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Original poster

Dd12 wants to be a doctor

95 replies

BrightRead · 08/06/2020 11:52

She has convinced herself that she wants to study medicine and become a pediatrician. She is very academic and hard working and is attending a good secondary school. She loves science and maths but is high achieving in most subjects.

Is there anything that we can do to support her with her dream? I am fully aware that she might change her mind but at the same time I'd like to support her and give her the best possible chance.

I hope this is not to ridiculous a post. Smile

OP posts:
Angelnix · 09/06/2020 23:07

I disagree with the point made about playing piano to grade 8, to me, that shows dedication, perseverance and a passion for something, plus nimble fingers make surgery easier!

Embracelife · 09/06/2020 23:07

Unless the volunteering part of d of e is relevant! But not whether it s d of e or not

Embracelife · 09/06/2020 23:09

Angelnix agreed piano shows some qualities ...you can use it for certain examples....but dealing with variety of people can be extremely useful too.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

12 year olds General education Higher education
My0My · 09/06/2020 23:51

Anyone who has got to grade 8 piano, volunteered (D of E route or not) and done Work experience and has top A levels is a great candidate. A Grade 8 pianist might even be part of an orchestra so works with others!

GazeboParty · 10/06/2020 05:43

Support her to dream and encourage her work hard but allow her to change her mind and not feel if she does she’ll be letting you down. I know a few kids who wanted to be Drs and Vets, when they were 11/12 but changed their mind as late as Year 12. Their parents were very invested in h their career choice.

GazeboParty · 10/06/2020 05:48

You might want to speak to people who have very recently interviewed they have changed the whole approach very recently - attempting to drop the grade 8, captain of sports team and DofE gold achievements in favour of activities that directly relate to medicine - like St John’s, volunteering in a care home etc.But that will also depend on the university she applies for and whether they have modernised their process.

My0My · 10/06/2020 13:20

DofE does include volunteering and this is the umbrella some DC use for doing this necessary prep. Don’t dismiss it. Many schools introduce it in y10 so it really can introduce the idea of volunteering and potential doctors can carry on doing it.

Some young people are great musicians. Who wouldn’t continue playing the piano if it gave them pleasure? Or indeed playing sport. Life isn’t just about the personal statement as regards volunteering and work experience. Personal enjoyment should be part of life. In fact I think it’s vital. Life for young people really shouldn’t be pigeon holed into a career. Lots of medics have the capacity to do lots of things. Let them.

Embracelife · 10/06/2020 15:43

Definitely dc need to do things they enjoy. Music sport etc.all good. Many will have these.
If looking to apply to med school they might consider focusing some time each week /each month on relevant volunteering.

Ginfordinner · 10/06/2020 16:48

DofE does include volunteering and this is the umbrella some DC use for doing this necessary prep

True, but the volunteer needs to make sure that the volunteering is relevent and that they mean it. DD used to be a young leader at Brownies - she volunteered for three years.

The brownie leader found some of the D of E "volunteers" rather frustrating as they were clearly only there as a box ticking exercise and weren't very helpful.

GazeboParty · 11/06/2020 07:13

Without a doubt do DofE - it’s great for personal development and if you can do volunteering in a related field this will help but the DofE has become a very expensive, fairly elitist hobby, as is music - do them because you enjoy them - not to become a Medic. Cambridge have said they will not be deciding on good candidates for any subject on the basis of parents ability to pay for music lessons to grade 8 or the luck that your school provides DofE Gold and you can afford to take part. They are insisting that your supporting evidence for application is directly relevant to the course you are applying for and while they think personal development Like the DofE is great - they expect you as a bright person would to get on with that privately anyway and mention things In your application that are directly related to the field in which you want to study and demonstrate your interest in that.

Ginfordinner · 11/06/2020 07:39

I think that is the reason why medical schools said that D of E won't make a candidate stand out from the rest GazeboParty.

GazeboParty · 11/06/2020 07:52

@Ginfordinner

I think that is the reason why medical schools said that D of E won't make a candidate stand out from the rest GazeboParty.
When did they say that? The Dof Silver is offered at our school is costs £400 - I think the Gold is £1000 - this should not be a bar to jump over. Having wealthy parents does not make someone a good doctor. I had thought they were moving away from this - it's very depressing if they are still requiring these kind hobbies.
trixiebelden77 · 11/06/2020 08:12

I’m a dr.

The main thing she needs is perseverance. Trying, trying and trying again. She can get that from lots of avenues.

The remarks about piano made me laugh....I play two instruments (just Grade 8 in one but diploma level in another) as do a large number of my fellow drs. It’s not so much that you do lots of extra stuff to a high standard to get into medicine....it’s that the people who do medicine tend to do lots of things. It’s very very common to be a good musician or a high-level athlete (or both).

High achievers tend to achieve in lots of areas. She’s going to have a very interesting life.

Ginfordinner · 11/06/2020 08:23

I think you misunderstood my post Gazebo. I was agreeing with you. We did the rounds of med schools 3 years ago, and all of the ones we visited said that they wouldn't use D of E to differentiate candidates.

Embracelife · 11/06/2020 08:40

Dofe was nowhere near those costs at dd s state school and was free or subsidies for low income. Maybe private schools make money from it!

GazeboParty · 11/06/2020 08:41

@Ginfordinner

I think you misunderstood my post Gazebo. I was agreeing with you. We did the rounds of med schools 3 years ago, and all of the ones we visited said that they wouldn't use D of E to differentiate candidates.
Sorry Gin of course you did! 😂Goddam eyesight! It's just that these myths keep getting repeated. And it's so important we get doctors who have actually the right mindset and reasons for going into medicine. A colleague told me her son was turned down for medical school despite having AAA* - I suggested he did something medically related physio, medical sciences or nursing and she oh no, that would not do, he wanted to be a brain surgeon - he did geology instead and I thought, the medical school made the right choice.
Embracelife · 11/06/2020 08:42

How muchwill itcost. TheDofEendeavours to keep yourcostsdown so the current Welcome Pack, which includes the participation fee, is £22 for the BronzeAward, £22 for Silver and £29 forGold.

www.dofe.org › costs

How Much Will It Cost? - The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Embracelife · 11/06/2020 08:43

The camping there were some costs but not much and there were bursaries thru school and equipment to borrow. If you paying 1000 you being had! School arranged free sessions for physical and craft etc . This was state school

Embracelife · 11/06/2020 08:46

But doing d of e can broaden skills and if the volunteering is relevant and continued beyond.

My0My · 11/06/2020 08:47

To be fair, the doctor posting above highlighted the fact that doctors are multi talented.

No one thinks playing an instrument or DofE gets you the place on the course but Medics are often multi talented. They do lots because they enjoy it. It keeps them sane. Volunteering via DofE at a young age is w good introduction to volunteering. The end award isn’t important.

GazeboParty · 11/06/2020 08:48

@Embracelife

Dofe was nowhere near those costs at dd s state school and was free or subsidies for low income. Maybe private schools make money from it!
No we attend a Comp and those are now the costs - the teachers are involved, not sure if they get paid though. You can do it cheaper if you are lucky enough to do scouting.
Embracelife · 11/06/2020 08:48

The volunteering dd did helped with p s and interviews. Not whether it was d of e . D of e helped her gain soft skills.

GazeboParty · 11/06/2020 08:51

@Embracelife

How muchwill itcost. TheDofEendeavours to keep yourcostsdown so the current Welcome Pack, which includes the participation fee, is £22 for the BronzeAward, £22 for Silver and £29 forGold.

www.dofe.org › costs

How Much Will It Cost? - The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

My kids did the bronze - we paid £100 plus the DofE fees. I don't know any of the Year 12s doing the silver at £400 but it was offered.
GazeboParty · 11/06/2020 08:53

@My0My

To be fair, the doctor posting above highlighted the fact that doctors are multi talented.

No one thinks playing an instrument or DofE gets you the place on the course but Medics are often multi talented. They do lots because they enjoy it. It keeps them sane. Volunteering via DofE at a young age is w good introduction to volunteering. The end award isn’t important.

I went to Uni with Medics - they mostly used alcohol to keep them sane!😂
daisypond · 11/06/2020 09:06

I know a couple of people who did not get places at university for medicine straight out of school. Both reapplied the next year, having worked as a healthcare assistant in one case, and a phlebotomist in the other. Both were accepted second time round and are now doctors.

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