On Friday 9th October Anna Winthrop and Sumitha Bose, both Old Ipswichians, spoke to prospective Year 12 and 13 medics via Google Meet.
Anna is a 4th -year student at Cardiff and has just started her clinical rotation, while Sumitha has embarked on her specialist training route towards becoming an anaesthetist, after completing her initial training at UCL in London.
A wide range of topics were covered and excellent advice was given. Both discussed the importance of playing to your strengths when applying to certain medical schools and to decide whether you want to carry out dissection learning, a traditional lecture-based approach or case-based learning.
How to approach interviews was another hot topic. Anna discussed the more common MMI (Mini Multiple Interview) approach. She mentioned that, as you visit eight different interview stations, if you perform poorly at one, you can go into the next interview with a clean slate as the interviewer will not know about your previous experience. This allows you to build confidence and learn from the previous interview. Sumitha then discussed the more traditional panel interview, which does get easier as you get used to your interviewers.
The importance of being familiar with the course on offer and knowing why that is of interest to you is the key to success. We finished with Anna discussing her experiences as a trainee doctor doing night shifts and how that compares with Sumitha's experience as a qualified doctor. Anna has little responsibility and learning, while Sumitha has to make more important decisions. They both said that you are not expected to know everything, no matter how experienced you are and that everyone asks for help and advice throughout.
These talks from OIs really help current students get a first-hand account of what their chosen career might entail. Thank you to all who took part.
Andrew Calver
Deputy Head of Sixth Form
Ipswich School
