Get Ready for MVD at Reigate tasks
Part 1:
Choose an item in the MVD news that sparks your interest. Hot topics include:
- recent advances in MVD
- politics and policies e.g. Junior Doctors strike
- XL Bully ban, Avian Flu
- effect of the cost of living crisis on Dental Care, Dental contracts
Summarise this information in 200 words minimum
Useful weblinks:
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health
- https://www.vettimes.co.uk/category/news/vet-news/
- https://dentistry.co.uk/dental-news/
Part 2:
Further your knowledge in the area chosen by carrying our some additional research into an aspect of the news article
Summarise this information in 300 words minimum
Merck Manuals may be useful – an excellent source of detailed Medical, Veterinary or Dentistry related information related to specific diseases
- https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/professional
- https://www.msdvetmanual.com/
- https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/professional/dental-disorders
Part 3:
Enrol and complete a virtual work experience course
Print a screen shot of your completion notification and keep your notes or any downloads safely
You do not have to pay for these courses – select the free access option when enrolling but make sure you complete the course within the time given otherwise you will be asked to pay to re-access!
- Discover Dentistry https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/discover-dentistry/3
- Veterinary https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/vet-school-application-support
- Medicine https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/healthcare-careers
Action Plan
| Area to address | Focus | Action |
| Exploration of your chosen MVD profession | Face to face work experience, volunteering, part time work that is MVD related Virtual work experience placement Keep up to date with the MVD related news and ‘hot topics’. Use BBC Health, Medscape UK Vet Times, BVA news BDA news as a starting point. Broadsheet newspaper health sections are also a good place to look. Webinars, MVD related lectures (available virtually and in person). Look for these advertised on University course webpages | |
| Development of essential attributes | Think of all your extra-curricular activities such as sports teams, prefect duties, school play, musical instrument, charity fund raising events, Duke of E including expedition, volunteering and skill development, young leader roles such as brownie leader, scouts, cadets etc Use these to provide evidence of essential attributes required for MVD Reflect on your skills and seek out opportunities to develop those you don’t have several examples for. | |
| Developing a general interest in MVD topics | Keep an eye on the news using websites stated above Read Medicine sections of broad sheet news papers from time to time Follow a social media group related to a field of interest Do some more detailed reading on MVD related subjects that interest you Participate in webinars or MOOCs |
Activity Log
Document all these activities in a log including the information stated in the table below
| Where | How long | Reference obtained | General description | Reflections |
Planning future work experience placements
Summer 2024 and Summer 2025 will be excellent opportunities to gain work experience but you will need to plan ahead carefully. Remember only the last 18 months before you apply will be countable towards work experience requirements but all your experiences can be used to demonstrate your commitment on personal statements and at interviews.
Use the following table to plan work experience, volunteering opportunities or paid work. It is valuable to be able to demonstrate an ongoing commitment such as regular volunteering but this must be balanced with your studies.
| Time | Definite Placement | Planned placement with actions e.g. agreed/applied for/planning to apply |
| Summer 2024 | ||
| October Half Term 2024 | ||
| Christmas Holiday 2024/25 | ||
| Spring Bank Holiday 2025 | ||
| Easter Holiday 2025 | Keep free for Progression exam revision! | |
| May Half Term 2025 | ||
| Summer Holiday 2025 | ||
| Regular Commitment – Weekends | ||
| Regular Commitment – Other times |
Top tips for reflecting on work experience
1. Use your specific experiences
The best way to get an honest and balanced view of what it’s like to be a MVD practitioner is by observing them in their natural habitat. Observing doesn’t have to be a passive process; actively listen and closely watch how vets, doctors or dentists interact with patients (and their owners in the case of vets) and the rest of their team.
If you spend time in different departments, take note of the different vibes they give. Being in the emergency department is very different to sitting in a GP clinic or watching surgery. Being a practicing vet on the road is quite different to being part of a team working in a veterinary hospital. Be proactive and take every opportunity you get to talk to people during your placement. Many practitioners who see students looking engaged are happy to teach and discuss cases with them.
Talk with the MVD teams to understand the process that goes with diagnosing and treating patients. Learn from them what they like and dislike about their job. Talk with patients or clients where appropriate, they will often have inspirational stories and little nuggets of golden advice on what they think makes a good doctor, vet or dentist.
2. Keep a diary to find what resonates with you
While you are on your placement it can be useful to keep a work experience diary. Document your day and how you felt throughout. Here you can describe what you saw, your interpretations and impressions. Think about what skills you saw the MVD team portray and how you can use those skills yourself. Jot down anything you want in this diary – no one but you is going to read it. If you’re struggling to see what you’ve gained from the placement, the process of writing it out can help you figure out what you’ve learnt.
When you come to write your personal statement have a read of your diary. Looking back on what you wrote can give you a new perspective. Find the bits which still resonate with you or you can remember clearly and choose those as your starting point for writing. If you are not keen on writing a diary, you can try mind mapping too.
3. Don’t describe
Avoid falling into the age-old trap of describing every detail of what you saw on your work experience placement. It might be super interesting but the people reading your personal statement don’t need every detail. What really matters is showing how what you saw has contributed to your decision to become an MVD practitioner.
A good way to avoid simply describing your placement is to use the following checklist:
- Set the scene- this should be as brief as possible
- What have you learned from this scenario or how has it made you feel
- Why is what you learned important?
Cover these three things every time you write about one of your placements to make sure that whoever is reading your personal statement can see that you have reflected upon your experiences.
4. Find links between yourself and the MVD practitioners you shadow
When reflecting on your work experience look for similarities between yourself and the health professionals you shadowed. Many of the skills that make a great physician are not exclusive to the MVD professions. You will already have some of these skills yourself. Think about the skills you use in your extra-curricular activities and daily life that resemble those used by medical professionals. Linking your own skills with those that MVD practitioners have will show that you already have the foundations to be an exceptional practitioner yourself.
5. Be honest – it’s refreshing
Let’s be honest – a career in MVD is not going to be all plain sailing. The workload and responsibilities can be tough and emotionally difficult to deal with. You’ll likely come across situations that highlight this during your placements – don’t be afraid to talk about them in your personal statement. Some applicants can be reluctant to write about the less positive of medicine, worrying that it will make them sound unenthusiastic.
On the contrary, it will only show that you have a mature insight into what it’s like to be a vet, medic or dentist. This might even be a good time for you to reflect about how you personally deal with stress. Part of reflecting is about acknowledging the preconceptions you had about being a vet, medic or dentist. Consider how they may have changed after seeing medical teams in action to show how your placement has helped shape your views on a career in medicine.
Hopefully with these five tips you’ll be five steps closer to becoming a master at reflective writing and having a brilliant personal statement!
Adapted from Med Portal
