 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Have you got any language skills ?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Basic French and German. Took both to GCSE with A and B, but in the grand schemes of languages, not really
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@ballyellie, gap years are in not frowned on by universities - in fact probably the opposite as you're likely to have more motivation and idea of what you actually want to do after one.
But if you're worried about it, just apply and then defer it once you've got your offers, then go away skiing and concentrate on fun.
From a placement standpoint, I suspect you've got very little chance... At least in Austria there are already more med students than internship/placement spaces (my ex was a med student here) so competition is really high even for those already in the 'system.' And you're going to have language difficulties (with patients) everywhere other than US/Canada.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@ballyellie, What would you expect to do in a medical centre as a totally unqualified 18yo ? I guess you could work as a cleaner but would that really help ?
I wasn't very impressed with the trainee who put in some stitches for me at the Tignes medical centre, I would have preferred someone who knew what they were doing.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The only useful medical experience you will gain working near / in a ski resort is in orthopaedics or sports medicine - and you would need to hang around a lot and miss lots of skiing to get it. If you get a place in medical school, don't worry about trying to get medical experience before you start - 10 years later you will be dreaming of all the things you could have done that didn't involve patients!
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How about a year out becoming a ski instructor and then working the season? I'm sure a university would see that as being a constructive use of a gap year.
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"Committed" to a gap year?
Oxymoron alert!!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@ballyellie, Son no 3 took a gap year (not a lot of choice for him really as we already had our other 2 offspring at Uni) before studying medicine and has just this summer started work as an F1.
He did some travelling and 'fun' things in his year off but also spent some time working in a GP`s as a receptionist and case note summarizer. He also helped out at our local ballroom/latin dance school. I`d say as many of his contemporaries took gap years as did not but it seems to really up your chances of getting in to med school if you can slant your life/training/experiences towards helping you prepare for a career in medicine.
In some respects those who take a year out have an advantage if the time is used at least partially constructively. (Some med students have worked in care homes for some of their gap year for example) You also need to get over the relevance of what you have done in a very few paragraphs in your 'oh so important' Personal Statement.
If you want to work in a ski resort for some of the year consider looking for a job working with children or disabled skiers. You do occasionally see ads wanting really good skiers as helpers on ski trips for the disabled and I`d guess there are opportunities as chalet staff to help give the little ones their high tea if nothing else! Or if the ski season bit of your year can not be made to have direct relevance to your Uni application just ensure that much of the rest of the year is used for that purpose. If nothing else the time spent in the Alps would demonstrate a certain maturity in that you are capable of living away from home and fending for yourself.
You just need to grab any experience you can that shows a caring role, knowledge of NHS procedures, maturity, responsibility etc and make it look good on your personal statement. Good luck!
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If nothing else the time spent in the Alps would demonstrate a certain maturity in that you are capable of living away from home and fending for yourself
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As an experienced assessor of top graduates I'd have been almost entirely unimpressed by that argument, I'm afraid.
My niece, before going to med school, did a 3 month attachment to a surgeon in a Beijing hospital. She wasn't allowed to chop anybody up but did get to see a huge amount of surgery, and as he was a good communicator, learnt a lot. She had been undecided about medicine, but that made up her mind. But she was already a graduate - I doubt if that sort of opportunity is open to school leavers.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@ballyellie, I'm a keen skier and consultant physician at a teaching hospital. As others have mentioned, if coming straight from school any good life experience may be beneficial. I'm happy to advise further via PM.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Sun 4-09-16 12:26; edited 1 time in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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My niece, some years older than most first year medical students, found that she had become much less of an "exam passing machine" than many of her colleagues but she had lots of other experience and has sought more since, whenever possible. For example two summer vacations in Africa. She's now a year or so into her GP training in London and actually looks about 18 - hopefully the patients she sees won't think she's on Year 10 work experience!
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As above, I think you will struggle to find any work related to medicine in a ski resort. I'm guessing money is not a huge issue to you if your happy to work voluntarily and have "a couple of horses". In which case why not go to uni and ski in the holidays? 3 weeks for Christmas and 2 for easter is not uncommon. Plus there is often a week between January exams and classes starting again. Maybe even a reading week. Plus the option of bunking off (not advisable, but plenty do). If you can't fit in 3 weeks skiing while at uni you have no hope once you have a job and kids!
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You know it makes sense.
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The only thing that sprung to mind is volunteering with BASP (British Association of Ski Patrollers). Your "season" would prob end up in Fort William or Aviemore but you will get some skiing and possibly accompany piste patrol on retrieving injured mountain users. The BASP guys provide the first aid for the downhill mountain bike world cup and other events and are well respected as an "emergency service" in those circles.
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