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The question wasn't asking you to demonstrate an interest, the question was asking if you've tried to find out about it. I'd have thought such things as "reach out to relatives, family friends, or friends' relatives who are doctors and ask them" would be a way to find out more about medicine as a career.What other ways could you demonstrate an interest in medicine as a career? Reading newspaper about medical field, reading about medical research??
Unfortunately interest in medical sciences isn't exactly the same as interest in medicine. Yes, "learning about medicine" involves plenty of medical sciences, but as far as I'm aware "a career of practicing medicine" is a pretty different story - there's plenty of continued learning, mind you, but "demonstrate interest in medical sciences" is a little detached from the question, which is "what have you done to find out more about what a career in medicine is actually like?".I have heard that some people go and attend free, public seminars at universities and research facilities. These are held surprisingly regularly and I think are a great way of demonstrating interest in medical sciences.
Thanks Havox.Merged with existing sticky.
The question wasn't asking you to demonstrate an interest, the question was asking if you've tried to find out about it. I'd have thought such things as "reach out to relatives, family friends, or friends' relatives who are doctors and ask them" would be a way to find out more about medicine as a career.
Unfortunately interest in medical sciences isn't exactly the same as interest in medicine. Yes, "learning about medicine" involves plenty of medical sciences, but as far as I'm aware "a career of practicing medicine" is a pretty different story - there's plenty of continued learning, mind you, but "demonstrate interest in medical sciences" is a little detached from the question, which is "what have you done to find out more about what a career in medicine is actually like?".
[box=Sarcastic Comment]Yes, attending public seminars about science is a great way to find out what practicing medicine is like.[/box]
And that's not what I'm saying, all I'm saying is "there's more ways to approach something like that than 'work experience'".it should not be a replacement, however, for actually trying to seek work experience.
Has anyone done the work experience program at UNSW Rural Clinical School, or heard about it?
And that's not what I'm saying, all I'm saying is "there's more ways to approach something like that than 'work experience'".
[box=Sarcastic Comment]Well that was a wonderfully reassuring comment inkeeping with the themes of "go for it if you can, but you're not screwed if you can't" and "it's not what you've done that matters, it's what you've learned along the way by reflecting on your experiences".[/box]
I did work experience over the 3rd term holidays of year 12 at my local hospital. It was an amazing experience and definitely confirmed for me personally that the field of medicine was where I wanted to go with my life. I am a little worried about not having done any volunteer work though (technically I wasn't paid for the 3 week work experience but I'm not sure if it counted being that it was short-term).
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Yeah, I would say that is more of 'work experience' not volunteer work, but still, its a very valuable one.
In that case, would you say there's much worth in me seeking out volunteer work so late into the year? I certainly wouldn't want to have my chances compromised by not having done it.
There is always worth seeking out more experience, although I wouldnt say you are at a disadvantage from other people without it, given what you have under your belt.
Did lot of placements but they didn't really help. The unis only look at your scores to invite you for an interview.
I'm talking about UK medical schools though, not too sure how things work in Aus.
^Yes that's right, doing work experience won't really help you if the interivew selection system is only based on results/marks (which is pretty much all uni's except for JCU and a few others). But I would definitely say they help at actual interviews - if you know what to pull out of it and how it relates to a question you are being asked!
Well in a way it does but my personal opinion is get more 'life experience' not just hospital placements for interviews. Because I don't think few weeks or even couple of months volunteering won't help you realise how things work in real life. Understanding what a career in medicine involves is as important as growing as a person which I think is better done if one works part-time or take some real responsibilities.
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Whilst I agree with that, I want to add that even if you do work experience in a medical field, it may not reflect what the profession is really like, so dont make any rash decisions based on what you experience. Rather, use it as a tool among others when making that decision.I've been working at a medical centre as a medical receptionist for four years and I personally think doing volunteer/work experience should be done for the sake of your career, not because it'll look good for your interviews.
I have experienced heaps of things while working (getting a brick thrown through the window because I told a patient a doctor wasn't in, and he thought I was lying etc). I've also worked voluntarily at hospitals and have done some work experience as a medical representative so I definitely think work experience makes you stronger emotionally and makes you very receptive and logical in times of great stress.
Moral of the story, doing work experience because it helps you look better should not be a motive. Rather it should be a genuine interest in your specific field (which I know most of you MSOs are)
Did work experience in yr11 at the Royal Childrens Hospital, one of the best experiences of my academic life and really changed my career choice from actuary to medicine
If you get the chance, go for it, it's incredibly helpful for not only applications, but also for you to experience the field first-hand early on
Well i did 2 years of volunteering at a private hospital in sydney. I liked how we could see how the doctors worked in their team and be able to help with some of the patients. It swayed me more towards medicine, further increased my passion for medicine.As part of 'making MSO great again' (à la big D Trump), thought I'd bump a few old discussion threads that still have some relevance today, especially to those who may have an eye on interviews and on JCU applications
Back from when I answered this question a few pages back:
Would love to hear about your experiences? Were you at a hospital or a clinic or somewhere else? What did you like, what didn't you like? Did it sway you towards medicine?
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