Non-academic stuff
On this page:
Work experience
Voluntary work
Health requirements
Police check
Non-academic stuff
It's difficult to express how important the non-academic stuff really is. Most people who apply to do medicine will be capable of getting the required grades and therefore it is the non-academic things you do that can set you aside from the rest. Medicine is not just about good grades, it's about having great social skills too, like good communication and working with others. Luckily, many extra curricular activities you can take part in will help you improve these!
Remember, work experience a few hours a week over a few months looks better than a one-off stint. However, it's what you get out of it that counts - 'quality rather than quantity'.
Work Experience
Work experience is a requirement for nearly all medical schools. Work experience should not be seen as a hurdle to climb, but part of the decision making process in finding out whether medicine is really for you. Although most universities recognise that it is not always possible to gain work experience in a medical setting, work experience in any 'caring' setting is required.
When you are at your work experience, keep a diary. This will help you to reflect on your experiences and will help you remember certain things when writing your personal statement and at interview. Don't get too hung up on remembering endless procedures or diseases - think about what the doctor does, how do they communicate and how do they work as a team? Can you think of any examples? This is far more important than reciting endless facts.In your interview, you may be asked questions about where, when, and most importantly, what you gained from it.
Not sure where to start looking? Some of the pointers below should help.
- Phone your local National Health Service Trust. Many trusts now have education departments with people specifically employed to help with obtaining work experience.
- Speak to your own doctor. Your GP may be able to pass you onto a friend or another surgery. if they can't take you on themselves.
- Use your existing contacts - if you have a friend/uncle/cousin/distant relative who is a doctor then try them!
- Speak to your school or your local branch of Connexions, who may be able to help.
- Phone the admissions department of your nearest medical school; they may have a contact.
Voluntary Work
Voluntary work is also important to the medical schools you are applying to. Doing voluntary work requires commitment, a positive attitude and a level of communication. It will also help you become aware of different social groups and their differing healthcare needs. Doing volunteering work is a great way to get involved in your local community. Most voluntary organisations are crying out for people to help out. This can include visiting old people's homes, working in a youth centre or going on holiday with disabled children. It is very rewarding and should help you develop some of the skills needed for a career in medicine. A commitment over a period of time (e.g. one afternoon for six months) looks better than a week in the holidays. If you're not sure where to look, check out the following websites:
- Do it!
- Community Service Volunteers
- Youth action network
- Volunteer development Scotland
- Wales Council for Voluntary Action
- Volunteer Development Agency, Northern Ireland
- UK Volunteering Forum
- Timebank
- Hospice volunteering
- St. John's Ambulance volunteering
- Camp Quality UK
Health Checks
Doctors must be fit to practise medicine in line with guidance provided by the General Medical Council in the document Good Medical Practice. The fitness to practise standards applied to doctors also apply to medical students, in terms of both physical fitness and appropriate behaviour.
In general it is a good idea to phone your GP well in advance so you can get a list of all of your childhood vaccines. KEEP THIS SAFE! It will be needed when you start at medical school and at some of your hospital or primary care placements.
Hepatitis B immunisation
It is important that you check with each medical school about their policy on hepatitis B. Some medical schools expect you to be immunised before starting the course and others are more flexible. This will form part of your conditional offer. Without this you may not be granted a place.
The vaccination process can take up to nine months, as there are a number of injections and a blood test. So... you must start early! Before you book an appointment, check that your GP has the vaccine in stock and also whether they will charge you for it.
Tuberculosis (TB)
You may not have been immunised against TB at school with the BCG vaccination. Contact your GP if this is the case as you will require immunisation against it.
For those people who suffer from dyslexia, it is best to contact the medical schools directly. Many people with dyslexia manage fine at medical school. Each university will have a department which is able to deal with the specific nature of your problem and help you out such as study skills and recommending extra time for exams. However, for those with severe dyslexia it is done on a case by case basis.
Police check
Most medical schools now do police checks on all applicants (only once you've got in though - it'd cost far too much to check 2500 applicants!). Universities will need to verify whether you have a criminal record and if you do, they will review the matter in accordance with their policy. For more information on this, visit the Criminal Records Bureau (opens in new window) website. Often 'petty' crimes as a child may not be disclosed, however it's best that you check with the CRB people first and check with the medical school. Medical schools don't CRB people until they accept their offer. If you are in doubt of the nature of the offence (i.e. whether it was a caution or just a telling off etc.) or if you're unsure if it comes up on the CRB form then it's best to tick the box about any convictions - you don't want to be accused of lying to the medical school!
