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The fourth and final nail in the coffin
Posted on April 12th, 2009 by Matt
I knew from the last post I wrote that it wasn’t likely to be my year. I’m now a majority statistic: the 2 in 3.
So, after holding out for almost 3 months since my last rejection, I got the dreaded email. “UCAS Application Status Notification” came from the usual “track@ucas.ac.uk” address to my mobile at 17:01 on 08/04/2009. I’m at my Gran’s house at the minute, and happened to be updating this very website from her computer at the time. I wasn’t sure what to do, and I certainly wasn’t sure if I really wanted to know what it meant.
Initially, I continued what I was doing – typing about 50 questions into the Question Bank. But then, I realised that no matter how long I put it off, that screen was still going to be the same. I launced the website, https://track.ucas.com/ucastrack/Login.jsp and entered my now familiar UCAS number. After passing that wretched screen about Route B courses, and clicking on the Choices button, I had my worst fears confirmed. The University of Bristol Medical School have considered my application to be unsuccessful.
I’m now in the unlucky position of having to follow Dr Rigley’s advice. I have still got my letters to write, I was holding off to see if I had four rejections before I sent anything – just so I can add that line into the letter. As the page says, it’s almost impossible for me to clear medicine, especially with my chemistry results. Of the 4 options listed, I’ve applied to do a BSc (hons) in Biomedical Sciences at Northumbria University starting in September 2009 – so I made that my ‘Firm’ choice.
Do you really want to do medicine? If you do and you have met the academic criteria you will get in eventually.
Yes, I really do. I’m still hoping to meet the academic criteria. And I’m now even more determined than ever to work hard for the next three years – so much so that I will be disappointed if I don’t get a first (although I know full well that a 2:i will do)!
Matt is natually disappointed that he was totally rejected, and that he has another 3 years to wait…
1 Comment »Bristol Admissions 2009
Posted on March 23rd, 2009 by Matt
I suppose it’s my own fault for making the phone call. I know I wanted to know so badly what it was, but in a lot of ways, I’d rather have found out via Track, if you know what I mean?
It’s not official yet, but I was told “it doesn’t look like you will be getting an interview with those scores.” Unfortunately, he didn’t say what scores they were, or what they meant. What I will be doing, is one of the things listed on our Rejection page, ‘write to all 4 admissions tutors for feedback’. Or, at least have the letter ready to send off when it officially comes through.
However, I did get something quite useful from the Admissions team – they confirmed to me that they will have another interview date in April (either the week beginning the 6th, or the week beginning the 20th), but couldn’t confirm exactly when. They also said that if you don’t have a letter about an interview this Wednesday, the 25th March 2009, then you won’t be getting interviewed this Wednesday.
Basically, keep hoping. From myself and everyone at MedicalAdmissions.co.uk, good luck if you’re still waiting on a decision!
Matt is feeling a bit gutted.
2 Comments »Results in March
Posted on March 12th, 2009 by Matt
Ok, so, I’ve just got my results, and how am I feeling?
To be honest with you, pretty shit, actually.
As a medical applicant, you’ll know that you need AAB, including Chemistry, to study medicine almost anywhere in the UK. Well, let’s just say that my chemistry grades aren’t looking too clever. I got a C average for last year (206/300), even after resitting 2 of the modules – I went up a single mark, and grade, for each. But, in Chains, Rings &? Spectroscopy, I got 61/90 – which is 2 marks from a B.
I’ve done some quick calculations, and, assuming my math is correct, I can only get a C overall for A2. Shit. That’s no good. So, what do I resit? Well, I got a B in HFHF, a B in FC, and a C in CR (after resits), so I don’t really think that resitting either HFHF or FC would be advantageous. But, maybe resitting CR or CRS (the first A2 module) would be alright. Problem is, at ?17 per resit, I can only really afford to resit one of them. I think, because of how recently I’ve done it, I’m going to have another pop at Chains, Rings & Spectroscopy.
My math wasn’t too bad, I got 71%, which comes out as a B for Core 1. Keep that up, and I get a nice 50 UCAS points to keep me happy! I was aiming for an A, but a B isn’t too bad. I could even make up those lost 9 points – from 2 remaining exams (each worth 100), I need 169 to get an A – that’s only 84.5 on each paper!
HEFC Human Biology was best, though, I got a Distinction in my first module, Cell Biology, and I think I’m on track to continue the high standard of work in this module, Human Physiology.
Matt needs to figure out a way to increase his grade average in chemistry – and fast!
1 Comment »Those dreaded history questions
Posted on February 1st, 2009 by Rob
I personally never ask candidates about history of medicine as I think it’s slightly unfair and I’m not sure what relevance it has to a medical student applicant; however, many older interviewers love asking about history of medicine and debate that it shows a commitment to the career, a wider reading ability, and demonstrates intellectual ability.
History of medicine is certainly not a starting point and will usually only be asked if the interview is going well and the interviewers really want to push you a little. For example if they were considering a preferential offer. I therefore think that it would be unwise to spend lots of time researching this area for your interview. You should however have a key event and key person in mind.
Typical questions might be:
- What event in the history of medicine do you think has saved most lives?
- Who in the history of medicine do you think has contributed most?
- Do you know of any key events in the history of medicine?
It’s obviously safe to say that large drops in death rates can be contributed to public health measures such as underground sewerage systems and flushing toilets and it could be argued that these advances far outweigh anything that a doctor has achieved eg the advent of antibiotics.
A significant era in the history of medicine followed the Second World War. “Advances in surgical technique, new ideas about the nature of disease and huge innovations in drug manufacture vanquished in three short decades most of the common causes of early death” (James Le Fanu). ‘The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine’ by James Le Fanu talks about twelve definitive moments in modern medicine. I highly recommend a read of this book.
- 1941: Penicillin
- 1949: Cortisone
- 1950: Streptomycin, Smoking and Sir Austin Bradford Hill
- 1952: Chlorpromazine and the Revolution in Psychiatry
- 1952: The Copenhagen Polio Epidemic and the Birth of Intensive Care
- 1955: Open Heart Surgery – The Last Frontier
- 1961: New Hips for Old
- 1963: Transplanting Kidneys
- 1964: The Triumph of prevention – The case of Strokes
- 1971: Curing Childhood Cancer
- 1978: The First ‘Test-Tube’ Baby
- 1984: Helicobacter – The Cause of Peptic Ulcer
Undeniably these were all key points in the history of medicine. Which do you think was most significant and why? For example hip replacements allow people that would have previously been immobile to continue leading a fulfilling and mobile life. Of course you don’t have to choose one of these as your personal favourite.
Allow me to explain number 3, 1950: Streptomycin, Smoking and Sir Austin Bradford Hill, (my favourite) a bit more. Before 1950 what doctors did and what we knew about medicine was determined by everyday practice – what doctors observed – what seemed to work. However, the curing of TB (streptomycin) and the link between smoking and lung cancer changed this because both required statistics to prove. This changed the way that medicine was practiced for good. This was the advent of ‘evidence based medicine’ – the use of statistics to prove the causality or decide which treatment works best. Therefore for me the biggest event in medical history was the realisation of evidence based medicine and the design of the double blind trail because this isn’t a cure for a single disease but a new way of working entirely that affects every new drug and the treatment of every disease. If I had to choose a single person to nominate as contributing the most to medicine it would have to be Sir Austin Bradford Hill as he was the leading force for this shift towards evidence based medicine.
I must stress to you that you shouldn’t just learn my answer and regurgitate it at interview. Remember that you are fairly unlikely to be asked about this but if you are have a key moment of your own that really does interest you and make sure you know why it interests you.
No Comments »How much do doctors get paid?
Posted on January 25th, 2009 by Rob
When during my medical school interview I was asked “Why do you want to be a doctor?” I didn’t reply “cos I wanna get paid loads of money”… but I thought it! However, if you do want to make buckets full of cash perhaps medicine isn’t the right career for you. It’s true that medicine is a well paid profession. After all you spend 4-6 years at university, amount thousands of pounds worth of debt, and generally work rubbish hours. There are better paid professions and jobs. How about accountancy or business? Your reasons for choosing a career in medicine are personal to you, however I wouldn’t imagine that money can possibly be a sole reason. I admit that you do get paid pretty well and that sweetens the deal.
The pay scale for doctors is rather complicated, but during this article I will attempt to give you an idea of what doctors get paid. Starting with my salary as a new house officer (F1):
| Month | Gross pay | Deductions | Net pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2008 | ?1483.62 | ?256.70 | ?1330.60 |
| September 2008 | ?1703.41 | ?348.48 | ?1473.35 |
| October 2008 | ?4918.45 | ?1647.51 | ?3389.36 |
| November 2008 | ?1828.41 | ?603.83 | ?1343.00 |
| December 2008 | ?3810.81 | ?1316.03 | ?2613.20 |
The two things that stand out on this is table is firstly the amount you get paid varies greatly from month to month and secondly there are lots of deductions.
The reason that my gross pay varies so much is because I choose to work extra hours as a locum and also because NHS banding changes every 4 months. Most hospitals are short of all grades of doctors because the working hours have reduced so much recently, there simply aren’t the doctors to cover the new shift patterns. This means that if you are motivated by money you can give up your weekends, evening and even holidays to work. The locum rate for a house officer is ?20-30 an hour.
The deductions on a junior doctors pay include income tax (PAYE), national insurance, pension contributions, student loan re-payments, and payment for the doctors mess (?18 per month – see previous blog posting for explanation). Total deductions work out at about 30% of your gross pay.
The basic pay for junior doctors (taken from the NHS careers website):
Foundation House Officer 1 = ?21,862
Foundation House Officer 2 = ?27,116
Specialist Trainee = ?28,976 – ?44,562
GP (non partner) = ?52,462 – ?79,167
GP (partner) = ?80,000 – ?120,000
Consultant = ?73,403 – ?173,638
This is the very basic pay and does not include out of hours banding, locum pay, cremation forms (a major addition to house officers income) or private work (not for junior doctors).
If a person wishes to be cremated once dead a ‘crem form’ must be completed by two different doctors that don’t work together. It is generally the job of the house officer to complete part one of the form. Part one is filled in by a doctor that saw the patient while they were alive, during the illness that lead to their death and can state what the person died of. You must sign the form to say that they are sure that the person died of natural causes and not foul play. Part 2 is completed by the pathologist. The form takes about 20 minutes to complete (less if you knew the patient well) and you get paid ?70 per form. I have a friend who did his first F1 job in care of the elderly and he did an average of 3 forms per week – that’s an extra ?900 per month. Some people think it’s immoral to get paid for this. I even know a doctor that refused to cash the cheques! This is silly because even if you refuse payment the funeral director still charges the family and so by refusing payment you just line the pockets of the funeral director.
NHS doctors also get a salary banding that reflects the hours they work and how unsociable the hours are.
| Band | Hours per week | Unsociable hours | Amount added |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | >56 | any | 100% |
| 2a | 48-56 | Lots ( 1 in 3 weekends ) | 80% |
| 2b | 48-56 | Moderate ( 1 in 5 ) | 50% |
| 1a | 40-48 | Lots ( 1 in 4 ) | 50% |
| 1b | 40-48 | Moderate ( 1 in 6 ) | 40% |
| 1c | 40-48 | Some ( 1 in 8 ) | 20% |
The most common banding for a Foundation House Officer 1 is currently 2b (50%), making the average wage for a F1 ?32,793. Again this is before you do any locum shifts and it doesn’t include the cremation forms. However, fairly soon the most common banding will go down to 40% and then 20% and it won’t be long before all F1 jobs are unbanded.
Remember that during your F1 year you will do 3 four month rotations and each rotation (job) will have a different banding. My girlfriend started with a 40% banding for her first job but then her second job was unbanded resulting in a 40% pay cut. My first job (obstetrics and gynaecology) was unbanded but when I moved to my second job (surgery) I got a 40% pay rise. You will notice, however, that my actual monthly pay was more when I was doing obs and gynae. This is because during the unbanded job I had plenty of spare time to do lots of locum shifts.
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