What work experience had you gained before coming here?

I had a fair bit of work experience before coming to Warwick. I worked within the NHS for four years as a HCA (healthcare assistant) in a high dependency unit which was invaluable for learning about working in the NHS, different roles of team members and confirming that this was the correct career move for myself. To make up the rest of the work experience requirements for Warwick, I shadowed outreach nurses and respiratory consultants.

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Why did you choose Warwick?

I liked that Warwick was all graduate-entry and felt inviting to people from all backgrounds, which as a non-scientist was very important to me. I found the non-science peer teaching at Warwick to be a particular bonus and is something that definitely helped me during the start of the course. All the hospitals for placements are also close to Earlsdon (where most medical students seem to live) and not too far to travel, which is very convenient during the clinical years.

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How are you finding the MB ChB so far?

I've really enjoyed my time at Warwick. It has been challenging and a lot of hard work but I have found it to be very rewarding. My time here has flown by so far!

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How have you found your clinical placements?

I've enjoyed the placements and like that we start our clinical placements so early on in the course. I've particularly liked the specialist clinical placements as we have been given more independence with patients and feel more like part of the team. Placements go really quickly so get stuck in, make the most of them and the opportunities that present themselves.

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What do you most enjoy about the course?

I loved the acute placement. I got to practise my clinical skills and clerk patients in A+E. I have also found the time spent in GP to be really useful as this is where I feel I have learnt the most.

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Have you been involved in any extracurricular activities during your time here?

There are lots of extracurricular activities to get involved with at Warwick. I've been on the committee for the Anaesthesia and Critical Care Society (WACCS) for the past two years. Covid and lockdowns created a lull for face to face activities for societies, with a lot of talks becoming online Teams meetings. Face to face activities are now starting to pick up again, including PHEMTEC 2022, Warwick's pre-hospital emergency medicine conference, which was a particular highlight of the year and something that took a lot of organisation and planning from everyone involved! Wilderness Society is one of the more popular societies and I attend as many of their events as I can; from weekends away, day trips, educational events and evenings at the climbing wall. I also am a peer teacher for student seminars which I have been doing intermittently since second year.

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Do you have any idea at this stage about which specialty you’d like to pursue?

Before starting the course I was set on dual training in intensive care and emergency medicine, heavily influenced by my work before coming to Warwick. My acute block really confirmed to me that acute specialties are the ones for me. Although I'm still set on dual training and intensive care, I'm now interested in exploring anaesthetics or acute medicine more as career options.

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Do you have any advice for people applying to the MB ChB at Warwick?

My biggest advice would be to persevere with it. It took me three cycles and 11 interviews to get a place on graduate entry medicine, with interviews being my stumbling block. With interviews try to not compare yourself to the other applicants. Warwick values the experience that people from non-science backgrounds can bring to the course, so try not to psych yourself out! I'd highly recommend getting good work experience, not only will this help with things to talk about in interviews, but helps with making sure you know what you're signing up for.

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Finally, how would you sum up your experience of studying at medical school so far?

Challenging, rewarding, hard work