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2014 Medicine Re-Applicants

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Original post by IBMum
When you say "I was rejected from my fifth choice and also from my sixth choice that I picked on UCAS extra last year" what do you mean. I assume those 5th and 6th choices were in a course other than medicine. I assume medicine wouldn't be an option through extra?


yeah the course you have to apply to other than medicine is just generally referred to as the fifth choice, and when i didn't get that I applied to another non medicine course through extra
Original post by Mehhhh
I would be very grateful if any re-applicants could answer these questions regarding working as a HCA,

1) When did you begin to look for the job?
2) How long did the application process take?
3) How many days per week / hours a day did you work?

And most importantly


4) What did the job involve?


1. November
2. 5 weeks give or take from the application to first day
3. 37.5 hours a week - 12 hour shifts
4. Helping people with basic needs such as washing, eating, going to the toilet etc. You will deal with a ton of urine, faeces, and other waste. You learn a lot about what it is actually like to work in a hospital.
For those worrying about having a health related job in your gap year, its not absolutely necessary. Ive had two retail jobs now and I have an offer. There are definitely transferable skills between both sectors and it wouldn't hurt your chances of getting into med school imo.

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Original post by Mehhhh
I would be very grateful if any re-applicants could answer these questions regarding working as a HCA,

1) When did you begin to look for the job?
2) How long did the application process take?
3) How many days per week / hours a day did you work?

And most importantly


4) What did the job involve?


1) first week of July
2) my interview was mid- July and I started early August (as soon as my CRB came back)
3) I work 3 days per week and my shifts are 8am-8pm. Only get paid for 11 hours though as our breaks add up to 1 hour.
4) I work in a nursing home and mainly work in a dementia unit. Mainly involves washing, dressing, assisting residents to the toilet, serving meals, feeding residents if they need it, running activities, maintaining residents' mental wellbeing, making beds, paperwork (care plans) etc but that's not an exhaustive list.


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Reply 4344
Avatar for lecamel
lecamel
Original post by Mehhhh
I would be very grateful if any re-applicants could answer these questions regarding working as a HCA,

1) When did you begin to look for the job?
2) How long did the application process take?
3) How many days per week / hours a day did you work?

And most importantly


4) What did the job involve?


1) started looking in August, interview September and started job October.
2) ^^
3) I work 3 to 5 12 hour shifts a week, 8-8 days and nights.
4) Well I work as HCA in a residential care home but we're getting a dementia unit because we're practically a nursing home considering the residents we have. My job includes - during the day I serve dinners, wash dishes/set tables, clean, give out teas, wash/change residents' pads, empty commodes, assist residents doing daily tasks eg walking up and down stairs/reading newspaper/posting letters, give baths to residents, escort residents to hospital. On a night shift it's a lot more of sitting around waiting for people to buzz, giving out a few teas, ironing and cleaning, and changing beds, pads and tilting residents who need it.
It was enjoyable enough the first few months because it was something different but it does get monotonous and now I'm ready to do something else I think. I do get attached to the residents but a very small number recognise me because of their dementia so it's not very rewarding in that respect. I'd recommend working in a care home but I'd apply to a hospital first :smile:


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Is anyone else here applying for the third time next year?


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Original post by robrob9595
Is anyone else here applying for the third time next year?


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stats?
Original post by tanb
3rd offer...can't believe it aha. Now I've got to decide between Liverpool, Cardiff and Bristol! Guys if you haven't got in first time PLEASE take a gap year aha


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stats please
Original post by Mohid Khan
stats?


GCSE 3A* 6A
A levels A*AAb
Ukcat 797.5
done enough work experience and volunteered in hospital and care home for 1 year each and now also worked in a care home for a year.


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Original post by robrob9595
GCSE 3A* 6A
A levels A*AAb
Ukcat 797.5
done enough work experience and volunteered in hospital and care home for 1 year each and now also worked in a care home for a year.


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bloody hell, i might as well give up now :frown:
March has been a good month for me as a re applicant: passed my driving test, got an offer from Glasgow and just got offered a job as a Ward Assistant in the nearest hospital. Life is good :biggrin:

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Original post by Mohid Khan
bloody hell, i might as well give up now :frown:


I know how you feel, but don't give up on it, keep going at it, if anything being rejected again has made me even more determined to get in to prove to everyone that I can. Also I can't think of anything else I'd love to do for the rest of my working life


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Original post by robrob9595
GCSE 3A* 6A
A levels A*AAb
Ukcat 797.5
done enough work experience and volunteered in hospital and care home for 1 year each and now also worked in a care home for a year.


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Surely you got interviews? If so, work on your interview technique!! Perhaps go on a course. I think it's a rip off but they are good.
Original post by Miel Purple
Surely you got interviews? If so, work on your interview technique!! Perhaps go on a course. I think it's a rip off but they are good.


That's the plan, it's doing the ukcat again that annoys me most, as well as waiting another year.


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Hi
Currently in my final year of studying biomedical science inthe UK, and always was drawn to the career of medicine since I had developedinterest in science itself.
Recently I applied in UK for medical schools but I gotrejected due to competition in the UKCAT scores, I didn’t do so great in that.
Then a day ago I got accepted for medicine at Plovdiv MU formy career.
I am very happy for this opportunity, but I do have fears asI’m a British citizen student I don’t know any Bulgarian nor have I been there.
Just wanted to know if anyone is currently there or has someexperiences that they could share ??

Many thanks

Biomed SS

Original post by robrob9595
That's the plan, it's doing the ukcat again that annoys me most, as well as waiting another year.


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Interviews was clearly an issue here. I'd advice you do "the medicine mentoring" one to one course. It only takes a few hours and it was the best thing that helped me smash my interviews. Much cheaper than any other stufflike kaplan too and it's 1 on 1 quality practice and advise.


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or Apply aboard ??
cheaper & easier admin

Regards

Biomed SS
Reply 4357
Avatar for tanb
tanb
Original post by Mohid Khan
stats please


GCSE 6a* 4as. AS level 4As A level 3as
for those who reapplied, did you find UKCAT easier the second time round? i'm worried about doing it again :s
Reply 4359
Avatar for hl7495
hl7495
Original post by SpiralGalaxy
for those who reapplied, did you find UKCAT easier the second time round? i'm worried about doing it again :s


Not necessarily easier just less intimidating you know the score with how it works i was just a lot more positive and relaxed about it

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