Can you get into medical school without work experience?

Hey everyone. I’m hoping to get into med school but I don’t have any work experience. Between doing a levels as a private candidate and working full time i have almost no time and I have no idea if I’ll be able to manage to do work experience either.

If I can’t do any work experience, will this make is so that my application is basically automatically rejected?

Reply 1

KA_P

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post

by heart-shaped-beq

What do you work as full time? You can use those skills and reflect on them through applying it to a career in Medicine

Reply 2

heart-shaped-beq

Original post

by KA_P

What do you work as full time? You can use those skills and reflect on them through applying it to a career in Medicine

I don’t think this applies since I work as a bar tender.

Reply 3

thetempesta

Original post

by heart-shaped-beq

Hey everyone. I’m hoping to get into med school but I don’t have any work experience. Between doing a levels as a private candidate and working full time i have almost no time and I have no idea if I’ll be able to manage to do work experience either.
If I can’t do any work experience, will this make is so that my application is basically automatically rejected?

I think it’s highly recommended to have some kind of work experience related to medicine as your competing with many students across the country who would’ve definitely done so.

Is there any chance you could at least do some work experience for a short period of time (like a week)? If you don’t do any work experience, i think your best bet would be reading books or visiting medical related events like museums.

Is your work place lenient to the hours you work? and how essential is it that you have a full time job? if it’s not so essential, i would prioritise getting my work experience over doing a full time job during this period of time

Reply 4

heart-shaped-beq

Original post

by thetempesta

I think it’s highly recommended to have some kind of work experience related to medicine as your competing with many students across the country who would’ve definitely done so.
Is there any chance you could at least do some work experience for a short period of time (like a week)? If you don’t do any work experience, i think your best bet would be reading books or visiting medical related events like museums.
Is your work place lenient to the hours you work? and how essential is it that you have a full time job? if it’s not so essential, i would prioritise getting my work experience over doing a full time job during this period of time

Unfortunately not working isn’t really an option. I think I’d also find it difficult to find any work experience anyway. Do you think it’ll be taken into consideration if I mention that I’ve been working 40 hours a week whilst studying?

This on top of not having a reference feels like I’ll just be rejected instantly.

Reply 5

thetempesta

Original post

by heart-shaped-beq

Unfortunately not working isn’t really an option. I think I’d also find it difficult to find any work experience anyway. Do you think it’ll be taken into consideration if I mention that I’ve been working 40 hours a week whilst studying?
This on top of not having a reference feels like I’ll just be rejected instantly.

Hey! don’t feel like there’s no hope!
I would firstly look for some work experience like a hospital and explain your situation and ask if you could do some volunteering around your working job hours temporarily. Often, a lot of these places would like some extra help.

Remember, that getting into medicine isn’t just due to one factor, it will also be dependent on your grades and your personal statement. So if those other things are solid, you have a higher chance of getting in!

Reply 6

Jonjon7

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by heart-shaped-beq

I don’t think this applies since I work as a bar tender.

First thing that come to my mind, medical schools are not expecting all medical applicants to have hospital work experience, it is definitely not compulsory! It is nice to have but not all applicants would have the luxury to be able to gain work experience at hospital settings.

What I would suggest and encourage you to do is, volunteer at care homes, eg 2hours per week, which your bartending job could possibly afford you to? Slowly build on that in terms of time and you should be fine. Reflect on the time spent there.

Reply 7

futuredoctor17

there is online work experience which you can do in your free time
Medic Mentor Work Experience - Intensive and Critical Care - WEX Library (yourmedicfamily.org)

Reply 8

Nabil27

Original post

by heart-shaped-beq

Hey everyone. I’m hoping to get into med school but I don’t have any work experience. Between doing a levels as a private candidate and working full time i have almost no time and I have no idea if I’ll be able to manage to do work experience either.
If I can’t do any work experience, will this make is so that my application is basically automatically rejected?