The Student Room Group

Volunteer work for medicine

I'm an A-level student applying for 2025 entry medicine. I'm doing an EPQ and finished 2 weeks of work experience in June. I've done a bit of volunteer work here and there (volunteering with health screening and teaching kids how to read). I don't have any long term volunteer experience or any competitions on my belt, though. I'm wondering if that'll hold me back in any way when applying. I'm looking to apply to places like edinburgh, king's college london, oxford, etc ideally because I'm predicted 4 A's for AS levels.
Reply 1
Hospital volunteering
Care-homes.
Special Schools
Homeless Shelters
Addiction Centres
Or anywhere else that takes you out of your comfort zone.

Also useful, two free Moocs :
Applying for Medical School - Online Course - FutureLearn
The NHS in England Explained - Online Course - FutureLearn
(edited 4 months ago)
Reply 2
I've tried contacting every place in my area that offers volunteer work. No one has gotten back to me.
(edited 4 months ago)
Reply 3
Original post by linaaa_wong
I've tried contacting every place in my area that offers volunteer work. No one has gotten back to me.

Keep phoning - you do have to be persistent about this or you will get nothing.
Reply 4
Original post by linaaa_wong
I've tried contacting every place in my area that offers volunteer work. No one has gotten back to me.

You have to keep on knocking. I knocked on 6 care homes, 8 GP, 3 hospitals (two which I need to travel 2hrs to get to) before I get volunteering work sorted with care home, GP (one was happy to take me in) and a hospital since last summer after my GCSE. If your school has career officers, ask them - BUT you have to rely a lot on yourself to be proactive to knock on doors.

All the best.
(edited 4 months ago)
Original post by linaaa_wong
I'm an A-level student applying for 2025 entry medicine. I'm doing an EPQ and finished 2 weeks of work experience in June. I've done a bit of volunteer work here and there (volunteering with health screening and teaching kids how to read). I don't have any long term volunteer experience or any competitions on my belt, though. I'm wondering if that'll hold me back in any way when applying. I'm looking to apply to places like edinburgh, king's college london, oxford, etc ideally because I'm predicted 4 A's for AS levels.

Hey!

When I applied to medicine school, I did some work experience in a hospital (for about a week) but I did long-term volunteering at a hospice where I went and did a few hours a week and helped with the care of the patients. This taught me so much about a side of medicine most people will never see!

Since covid, a lot of places do online work experience as well now!

I hope this helps and gives you some idea of what you could do!

Rebecca, UCLan

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