FINAL IDGIM FOR PRINT 2

Help Me I’m A Medic PresentsI didn’t get into Medicine, but the world hasn’t ended!Re-apply to Medicine Alternative CareersThe reality of re-applying Choosing an alternative careerClearing Science related careersGap year MedTech careersMake your application stand out Non-science careers• Projects Abroad• National Medical Applicants ConferenceStudy abroadExtra-curricular activities• Work experience• Dream Big projectGraduate entry MedicineABOUT THIS PACKWe have written this just for you!We know that right now you might be struggling to make sense of what you can do going forward.In order to make a clear informed decision you should read this cover to cover!You don’t need to read it all in one go, there’s helpful headings throughout so you can skip to the pagesyou find most important. You can pick it up and put it down whenever you like and use it as a referencetool.

About USAward Winning Unrivalled ExcellenceHelp Me I'm a Medic is a multi award winning social For over nine years our team has helped a range ofenterprise founded in Oxford by a group of like- aspiring doctors with their applications. Over that timeminded Doctors, Medical educators and students. Wehave quickly gained national support and are we have amassed a wealth of experience withcontinually growing and developing new ideas, successful applications to many of the most prestigiousproducts and services for our community. Medical Schools in the UK. What makes us different? Unlike other companies, Help Me I'm a Medic is asocial enterprise. This means we care more about what our students and teachers actually need than anyone else! We want to help shape our students into great Doctors who will participate in creating positive change within the NHS and society.What are our aims? Experienced Medical FacultyWe not interested in filling a lecture theatre to capacity All of our courses and services are designed for ourand having our students sit like sardines all day. We students by Doctors, Clinical skills tutors, Examiners,know each of you learn in different ways, so at all of Senior Medical school staff and Medical students soour courses and conferences we use a range of that your learning needs are met in the mostdifferent delivery styles in order to be as effective as appropriate way. We’ve secured places forwe can; from lecture-based styles to hands-on college/sixth form, gap year and graduate students atworkshops and intimate seminars. Medical school.We invest in our students! We aim to create acommunity of like-minded individuals to help make Leaderspositive change in society and provide ongoingsupport for students. Help Me I'm a Medic are the leaders within the Medical recruitment and education sector. We work hard to ensure that we actively engage our community of Doctors, Medical students and aspiring Doctors every day. We are committed to offering the best quality courses at the most affordable prices – as Medics ourselves we know what you need and we stick to delivering that in the most effective way.

Medicine Being unable to get a place at Medical School this year does THE REALITY not mean that you won’t get one next year.OF RE-APPLYING This doesn’t have to be the end of the road for your Medical aspirations! You need to make a decision about whether you are going to re- apply to Medicine or to another subject and we’re here to help. We’re going to talk you through your options so you know exactly what you’ll need to do no matter what you decide. What are my options now?There are a few different ways Re-applyyou could re-apply to Medicine: toThrough Clearing MedicineAfter a Gap yearInternational studyAs a graduateThe next few pages explaineach in option in turn.If you want more detail be sure Alternativeto check out the blog on our Careerswebsite – we add new postsregularly!NHS Medical Careers were soimpressed with what we doand the quality of our poststhat they direct prospectiveMedical students to us.

How hard will you try?\"I had always wanted to be a doctor because I believe already had an interest in mental health because myit is important to help those that are less fortunate sister was diagnosed with schizophrenia.than ourselves. I applied to study Medicine two yearsin a row after college and was rejected both times. My I ended up volunteering for a mental health charityfamily, friends and teachers were telling me I needed whilst waiting to re-apply again in October, I hadto find another subject to study. I didn't think that this promised myself that this would be the last year that Iwas an option, because I had never considered would apply. I eventually landed a paid role withinstudying anything other than Medicine. the local mental health team and decided to make best use of my time there by training up to be aHowever after researching pure science degrees and mental health case worker, so that I could provide 1:1realising they weren't for me, I stumbled across support for people assigned to me who were goingPharmacology. This degree seemed perfect for me through a crisis. I realised during this time that notbecause it combined my passion for science with only was I good at this, but I also enjoyed it a lot.clinical applications. Having been exposed to other professionals within theThat's not the end of my story, although I had settled mental health team, I became aware of the role of aand been accepted to study Pharmacology, I had clinical psychologist. I realised that after shadowingchosen to study at a university that also taught both a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist that forMedicine. I had heard that sometimes students can years I had thought I had wanted to be a doctor. Buttransfer over to Medicine if they are top of their year. the role of a doctor within a team is not simplyAgainst everyone's advice I updated my personal patient care but also a lot of regulatory form-fillingstatement, re-sat the UKCAT and re-applied. I was and admin which means routinely working late afterrejected, again. shifts. However as a Clinical psychologist I could have a 9am-5pm job, have 1:1 appointments with patients and really give them time (that a doctor simply doesn't have) and provide therapeutic benefit through talking therapies. There are clinical psychologist jobs nationwide so I could choose where to live, but as a doctor you have to complete applications (much like those to enter medicine) in order to determine where you will get a job, so there is no security in staying close to family and friends, at least not if you want to progress.However, I learnt to enjoy what I was studying, made I have since applied to clinical psychology and beenfriends on my course and was determined to get a 1st accepted. I now realise that Medicine wasn't really forclass honours degree so that I could apply for me, although if you had said that to me when I wasGraduate entry medicine (GEM), again I was rejected. applying I would have thought that you were just jealous or didn't believe in me.A few of my friends were also considering GEM andgot jobs as healthcare assistants, they were accepted Not getting accepted to study Medicine has taken mebecause they had learnt lots whilst working in a down a path that I would never have considered. I'mclinical environment. But, the thought of wiping glad I didn't waste my time, money and effortspeoples bums was not particularly appealing and I studying to do something that I had billed as my perfect career without evaluating the true reality of life as a doctor without the rose-tinted aspiring Doctor spectacles.

Re-applying Nearly all admissions tutors will tell you as an that Medicine never enters clearing because it's oversubscribed. However, a Undergraduate few Medical schools may have unexpected places for applicants thatUCAS - What you need to know will be filled on results day due to someone not meeting their offer. Definitions: Be prepared! If you are considering re-  Adjustment - a period of up to five application via this route do your days after A level results day during which research and be thorough. Find out applicants, whose results meet and exceed which universities entered clearing last their firmly accepted conditional offer, year and the year before. Applying for may research alternative courses without any course via clearing means you are relinquishing their firm choice likely to be interviewed on the phone by an admissions tutor who will make a  Clearing - the service used towards the decision then and there. Practice answering potential interview end of the application cycle. If you have questions calmly, concisely and not yet secured a place, it enables you to compellingly. You need this person to apply for course vacancies like and believe in you!  Extras - the opportunity to apply for You can call any university that has another course, if you have used all five clearing places regardless of whether choices and are not holding any offers. It you have another offer. However, to runs from 25th Feb until the beginning of accept any offer you receive through July. clearing you will need a clearing number. To be eligible for this you must Eligibility for Clearing: not have any offers. You are allowed to reject an existing offer in order to accept • you hold no offers and have not a clearing offer. withdrawn from UCAS You can learn more about applying • your offers have not been through clearing via UCAS and we will confirmed because you have not have explanatory blog posts nearer the met the conditions time: www.helpmeimamedic.co.uk • you declined or have not replied Clearing to a confirmed offer of a changed course and, as a result, hold no offers

If you get the grades Gap If you get the grades first time that’s great! YEAR You can re-apply for Medicine next year, grades in hand. You should spend the year demonstrating your extra-Re-application checklist: curricular qualities and bolstering your extracurricular activities/experiences e.g. by getting more volunteer or Read this guide work experience. Get the grades Attend The National Medical Admissions tutors like to see that you have doneApplicants Conference something worthwhile with your time, so plan your year- Undertake extracurricular it will fly by fast!enrichment activities Update personal statement In order to re-apply you'll need to re-sit the UKCAT, Update UCAS reference update your personal statement to explain what you Re-sit UKCAT/BMAT have done during your gap year and how this makes you Research universities to check a better candidate now. Ask your teacher to update theireligibility reference for your UCAS application. Ultimately you need to work on making yourself stand out from the crowd. If you don’t get the grades If you don’t get the grades there is a chance for you to re- sit and re-apply. Your choice of universities will be limited and you will also need to undertake work experience to make yourself stand out to admissions tutors. A number of universities do not accept re-sit students. Some specify that if re-sits are sat during the two years of standard college duration they may be allowed to apply. Other Medical schools will only allow one re-take sitting, requiring an ‘A’ at this second sitting. Students who find themselves in this situation are best advised to contact Medical school admissions office directly to discuss with admissions tutors whether their application would be eligible at that particular institution. Other options include applying to a different Medical School or non-traditional entry to Medicine. Some universities consider applicants with non-standard science A Levels (e.g. Art) into pre-Medical or access courses leading to entry into a Medical degree.

How not to 4. Fuel yourself with caffeine and your all. sugar However, just like too much negativity cope with There are only 24 hours in a day, you and self-criticism, this is likely to need to eat, sleep and revise. Lots of backfire. Taking time out (even if it isexam stress people instinctively reach for extra only a few minutes every few hours) coffee, energy or fizzy drinks- thinking to do the things you enjoy isGot exams coming up? A little stress is that the extra boost will give them a absolutely essential to give your braininevitable, but watch out for these head start. This is a false economy, you time to rest and digest information –traps: may well stay awake for an extra hour and will boost your energy levels too. or so, but in the long-term the side1. Attempt to develop super powers effects are not worth it. Also not advisable:You are not a super-human! Don't set Hiring a look-a-like from a company togoals you're never going to meet, you One year a student I knew started come and sit your exam.will just be setting yourself up to fail. increasing their consumption of This will only work if they have beenCovering an entire syllabus in one day energy drinks two months before sat through all of your seminars,was never going to be achievable, so exams. The inevitable tolerance meant lectures and mock-exams.be realistic with your targets! that consumption had to increase to give the same effect. The result was a Praying that the exam hall gets flooded2. Be like an ostrich and find some student with blood-shot eyes who OR that the exam papers get eaten by asand could not sleep at night due to the huge dog (or group of dogs).Some students attempt to ignore the amount of caffeine in their system, the To be fair- this has an outside shot ofupcoming exams and dismiss the late development of a tremor and chronic happening... although I wouldn't betnights in the library that their peers tiredness with a complete inability to on it! So revising is probably a goodare doing. Carrying on as normal in the focus with only a few weeks until the back-up in case this situation does notshort-term is great, no revision, no big exams. It does not take a arise.textbooks, no worries! The obvious neurosurgeon to tell you this is not adownside to this strategy is that great idea. Pretending you’ve been kidnapped .unless you are able to reverse time (in You might be laughing, but stress canwhich case - why are you at college Instead, make sure you stick to a make people do some pretty strangeanyway?) when exam day arrives you balanced diet, full of slow-burning- things... Like an 11 yr-old Spanishwill be hopelessly ill-prepared. energy foods (like fruits, vegetables, school boy who was so freaked out atDoes this sound familiar, are you an pasta and wholemeal bread), drink the prospect of his parents meeting hisignorer? If yes- congratulations the lots of water to keep your brain teachers, he went into hiding andfirst step to solving a problem is hydrated, and try to get plenty of texted his parents pretending he’dadmitting that you have a problem. sleep. been kidnapped.Now stop ignoring the exam and get I’m pretty sure he ended up in A LOTon with some revision already! 5. Lock-down more trouble this way! Another common response to3. Become your own worst enemy impending exams is revision ‘lock- Pretending to faint in the exam.At the other end of the spectrum are down’, focusing all your time and A little less extreme - but still likely tothose who respond to exam stress by energy exclusively on revision. This get you into trouble! Plus, instead ofconstantly giving themselves a hard sounds reasonable – after all, if it’s so practising how to collapsetime. “I haven’t stuck to my schedule, important, it makes sense to give it convincingly without injuringI’m never going to do well as I haven't yourself/flashing your knickers, howcovered Benzene rings.. I haven't done about actually spending that timeas much revision as everyone else...” doing some revision?!Sound familiar? I bet it does! At somepoint we have all probably done this. Liked this article? Read more like thisIn moderation, being self-critical can on our blogbe helpful to keep you disciplined. But www.helpmeimamedic.co.uktoo much negativity is only going tohinder your revision- give yourself abreak, we are all only human!

Make your STANDapplication OUTProjects Abroad: Medicine in Argentina Elizabeth Shackleton-Swain “To be honest I didn’t have a clue what I’d let myself in for. The realisation that I was on my own half way around the world not knowing a soul and without my parents was fairly overwhelming. My worries feel silly now on reflection, I believe the experience has changed me forever. I’ll always cherish the time I had in Argentina, the people I‘ve met and the values I’ve learnt.” \"I had the amazing privilege to be given my placement at Vincente Aguero Hospital in Jesus Maria\" My experience: The doctors were amazingly welcoming to me and within days I felt like part of the team. On my first day alone I saw an emergency caesarean, a completely severed lip, a strangulation case and a heart attack. As fantastic as this was, I thought have I peaked? Is this going to be the best day of the month, surely everyday can’t be this interesting/fun? But honestly, every single day was an adventure and I learnt so much while having loads of fun. Throughout the month I built up strong relationships with all of the doctors involved and so towards the end of the month I was allowed to help with more practical tasks – cleaning wounds, helping with stitching, being a scrub nurse in surgery etc. Accommodation: My host family was a lady called Marta and her extended family who all live in the one house, I also had another volunteer housemate called Taylor who was here with me for two weeks. Language Skills: Thankfully, my Spanish is decent so I could communicate fairly well with both the patients and doctors.

Project's Abroad: Medicine in Kenya James Rivett “I had just finished my exams, achieving the grades I wanted but still had no offers from Medical schools. This meant I had a year out of education, and thus, could pursue aspirations I had always wanted to, like volunteering abroad.““I wanted to combine my enjoymentof volunteering and my desire toprovide help in a place that couldreally use it.”“I met some incredible people and hadsome fantastic experiences. I was nowequipped with the knowledge of anotherculture and could teach my family andfriends about the way of life in Kenya.” “During my placement we went to some of the poorest communities in Nakuru, we would attend schools and orphanages where we would provide care for the children by cleaning wounds and providing health education. The outreaches were always extremely enjoyable but also very eye- opening. They were one of my favourite parts of the placement as I felt as though I was directly helping these children who really needed our time and care.”



International StudyThere are a plethora of international Universities •Student accommodation. Ensure that you checkthat now offer the opportunity to study Medicine in where you will be living if you were to study at aEnglish. If you know any other languages to business particular university. It is easy to check what localproficiency that's great – it widens the net of amenities are available through an internet search.potential Medical schools further! This way you won’t be stuck in the middle of nowhere with one local shop that closes mid-The option of studying as an international student in afternoon!warmer climates is increasing in popularity for manyBritish students, especially as it is becoming easier to •Finances. The fees associated with studying at ansecure finance to help pay for fees. international Medical school vary depending onIf you decide to apply abroad there are many factors country, and can be incredibly expensive inyou should consider including: comparison to the UK. It is therefore advisable to research costs and fees involved with international•Is it GMC (General Medical Council) approved? study thoroughly.There are a few international Medical schools whoseprogrammes are accepted by the GMC, but it is •Grades. Be aware that international study may notdefinitely worth researching this and contacting the be an option for those who have not met the gradeuniversity directly to clarify this point. If you attend a requirements for UK Medical schools. For example,non-GMC approved Medical school and decide you the grades required to enter a Medical school in thewant to return to the UK to work as a Doctor you will USA is often higher than those required here in theneed to sit UK entrance exams. UK.•Location of clinical placements and. There are •Language. The language proficiency needed forquite a few universities that offer their students the Medicine is much higher than that needed to speakopportunity to have some of their clinical placements casually to locals when on holiday.in UK hospitals.

ExtracurricularShowing an admissions tutor that you are not a one- Sportstrick pony is important for many reasons. Use your sporting achievements to supplement your application. If you’re a prize-winning equestrian then makeAs a professional and especially as a Doctor, life will be sure to say! If you regularly play football with a local teamstressful and you’ll need to demonstrate well- that’s perfect too! Make a list of all of the skills you haveroundedness. This is a chance for you to benefit from developed as a result of your sporting activities and includeyour hobbies and interests! You can use them to show them to strengthen your application. You need to show youyour genuine interest in Medicine and development of can unwind after a hard-week’s work!various skills and attributes linked to great Medics.HobbiesReading, baking, vlogging, artistry or DJing – whatever yourpreference, this is exactly what an admissions tutor is lookingfor! Well-roundedness demonstrates a character that can takethe rough and tumble without falling to the side of the road.Genuine Interest Activities: Courses:Medicine is a very intense career that will take over most Courses are a great way of showing your commitment toof your time. An individual with an underlying genuine Medicine, your determination to study and your researchinterest in all things Medicine then, lends themselves into the career. It’s also a great opportunity to networkwell to this vocation. Using your time to undertake and learn from people who are also in your situation.Medicine related activities shows dedication but be sure You’re not alone at any stage! Help Me I’m a Medic arenot to overdo it – a genuine interest is great, but you here for you, we run the National Conference especiallyneed to show you’re not going to burn out! You need to for Medical Applicants. We’re run by Medics, for Medics!be well-rounded to be a great Medic! Book on and benefit. There are also clinical skills sessions for those of you who need some experience for your applications!

Volunteering volunteering to work with the largest For paid work concentrate on the variety of people possible. This will skills and attributes that youThe act of giving your time and skills demonstrate your understanding that developed whilst in that position.for free is hugely noble. As an Doctors serve every member ofindividual, it’s a brilliant chance for society regardless of age, ethnicity or Volunteering abroad is a great way ofyou to give back to your community social status. demonstrating your willingness andand society at large. Medical passion to pursue a Medical career foradmissions tutors recognise this too! Make sure you keep a diary and make ethical reasons as well as any otherVolunteering is a great opportunity for notes of the key information you can motivations!you to have fun whilst developing use on your application – foruseful skills like confidence, team- volunteering who benefitted and whybuilding, initiative, commitment, inter- you chose to spend your time withpersonal and communication skills. that particular organisation.This is a great way of standing outfrom other applicants. You don’t needto volunteer for a “typical Medical not-for-profit organisation”. Get creativeand give your time to whatever excitesyou.A tactical way of impressingadmissions tutors would be by

Work experience A career in Medicine is a big regulations and insurance. Oncommitment for you to make.Work experience is extremely our clinical skills days we important for you, and for let you take over! From your application to Medicalschool. It can help you see the suturing to taking blood, realities of Medicine, the neurological exams to good, the bad and the ugly and will help you come to a history-taking you’ll reasoned conclusion aboutwhether Medicine is right for experience it all! Check our you. website for the next ClinicalYou can use what you learn, Skills Day – The Dream BiG project is pretty special – evenwhat you see and what you do if we do say so ourselves!as essential assets in your www.helpmeimamedic.co.ukMedical school application Dream BiG is unique. It’s a national movement that’sand at interview. What you You can spend time abroad been designed especially for you by Doctors to givelearn and experience is getting work experience. you the best experience for free! It’s been supportedunique to YOU. You need to You’ll get the opportunity to and commended by more Medical schools, admissionsuse each of your experiences experience Medicine abroadto demonstrate you know and and help make a positive tutors, Doctors, Medical students and Medicalhave seen the realities of impact on local communities organisations than you can name!Medicine, and a career in as well as experiencing aMedicine still excites you! different culture. This can be So what is Dream BiG? costly but if you can afford it,Medical Work Experience many students say it’s well Dream BiG is a project led by you!Getting work experience isn’t worth it! For more It all begins with you making a pledge to learn more about oneeasy. Often hospitals and GP’s information on how this can condition via the Dream BiG project (check out the Dream BiGsurgeries are busy and over- benefit you refer back to the page on our website to find out how to do this). Next you start tosubscribed. Try to find a point Projects Abroad student gather research which will mostly be secondary information andof contact – one particular experiences in this booklet. largely theory based know-how. You add to this by going outperson and make a good and getting your own experiences - gathering primaryimpression on them. Getting Paid work information from patients, healthcare practitioners and families.work experience at hospitals Whether your paid-work is After that you reflect on everything you learnt and you produceand GP’s surgeries isn’t the related to Medicine or not a presentation to show your peers – educate others to reducebe-all and end-all of admissions tutors know and stigmas and lead a societal change.experience. understand that lots of Lastly you share your project with us so we can congratulate youMedical admissions tutors students want or need the and offer you some accreditation to use in your applications!have actively told us that they independence of earning theirrealise that it can be own money. On yourextremely difficult to obtain application concentrate onwork experience in certain the skills and attributes thatareas of the UK. In such cases you developed whilst in thatthey would look for creative position.solutions to obtainingexperience, whether that be Make the most of it!volunteering or attending a Whatever experience youcourse. secure, the main thing you can do is get the most out ofHelp Me I’m a Medic it. Before the experience note(HMIAM) regularly runs down everything you couldclinical skills days that you get out of it, and then act on itcan attend as work whilst you get there. Keep aexperience. We’ll offer you a diary and write downvariety of hands-on everything you do so you canexperience that will look refer to it later. Afterwardsgreat in your application and make a list of everything youat interview. When gaining learnt and add the mostwork experience at a hospital valuable things to youror GP’s surgery, you won’t be application.able to get practical Be ready to speak aboutexperience due to rules, anything in your personal statement at interview.

Graduate Entry Medicine WHAT’S THE STORY?Graduate entry programmes allow graduates andprofessionals to apply to Medicine for accelerated 4 year I am a second year graduate entry Medical studentcourses. and unlike the stereotypical graduate I actuallyGraduates must sit an entrance exam called the GAMSAT studied Media Studies at university not sciences.similar to UKCAT/BMAT entrance exams. Studying on the graduate entry programme is challenging, anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.Graduate entry is a credible route into Medicine but it is It’s not a easy option, but for many it’s a great secondvery competitive. It can also prove extremely costly as the chance. Having taken a student loan for my firstStudent Loans Company provide loans for one degree degree I, along with many mature students wasonly. It is thus advisable to find out about the costs ineligible for a student loan for my second degree,involved for studying these accelerated degrees and Medicine.whether you can finance yourself. Having not studied science since school, I was nervous prior to starting and spent the summer before reading A AletvtehlebsiotalortgyI faenltdocvheermwihsetrlmy bedooaknsd. felt like everyone else understood what was going on apart from me, I later realised everyone was feeling exactly the same as me. Whatever degree you have studied before Medicine, there will always be areas that you feel weakest on. But, now in my second year I feel as though I have caught up and although I still do more background reading than my peers, I don’t feel like my degree was a hindrance. We all bringIt’s a gamble something different to the table – that’s what make Graduate MedicineI was unsuccessful at applying to Medicine fun!straight after sixth form so decided to study UK Graduate-entry programmes:biomedical sciences and then try graduate • University of Birmingham (4 year programme)entry Medicine. I graduated with a 2:1 and • University of Bristol (4 year programme)applied to several graduate entry programmes, • University of Cambridge (Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendishbut also applied for one conventional five year and Wolfson Colleges) (4 year programme)Medicine programme at QMUL to ensure that I • Cardiff University (4 year programme) • Imperial College London (5 year programme)definitely got a place. • King’s College, University of London (4 yearI was rejected to study at the 3 accelerated programme)graduate programmes but was accepted onto • University of Leicester (4 year programme)the five year programme at QMUL. I decided to • University of Liverpool (4 year programme)take it as I knew that Medicine was what I • Newcastle University (4 year programme)wanted to do and I didn’t want to wait an extra • University of Nottingham (4 year programme) • University of Oxford (Green Templeton College, Harrisyear re-applying again. Manchester (Mature Students only), Magdalen, Pembroke,Although many wouldn’t have chosen the Somerville, St Anne’s, St Catherine’s, St Hugh’s, St Peter’s and Worcester Colleges) (4 year programme)option I took and some may not have been able • Queen Mary, University of London (4 year programme) • University of Southampton (4 year programme)to pay for the extra year of study. It worked out • St George’s, University of London (4 year programme)great for me and now I’m a doctor! Would I do • Swansea University (4 year programme)it again? Yes! • University of Warwick (4 year programme)

Failure will neverovertake me if mydetermination tosucceed is strong enough. Og MandinoMy Story I was devastated to receive my fourth to improve my scores and no doubt thisSam Neal and final rejection for medicine around stood me in better stead for this year’s March last year, but trust me: all is not application. lost. Doing something productive with my I chose to take a year out rather than year out gave me lots to talk about at studying a related degree, and have interview, perhaps something I lacked spent the year working in a local before, and has also given me something secondary school tutoring maths and more to add to my CV. sciences. This year I was offered a place at the The October 15th deadline for UCAS University of Aberdeen and I am came around really quickly and after extremely excited to be studying there finishing my A2 exams I was tweaking in September. my personal statement based on the feedback I received from the Medical It’s important to remember that a year schools that rejected me and sending my out can be a really valuable thing. I application off for take two. managed to save some money to help with university costs and now I feel Having to take the UKCAT and BMAT ready to start life as a Medical student. again was a bit of a pain, but I managed

ALTERNATIVE CAREERS Think about what you would like to do: In this section we cover potential alternative careers both within and • what are you good at (subject- outside of the scientific field. wise)?Choosing an alternative career • what skills do you have?It is incredibly easy to stay in denial, focus onstudies (or not) and become frustrated when • what do you enjoy?concerned teachers, friends or family askwhat you're ‘Plan B’ is. Ultimately this is your • what kind of work would makelife and no amount of other people worrying you happy (other than medicine)?about you is going to help you to decide onanother career.This isn't going to be easy but, it is importantto think about alternative career options.The first thing to do is do a little self • what aren't you good atreflection. (subject-wise and skills)?What do YOU want to do? • what don't you like?Choosing your career is one ofthe most important decisionsyou’ll make, and getting it rightwill kick-start your career.Transferrable Skills Word cloud created by the GMCThose questions were trying to get you thinking about what transferrable skills you have.The skills needed by healthcare professionals can be transferred to lots of other potentialcareers, above is a word cloud of a few transferrable skills that you might have.

OK, so now it's time to look at a few different options. Our list is by nomeans exhaustive but should get you thinking about what you do anddon't like. After that it's up to you to do some research to find out howyou can get to where you want to be!What other optionsShould I consider?Pharmacy NursingAt the end of studying a 4-year Pharmacy Masters degree Nurses are a crucial part of the healthcare team andyou become a pre-registered pharmacist. One year of form the largest group of staff in the NHS. Nursespostgraduate on-the-job training fulfils your professional work in a wide variety of settings e.g. A&E, operatingrequirements and you will be a fully qualified Pharmacist. theatres and GP surgeries.If you don't have A level science don't worry there are There are many ways to train to become a nurse andincreasing numbers of universities who accept alternative one of the popular ways is by studying a degree orqualifications and there are a few pharmacy foundation diploma programme. Before applying you need todegrees available choose which of the 4 main nursing areas you would like to work in: adult, children (paediatric), learningClinical Sciences disability, or mental health.Clinical Sciences is a good course for anyone who wants Pharmacologyto combine an interest in science with knowledge andunderstanding of health and health-related issues. Pharmacology is the study of drug actions on livingGraduates embark on a variety of graduate careers systems; where they act, what they do, how they arewithin the health education sector, the pharmaceutical metabolised, and how they exert toxic effects.industry, as well as graduate medicine or postgraduate Understanding all of this requires studying drugresearch. actions at levels ranging from the single molecule to the whole organism. Pharmacology is therefore aMedical Biochemistry very broad discipline, taking in aspects of molecular biology, chemistry, physiology and neuroscience.This course focuses on our understanding of the cellularand molecular processes involved in both health and Optometrydisease, and how these can lead to the development ofnew treatments. It will equip you with the skills needed to Optometry is a healthcare profession concernedinvestigate both health and disease in biomedical with the eyes and related structures, as wellresearch and the hospital laboratory. as vision, visual systems, and vision informationThere is often a chance to specialise in subject areas that processing in humans.you have interest during the course. Optometrists complete a 3 or 4 (Scotland) year undergraduate degree followed by a minimum of aSports Scientist one-year pre-registration period, where they complete clinical practice under the supervision of aA degree in sport science gives you an understanding of qualified and experienced practitioner.sports performance and the factors that affect behaviourin sport. You gain subject-specific knowledge in areas Biomedical Sciencesuch as physiology, psychology, biomechanics andnutrition. A biomedical science graduate will leave with scientific, experimental and critical skills valued in many graduateBiology careers. As an undergraduate you'll explore the links between anatomy, biochemistry, genetics, immunology,Predicting the effects of climate change, investigating microbiology, neuroscience, pharmacology andhow animals and plants depend upon each other, physiology. This will enable you to understand diseaseunderstanding the impact of biofuels on food supply – processes and how we might develop new treatmentsbiologists are essential to the world we live in and the for diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's and TB.environmental challenges we face.A biology degree is a broad and diverse discipline. Youwon't just learn pure biology but also practicalapplications.

Exclusive interview with Phillipa Withers, Bioengineer at What is your top tip to school andDePuy Synthesis college students who want to enter a career in MedTech sector?Had you always wanted to work in theMedTech field as a bioengineer? My top tip to students who want to enter the MedTech sector is to keep your options open.I had always wanted to study Veterinary Medicine, There are many different pathways into a career inbut was also surprisingly good at, and enjoyed this field.Design Technology resistant materials.When choosing subjects at College I chose the To read the full interview access the UKscience subjects needed to enter the Veterinary MedTech news blog atMedicine profession, A level Chemistry, Biology and http://ukmedtechnews.blogspot.co.ukAS level Maths. I also understood the need to choseanother A level that I would be able to get a high More alternative NHS careersgrade in so I chose to study Design Technologyresistant materials, because I enjoyed it. Check out Help Me I’m A Medic’s Facebook page or Youtube channel to watch videos\"I hadn't ever considered MedTech as a on alternative careers in the NHScareer“ including: Podiatry, Radiology, Orthoptics, Occupational Therapy,I didn't enter the Veterinary profession, so at 17 District Nurse, and Health Visitor.years old I had to choose an alternative subject tostudy at university. I studied a foundation year inengineering and science, because I have alwaysloved anatomy and biology and went on to completea Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Product Designand Manufacture.



ALTERNATIVE CAREERS: NON-SCIENCE RELATED Careers of the futureThe UK Commission for Employment and Skills produced a list of whatthey see are the top careers of the future. Using their insight into theworld of work, and the skills that are needed not just now, but also inthe future, they have created a list to put the spotlight on a number ofexciting job opportunities in the years ahead.(Groups are listed in alphabetical order)

Motivation “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.” Michael Jordan