Learning and Research Centre
SouthmeadHospital
Westbury on Trym
Bristol BS10 5NB
January 2015
Pathways into Medicine 2015
Notes for those applying for work experience
We get many more applications than there are places for the Pathways Work Experience Course so we hope to provide the answers to some commonly asked questions to help you decide whether to apply, and how to complete your application form.
Who is allowed to apply?
The course is designed for people just finishing year 12. We do save a few places for graduates who have made a later decision to apply for medical school.
Why are there not enough places?
The number of places we are able to offer in North Bristol is set by the Trust, based on several factors. We have to be sure that work experience will not interfere with patient care, or the training of student doctors, nurses, and others. We also have to consider the impact on occupational health services of screening applicants before they come. And a lot of work goes into making sure that the placements are safe and appropriate and supervised – for several years before the Pathways Scheme there was no work experience offered at North Bristol.
How do you select applicants?
A group of us involved in work experience and medical admissions decide who should be offered work experience based on several factors:
Previous Work Experience. As an admissions tutor for Bristol medical school I can absolutely confirm that it is content, not volume, that counts when completing the UCAS form. We look for thoughtful reflection on what you have seen, and it is obvious that some people are just ‘collecting’ work experience without gaining anything further from it. So we look at any work experience you have already undertaken or arranged to try and give the most benefit to the biggest number of applicants. Please be honest – we liaise with our opposite numbers in other hospitals and general practices. If you’ve already spent time seeing what doctors do, then spending time doing some volunteering in the community might be better for your application.
Academic Performance and Personal Statement. Entry requirements to medical school are rising all the time. Most medical school now require As or A*s at GCSE and three As at A-level. While we take individual circumstances into account we do look for evidence of academic potential and the ability to write a good personal statement – as both will be important when the time comes to apply to medical school.
Luck. Whatever criteria we use there will inevitably be a degree of luck involved. Some applicants may not be available for certain dates, for example. We will try however to be as fair as possible at all times but inevitably some applicants will be disappointed.
What if I am not successful?
If you aren’t fortunate enough to gain a place and still think you will benefit from (rather than just enjoy) some work experience there are still other options available. Your own GP may be able to help; and many hospitals including ours have work experience and volunteer programmes which although not dedicated to potential medical students may still provide a useful insight into hospital life. And as I said above, any volunteering which involves meeting and working with other people will always be useful in preparing for a medical career.
Please fill in your form carefully and thoughtfully – and good luck!
Dr Ed Morris, Consultant Anaesthetist, North Bristol NHS Trust and Director, Pathways into Medicine