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Original poster

Medicine 2019 - Part 2

683 replies

Monkey2001 · 24/02/2019 22:35

Oops, looks like none of noticed the old thread was full!

@HostessTrolley @Hoodiemum @4catsham @mamamedic @medicmom @mimiasovitch @Nightowlpossibly @ProfessorLayton1 @Tinkobell @Weaverspin @Itsthekissing @Sluj @Mumneedswine @Movingmountains

Apologies to any regulars I have missed

OP posts:
Nightowlpossibly · 01/04/2019 13:48

DD has decided she would now like a gap year. She didn't apply for deferred entry at the time as she was concerned she would be considered less favourably.

So after receiving all of her offers she contacted them all to ask for a deferral. All of them agreed! If she firms them. Three with no questions asked , one asked
Her to outline her plans for the year. I was surprised by this, as everything I have heard, and read about this process, has led me to Believe that it was difficult to do
Once you had offers, and had not requested a deferral initially. Obviously not the case for her choices. Was worth her asking. She certainly wasn't expecting all of them to say yes. Obviously she is delighted, as are we, as I think a gap year is a good idea for her. Another incentive to get those grades!

Looks like I will be joining the 2020 boardsSmile

Original poster
Monkey2001 · 01/04/2019 14:39

Haha Nightowl, what does she want to do? Which one is she planning to firm?

OP posts:
ProfessorLayton1 · 01/04/2019 17:32

Nightowl - what are her reasons to do a gap year?
Does she have any plans for the gap year.
Interesting that all her universities agreed for deferred entry ...

Nightowlpossibly · 02/04/2019 00:51

Professor--- interesting indeed, believe me we were very surprised that all agreed to defer, thought maybe one, perhaps 2 if really lucky. I don't know the reasoning behind their decisions but I am happy for DD.

Tbh the main reason is because DD is having some doubts about medicine. Like your DD she decided on medicine quite late. But was sure at the time is was definitely what she wanted to do. Hence putting herself through this gruelling process. She expressed some doubts before christmas. But then seemed sure again once interviews and subsequent offers came through.

However recently she has become uncertain again, to the point where she feels she needs the gap year to take a breather, and think clearly, without any pressure, if medicine is really what she she wants. I think she is doing the right thing, if she has any doubts better to take the year out to get her head straight. And decide what She really wants. She is also going to use the time to explore other options if she decides medicine is not for her.

She plans to do more hours in her voluntary work in the hospice, and to try and get voluntary or paid work in a medical /caring setting. Also to work.And save for next year especially if she firms UCL he London Accommodation is expensive. I think all of this and another year's maturity can only be a good thing. Still got to get those grades though!

Monkey2001--- she has not decided which to firm yet, she won't until she has been to offer holder days during Easter hols. I think UCL is the current favourite though.

Tinkobell · 02/04/2019 14:49

@Nightowl....I was chatting to a woman the other day about medicine. She had been all lined up for medicine, got her grades and offers but had a niggling worry (which she kept secret until 11th hour) that she would struggle emotionally caring for people who were either extremely ill or dying. She pulled out and actually pursued physiotherapy and has enjoyed a satisfying, flexible and happy 30 year career in that field ever since. Slight aside I know, but it would be worth understanding what's at the crux of her doubts - i don't blame her there would be a lot of things to cause worry and second thoughts!

ProfessorLayton1 · 02/04/2019 16:56

Nightowl - good idea if she is not sure about her choice and it is a long term commitment..

Good luck to her in what ever decision she makes.

Nightowlpossibly · 03/04/2019 00:13

Tinkobell---- you make an interesting point about the lady choosing physiotherapy as her career instead of medicine.

DD definitely does have the interest in the area of medicine and she says it is the only thing that she has thought about doing as a career. I think if She is having
Doubts about becoming a doctor, there are so many other careers in medicine and health she could do, that don't require the same amount of years of study and commitment, but could still lead to a satisfying career. Which we have discussed.

I'm not sure what her specific worries are, but she is definitely much happier and her mood lighter, knowing she can defer. So I think it is the right thing for her. As an added bonus it seems to have motivated her even more, she is actually revising quite cheerfully at the moment, even the dreaded chemistry. smile]

HarryTheSteppenwolf · 03/04/2019 17:30

It's worth people with doubts about whether medicine is actually what they want to do having a look and the NHS careers web site:

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles

For a more detailed exploration, they can use the career-planning tool (but it takes about 10-15 min):

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/career-tools

HarryTheSteppenwolf · 03/04/2019 17:30

...at the...

Tinkobell · 04/04/2019 16:28

@Nightowl - maybe during her gap year she could try and expand her work experience range more broadly to get a taste of other areas to see if she likes or prefers those? It might affirm her original decision or take her down a slightly varied path. She sounds like a sensible girl and you sound patient! I must admit I think my head would spin if DD did a U turn at this stage, though I guess you have to accept it's their lives not ours. I have two close friends who are speech and language therapists - again been doing that for 20+ years and loving it....

Nightowlpossibly · 05/04/2019 02:43

Tinkobell-- yes she will be trying to get the relevant work experience. She is also going to explore another degree option that she could be interested in, that is completely
Removed from medicine. generally she is sensible and does make considered decisions mostly. The decision to defer was all hers, she just went ahead and contacted them, and then told us. I might seem patient but my initial reaction was not. However after giving it some thought and listening to her reasons I saw the sense in it and I am fully supportive.

Harry-- thanks for links very informative.

Professor--thank you im sure she will be fine. Has your DD pressed the button for UCL?

Good luck to those who have/are currently making their choices will be nice to see where everyone will hopefully be going.

ProfessorLayton1 · 05/04/2019 06:48

Nightowl - she has confirmed her choices, not going to any offer holder days. She seems to be focused on getting the grades now..
It was quite painful to watch Dd go through all the possible options before deciding on medicine as her career choice...
I completely understand your Dd' s decision but it is important to find out her reasons for not going ahead with medicine ,good luck to her !

HostessTrolley · 06/04/2019 23:16

She sounds really sensible nightowl - it would have been harder for her to do that than just be swept along, while not being 100% sure

Dd has pressed the buttons. Firmed imperial, insured Sheffield, declined Nottingham (Lincoln) and withdrawn from kings. She said part of her would like to have known if she’d have got an offer from kings, but on reflection she’s sure she’s made the right choice for her, and is relieved to be able to move forward. Mock exam grades were good, so a semi chilled Easter break then into the revision proper

Tinkobell · 07/04/2019 20:05

@Nightowl - with work experience, we really struggled to get anything locally to our home town. All the local practitioners were very concerned about client confidentiality and the risk of a patient coming in that might recognise DD. In the end I'm afraid we gave up.
However, where she found success was going to stay with relatives for a week or two. We have family in some remote and distinctly 'uncool' areas along the south coast which struggle to attract and retain NHS staff; their attitude was very welcoming and supportive to work experience students.....I know she was hugely grateful. She also got to spend time seeing patients from tough social circumstances and deprived areas; which again, v helpful as where we are is a sheltered bubble.

Nightowlpossibly · 08/04/2019 22:19

Hostess- my thoughts exactly, regarding being swept along with this process, 'i am glad she didn't do that. I suspect that happens with a lot of kids on lots of courses not just medicine.

Glad your DD has made her choices, probably the right decision to withdraw from kings at this stage, with no definite offer from them and other good options available to her. I can understand the relief of finally making those choices. inally wish we were at that point.

And how nice that she can have a fairly chilled easter! My DD is stressing, as her school didn't quite finish all of chemistry units, and she has to learn them by herself over the break, on top of normal revision ! One of of my friends DDs sixth form has finished all the curriculum and they are just doing practice tests at this point.

Tinkobell- understand about getting local experience, and confidentiality issues. many years ago I worked in a surgery in my local area, and it was awkward when I saw the people I knew, especially when it was mums at the school. I didn't stay there long. Your DD sounds like she got great experience away from you area though.

Good luck to those Dcs starting to revise hard now.

ItsTheKissing · 09/04/2019 22:45

So DSS now has a second offer fro Bristol AAB to go with his Manchester offer. He prefers Bristol as a place to live but what else should I tell him to consider; cost, location of placement; type of course? Is there a specific deciding factor?

HarryTheSteppenwolf · 10/04/2019 00:40

Where he might spend years 3, 4 & 5... Preston vs Swindon.

Original poster
Monkey2001 · 10/04/2019 10:04

ItstheKissing - well done to your DS. Both great cities, but isn't Manchester right at the PBL end of the spectrum so that may make the decision for him.

We live in Bristol and DS loves it, would have applied here if he did not already live here. Have lots of friends doing other courses in Manchester and they are equally happy - and MUCH cheaper to live in than Bristol. From my days in Bristol lots of the medics stayed here after graduation, which reflects how much they enjoyed studying here.

A GP who supports a lot of people on TSR posted this GMC chart for the percentage of its graduates that pass specialist exams - Bristol 7th, Manchester last. Bristol also did better in a GMC survey of proportion of foundation doctors who felt adequately prepared for their F1 year, but GANFYD's data did not show the whole table, so I don't know how much better.

Medicine 2019 - Part 2
OP posts:
HarryTheSteppenwolf · 10/04/2019 10:45

isn't Manchester right at the PBL end of the spectrum so that may make the decision for him

Bristol's new curriculum makes greater use of case-based learning and other small-group tutorials. Manchester has a hybrid curriculum with PBL supported by lectures, practicals, dissection, etc. I wouldn't say there's a huge distance between them in tearms of delivery style.

swingofthings · 10/04/2019 16:39

So many things that impacts on choice that our children wouldn't think about at the time of making their choice. Indeed at Manchester, there's a good chance of ending up in Preston but even though DD didn't even know about this at the time, she is very happy to do so because it is known to be an excellent place to do clinical training, and she's happy to go somewhere that will be very cheap. As it is, she only very rarely goes into the centre of Manchester and even in Preston, she'll have many friends to stay if she wants to come back for some weekend.

Something else that she certainly has no idea about is that Manchester currently do their end of training exams in January rather than April which means that by the time they find out where they are doing their foundation years, they are finished so no more stress afterwards and they get a bit of a longer break before starting full on. That could change with the new system but they've been told it was unlikely.

As for PBL, DD didn't think she'd like olit (hence Manchester initially being her 4th choice) but she now says she can't imagine learning differently. She loves it as it gives her more freedom with her time management.

I would really advise to go to the offer holder days. According to DD, few of her friends are glad with the choice they made on the basis on the town/city. What they talk about is the course, placements, accommodation and the school administration and organisation.

ItsTheKissing · 11/04/2019 11:46

Thank you everyone for the great advice and balance of views Smile

Baytreemum · 12/04/2019 21:15

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows whether my DD is likely to feel unwell after a hepatitis B vaccination? Also, is it safe to have a BCG vaccination in the same week as the hep B vaccine? Thanks so much.

mumsneedwine · 12/04/2019 22:11

Don't have any vaccinations before they go. Occupational health sort everything out for them once they are there - for free. Hep B can be done in 4 weeks and everything else is sorted v quickly. And they blood test them to see if the jabs have taken so make sure they are covered.

Baytreemum · 13/04/2019 07:56

We seem to need to be jabbed up in order for the offer to go unconditional!

Baytreemum · 13/04/2019 07:58

Needmoresleep - could I ask how your DD's felt after their vaccinations?