Volunteering Websites

Okay since my post on becoming a volunteer is still in a work in progress, I thought I'd post some really useful links to get people started :)
Firstly http://www.vinspired.com/
Vinspired is a great organisation which helps 16 - 25 year olds find volunteer placements. They have a database full of volunteering opportunities, and they have branches in most major cities with people who know the area well and want to help.
They can normally be found in or around connexions offices. But they also visit schools and talk about what they do, so if your school has a careers officer or something like it they probably have information on Vinspired.
Also if you register you can receive certificates and awards for the number of hours you do, which are recognised by employers etc.
So if your going to volunteer anyways you might as well get a certificate saying you've done it! :D
Next there's http://www.do-it.org.uk/ Do-It, which is sort of like a searching engine of volunteer placements. You type in where you are and what you want to do, and the website provides options! :D
It also has tips on how to apply online for placements, and has information on volunteering centres round the country, worth a look!

Another is http://www.timebank.org.uk/ Time Bank is essentially that, a bank filled with things for people to do in their spare time`:)
It helps people find places to volunteer at, discover different ways to volunteer, and also support people once they start volunteering. Basically it is providing you with a start to finish service, from finding your placement and then making sure your okay when you actually do it! They also have a news letter and a blog

Then there's the good old government website http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Gettinginvolvedinyourcommunity/Volunteering/DG_10029484?CID=emc&TYPE=sponsoredsearch&CRE=Volunteer
This is packed with information on your rights, age restrictions, employers rights, how to apply, technical things like volunteering on benefits and then links to specific types of volunteering, such as with animals. This is really good one cause it means you'll know what your entitled to as a volunteer.`

These are just a few of the main sites, which I personally think are worth a look. There are hundreds out there, and maybe ones more specific to you! :) Just have a nosey and don't be afraid to Google search ;)

Anyways my next post should be more hospital placements etc!
And if it goes how I want it to, a biggun :D
Have a great weekend and I'll post soon!

Good A-Level Subjects for Medicine and My Birthday!

Hey guys! Hope you've all had a great back to school/Sixth Form/College :D

Okay so most of you will have already started your new subjects, but I still thought I should do a post on what sort of A-Levels are best, and basically what's required for most Uni's, you can always change it's early!!
I'm HOPING it won't be as long as my last post cause it's my birthday day in 16 minutes!! :)

So basically pretty much all of them need 2 A-Level subjects in Maths/ the Sciences (this excludes Psychology and AS Levels), and one of those 2 HAS to be Chemistry, there is no getting around this, there are very few Universities not require Chemistry A-level, and you would be restricting your application severely.

Most of them would like you to have at least AS Biology, and if not you must have a achieved a very good pass at GCSE. I would suggest taking Biology to A2 though, as medicine is a pretty Biology-intensive subject; if you don't like Biology you won't enjoy medicine. Also some Universities do have A-Level Biology as a requirement, so you might as well cover all your bases.

Maths is a good one as well, especially for the quantitative calculations and stats analysis you'll encounter in your degree. However I would advise you NOT to take Further Maths, quite a few Universities do not accept Further Maths, and it will add unnecessary stress to your application. 

Physics is pretty impressive and also a good substitute if your not much of a Biologist or if Maths brings up tortured memories. It is handy for understanding the instruments used for imaging, and just generally improving you as a scientist.
But remember you still need to comfortable with all these subjects cause they will feature in any Medicine degree!

NOTE OF CAUTION: Be careful when choosing a "softer" subject for your 3rd/4th A-level - Universities have been known to discriminate against people with subjects such as business studies, film studies, textiles etc. Oxbridge published a list at one point of which subjects were acceptable, and the University of Birmingham, for example, expects 4 A's at AS if a subjects such as Psychology, PE or Sports science is being taken with Biology.
Some Universities now even have written on their website "call us if you are unsure about the unsuitability of a subject", so just ask! 

Now some Universities prefer students to be very specialised, for example Cambridge is known for preferring mainly sciences from it's Medicine students, with some colleges even requesting 3 science/Maths subjects at A-Level, and 97% of their applications of their applicants have all 3 (as of 2012).
Only problem with using this system is that Universities obviously don't advertise this on their prospectus' or website! (Apart from UCL, which I think now actually puts in its prospectus "Students with a language of arts A-level will be looked upon favourably").

It's all by word of mouth, and this can be fairly difficult to find if the University you're interested in is not-very well known, so I recommend either looking at the requirements and making an educated guess, (e.g. "We like students with many talents who are well-rounded" = Range of subjects) and ("We prefer candidates to have a exceptional knowledge in the science they are not providing at A2" = Specialised).

Often this can't be done, and in that case make sure you've got at least your 2 including Chemistry, and then just do stuff you like :).

Okay I know this is fairly short and specific to University (some like certain subjects and Scottish Universities can be a little fussy because they do a different Qualification up there), buttttt it's officially my birthday :) and I think I should go to bed/read/be very happy/make a futile attempt to wipe the grin of my face :D
See ya laters peeps!!!!!!
I'M 17!!!!!
xxxxx
P.S. I may do a longer more comprehensive version later, and I will soon be doing a post about applying for volunteering posts, but for now, I'm gonna enjoy Florence & The Machine while being 17 ;)

GCSE Results and University Requirements for Medicine

*UPDATED FOR 2012 ENTRY*

IF YOU ARE UNSURE IF YOU HAVE "GOOD" ENOUGH GCSE'S - SEE THIS POST: http://youngwannabedoctor.blogspot.com/2012/01/bad-gcse-results-and-getting-into.html

Well many 16 year olds (or possibly 15 year olds if you are one of the unlucky few born very late in August) will have recently received their GCSE results.
Mine are pretty damn good, YAY!!

However as this a blog about all things needed for getting into medical school, I'll give you guys a heads up about what you will have needed to get into different Medical Schools.

Okay so the best of the best require mainly A*'s, this includes Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Bristol (obviously others are good, they just haven't specified GCSE grades). However not everyone is pumping out straight A*'s and many Universities don't see them as a requirement, so I'll do it in alphabetical order.

Aberdeen = All A/B passes expected, especially in the Sciences. C passes in English and Maths. Biology and Physics as seperate subjects are looked upon favourably.
Barts = Minimum requirement of AAABBB in Maths, science and English.
Birmingham = At least 8 A*'s (notice the "at least" meaning your competition will probably have more than 8) This year (2011 entry) most of the applicants who received offers had 9/10 A*'s
Brighton and Sussex = High grades expected with B's in English and Maths, however candidates with low grades are considered if your AS's results are very good
Bristol = 5 subjects at grade A/A* including Maths, English and 2 sciences
Cambridge = lots of A*'s... need I say more? However if your AS UMS marks are exceptional, your GCSE grades matter less

Cardiff = A minimum of 9 grade B's. B's needed in English and Maths, AA needed in additional science, and AAB for separate sciences
Dundee = A good pass in Biology... I assume this too mean an A or above, Dundee is one of the top medical schools, so even though they don't specify on GCSE results, you can bet your competition will have a lot of A*'s

Durham = A minimum of 5 subjects at grade C, to include Maths, English and the sciences
East Anglia = 6 subjects with at least grade A including the core subjects (core subjects = English and Maths)
Edinburgh = 8-11 A*'s, with at least B's in core subjects (average applicant has 6 A*'s - the ones who get in have above 8 A*'s)
Glasgow = A's in English and the sciences
Hull York = At least 6 subjects at grade C, A's in the Maths and English, B's in the sciences
Imperial = AAABBB in Maths, English and the sciences
Keele = Grade A in a minimum of 4 subjects, and B's in English, Maths and the sciences

Kings College London = Grade B in English and Maths if not offered at AS/A2 level

Lancaster = A minimum of 9 GCSE's at grade C. Lancaster has a points based system, with A*/A = 2 and a B=1, you need at least 15 points - which essentially translates to AAAAAABBB. Maths, English and the sciences need to all be at grade B.
Leeds = B's in English, Maths and the sciences with a range of good grades, this presumably means nothing below a B and certainly no fail grades
Leicester = GCSE requirements are not specified but are "taken into consideration" - aim high
Liverpool = At least B's in the core subjects and sciences, and a scoring system. A*/A = 2 and B = 1, in this scoring system you need at least 15 points. Which works out as mainly A/B's in all subjects (AAAAAABBB)
Manchester = At least 7 subjects at grade C or above, at least 5 at A/A*. A minimum of B for English language. A minimum of grade C for Physics and Biology
Newcastle = A's in the sciences, and a minimum of 5 passes (I'm quite surprised by the relatively low grades, seeing as Newcastle is another good Medical school, so do expect most other applicants to have higher grades than this)
Nottingham = Grade A in the sciences and at least 6 subjects
Oxford = Minimum Grade A in the sciences, minimum 8A*'s
Peninsula = Grade C in at least 7 subjects
Queen's Belfast = Uses a point scoring system, 4 points for an A*, 3 for an A etc. Makes competition quite high because all GCSE results are taken into account in the final point adding
RFUCMS = B's in core subjects and from 2012 a language will be required
Sheffield = At least 6 A grades required and B's in core subjects

Southampton = Minimum of B in 7 subjects, including Maths, English and the sciences
St. Andrews = B's in core subjects and the sciences
St. Georges = Minimum of 8 subjects. A's in maths, English and the sciences. A B is needed for English language.

UCL = Minimum requirements are a B in English and Maths, and a modern foreign language for 2012 entry - however UCL uses GCSE's as an indicator of academic abilities, so most applicants will have a high percentage of A*'s

Anyway I hope everyone did great and that the above information is helpful rather than depressing!!

Good Luck with Sixth Form!

Medlink and Bizarre Phone Calls

Medlink

As many medicine applicants will know, any prior experience or courses you go on will help with getting onto a Medicine course. There are quite a few courses available which provide tasters on medicine, university life, how to apply, what the courses are like and things you will be studying.
A well known type of this course is Medlink.
Based in Nottingham, Medlink provides 4 day residential courses for AS or A2 students who are serious about studying Medicine.
It looks like an amazing thing to go on, really useful, however it does require forking out quite a bit of cash :/ which is sehr annoying.
Ah well I'm sure I'll be able to pay back my Mum some how :D

So I had a rather strange phone conversation with a woman who works there a few days back...
I didn't appear to understand what she was saying, and she appeared to have no understanding of who I was or what I wanted 0_0.

Probably went something like this:
Woman - "Hello blahblahblah Office"
Me- "Hi, I'm 16 and I was wondering if accommodation is provided on the Medlink course??"
(It is btw, I am just clearly useless at finding information on websites)
Woman - "Well it's like a university experience... we try to make it like that you see"
Me - "okay, but about accommodation..."
Woman *continuing rambling* "and you see they wanted to make it like that, you see"
Me - "Right, well um I was just wondering that really"
Woman - *clearly deciding she didn't want to explain* "Do you want a brochure?? It explains things"
Me - "Oh yes please"
Woman - *Silence*
Me - *Silence*
Me - "Um so..."
Woman - "Address??"

And then just my details, I wonder if I'm incredibly unclear on the phone, I seem to have a lot of conversations like this, where we are replying to different things and long silences where clearly each one of us is waiting for the other speak :S

Anyways I know have the brochure and shall spend an undoubtedly happy 5 minutes filling in my details I already told the woman, I do love form filling.

Bye peeps! And remember in Medicine experiance is Gold,
even if it costs £250.

Getting Started - Hospital Volunteering

Anyone thinking about doing Medicine at University should know that Voluntary Work in a hospital or care home and shadowing of a GP or Consultant is basically compulsory to apply.
It shows universities about your dedication to Medicine, and also that you have some understanding of what the career entails, and if you really want to pursue it. However this can be difficult to arrange, and everyone advises you arrange it for during your AS's. Also it gives you something to put on your personal statement and something to talk about in that dreaded medicine interview :).

So today I rang up my local NHS Trust to ask about volunteering, and it turns out they have a very good programme for 16-25 year olds which starts recruiting from the first week of September.
I'm actually quite excited about this, and really hoping I get a place. It should give me a lot more experience on the wards and of the sorts of things I might have to become use to if I become a Doctor, such as people facing depression and death and very difficult social situations.
I often find with hospitals that the people you see there are always at their most vulnerable... or perhaps their most defensive, and that hospitals contain every emotion on the spectrum. This takes some getting use too, and I think any experience you can get is invaluable.
There are different posts you can apply for, some working with patients with cancer and with the palliative care team. Others include helping with busy outpatient clinics and organising Admin etc. Some are more care based, such as helping patients with eating and befriending them if they are lonely. All very good work :). I wonder if I'll get that sense of satisfaction from helping people that everyone talks about.
Another opportunity I found was to work with the "League of Friends" (I don't live near Oxford, they just have a description of their work), however they mainly work in the cafes and pushing trolleys round the wards and as I want more medical based experience I decided it wasn't for me, even though the kind woman down the phone tried a good job at convincing me to join.

So now it's just waiting till September!!

Hello!

Hi, I'm 16 (very nearly 17) and aspiring to be a Doctor!
I've had this career path chosen for a while now, and want to document my progress and see how I get along achieving it.
Anyways, hopefully this will be successful.
Bye!