for me was about practice and then marking the tests until I had pretty much seen it all.
I actually did the Kaplan course, which costs a lot of money. There are some time saving techniques they'll tell you but mostly I didn't use their methods, even for AR. What I will say though is that their practice material is top notch, far better than 600Qs simply because it's aimed at the right level and there are 6 full length tests IIRC.
After marking all those I was still scared, but come test day I spotted nearly every pattern, so it's all about familiarisation. Get hold of as much material as you can, some patterns are bound to come up or be related in some way. Kaplan isn't necessary, although I do like them since they just gave me a job!
Like you, I found QR and DA easy, DA especially, I didn't translate them on the whiteboard, I did them mostly in my head so I wasn't pushed at all. Don't feel the need to do that though.

So I'd recommend bringing AR up and doing really well in the other sections.

The more practice you do the less nervous you'll be and that helps as well.

If you need anything else/more just ask!

Good luck!

YUP, those are sure blinding UKCAT scores..!! wish they were mine!

Reply 2665

Penguinsaysquack

Original post by -Taz-

Random question, but are most medical schools open for you to contact throughout the summer, or do they shut from July-September with the exception of results day?

AFAIK they're still open some days for admin stuff (I know BATL are open a bit since we have to march down and prove we are who we say we are :erm:

)

I suppose e-mail/phone them.. worse they can do is not reply :yep:

Reply 2666

username356927

Original post by -Taz-

Random question, but are most medical schools open for you to contact throughout the summer, or do they shut from July-September with the exception of results day?

Medical school admin staff will be in all the year round, after all the senior years don't get 'summer' holidays like other students (at least not at the unis I've heard about) so there will always be people there.

If you want admissions staff specifically then you may have to wait :smile:

Reply 2667

Meh cba with the ukcat a week on saturday.
I just started work today and i'm knakered.
Don't know if i'm going to be able to revise as well as i'd hoped.

Reply 2668

Original post by joemullally

Meh cba with the ukcat a week on saturday.
I just started work today and i'm knakered.
Don't know if i'm going to be able to revise as well as i'd hoped.

Omg same!
My first day was today, almost collapsed when i got home
The 600q book doesn't look so inviting right now..

Reply 2669

Original post by FunsizedKarateGeek

Omg same!
My first day was today, almost collapsed when i got home
The 600q book doesn't look so inviting right now..

I have done jack all today, and that book still "doesn't look so inviting" :indiff:

Reply 2670

Original post by futuredoc77

I have done jack all today, and that book still "doesn't look so inviting" :indiff:

Haha i'm just staring at it. The QR makes me want to cry :frown:

When have you booked yours for?

Reply 2671

Original post by FunsizedKarateGeek

Haha i'm just staring at it. The QR makes me want to cry :frown:

When have you booked yours for?

I haven't

There's literally no motivation :nothing:

Reply 2672

Original post by futuredoc77

I haven't

There's literally no motivation :nothing:

Book it! It will actually give you a sense of urgency
The only reason i did some practise last week was because i booked it so early, wouldn't have bothered otherwise..

Reply 2673

Original post by FunsizedKarateGeek

Book it! It will actually give you a sense of urgency
The only reason i did some practise last week was because i booked it so early, wouldn't have bothered otherwise..

I know, it'll probably help. :sigh:

I will... soon. :rolleyes:

Reply 2674

Original post by futuredoc77

I know, it'll probably help. :sigh:

I will... soon. :rolleyes:

There's a good girl

Reply 2675

Original post by FunsizedKarateGeek

There's a good girl

Reply 2676

Original post by FunsizedKarateGeek

Omg same!
My first day was today, almost collapsed when i got home
The 600q book doesn't look so inviting right now..

What you working as?
I started as an MLA today
Never expected to be on my feet so much.
It's quite good though, everyone i've met so far is lovely.

Reply 2677

Original post by joemullally

What you working as?
I started as an MLA today
Never expected to be on my feet so much.
It's quite good though, everyone i've met so far is lovely.

A hca, everyone is lovely here too
apart from one or two of the doctors (not surprisingly)
I enjoyed it but half of my day was spent jogging between 3 floors with charts in my hand.. My feet are dead.

Reply 2678

Original post by FunsizedKarateGeek

I'm gonna be on the HCA bank soon too (appointed not started)
I don't know which i should mention if not both in my ps and what i should talk about
The HCA thing is bank so pretty much as and when and the other is 9-5
The limiting thing about the bank is the european working time directive.
At least i can talk about that in interview if it comes up.

And gutted about your feet. I havn't sat down all day. My sofa is bliss.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 2679