The Student Room Group

Extra Curricular Stuff

Hey,

I'm a year 12 student aspiring to study medicine at a good Uni. I recieved 10A* and 2A's at GCSE, and a B at an early AS (Geography). Providing I achieve my predicted grades this year AAAA (Maths, Bio, Chem and Econ), what other extra-curricular activities should I be doing?

I've done a weeks work experience at a medical center, and have another one lined up for Easter. Also hoping to do some experience at a hospital in India - quite exited actually :biggrin:. I cant get work exp. at the local hospital unfortunately as I need to be over 18 :frown: I'm also too young for my local hospice.

I'm hoping to volunteer at my local elderly care home soon as well.

For extra-curricular I'm doing:

Soon starting EPQ

Student Mentor

Intro Italian

Debating Society

OU Science Project

Managing Director of Y.E Company (for anyone thinking of doing this - dont, it takes too much of your time :frown: )

Doing DofE Silver

Sixth Form Committee

House Council



Note the complete lack of sport :/. What sports can you guys recommend that will make me healthier, and that uni's will appreciate?

Many Thanks

P.S - So many excellent people are getting 4 rejections from mediocre unis. Should I be aiming lower than Imperial/UCL?
Reply 1
Original post by KanKan
Hey,

I'm a year 12 student aspiring to study medicine at a good Uni. I recieved 10A* and 2A's at GCSE, and a B at an early AS (Geography). Providing I achieve my predicted grades this year AAAA (Maths, Bio, Chem and Econ), what other extra-curricular activities should I be doing?

I've done a weeks work experience at a medical center, and have another one lined up for Easter. Also hoping to do some experience at a hospital in India - quite exited actually :biggrin:. I cant get work exp. at the local hospital unfortunately as I need to be over 18 :frown: I'm also too young for my local hospice.

I'm hoping to volunteer at my local elderly care home soon as well.

For extra-curricular I'm doing:

Soon starting EPQ

Student Mentor

Intro Italian

Debating Society

OU Science Project

Managing Director of Y.E Company (for anyone thinking of doing this - dont, it takes too much of your time :frown: )

Doing DofE Silver

Sixth Form Committee

House Council



Note the complete lack of sport :/. What sports can you guys recommend that will make me healthier, and that uni's will appreciate?

Many Thanks


The medical schools don't particularly care about which extracurriculars you have and whether they are sporty or not, they're interested in how they help you to destress and unwind (think about why this is important for medical students) and what else you get out of them.

P.S - So many excellent people are getting 4 rejections from mediocre unis. Should I be aiming lower than Imperial/UCL?


What's a mediocre medical school then? :colone:
Reply 2
Original post by Democracy
The medical schools don't particularly care about which extracurriculars you have and whether they are sporty or not, they're interested in how they help you to destress and unwind (think about why this is important for medical students) and what else you get out of them.



What's a mediocre medical school then? :colone:


Hmmm, thanks :smile: And by that, I mean unis with low requirements - and the people who apply have all A's and have done so much! Can't help but feel that anything I do is potentially useless.
Reply 3
Original post by KanKan
Hmmm, thanks :smile: And by that, I mean unis with low requirements - and the people who apply have all A's and have done so much! Can't help but feel that anything I do is potentially useless.


You need AAA minimum to get into all medical schools. I was being flippant - there are no "mediocre" medical schools. All medical schools in the UK have to meet the strict standards of the GMC and all of them are involved in medical research. You cannot have a medical school which produces "mediocre" doctors!

There are many reasons why people get rejected from medical school, it's not only to do with predicted grades. They might have applied to a medical school which wants very good GCSE results, they might have fluffed up the entrance examination, or simply failed to perform at interview.

Different medical schools have different requirements (grades aside), so it's worth doing research before applying. Lots of more info here, definitely worth reading:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medicine
Original post by KanKan
Hey,

I'm a year 12 student aspiring to study medicine at a good Uni. I recieved 10A* and 2A's at GCSE, and a B at an early AS (Geography). Providing I achieve my predicted grades this year AAAA (Maths, Bio, Chem and Econ), what other extra-curricular activities should I be doing?

I've done a weeks work experience at a medical center, and have another one lined up for Easter. Also hoping to do some experience at a hospital in India - quite exited actually :biggrin:. I cant get work exp. at the local hospital unfortunately as I need to be over 18 :frown: I'm also too young for my local hospice.

I'm hoping to volunteer at my local elderly care home soon as well.

For extra-curricular I'm doing:

Soon starting EPQ

Student Mentor

Intro Italian

Debating Society

OU Science Project

Managing Director of Y.E Company (for anyone thinking of doing this - dont, it takes too much of your time :frown: )

Doing DofE Silver

Sixth Form Committee

House Council



Note the complete lack of sport :/. What sports can you guys recommend that will make me healthier, and that uni's will appreciate?

Many Thanks

P.S - So many excellent people are getting 4 rejections from mediocre unis. Should I be aiming lower than Imperial/UCL?



Where in India are you going for your work experience?
I am heading there to do exactly the same thing in summer!
Reply 5
Original post by she-theFaceICan'tForget
Where in India are you going for your work experience?
I am heading there to do exactly the same thing in summer!


Awesome! And, Gujurat, I believe. I have a feeling I'll learn more there than any work xp here :tongue:
Reply 6
Original post by KanKan
Hey,

I'm a year 12 student aspiring to study medicine at a good Uni. I recieved 10A* and 2A's at GCSE, and a B at an early AS (Geography). Providing I achieve my predicted grades this year AAAA (Maths, Bio, Chem and Econ), what other extra-curricular activities should I be doing?

I've done a weeks work experience at a medical center, and have another one lined up for Easter. Also hoping to do some experience at a hospital in India - quite exited actually :biggrin:. I cant get work exp. at the local hospital unfortunately as I need to be over 18 :frown: I'm also too young for my local hospice.

I'm hoping to volunteer at my local elderly care home soon as well.

For extra-curricular I'm doing:

Soon starting EPQ

Student Mentor

Intro Italian

Debating Society

OU Science Project

Managing Director of Y.E Company (for anyone thinking of doing this - dont, it takes too much of your time :frown: )

Doing DofE Silver

Sixth Form Committee

House Council



Note the complete lack of sport :/. What sports can you guys recommend that will make me healthier, and that uni's will appreciate?

Many Thanks

P.S - So many excellent people are getting 4 rejections from mediocre unis. Should I be aiming lower than Imperial/UCL?

Firstly, usual caveat about no medical school being mediocre. Apply to the ones you like the look at, and where you stand a good chance of getting in, not to the ones you think have the best reputation. Nobody cares about that crap.

As for your extra-currics, you won't be able to fit all of those on your PS as it stands, so there's no need to take up anything extra. Focus on your work experience, reflecting on what you see/learn rather than just listing procedures. The trip to India will be interesting, but remember that medicine there is very different from medicine here, and think about why this is and how your experience there will make you a better doctor in the UK.

Then get good AS/A2 results and score highly in the UKCAT, plus BMAT if you do pick Oxbridge/Imperial/UCL. Simples!
Original post by she-theFaceICan'tForget
Where in India are you going for your work experience?
I am heading there to do exactly the same thing in summer!


Original post by KanKan
Awesome! And, Gujurat, I believe. I have a feeling I'll learn more there than any work xp here :tongue:


Hi guys!

I am also looking for placements in India- preferably in the southern regions. Which organisations are you booking through?

Thanks
Original post by badass_geek
Hi guys!

I am also looking for placements in India- preferably in the southern regions. Which organisations are you booking through?

Thanks



I'm going with Pulse Asia - www.pulse-asia.com think they are based mainly in the north though. The placements look really good and are run by a current UK medic, should be fun!
Reply 9
Original post by KanKan
Hey,

I'm a year 12 student aspiring to study medicine at a good Uni. I recieved 10A* and 2A's at GCSE, and a B at an early AS (Geography). Providing I achieve my predicted grades this year AAAA (Maths, Bio, Chem and Econ), what other extra-curricular activities should I be doing?

I've done a weeks work experience at a medical center, and have another one lined up for Easter. Also hoping to do some experience at a hospital in India - quite exited actually :biggrin:. I cant get work exp. at the local hospital unfortunately as I need to be over 18 :frown: I'm also too young for my local hospice.

I'm hoping to volunteer at my local elderly care home soon as well.

For extra-curricular I'm doing:

Soon starting EPQ

Student Mentor

Intro Italian

Debating Society

OU Science Project

Managing Director of Y.E Company (for anyone thinking of doing this - dont, it takes too much of your time :frown: )

Doing DofE Silver

Sixth Form Committee

House Council



Note the complete lack of sport :/. What sports can you guys recommend that will make me healthier, and that uni's will appreciate?

Many Thanks

P.S - So many excellent people are getting 4 rejections from mediocre unis. Should I be aiming lower than Imperial/UCL?


Medical schools dont care whether you won a gold medal at London 2012 in tennis or basket weave in your spare time, as long as it shows that you have outside interests to help with a healthy work-life balance then thats all that matters.

People have got offers with far less Extra curricular activities (me included).

Aim for where you think you will be happy, but have a good shot at getting an interview. You have excellent academic achievements, so you are already ahead :smile:
Original post by KanKan
Awesome! And, Gujurat, I believe. I have a feeling I'll learn more there than any work xp here :tongue:



What you learn in India will be very different to what you learn over here! I felt my work experience here was much more useful, while I may have gotten to see loads of cool surgeries and even take out sutures in India (!) In England I actually learnt what it's like to be doctor day to day, how career progression works by talking to the doctors and just generally about life in NHS :smile: so yeah, enjoy your time in India and make the most of it but make sure you do some work experience here as well :smile:
Reply 11
Original post by AtomicMan
Medical schools dont care whether you won a gold medal at London 2012 in tennis or basket weave in your spare time, as long as it shows that you have outside interests to help with a healthy work-life balance then thats all that matters.


That's the problem though. How can I prove that I have a healthy work-life balance (I spend my free time socialising) when I don't do any "leisure" activities :/ ?

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by KanKan
That's the problem though. How can I prove that I have a healthy work-life balance (I spend my free time socialising) when I don't do any "leisure" activities :/ ?

Posted from TSR Mobile


The extra-curricular activities are things that you (i presume) enjoy doing. Being able to commit to them and also achieve good A-Level grades is an example of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Reply 13
Original post by AtomicMan
The extra-curricular activities are things that you (i presume) enjoy doing. Being able to commit to them and also achieve good A-Level grades is an example of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.


Oh that's good then! I really do enjoyed them :smile: I was worried because my 'life' isn't really quantifiable like others, who do a lot of sport etc.

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