UK medicine course internship

[JojoBon]

Hi,

First time posting here ^_^.

Just a question: for those who have applied to and got accepted into the medicine course, have you all have work experience in a hospital? It's really easy to find such exp. in the UK because most hospitals have these schemes but the experience is quite hard to find in Asia... So any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

Jo

[TheArtOfMedicine]

Dear Jo, welcome to this forum!! It seemed as if i was the only person on this forum applying for Medicine in the UK last year..LOL!

OK, all the medical schools i applied to have replied to me and i hold three offers, out of the four that i applied last year. Work experience is crucial for those who intend to read medicine in the UK, and it plays an extremely important role, both in your personal statement and your interview(which you'll get one if you are able to catch their attention with your personal statement). I'm sad to agree that to get into a shadowing scheme in Malaysia is much harder and i might even have to say it's near impossible, especially if you're thinking of doing that in a General Hospital. I tried once by writing to them(with a group of 5),and i felt as if they didn't bother to have a look at the letter i wrote. I made a few calls but all that i got were stupid excuses and more procrastinations. I would suggest you to contact your family GP or any doctors/surgeons that you know of. For example, your father's friends that are doctors themselves or even your relatives who are involved in the medical field(be it a nurse, radiologist, physiotherapist or whoever he/she is). I managed to shadow a gastroenterologist from Australia as he's my father's close friend. Try to apply for the JPA scholarship for medicine, if you've scored 10A1 or above in SPM, they'll most probably grant you a hospital attachment experience, at least. It was quite an eye opener to me, as i was really lucky to see how inefficient the local public hospital is. I criticised a little on that in one of my interviews(and got an offer from them after that). When do you plan to apply, if you don't mind me asking?

[SHuLy]

Is it that tough? I managed to do mine quite easily - and at 3 different hospitals. I had nothing much to do during the hols. HaHa. I would think that it is easier at private hospitals too. You do not need to go to the top, biggest and famed one.

We were told to experience some form of exposure in a healthcare setting, but I am not too convinced that it is a must to apply for medicine. Preferably perhaps.

All the best.

[TheArtOfMedicine]

I'll say it's a must, despite what Shuly's said. (Sorry, my friend!)

It shows that you are motivated and willing to take the initiative to gain the exposure, which is extremely important. By the way, Shuly, it was really THAT tough to get a placement, if you were talking about Government Hopistals. I managed to shadow 3 surgeons without fail in the private hospital. Oh,besides, work experience will make sure you know what you're getting yourself into, gory injuries and squeamish surgeries etc. (and to reassure the admissions officer that you can stand all those stuff)

[JojoBon]

Is it that tough? I managed to do mine quite easily - and at 3 different hospitals. I had nothing much to do during the hols. HaHa. I would think that it is easier at private hospitals too. You do not need to go to the top, biggest and famed one.

We were told to experience some form of exposure in a healthcare setting, but I am not too convinced that it is a must to apply for medicine. Preferably perhaps.

All the best.

Hey,

do you mind giving me the names of those hospitals pleasE?

Thanks for replying

I'll say it's a must, despite what Shuly's said. (Sorry, my friend!)

It shows that you are motivated and willing to take the initiative to gain the exposure, which is extremely important. By the way, Shuly, it was really THAT tough to get a placement, if you were talking about Government Hopistals. I managed to shadow 3 surgeons without fail in the private hospital. Oh,besides, work experience will make sure you know what you're getting yourself into, gory injuries and squeamish surgeries etc. (and to reassure the admissions officer that you can stand all those stuff)

Do you mind sharing the names of those hospitals?

I'm actually not Malaysian. I live in China and am finding it virtually impossible to find med. exp. so I'm currently researching overseas.

Which medical schools did you get into if you don't mind my nosiness?

[TheArtOfMedicine]

I received offers from Bristol, Nottingham and Leeds. Cambridge rejected me, unfortunately. I can't really name you the hospitals, it's all based on connection and luck. Try to talk to the doctors in China, you might find yourself lucky to have one or two of them willing to take you in to observe their daily routine.

[fazlyn]

I received offers from Bristol, Nottingham and Leeds. Cambridge rejected me, unfortunately. I can't really name you the hospitals, it's all based on connection and luck. Try to talk to the doctors in China, you might find yourself lucky to have one or two of them willing to take you in to observe their daily routine.

i have a feeling you're from a forum somewhere...erm..u sound so familiar...have u ever enter a thread called leeds medical school?