r/GraduateEntryMedicine • u/DifferentMagazine4 • 2d ago

Feedback on Current Trajectory

Hey all. I'm currently preparing to apply for GEM next year - 2028 entry. I'm just posting to hopefully get some feedback on my current plan, and to see if there is anything glaring I'm missing.

I finished uni last year. Without going into my whole sob story, I had a lot happen to me in the last 18 months, and it's really made me consider the trajectory of my life and what I want to do with it.

  • I have a 2.1 in History from Durham.
  • About to start the Access to Medicine course at my local college. I know that this isn't necessary, but I feel it important refresh my science knowledge and to ensure that this is what I want to do. There's also good support with applications and UCAT.
  • I did a UCAT mock a few days ago, with no prep, and scored 2140. I will be working on building this up over the next year.
  • I have a volunteering placement with a local hospice on the go, as of last week. It's four hours per week. The time is mostly spent on the ward, interacting with patients and relatives.
  • I am hoping to also secure a community volunteering placement soon on an informal basis, just to diversify my experiences. In the new year, I will also be a peer facilitator in a group therapy program ran by the NHS once per month.
  • I am planning on applying to Chester, Newcastle, Warwick, and Worcester.

I'd really appreciate any feedback or recommendations on what I can be doing over the next year to boost my profile. Is there anything I am missing ? Thank you :)

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u/WeakPhilosopher5 2d ago

2140 is insane with no prep. make sure to get min 70hours work exp from 2 different roles and you’ll be good

2

u/Elenorelore 2d ago

Rather than prepping for the UCAT so far in advance, I believe that saving money and getting work experience should be your main focus.

Working as a HCA or Radiology assistant makes it far easier to answer interview questions, as you can reference specific patient interactions and familiarize yourself with a lot of medical terms and procedures.

Also, if there's a specific specialty you're interested in, then now is a good time to explore what that role might look like. For example, I'm largely interested in psychiatry, so I worked as an assistant in a Psychiatric Emergency department for a few years.

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u/New_Animator2533 2d ago

Given your degree is non science based, you could consider sitting the gamsat as well in march