Uni application for paramedic science

[ucasstatement]

DD (18) is in her final year of A Levels (psychology, combined science and health & social care). She wants to apply to uni next year for paramedic science. I have agreed to help her with her UCAS personal statement. I'm just wondering what are the key things they'll be looking for? She has a part time job in a cafe, and has worked in a bar/restaurant, but she has no healthcare experience. Is she likely to need this specific experience?

Any tips from those who know what this course will be looking for will be much appreciated!

my dd is in her 2nd year of the 4 year foundation paramedic sciences degree, she had worked in a cafe/soft play for a few years and had done st johns ambulance for a couple years too. is doing st johns a possibility? was 1 night a week for a hour or so
she choose the 4 year instead of 3 for a few reasons, it wasnt as oversubscribed as the 3, didnt need as many points and she was offered it at her 1st choice on results day whereas the 3 she was on wait list at 2 other places.
its crazy as we are crying out for more nhs workers yet PS is offered at so few unis and often only a small amount of places

Thank you @CaravaggiosCat 😄

@dawnc27
Yes we will look into St John's as well, thank you! I agree it's crazy that there are so few unis offering the course.

Oh also, she's watched every single episode of the BBC documentary 'Ambulance'- does that count as research? 😂

St John's or the Red Cross perhaps. Part time work in a care environment perhaps. Friend picks up grade 2 bank shifts (ward support roles) in hospital on wards. Usually do an intro programme with trust then go on the bank list.

Not to be too harsh, but surely you understand if you work clinically, in mental health of all things (!), that the main reason for asking for health care work experience is to give applicants a little taste of what it’s actually like out there. Kids who apply for this kind of course because it sounds more interesting than being in an office but have no real understanding of what, for example, paramedics actually do, end up dropping out once they go out on placements-which is disappointing for them and expensive for the NHS. She really does need some sort of clinical work experience just so she knows what she’s letting herself in for; it wouldn’t be fair on her otherwise.

They actually posted on Facebook a month or so ago advertising for volunteer roles and encouraging people to get in touch, so hopefully that's successful for her.

To be honest, if they advertised this a month ago and she didn't apply then, I'd be questioning her commitment to this. Surely she should have jumped at the chance to get some experience and see what the job is really like?

@Hankunamatata
She's emailed both of those, as well as our local ambulance service.

@KrisAkabusi
She didn't realise they had posted a month ago - it was me who saw that just now.

@JennieTheZebra
Yes of course I understand the advantages of gaining hands on clinical experience, hence why I'm encouraging her to do just that?

Do be reassured that universities are very aware that some young people HAVE to work in a paid job and that it can be a privelege to be able to volunteer.

However she will need to demonstrate that she fully understands what is involved in that type of course/career.

I would look into joining St John's ambulance.

As a long serving paramedic, I wouldn't be encouraging any one I loved to become a paramedic.

@Blueuggboots
Really? Why do you say that? It's literally her only career ambition, there's nothing else she feels as passionate about.

It's an incredibly emotionally and physically draining job. You get treated like absolute crap by the employers, they genuinely don't care about you.

They want you for 5 years max. They don't want to have to provide flexible working for young parents etc.

I have worked in the emergency services (not as a paramedic) and I agree with PP, it is relentless, long hours, burnout. I have left now after many years, I often think would I discourage my children from doing it ? I don't think I would , I would definitely give them all the honest inside knowledge and facts, but, like your daughter, I remember being so passionate about my career route as a teen and that's all I wanted to do, so wouldn't want to quash their dreams.

Anything working with the public would help to use as evidence. Learning how to deal with confrontation, using empathy, obviously in your case first aid. She really does need to go above and beyond.

A friend of mine at school went on to do nursing and in her final year of a levels was studying, had a part time job and volunteered in a care home for the elderly.

I have also volunteered on hospital wards, helping with care with qualified nursing staff.

It is out there (well it was when I did a levels), very best of luck to your daughter.

Do you have a colleague or friend she could approach for a chat, instead of it being her mum? Especially if there's one closer to MH emergency situations perhaps.

I'm not sure if she needs to demonstrate understanding of how the NHS works as much as why she wants to be a paramedic and why she would be great at it.

Work shadowing might be another thing she could ask for in a care home, they often take work experience young people and it doesn't have to be a big ongoing commitment, but I wouldn't delay getting her application in for it.

Volunteering at the local ambulance control room? Mental health support services?
Funeral directors?

Just throwing some ideas around!

Can she not try for some experience first, either by taking annual leave or quitting her job and starting a new one?

It seems to me that that will be her biggest opportunity to get on the course and should actually help her check that it really is what she wants to do.

She could ask work to support her in becoming a first aider, email her local St John's ambulance and ask to visit their stands at fetes and talk to people running them, go to county fairs with other front line staff, like police and fire, and ask hiw they all work together.

These are all really helpful ideas and lots of food for thought - I will show DD this thread so she can read the good, the bad and the ugly!

If she is doing a health and social care BTEC she should be doing some relevant work experience shouldn't she? My dd worked in a nursery and a care home.

@Brananan
No, there's no placement, just an exam and coursework.

She should check out Paramedic job descriptions and essential and desired criteria on job adverts. Also read the Trust Values of each of the local ambulance websites. If she can do an observer shift even better as the job is probably nothing like she thinks it will be. Sadly I agree with PPs, it's not a career choice that will do her health, well-being or finances any good at all. But good luck to her if she decides it's for her.

Oh, that's a shame. My dd did the A level equivalent BTEC and there were 2 placements. She said when she was interviewed for her NHS role they were really interested in them.

@Brananan
It's a BTEC but the place she's studying at doesn't offer the placement unfortunately. Such a shame as that would have been ideal experience.