In this webinar, we cover how to tackle answering white space questions to shine the best light on you and your portfolio with useful tips on structures, guided examples and opportunity for Q&A!
Session 2: White Space Questions
Summary
This on-demand teaching session for medical professionals is focused on helping attendees approach and prepare for the White Space questions for the Specialized Foundation Program. It will include introducing the White Space question reviewing service, a recap of the SFP timeline, a review of what attendees should and should not do with their White Space questions, and a Q+A session. Through this, attendees will get guidance on how to be concise yet comprehensive, how to show their individuality, and when to be modest and when to show off their achievements. Don't miss out on this chance to get personalized support and maximize your SFP application!
Description
Learning objectives
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the timeline for the Specialized Foundation Program (SFP) application process.
- Identify the criteria that will be required for the White Space Review service.
- Define the key points to consider when writing and summarizing a White Space Question for the SFP application.
- Apply strategies in gathering evidence and portfolio materials for the SFP application.
- Predict the selection process for the SFP and associated allocations.
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Yeah, hi, everyone. Thanks for joining. Um Please just give us a moment. We're waiting for one more speaker. Hey, sorry. Hi, everyone. Thanks for joining. So sorry, I can't switch on my camera for some reason that all is in a five team saw opened. Um Yeah, I'm just gonna talk through what we'll be covering today then. Um So thanks for joining today. Um Before we introduce ourselves formally, I'm just gonna go over what we are going to be covering today. Um We're gonna start with a quick introduction of who we are and what this service is. Um We're gonna introduce our White Space question, reviewing services and recap the SFP timeline. So you guys know when you have to submit everything. Um We're gonna talk about how you approach the White Space questions and we have some work examples on um what you should and shouldn't do with your White Space questions. And we'll just end with a quick Q and A. If you have any questions throughout the session, just pop your questions in the chat Boxx and we'll either answer it in the chat Boxx or we'll do it at the end of the session. So, um who are we apply for, apply to the SFP is a free national initiative to support applicants for the specialized foundation program. And it's led by current SFP doctors across the UK. Um And in all tracks including she um met at and research, we're providing webinars as well as personalized support. We'll be offering interviews for you guys as well as the White Space Review. Um questions. If you guys want your White Space questions reviewed. Basically, um We have a timeline of when each webinar will be on the right side. Um I think Ellen has also uploaded it on her Twitter page. If you guys are interested and all the webinars have been uploaded. You can just register to get notifications for them so quick. Uh quickly just introduce our White Space question reviewing service. Um The SFP deadline to submit your White Space question is on the fourth of October. We will be reviewing your White Space questions from 25th of August to 25th of September. Please give us about five working days uh to respond to the White Space questions. Priority will be given to those that have attended our sessions. There will also be a Google form where you can upload everything, everything will be confidential. We won't share anything and we will um basically edit your word document with what you think you did. Well, what we, you, we think you should improve on and give you a quick summary at the end, whether we think it's ready for submission or whether you need minor or major edits. If you have any questions. In the meantime, you can just um send it to our Gmail at, apply to SFP team at gmail dot com. So your speakers for this session today is um me, I'm Kylie. I'm a um SFP doctor in Oxford. I'm currently, I'm doing the research program there. Um Jack just finished work and he'll be joining us shortly after. He's a research SFP in Yorkshire. And AA do you want to introduce yourself? Hi, guys. Uh I'm Amira and um I'm doing uh well, I graduated from Leeds but I'm from Nottingham. So I'm doing my research SFP in Trend. Um So, yeah. Um So I'm just gonna uh hand it over to Marra to go through the SFP timeline and I'll just move the slides for you if you need anything. Yeah. Uh So we'll just go through the timeline because um I don't know about you guys, but I think you guys have obviously seem quite on it um when I was applying. Um I didn't really know much about the SFP um until like late in August, sort of like late, like sort of mid September. So I think really good to sort of be proactive and just sort of get like all the dates in order in your diaries. Um So in terms of timeline, so obviously we've had July now. Um But basically from August, I think that's when things get really quite serious. So, um I think this is a good time to sort of start preparing your like white space questions. Um From experience, I remember not having a lot of time to prepare those. Um So I think the more time you have the better because you can draft through things and it's just like, you know, you can get advice from, you know, supervisors or for example, from us as well. Um Just to kind of, you know, hone in on those white space questions and it's kind of like, you know, doing your personal statement again almost. Um So it's really important to kind of collate all the different achievements you've got that you've got um all the different experiences that you've had and put them into some kind of draft format and then you can sort of really cur those questions. Um So that's August. Um and also gathering together like your portfolio of all your achievements because you need to submit things like certificates or um you know, things that, you know, are evidence of participation really um in projects or um anything to basically show and boost your kind of um application really. Um And then September to October time, so that's really busy and I know like obviously final year as well. So it's all quite hectic. So it's really important to set aside time to um ensure that you're getting all those deadlines sorted. Um So your application window is between the 20th of September and the fourth of October. Um And then I think, yeah, from the 13th of October, you rank your SFP choices. Um So you get like notified about that and then you basically have to rank, you know, from certain like jobs and things like that and you rank the choices basically. Um And it's quite straightforward. Um And then you also need to prepare for your interviews. So um the interviews again, like it's a very short window of time um before you actually do your interview. So it's important to get that practice in um quite early on. Um And then your selection process is, yeah, from the Fourth of October to the 29th of December. So it, it is quite a big sort of period of time. Um And sometimes you feel like you're waiting in limbo a little bit. Um because I remember like some people were getting interviews, um you know, quite early on and then some people were having to wait. So just be patient. Um It doesn't mean that you're being you've been forgotten about. Um And then similarly with the office, so you get four rounds of offers. So um I think my office came sort of in January time, but other people got their offers like later on. So like sort of early February. So you can see the dates here like 10th to 12th, January 17th to 19th of January 24 to 26 to Jan of January and then 31st and second of Feb and then the fifth or the ninth of Feb is like clearing. So, um, you know, if you were potentially like on the wait list or, you know, if your interview was actually quite good, but, you know, you just didn't quite hit the mark. Um, you may still have an opportunity to get um in through clearing. So, you know, there's always an opportunity there. Um And then if you are not successful for your SFP, then you, you go back into your kind of normal foundation um school application process. So that's from the seventh of March. Um where I think you'll be allocated. Um So you can get all the kind of documents um on the Efpo website. So they have like lots of documents about the timelines and um sort of any of the key changes. I know a lot of changes have happened this year um in terms of like rankings in terms of like the um points and things like that. So, um it's really worth having a read over that and just seeing sort of where you stand with that. Um But yeah, that's basically it, I don't know if you want to add anything else. Kly, no, I think you covered it quite well. Um Yeah, so we're just gonna, I, I think I covered the approaches to the white Space question and then I'll just go through the work exam. Yeah. So in terms of like the approach to the White face question. So first of all, you, you might be wondering what actually are these questions? Um I know I was really thinking the same thing. I was like, I just heard this term being banded about and I didn't really understand what people were talking about. Um But it, as I said before, it's like a personal statement, but it's like a mini personal statement. Um And you have to be really like concise and really um you know, you need to pinpoint your achievements, but you also need to be very concise with it. Um So it's important to say they're not all um like special um special units of application like require the white space question. So it's important again to read through the documents. You don't want to waste your time doing a white space question for a place that you're applying to and actually they don't even look at them or need them. Um So it's worth definitely reading through each um place that you're applying to. Um And essentially, it's used to kind of narrow down the candidates. Um So, you know, I'm sure you've all got amazing achievements educationally. Um You've all got to this point in your medical school career. So you're, you know, very bright, but it, for someone who's reading your application, like they need to see more. Um So it's really important to show like your individuality through these questions. So you have 3 to 4 questions depending on your program of interest. So I had, I think two questions for mine that I needed to prepare for. Um, but I think some other people have different ones. So, um it depends and you've got a very tight word limit. You've only got 200 words. Like for me, I always overwrite. Um But again, that's where it comes into like drafting things out, getting a little bit of advice from, you know, a few people, not too many people. Um and sort of really being really succinct with what you're writing um and just hitting the right key points and the key words and the um all the buzzwords basically. Um So the scoring is basically de dependent. So um every kind of place that you apply to it has its own kind of individual um short listing process. So, you know, they'll be very variable between um between like sort of places. Um So that's important to bear in mind when you actually write and write these questions because um some places will use similar white space questions um to each other. So you want to be smart about where you're applying to as well. Um And you know, it depends if you want to put in extra work, then you can of course, but just be smart about where you're applying to and with your time as well. Um Yeah, so don't be like, oh, I, I obviously don't be arrogant but you don't need to be like, really modest with this. So you kind of need to show off a little bit about who you are. You know, you need to sell yourself. Really? I know this sounds really cliche but, you know, you need to demonstrate those achievements, their skills, you, that experience that you have and really like, rinse everything that you've done. Do you know what I mean? If you've done like a bit of teaching really, I mean, I'm not saying lie, of course, don't lie. But like you need to demonstrate how that teaching is like, you know, important for a career in medical education or, or whatever you want to do or if you've done like a research project, like really um go above and beyond in demonstrating how that's relevant to um to the SFP. Um And be and that kind of leads me on to like reflecting so be really reflective when you answer those questions. Don't just say I did this, say I did this and from this, I learnt this and you know, this will be really beneficial for the SFP because of this. So always link it back to like the SFP and why it's relevant. Yeah. OK. Um So these are the wise past questions for um 2024. So they've been cut down from 10 to 5. And you can find these from the UK FCO website. Um And they're kind of grouped into like different sort of sections. So things about like career goals. So what are your specific reasons for applying to SFP? Um And basically highlighting how they contribute to your career plans? Um And then there's things about say your previous research experience and then education teaching. So if you're applying to like a meta SFP, then, um you know, that's something that's really important to answer and then you've got the leadership one. So, and then you've got your team working one. So like for, from these, like, you can use several examples that will relate to different parts of these questions. So you can do like a leadership one that will also relate to like maybe career goals um and maybe education and teaching. So that's why it's important that even if you don't have loads of examples, the examples that you need to have are really need to be good quality. Um So I think it's actually good that they've like reduced the number of questions in a way because um you can really sort of focusing on them more. Um I don't know really what else to say about this, but, you know, there's so many different like examples you can give and there's so many um different parts of your, your medical education experience you can sort of reflect on. So it's important to pick up really good quality examples. Yeah, I would also say just like read what each diary wants. You do. Not all diary wants you to answer all the questions. Some may want you to answer just the career goal. So don't waste your time doing things you don't really have to do. Um Jack is here right now. He is our first speaker. Let him introduce himself and then he can uh hi, sorry, I'm a bit late. Um Just, just work. Um I'm, I'm Doctor Wellington. I am uh doing an A FP in research or SFP in research at in Yorkshire and Humber with in your academic neurosurgery. So um thanks, sorry for being late, but thanks for the introduction. So tips for the White Space questions as pretty much the slide says, do not be modest. The whole point of these white space questions is to highlight exactly what you've done and to sell yourself. You've got only a certain amount of words to literally sell the point that you want to do this academic pathway, this research, me or leadership pathway and you're the best candidate for it. It's we estimate it's probably going to be exponentially competitive this year purely because of the changes with the UK FPO, getting rid of deaths and doing this preference based system. So it's there's probably going to be a lot of people wanting to do this um to do this A FP or SFP. So please do not be modest give specific examples. Highlight what you have done. Don't be like, oh I've done this and not reflect on it. Remember to remember when you applied to medical school using gibbs reflective cycle to try and highlight exactly what you've learned. Why that makes you a good clinical academic scientist because that's what they want. Provide personal examples. You know, if you, if you've done an internship in Cambridge, if you've done an internship in this, that and the other done research Summit studentship, whatever, just try and really highlight what you have done. So and exactly what you did to make it personable. Keeps the word cam self explanatory, answer the question. So those questions before you need to answer them, do not be vague, do not go, you know, do not try to elaborate or try and make it sound very philosophical whether just answer the question and the thing I did, I probably sent my white space questions to about three people um in the deaneries which I had um applied to. So please just send it to people. If they don't answer, they don't answer, but just send it to people who can check over the um the questions so so that you are not going off on a tangent, check your spine and grammar. Obviously, remember what you have written. This could come up in interview. I remember getting asked in one of my, in my interview about research projects, what I was thinking and it was literally my wife's question. So please please definitely talk about that. Do not use abbreviations, assume nothing. Um And again, just literally start with bullet points, make literally work through the experience, reflect on it, how, what skills you've learned, et cetera and how it makes you suitable for the A FP and have your portfolio CV next to you and answering the questions. It should really reflect what you've done in your CV. Don't be trying to sell something you have not done or if not done to a good standard. Um Sorry about that. Someone's coming into my room. Um So yes, so please just keep to those. That's the biggest tips. Just don't be modest, try and sell yourself. That is why I would say yeah. So that's basically two approaches. You can have to your white space questions if there are any questions regarding your background or motivation to do something answer in the uh C A MP format. So related to clinical work, academic work, your management roles as well as possible. And if it's a situation based um question answer it using the style format, so situation based could be things like how you solve a problem. What would you do if a colleague was being rude and stuff like that? Um These are just very generic approaches. I'm just gonna go through um some examples right now. So the first example we have is one of the questions that they ask you. So it's outline your previous research experience and achievement. So, things that you should think about, uh um basically what I did for this question and I had to answer it was, I had my CV right next to me and I listed bullet points of everything that I did. Um So at least any significant project that you've been involved in with, involved in. What work was it, was it a lab work? Was it clinical work? Was it epidemiological studies? Um Your setting, was it overseas? Uh When you did, when you did it, it's quite important because it shows commitment to research. So did you do it during your SSC your summer break or did you have an interco degree that you can talk about? Um always describe your study if you're going to mention your study, just one quick sentence on your aim of your study and the results of your study. Um and your role. So your role of the study is very important what you did, no matter how minor it is. Just try and make it sound like you did a bit more than what you did. Don't lie but just exaggerate the truth. Um If you collect the data, just try and make it sound a bit nicer than I'm a data collector. Um you met, did you manage any data? Did you analyze any data? If you did a project for your interrelated degree, you were most probably involved in the original draft, which you can always say you drafted a manuscript um outcome of the study, most people have a presentation from anything that they have done. So write that down and reflection wise is what did you learn? So I'm just gonna give you a quick example of a um a white space question answer if you guys just can just read through it and type in the chat what you think was good or bad about this particular example. Shall I go through sentence by sentence then? Um So I've highlighted everything that um was basically good and everything that could be improved in this particular example. So the question was outline your previous research experience and achievement. Um For this example, I'm just using an example where someone has only participated in one project or if you've done more, you can talk about more projects. But um the good thing here is that if you've talked about um that this author basically wrote that they were involved in many projects throughout medical school, this outlines um commitment and it shows that you have done um you have research experience. Um The next sentence, the next part of the sentence was ranging from clinical audits and research. So I highlighted this as read because the question partic asked for research, research experience and audit is not research. And for some interviews, if you're doing an academic interview, they might ask you the difference between audit and research and it's important for you to know that they are not under the same category. Um So the next paragraph is you told who your research was done with. And if, if it was done with a big group, always mention it. It's something that um just sounds better. And when did you do it? So did you do it over your interco degree? There's no, there's no stat to this study. Um that people would, would really know when you do it. Um Next paragraph wise, I aim to determine the health outcomes of Children with um A RL in England. And this is just a good sentence because it's just a really quick, easy sentence. It's not taking up too much of your word count. You only have 200 words. So try and make everything um as short as possible, but including as much information as you need. Um So I don't like to use the sentence. We, when I'm talking about my achievement, we, it's not very specific to what you've done. If you use, we've like we've collected data. Did you collect data or we've rewrote the draft? Uh the manuscript. What was your involvement? Did you write the original draft? Were you involved in editing? It's not very specific to what you've done um be consistent throughout. So, in this particular answer, this alp put um acute lymphoblastic leukemia without any abbreviation and then start going to A RL and then back down here again, um you can see poor prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. So there's no consistency in this. It won't read. Well, as uh someone reading this, you won't really enjoy reading this. Um So again, the next sentence was um they brought out what they've done. Um And in this particular sentence, they perform a subgroup analysis and show the results. This is way too long for you to describe your results. You're using about a quarter of your word count just to describe your results. And you're not really mentioning what you've done in this. Um And what your involvement in this project was with big studies. The readers know that you might only have a small involvement in the project. And it's very important for you to tell which part of the project you were involved in. Um the next part is the outcomes of the study. So this also wrote that it was an oral presentation and international conference and it's good because it mentioned both the type of presentation and whether it was an international or national conference, international conference holds more weighted than national conferences. Um mention the name of the conference, especially if it's a big conference. Like if you are presenting the British uh Hematology conference, write that down the other uh showing another outcome which is drafted the manuscript as well is great. And um the last sentence I highlighted it as orange because it's not really answering the question and it shows your commitment and why you do it. But then um it's not really, really answering the question. I think it's just a waste of um a waste of work, how you can add more to whatever you want to write. So, if I were to rewrite it, this is how I would do it. Um So first one is, um, you've basically highlighted your research and what you've done clinical studies and epidemiological studies, just show that you've been involved in different research um aspects. Um If you're involved in laboratory research, make sure you write that down, there's always something more impressive cause not everyone have lab experience. Um So within, within the first paragraph of this answer, you can already tell that I have three peer review publications. Um I've, I'm already answering your questions about what experiences I've had. Um So next is me mentioning an intercalate degree. I know in inter degree no longer counts for the foundation program. And um I don't know if they still count for the SFP, but I'm pretty sure that it, it, it would hold more weight if you were to do an um academic A FP. Just simply because it still holds weighted for um the AC L and AC F in the future, you do get points for it. Um Later down the line if you want to do an academic uh career, the award that you've got from your BS E I think most medical students end up with a first class honors. So make sure you write it down. If you've done a master's write that you've done a master's, a master's have more weight than A BS C. Um Even if you got a 21, just mention that you got it. It's still an award. Um Yeah. So next paragraph, I undertook an epidemiological studies mentioning what type of study it is. Um I'm, I tend to be very specific with the answers and just answer everything they want you in cancer research. UK again, where you've done it, aim of the study, as I mentioned earlier, just a short quick paragraph. Um Don't, you don't need to go into big detail and for this particular answer, I've done everything in first person. So I've tell, I've told the readers what I've done. So now, you know that I've obtained data from the National Cancer Registry and I've told you what I've learned from this study in particular. So I've done complex statistical analysis. So using a statistical program and I've mentioned the statistical analysis method that I've learned um results wise. Now it's a bit shorter and a bit quicker and it's more consistent with my A RL usage as well. Um Lastly, I mentioned the outcome of the study, there was an oral presentation and international conference. Um And I drafted a manuscript. If you, if you drafted a manuscript as, as a first author, make sure you write that down um I don't particularly know the masking for Oxford. But I know a lot of people that have submitted to Oxford have mentioned that they have first author publications just by talking to several people. Um And if it's a high impact journal journal that you submitted, it always just write the journaling, it's always more impressive because people think that it's a higher impact study. So I closed it by just mentioning more things that I've done. So like 5 10 post of presentation and five hour presentation. And this is just goes back to answering the question. So Jack take the next Tuesday. Um Sure. So, so yeah. So when the question obviously being, please describe teaching experience in and outside of medicine. So the whole point of these questions is to really just not be mo highlight exactly what you have done. So let's start for the past three years, I've taught in small and large group settings, organizing revision sessions. So small, large group obviously showing that you've done both small and large group um and organizing some revision sessions for medical societies from the plus, et cetera. So they've shown that they've done more than just revision sessions. They've integrated with um incorporated medical and surgical societies for a whole plethora of students from preclinical to clinical. And they've also delivered some ED I training for medical school faculty. This shows that um medical school faculty be more senior. So it's, it's really the entire audience has been applied to not just preclinical students but to medical, to more than medical um students, et cetera. So it just shows a plethora of people they've taught to and then they've been more specific with the time. So for the past three years, meaning they have this has been an ongoing thing, but it's a bit vague, but it's been an ongoing sort of principle. During my fourth year, I coordinated a six month anatomy teaching program. The reason why they've done six month is usually when you look at the core surgical training or core medical training, it usually has to be about above 4 to 6 months regarding um national leadership sort of to get to get um full maximum points. So six month is the timeline to get to access those higher points. Hence why six months is being used and it just shows a long period of time, the hybrid approach of virtual in person requires effective management skills. And again, it just reflecting the experience. So they've done the experience, they've reflected what they've done and the skills which, which is appropriate for being a teacher. Um And then again, like personal statements saying they are adaptive for online teaching and, and oh, sorry, I just saying that um and basically um saying like, oh, I can adapt to feedback from a webinar, et cetera and um which is all about that sort of reflective learning. So it's the same principle over and over again, they're reflecting on what they've done and showing to the, the panel that for short list, in that they have gone more and more and beyond what is expected of just, you know, setting up a teaching session in front of a, a bunch of people. So um following this, ensured my lesson plan again, it's all about strategy. So before teaching, you're supposed to do a lesson plan which shows that you're prepared to give the teaching. Um and you spend meter, which obviously we all know and this then they've specified the feedback. So they had 100 and 20 participants. Now, when it comes to feedback, the more, more quantity you have, the better, you know, the more data you can get from it. Therefore, you can assume that the feedback is what you're gonna do is more effective than say, having feedback from like 10 people. Um And then outside of medicine, they've mentioned more workshops, cultural competency in, in a workplace and peer learning. So and then they've basically just said, apply pedagogical skills developed so far in it like that. So the whole point of this paragraph is specified, the experience reflected on experiences with the skills, what skills are specific to teaching or medical education such as communication, effective management, adapting to feedback and then doing something outside of medicine, pedagogical skills, et cetera and then confirming that it's suitable for them to pursue an SFP medical education post. When when thinking about these white space questions, think purely like a personal statement. When you applied for medical school, it's showcase what you have done, but reflect on it because if you just list everything, then it doesn't look like you've actually learned from it. So it's a bit different to research because the research experience question is more about it. It's tailored slightly differently when it comes to the skills which you're trying to portray. But just think about what skills you need as a clinical or medical or just a teacher in general and then apply it to what you've done um to have the next slide if possible. Oh, this is mine. So this is the actual one I use for Yorkshire Humber. Um So you can scrutinize it all you want. It's absolutely fine with me. But um I've tweaked slightly because I had to take some names out. But um but this was the one I pretty much submitted for my portfolio and Yorkshire Humber is more of a they don't interview. So it's purely based off of the quality of what you submit basically and it's all a portfolio application. So this was mine. So I undertook a fully funded studentship and I emphasized fully funded determining Legionella New Mafia, which is obviously about an antimicrobial susceptibility wherein formulated whatever. So the first sentence is saying I fully got a fully funded studentship which I did in year two. And um and I think I took the timeframe out. I did specify that it was eight week. Um but it doesn't really matter. Um And then I've said an important sort of um research skill. I formulated potential empirical therapies with the intent of innovate in patient care. So for the track I wanted to do, which is research I knew that bench to bedside, translational medicine and evidence based medicine is the underpinning of research within medicine, medical practice. You want to see that bench to bedside, you know, sort of transformation in care. It's like today's research is tomorrow's care. So that's what you want to try and highlight and that's what I wanted to do and open with that. So I've used an experience reflected on it straight away and, and the way I portrayed the why you want to apply for SFP is I've done it as a journey. So did the studentship. This then fostered my interest in infectious diseases where I went to indicate at SSE school. So I did a master's at the London School of High and tropical Medicine. Um Kylie did a masters also at that school. Um And again, it shows that I did a studentship which led to my interest into research, which is that the initial spark then went into, oh, I want to do a postgraduate degree. So it shows that sort of journey and that sort of character development. Um And then whilst on my masters, I did um I did my dissertation in Oxford. So I recognized the need for further research, Rean Soma Brucie, which is African sleeping sickness. Um And I looked at how to devise research questions within it, which is what you're going to do in a dissertation. Anyway, you devise a research question. So it shows again and I'm highlighting the essential skills of research. And then this then led me to develop a deeper interest in neurosurgical efforts and infectious disease. So I, at this point, I knew that when I was doing my dissertation, you know, medical microbiology wasn't really hitting it for me. It was COVID year and I was not as interested, but I was very interested in neuro infection. So then I looked into global neurosurgery and obviously that ties in certain neurosurgical procedures tie in with infectious disease. It's like a brain abscess. So then I went on to um become a codirector of a research institute, garnered prizes. I was a bit vague there, but I knew the portfolio would highlight the prizes anyway, because I had to submit it and autism presented worldwide neurosurgical projects. So I've gone from studentship to integration to um international neurosurgical projects. So Bish Bambu went from one stage to the other which shows character development and then I explain why the SFP then. So that was my background. And then the second half of this is I wish to continue to develop my research and clinical skills through the York Ham SFP. So when you come to White Space questions, you usually print, put, put it through Ori which means you can't really name drop the Deanie. But because I because your and Humber was a separate application. So you submitted on Oriole, but then you submitted your portfolio separately with the White Space Questions, not on Ori I could change the White Space questions. So I used one set of White Space questions for Oxford and then another because your humble was separate. So it was a separate form. So I knew I could name drop in this one. Hence why I did. So I wish to continue to develop in my research. And again, I affirmed that by doing the SFP, I'd be bolstering my research and clinical skills. So and then gave the reasons why um because I could be spec specific with this um because it wasn't tied with oro I then named, dropped some potential things I'd like to do with my A rotation. So it looks like I've taken an initiative and then used some of the things which they offer in Yorkshire Humaine such as academic presentation day and said that I want to become a clinical, a scientist to sort of bolster it again. And in my last sentence is very much what I want to gain from the SFP afterwards. What's my future by doing the SFP? What does it open myself to? So um with the hope is in a clinical lectureship. I know not use abbreviations, but I was desperate back then to cut the word count. Um This SFP will provide opportunities to follow an AC F and phd alongside at a PGC health research which they offer in the Deanie, which is full funded if you do the SFP as I work towards becoming an academy neuro surgeon. So that's how I ended it. So I did my journey at the beginning, why the SFP, what I'd get out of it and why it would improve my skills and my future plans. And that's how I answered it. You may disagree with how I answered it. But I mean, it, it did me well because I got my first job, first top job in York Humber. So um so that's how I did it. I hope that was helpful next slide. So just uh I can do this. Yeah. So um user resources apply to SFP. If you send us an email, we will try and answer our best. We can, we'll answer any questions that you have and just help make the process of applying much easier for you guys. I know I wish I had someone to just send questions to. Um I honestly makes your life much easier once you know, um the questions you wanna ask and have your answers given to you. Um So I only used one resource for my SFP application was which was the succeed in the clinical academic interview by Wiki Tan and Rory Piper. I just, I would like to just add that one of the authors are my relatives. So there may be a bit of conflict of interest, but the book literally has everything you need to know. Both the authors were um A FPs in Cambridge and Oxford and are currently um academic um and applied for the AC F and doing a phd. So they know what they're talking about that. That's the book I used, it was very good for interviews especially and sort of framing your white space questions because um I learned a lot of like, you know, bad versus good um questions, question writings and also how to answer certain interview questions. Like what's, what's the difference between A and Q IP et cetera. So I highly recommend it and I'm not just backing entirely on this, but I do highly recommend it. Um There was also um there was also another course which I did, but I wouldn't really recommend it. So don't pay like, you know, 80 100 lb for courses to think you literally just need that one book and just practice and send your white Space questions. Use linkedin to send it to other people who, who at that deary, I would say I would also like to add that I applied for both London and Oxford and I and during last year, London did not require a white space questions. So my answers for my White Space question will vary Oxford Base. So everything I ended with why I went to Oxford, I mentioned about Oxford's um facilities. I mentioned about Oxford's um a FP program I mentioned about the units that they have um only do that if you're applying to another unit that doesn't look at your White Space question. Yeah, I agree because Yorkshire Humble was separate. So I went, went on my Oriel, my Oxford one was specific to Oxford. So um be strategic. So if you think in London, which doesn't use wides questions and the other one does, then you can sort of tailor it a bit better. OK. Um So we've got a bit of time for quite a bit of time actually for Q and A. Um I know loads of people have put questions in the chart. Um And some of them are like, I think, directed more towards like Kylie and Jack, I think with um the Oxford um applications, but I'll just go through them. Um OK, so I think there's a, there's a question for um Kylie, um what was the portfolio like to gain a high school for Oxford? Do you want to answer that or during last year? They, they looked at your rankings and they um Ox Ox is one of those itar that don't really upload anything online. They did, they tell you last year they're looking for at rankings, they looked at um publications and presentation. I uploaded every single thing that I've done. Um That's why keeping it up to date CV is very important in your in the orl platform. You can basically upload anything you want. Even if you have had uh a poster presentation in a conference that was done ages ago, just add everything in um publication. You definitely get points for that presentations, you get points for that. I don't know the difference between oral and poster. Um They used to give points for ranking. Um I think they have taken that out right now. So medical schools don't submit ranking to that. So I don't know how they're going to grade it this year. Ok. Thank you. Um So Megan's asking. OK, so Megan is saying she's hoping to apply 2024 2025. Um And you presume the white space questions change each year, would you say it's worth trying to write any white space questions at the moment? Um If they change much year on year or hold off? Yeah, sorry, I just to check, I think, I think with looking at the widespread questions this year, they sort of are the similar sort of questions like why SFP what, you know, what, what team, what have you done? What experience, et cetera, you can sort of practice, you can sort of write those ones preliminary. But the thing is if you are applying in a year's time, you might want to add extra things. You've done in that year. So you can if you want, but I wouldn't be jumping in and writing everything like final draft now. Sorry. Did you say something? I think, especially if you're from Cardiff, that one year is quite a lot. You do your um you do your, your SSC towards the end of fourth year and that SSC can have quite a lot of outcomes. You may have submitted it uh to a journal by the end of your SSE or you may have already uh presented it at an international conference. You can just start writing bullet points. I don't think the question changed much over the years. Um They have shortened it definitely, but the questions don't change much. You, I I would just recommend if you want to start now, just start writing bullet points about what you think you might want to include in the future. Yeah, I'd also just say, like, get your kind of as Kylie were saying, like, get your CV sort of in order. So, you know, it's worth because it does take a bit of time sometimes to like trawl through like, oh, I did this teaching once and I find certificate for it just like just get that kind of thing in order and also that will in turn help you when drafting out those questions as well. Um But yeah, they don't really change like hugely year on year. It, the, the general themes are the same like, you know, research experience, teaching experience, um, leadership team work, like, those are very generic sort of themes. Um, but they might have sort of specific things, like, within the question that might vary, but I wouldn't stress too much, I think, like, maybe just focus on, like, just sort of like the next year or so. Um, try and sort of capitalize on other opportunities and things you can get involved in. Um, Yeah. OK. So, oh sorry, I can't see the chat so I don't know what's being asked. OK. Yeah, that's fine. Um OK. So OK, so there's a OK, there's a question about examples, but I think you've had, we've gone over that. Um Can we, oh can we access the slides up the webinar, someone asking? Um So a I think a PDF will be uploaded but I do have lots of notes written on the powerpoint slide. So what I can do is um I think towards the end of the feedback form, your emails would be part of the form and we could just send it out to the mailing list and you guys can have the notes at the bottom because I've written quite a lot of notes about why certain things work well and certain things don't work well for the space questions. Yeah, perfect. Um OK. And I think there was a question about um so some people have suggested the bullet points might be useful for this section what are your thoughts, please? Is that in terms of like drafting out? Um, I don't know, I don't know if I've missed something but, um, I think bullet points are definitely like a really good way to sort of plan out what you're gonna say. Like I always, like, I know it's cliche again, but if you fail to plan your plan to fail and I think having something like, you know, just easy to read bullet points, it just kind of helps you get your thoughts in order other people. Like, I like to do mind maps as well, like just to connect like things that I've done and then I can sort of create like a paragraph or, you know, a few sentences from that. Um I think, yeah, whatever works for you. I don't know if you guys have anything else to, you have to submit it in an essay format, but I started off with bullet points as well. I wrote bullet points about what I wanted to include and then I'm the type of person that would just free write. So my first draft, each of them had about 350 words and I started cutting down from that, removing unnecessary things and then you kind of have to weigh out which is better whether you want to go over the word limit and risk getting penalized or whether you just want to cut out the unimportant things. Um There's really no point mentioning that you've been involved in five research projects and you, you've done the same thing for the five research projects. Just me just talk about the biggest one and then mentioned that you've presented five other ones. Yeah, definitely. Um So like, yeah, would it be better to include one main example kind of be covered? But yeah, would it be better to conclude one main example or talk about it a lot or speak about a few projects? Yeah, again, like you only have limited words, so be selective. Um And as you were saying, like, choose maybe like the m the biggest one or the most, you know, influential one or the thing that you can write the most about. Um And I think, you know, I, I would, I think for mine, I think I did like a max of two examples per sort of question. Um because you didn't want to, you also, you don't want to overwhelm the reader, like, think about the person reading it as well. Like they just want to see that you've got, you know, you've hit those kind of buzzwords, you've got that good quality learning and reflection from it. Um And that is actually relevant to the SFP that you want to do. Um So I think less is more in, in some ways um If you're really struggling, then of course, like you can add like another example or, you know, I, I doubt people be struggling for words in terms of like hitting the max words. I think it'd be more like cutting it down. Um So, yeah, I, I did one example as well. I, so if, if you were, if you did intercalate, you would have been involved in a project from start to finish. And that's something good to talk about. Because from your inter degree, you can mention that you've interco your award from your interco degree, you can mention that you were involved in ethical approval, that you were involved in the project from conception all the way to completion and dissemination of research project. Um If it's for your own um dissertation, whether it's A BS C or MS C, you would be the one that have to analyze the data and you would be the one that's writing the draft. So A BS C project or an MS C project is always a great one to talk about because it's literally from start to finish and including ethical approval. Um If you've only been involved with small bits and pieces of projects throughout medical school, I would give two examples where you were involved in different stages of it. So for one, you might be involved in the writing and for the other, you might be involved in data analysis. But if you're doing the same thing for both of them, then don't bother. Um Should you name drop your project leads name? Like you are like you are with the research group. Um, I don't know, I mean, I didn't, but I didn't have, like, a major project that I was doing. I was just talking about my insulation project. Um, I think maybe if it's like, you know, with like a national sort of like, I don't know, for example, it's like for cancer research UK or something, you know, quite big. You can maybe drop like that name, but I don't really see why you'd need to name. Drop your project leads name. Like I don't really, I think, I don't think it adds anything really because you need to show like what you've done, but I don't know, I could be wrong. What do you think? I don't think it unless it's something really big like cancer research UK or you've worked with National Data. Um There's no point dropping it. So just think about practicalities. If you, you're working with a very known research unit worldwide like Jack did for his um MS C then mention it if you're working with a small research group that's just quite local, then don't waste your words on it. Um But mention when you've done it because that always show commitment if you did it over summer or you did it over um whichever period that you did it in, whether you did it on top of your school. Yeah. So, so the reason why I did is number one, obviously I having White Space questions which um I knew the other deanie wouldn't read. Therefore I could be more specific. And the advice I had when applying for either Ham or Oxford from other people who were successful was to, if you're going to be doing a project, you should have a project in mind and at least talk about it. So that's what I did. Um And it obviously worked. All right. But um they know that the projects will probably not go to plan. So it doesn't have to be a defined, you know, project. But what I did was I, I reached out to people at Oxford and, and Yorkshire Ham and Sheffield specifically and taught and looked for projects and had like zoom meetings with people, potential supervisors who I'd worked with in the past and basically said, you know, I'm going to, is there anything in mind which if I was successful I could talk about in an interview? And that's what I did. And I think it just shows that you've got a bit of initiative but don't name drop something which is local. If it's, if it's impactful or like, you're working for a big charity or a big study or a big center, then that's a bit different. You can sort of show that you're within that sort of population. But if it's like just a tiny little research group or something like that, then it's probably not going to add much. So it's dependent on what you want to do, I'd say. Yeah, if you, if you're applying, let's say to London and Oxford and London doesn't look at your white. Sweet question. And you've worked with a research group in Oxford, you can always just name, drop it. So they know they know that you've worked with a department there before. Um Yeah, I think that's the advice I can give you. Yeah, thanks. Five. How would you recommend getting a master's in a medical school? I presume that's not your own. Um I mean, I'm I'm gonna let you guys on to this because I, I Jack and I basically in it in a Mathes. He did it in correct me if I'm wrong, Jack, you did it in microbio medical micro medical microbiology and I did it in epidemiology. Um Lots of university offers intell master's, you just have to go through their program to see whether you are interested in it. Um Some of them require additional requirements. So um for shtm, if you are going to in intercalate in epidemiology, you need a background of math or yeah, mathematics for a levels. Um So G CS E don't count um or you have to come from a math background. So BS E in mathematics, um I know Manchester does intercalate master's degree as well. Um You basically, I think there's an a website called Inter dot co dot UK or something like that and you can just search masters and they have a whole list of master's degree for you. It's, I mean, it's, it's, it's very different compared to doing a bachelor's. So a masters will take up the 12 months and believe it or not, it, it, it, it is intense. Um But the perks are that obviously is a postgraduate qualification. Therefore, it counts for a bit more when you apply for like academic clinical fellowships, et cetera. Um But some places deem a first in a integrated bash is the same as getting a pass in a master's. So don't, don't be just, you know, swayed by going, oh I want to go and do a masters whatever because it is a lot of work and it's stress and um unless you really want to go for like, you know, a specific program, a specific university or you want to, you know, further your career in academic clinical fellowship or something like that, then maybe a master's would be up your alley. But it's um it is different and every university has an internal sort of way of allowing you to externally integrate like Cardiff, for example, would only let a few couple of people basically to externally integrate. And it was a competitive process within Cardiff while some of the medical schools basically let anyone. So just make sure that it's, you know, that it's something you can do and also look at the funding. So look if the NHS Bursary actually covers your year or whatever. So, just make sure because the London School is a private institution, you have to pay the fees up front. So, some schools are like that. So, just make sure that you can actually afford to do it as well. Um, but yeah, there's a lot of perks who are doing it and there's a lot of stresses with it as well. Yeah, it overlaps with your medical school, um, time. So, when I was, I reentered my fourth year of med school during my dissertation period in my master's and I was basically really stressed during that two months. It was stressful. It was really stressful. Yeah. Uh Other than that, you just, you really just need to keep updating your CV and then see if you meet any requirements and apply like how you would an external BS C basically. Great. Thanks guys. Um ok. So can you count tutoring your teaching experience? Does it have to be medical? Um No, it doesn't have to be like directly me um for mine. So from my teaching experience, it wasn't like directly medical school, but I basically did some volunteering and teaching like basic life support to like the community. And I know it's still kind of medical but it, it's a different time of teaching. So whatever sort of teaching you are doing, it counts basically. So if it's tutoring, you're still going to like be, you know, employing those skills of um communication of um you know, planning like a session or um you know, adapting to like different hurdles and things like that. So, you know, just make sure you tailor it like when you're answering the question. So show that you've developed those transferable skills that, you know, apply to like an education um like a medical education SFP for example. So, um no, it doesn't have to be medical as long as you can make it relevant to whatever you want to pursue. Um OK, so there's another question thing for this teaching question, it says you can mention experience outside of medicine. How much of this should an app applicant include in their answer? So again, like it's similar. So it depends really on your teaching experience that you've got. Um I think obviously you still want to have a, like a, a medical theme throughout your questions of course. But um going back to what I said before, like make sure it's like relevant to the SFP that you want to do. Um And also like, it's quite refreshing to read that you've been doing teaching outside of medicine that you, you can teach in. Sorry, you can teach in different areas of, you know, education that you, you're not just sort of purely medical. Um But it's also not a bad thing if you've only done medical education sort of based teaching. Um So it just really depends on your experiences like there's no kind of right or wrong way. Um about it. It's just about making it relevant and just being smart with how you answer the questions. I don't know if anyone wants to add anything more about. No, nothing to add for me. OK. Um So if you're some, so hang on. Yeah, Megan's asking if you're applying for med, what white space question would you be expected to answer? Um So I think um you know, in the slide of the examples that um thanks, but I think it's to do with your education and teaching experience. Um that would make the most sense. But however, um it depends on the unit of application that you like apply to basically because they might be like you need to answer this and this White Space question. Um or they might say you should answer all the White space questions. It really varies. Like I know some of my friends, like they had to write answers to like loads of white space questions and I only had to write answers to like two. So it's, it's very variable. Um But yeah, it's education and teaching. I would presume I'm not gonna say for definite, but that makes the most sense. Um And it's just good to be prepared with those questions as well, like, you know, for your interview as well, you know, having your White Space questions, like knowing what you've written in them. Um But also having a look over the other ones because they could ask you something related to the other topics as well. Um So it's just good to have examples for sort of each one. If you can even, you can. Um So anything you write in your white space question is basically subjected to scrutiny. So make sure you know what you've written in your white space questions. OK. So te start asking um Kylie and Jack, um what your answers for Oxford? I don't know. I, I think you guys have spoken a bit about your answers, but um I don't know if you want to talk about those or remember the questions I've been asked. Um But yeah, I'm trying to remember. Um OK, so it was like, why do you want to do the SFP? I was it just the one or two, Kylie? No, I think Oxford only made us answer the first question, which was why, why isn't it? I, I think, yeah, why not? Yeah, it was literally just why the SFP. So it was literally the same career goals. What are your specific reasons for apply for SF it was exactly the same I think and it was basically, you know, the way we've answered it. Um And that was it, but with the Oxford Deanery, the short list was really vague because they didn't specify exactly what they were using for short list. So we didn't really know if they were using the White Space question to, you know, to any avail to be honest. But having spoken to people who had interviews and got in the consensus was because they used rankings. The consensus was, it was either high ranking or you had a first order publication or a couple of publications. Correct me if I'm wrong, Kaylie, they used Death House last year and they looked at um, publications, publications must have had a part M ID. So if it's accepted, um and only an E version, you wouldn't have a part ID yet. Um Look at presentation and pris and additional degree. I think a lot of people forget that a first class honors is a price. Um Yeah, in your BS C. So if you have a first class honors, make sure you list it there. Um Yeah. Um Oxford did look at additional degree when we were applying um most academic units I think still look at the additional degree. Um presentation wise, they were quite, they really didn't tell you whether an aura was at a higher we than a posters. But my advice is just include everything that you've done. Yeah, I would, I would echo that, exclude everything and it was the same. So um for the auction humber, it's very specific exactly what points they give for what? Because there was no interview. So the points were very much like if you had a master's, that was actually higher than a first class degree in, you know, in a bachelor's. So you had to be very specific with the evidence as well. You had to send all the evidence before like November or December or something like that. So to check it all. Um and the average, so I don't know about the average score, but because there was a question in the charts which is just saying like, what was the average score? Um I'm not so sure about the average score but it, I think they did, they did reject anybody who was like less than this was based on deaths, like less than like six death or something like that. Um But again, it's really subjective you, it depends how competitive the year is as well. Like if it's a massive inflation, which I'm predicting it's going to be this year, then it could be possibly higher, but I'm not so sure. Sorry. Yeah, I don't think Oxford released that data as well. I don't really know where people rank. Um Yeah, sorry. I can't answer that ranking question. OK. Um So Nicholas is asking, how is your portfolio uploaded? Is it submitted to wise place question or elsewhere? How do you know which submissions will be direct versus oral? Um So I don't know about you guys if there was anything different with your like applications, but for mine, it was very like much it was all through Oriel. So like when you go through what you basically, you get notified that you can basically apply for the foundation program and stuff like that from your, but we got it through our med school. Um And then we kind of got sent a link and then you basically had to sign up through Orel and then you had to go through like a full sort of application page and things like that. And then it comes to a bit where it's like, do you want to apply for the SFP? And then I put yes and then it kind of opens up this whole ream of things of that. You have to sort of fill out. So you have to fill out your white space questions, you have to upload evidence, um like basically a portfolio. So like sort of a certificate and things like that. Um I don't know, I don't know about you guys if there was anything different, if you had to apply directly to anything, but for me that's it was all through or um everything with formulas tutorial as well. Um You do have to upload everything that you've mentioned. So if you mentioned, you have a poster presentation, you need to show evidence for everything. Um which is why start updating your C DS. Um Make sure you have all the documents that you have. I have a folder that's on a cloud drive because I'm afraid I anything happens to my computer, I lose it. Um And that drive has all of my certificates. Um And I just organize them based on folders. So it's like whether it's teaching presentation, uh, publication, they're all in an individual folder, uh, makes your life much easier when you're applying for things. And so for me, yeah, it was different. So, um, you apply for Oriel. Um, but Yorkshire and Humber is a separate, um, it's a, they use a separate, like short list in um, form. So basically it was a micro, er, Microsoft for form and you just filled in like um what you've done basically through that and you were allowed to put your White Space questions on there. So I knew that they weren't going to read the ones on Oriel and it says on the website clearly that they won't go through ori to read the White Space questions. So it's, you submit it onto that Microsoft form and that's, I don't know how they're going to do it this year, but that's what happened with me. So technically, it was 22 applications, it was a bit different. Um So I think this might be for Jack. Um So Devon's asking for Yorkshire and hu is it possible to access the self assessment scoresheet? Now, the website seems to apply, it will only be available during application window in a September, right? Ok. Um Let me have a look at that question again, right. Um So, um hm I'll have to get back whilst. Ok. What I'm gonna do is I'll try and see if it's up. Um and then let you know. So if you want to just continue your questions and then I'll try about it and thank you, Jack. Um ok, so let me just go find, um, is there a specific official website to find the requirements for each deary? Um So I believe on the UK FB A website. I don't know if it's changed or not, but like you have, um, like, I think there's like an information sheet and then there's like each Deary, I don't know. I'm just like, forgetting what happened. It was all a blur. But there was like, if you go on, like each Deary on their like specific page, they will like tell, they'll literally have like a, like a PDF document or like a document basically saying what the require are. So um it is worth going on the UK FP A website and looking through their information. And then I think there should be links to like the deaneries. I don't know if it's changed. I feel like I'm answering this question really badly. But um because I was, I only applied to like one dean. I didn't apply to like two separate deaneries. So um yeah, I don't know. But the basically the website, the UK FO website has links to like all the different deaneries and then you can go to the deaneries from there and then they will literally like have information about their requirements. Um It might have changed as know it worth just having like a look on the UK F website. But that was the first part of call and up it on an spreadsheet, I think with the different dear. And then you, and then you have the website link at the bottom, then you just click on it and you, there's no shortcuts to this. You just have to go through each deer, um, unit of application and just look at what they want. Um, from each one, what I did to narrow down the diary I wanted was I went by location and then my jobs. Um, and my research unit. Um, ok. So are there any good research opportunities programs available right now or available annually that you recommend? I won't be applying in the next couple of years? Um, hm. Ok. So, I mean, from the first kind of potential thing, I mean, it depends on, you know, what your preference is, but the most kind of, I wouldn't say easy way. Oh my God, my is gone. Um, but basically the, the most straightforward way to kind of get involved in research is to pursue an integrated degree. Like I know they don't count like in terms of points for like the foundation program, but that's like the most straightforward way to get involved in like research and sort of see a project through from start to finish and develop all those skills. Um However, I know it's not always affordable for everyone. Um and, you know, you might always get the project that you want or you might not get the indication that you want. So that's from my experience, like that was like the most straightforward way for me to get involved in research. And like from there, I've been able to kind of attend conferences and things like that um from that research. However, you know, also just be proactive, like when you're in a placement and things like that, you know, with, if you, there's a really good consultant who were a reg who's like, really keen on research or doing audits and things like that, like, try and get involved in those um or ask about it, like, ask, you know, are there any audits that I can get involved in? Is there any sort of research project going on? Like, I know a few of my friends who, um you know, they had really good regs on their placements and like, you know, they got involved in some research through them. Um um I think also, like, it depends on your med school, but basically, um some med schools have like SSP like, like specialized study studies projects and they have like um tutors who kind of can get involved or like set research groups and stuff like that. So it really depends on sort of where you're studying um and sort of the opportunities that you have sort of available um to hand but be proactive on your placements, be proactive, like, um with your, you know, with your tutors and things like that and see if just ask questions, ask if you can actually get involved. Um And also nowadays, like, we've got like things like Med Twitter and you've got linkedin and stuff like that, like connect with people if you've got like certain interests and certain fields or specialties, you know, connect with those people, message them, you know, don't be, don't be shy. Like people are more than happy to recruit medical students and um people to be involved in their research projects. Um So, yeah, I mean, I don't know if you guys want to are like, so add anything to that. Yeah, I think SSC is a great place to like start with research project, at least in Cardiff, you have SSE since first year. So you can slowly get your hands involved in a bit of like smaller projects. Um If you have a longer SSD, you could start emailing people that have worked with medical students before I tend to partner them and research data and see how many medical students they've worked with before. Um Just because if they've worked with previous medical students, you know, they know what to expect of you, they know your timing, they know your experience and they know what you can and cannot do. Um One thing is sometimes when you work with someone that's very experienced, um they work with lots of post docs, they expect you to be at the same level as their post docs um which is practically impossible. Um Send out lots of emails and it doesn't really need to be in a specialty that you're interested in. I did my first project ever in urology and I have zero interest in urology, but it just taught me skills that I could then carry on to um start emailing other people saying that I've, I've done this previously, I've got this skill. Can you take me on? Um Yeah. Um Jack would probably talk more about linkedin. So I just Right, linkedin. So I could be the ambassador for linkedin. It has done me wonders. Um I set, I set, set my linkedin back in, oh God. When was it back in like the start of fourth year? And since then using linkedin and messaging and connecting and networking with, with people I'd worked with and they got in contact with other people I could work with and even cold messaging and cold emailing. I managed to get a plethora of publications and international presentations um of which now I've got more than about 50 publications. So linkedin is my like best friend and I still use to stay, I put my linkedin profile on the chat just to show how it's done. Um I think, I think Kylie's got one as well. I think I don't, I don't know um if you know your universities, if it's the best thing and it, and it's not really, you know, it's not really popular but within network in circles and medicine, it's becoming very, very popular. So I would definitely make a links in if I were you and start cold messaging or connecting with people, you potentially could be work you want to work with. Because it's done me wonders. And that's how I've got most of my committee positions and um publications. So because I don't have anybody else in the family who's gone to medical school or is a doctor. So I didn't know anyone. So um that was really the way I could network. So I own conferences and just meetings and stuff like that. Just put yourself out there. Yes, a bit socially awkward. Like me emails look wonders. I've sent a lot of emails, I've got lots of replies. Um Once you send an email, you don't need that initial awkward meeting, you just meet them directly for the project. I'm super socially awkward. So I mhm. Um Yeah. Um So glory's asking do publications or any published work have to be things that you've done during med school as opposed to previous research degrees done before med school. Um I'm actually not sure about this. Do you guys know? Yeah. No, it doesn't. There's no, it doesn't. No, there's no, it doesn't. There's no disclaimer when it says it has to be in medical school. It just says permit ID. Yeah. Yeah, it just has to be ID. Yeah, I think. Just sorry. No, no, it's fine. Yeah, there's lots of graduate entry medicine students as well. Um, if you're in Cardiff you're not really exposed to lots of them. But, um, Oxford has lots of phd students that enter medicine as a graduate entry, medical student and all their publication counts towards their application. Ok. Um, so with the CV, can it be very long, many pages jobs such like 1 to 2 pages? Um So you'll see. So like the portfolio that you kind of upload like on Oriel is, it's literally like, it's, it's like a number of, it's like different categories that you have to select to, like it might be like, oh you've done like X publications or whatever and you just have to upload evidence for it. So it's not really like a document per se. Um Obviously like an actual C VA formal CV will be quite different. Um And then like, obviously your white face questions have like a word limit. So it's not like the same as like a formal sort of job CV. In that sense, it's more of a like you have to select the categories and then upload the evidence for it. Um OK. Is it worth including projects being currently worked on? Yes, definitely. Um definitely include those projects. Like if you're currently participating in research, if you're, you know, undertaking a project, like definitely talk about it. Um And just say, you know, our aim is this or, you know, we aim to publish this or whatever, like you can, you can still capitalize it on it. And also you can discuss like how you're developing as well or what you've learned so far and things like that obviously within the word limit. But um yeah, of course, by all means, I just be a bit careful with the project that you are working on um with the future tense. Um So if you know for a fact that you're gonna be analyzing it, just write that you're gonna be, yeah, analyzing the, you, you analyze the data, don't write, I will analyze the data future tense because it's just, it doesn't mean that you will do it. Um And it's not really reflecting on anything that you've learned. Um But if you plan to publish it somewhere, definitely list that down that the outcome of the study will, would be um published. Uh I plan to up, I plan to publish the outcome of this study as a first author in the British journal or Surgery or whatever. Um but um be careful with using future Times as well because the readers and whoever who's marking, you know, that you may not do it. Yeah. Um So like uh discuss like what you've learnt so far or do you know what I mean? The things that you've actually, that can actually be proven basically Um but yeah, no good. I actually um, ok, dare's asking any idea for Yorkshire what the average scores are with their scoring system again? Um II, I alluded to it earlier. They don't release it, so I'm not too sure of the people who got their top jobs, they didn't even release it. They don't even release the ranking onto Orel either. So I don't have a clue. So, I don't know. Yeah, I think I wouldn't worry too much about, you know, things like average scores and things like that. I think just focus on what you can control right now, like what you can control is how good your White space questions are. You can you have some control over your, like CV, the things that you've done if you're gonna not apply this year, but next year you can think about what sort of teaching you want to get involved in what kind of research you want to get involved in. So try not to fix it too much on like, things like average scores or cut off scores cos you really don't really have any control over that. What you do have control over is how to really make yourself shine and, um, you know, stand out um and just, you know, be sort of, you know, the best sort of candidate um, for them. Um ok. Um Look, ok. So how would you, uh sorry, how would you answer the second White Space question? On simulation training. If you had no experience delivering this, most of us would have simulation experience before in med school. Your um all the sis training that you've done in med school, be considered experience in SIM training. You know, the one where they make you do ABC de your diabetic emergency cases. Those are all si training. Um It's just trying to find a way that you can reflect on those um SIMS training experience to the application if you ever have like a chance, like, I don't know about, it depends on medical schools and stuff, but some, some people have a chance to like lead simulations or um you know, be the leader for a simulation or like maybe be like a guest lead for like a um a session and stuff and that's quite useful and you can reflect on that as well. And, you know, one way I would maybe phrase it is like, you know, having been both the participant in the simulation, but also the person who's actually leading it and sharing it. I've seen like both both sides of things or, you know, how it is to be a student and how it is to be a teacher. I think that would be quite a nice way to do it. But if you haven't had like extensive experience, don't worry about it. But I think most people at med school have had some sort of simulation training and we had literally loads of leads like um Yeah. Um OK, so have a look. So another one this, there's loads, well, I'm just trying to find them. Um OK, so uh not a question about why space questions but about the application process, can the ranking of dear for sf be different to our foundation program? Ranking of dearies? Um They are different, I think so. Yeah, they are different because it's a different application. Like do you know what I mean? So you're, you're, it's a different pool of applicants essentially. So if you're not successful in the SFP, like application, you're just going back into the foundation pool of applicants, which is a different system. But yeah, sorry. Yeah, no worries want to do the exact same thing. It's different. So um the SFP gives you an offer for interview really early and your offers are also really early. So if you do get an SFP spot, you'll know even before the um the normal foundation training post comes out and people are able to rank their jobs or know what dey they are in. Um Yeah, and if you don't, if you're not successful in the SFP, you automatically go back to the um the normal Foundation program. So it's not like you would be pulled out of the foundation program if you apply for the SFP. Um if you apply for the SFP, you're automatically also applying for the foundation program. Ok. So um do university awards count I know some special specialty, special unit of application tend to only account count national awards and prizes. Um, I, I put my university awards, like, I don't think it matters. I obviously just read through, like each, um, sort of, um, you know, the place you're applying to just read through their criteria and stuff and like, what they, you know, if they do give extra points for things like that. But I would just put your university awards. Yeah, because you, you've earned it and it does count. I mean, I don't see why it wouldn't. Um Yeah, I've, I've listed my university or as well and it counted towards the London SFP, so I'm pretty sure it will count towards most SFP. Yeah. Um ok. So if someone's acting Jack with the, oh, you've already, you already replied that's fine. Um ok. And then do they expect you to have participate in sym or have created the same training session? So I think it's a bit much to expect you to have created the same training session when I said that I was just saying that like in my med school, like you do have opportunities to sort of be involved in like preparing some sessions and stuff, but I don't think they'd expect you to have, I mean, sorry to inter, yeah, I think um I th there'll definitely be candidates who have done stuff with simulation. There just will be, that's just the name of the game, but don't expect that you're going to get rejected just because you haven't, you know, developed your own sim training, whatever it's not, it's more about your experience and what and the importance of s maybe simulation. I don't like this question because simulation training, not everyone will have done it and it really just catered towards certain medical schools which is utilized. But as Kylie said, your simulation sessions just as like the a to e with like, you know, with like simulated patients, et cetera or even communication sessions with actors, stuff like that will you could classify really a sim. So I would say just really highlight on your experience, reflect from it. You don't have to have started a simulation training session. I would echo that as well, like any sort of like training workshops and things that you do in med school. Um just like, like think about like from the start of med school, like all the kind of different sessions you have. Um and you know, just reflect on because it's saying and, and the value of development of simulation train for doctors. So, you know, why is it, why is it important that we do get involved in simulation? You know, even as doctors, you know, we still need to kind of be involved in these sorts of sessions and talking about how, you know, it's a protected learning space. Um It's, you know, the safe space or, or you know, however you want to call it um for learning and, and why that's important, integral um you know, important for patient safety, um important for developing, you know, as a clinician um and reflecting um you know, with peers and stuff like that. So there's so many things you can say about it. Um But yeah, don't like, don't stress, do you know what I mean? It's not like worth stressing. You can always mention things like unpredictable behavior and how a SIM can help you with that. A good example is like in psychiatry, there's lots of simulation training for what to do if um you have a violent patient. Um And that situation may never arise, but if you just think about why we do those things, it's because you don't want to put yourself in that situation. Um Should something arise and just basically reflect on anything that you've done in med school? Yeah, that's it. OK. So I think that's, oh, someone's asking another question um for the program interest questions. Are we expected to answer just the specific one we're interested in research, education, leadership or all three? Um OK. So for me, um basically my deary because I posted Trent Deanie and they said that they're only going to look at like your top choice of interest. So they're not going to look at. So for example, I wanted, I want to do med ed and also research, but I thought, OK, I'm probably better off just doing my research one because there were probably more spaces and it just, it made more sense for me to do that. Um, so like they weren't going to even look at anything that I wrote for the education med ed. So it would have just been a waste of my time to do that. However, if you're going to do, apply to like different, like SFPS for different places, then by all means, you know, if you want to do like a med ed one somewhere else, but also a research one, then you're gonna have to look at their criteria. Um Just bear in mind that you might be making more work for yourself by doing that. Um So it's just about reading through like each places like and their, and their criteria and stuff because everyone's quite different in how they use the white space questions and which ones they want. So no more questions then? Oh, sorry, someone's asking another one. OK. So I think we'll just take one last question. So necklace is just asked, can you apply for med at SFP at one dean versus research SFP at another? Um I believe so like for, for my, my thing anyway, um I, I mean, I was able to, I, I only applied to one case because I just went, um I would, I'm gonna say something, I don't know, maybe controversial or contentious. I would say if you're going to fly to two deaneries which have the same white space questions and they, they like one and ones med ed, I would sway against doing that personally. Um, you know, it's, it's difficult because if you, you need to decide, like, what do you want to do? Which one do you actually would be happy doing? Or if you don't care about the SFP or what one to do, then try and try and edge your bets and go for the one which you're more likely to get. I wouldn't, I would stay away from applying to different tracks. Personally, I don't know if Kylie, what do you think? I sort of agree with Jack mainly because the first, the first question and the last question are very generic question and you sort of want to base those answers based on whether you want to do like a research path in the future or whether you want to do an academic path in the future. I think the first question was motivation, wasn't it? So if, if you want to apply for the Met at SFP, um and your motivation is very academic based, it doesn't really add up um the same as the team working and how it relates to versus research because they're both quite different. I would, I personally would recommend to just apply to the same thing. Uh If you want to do mad at, apply to me at, at two different units rather than one research and one at, I think with leader leadership and that may be a bit more similar, but once you add research to it, your whole goal for like your whole motivation becomes slightly different because for your first question, you, you now need to bring in your plans for future academic goals. Like whether you want to ac F the AC L, whether you want to do a phd. Yeah, I think, you know, you can do it. It, it just, just as I said before, you're making a lot more work for yourself and it can, yeah, be a bit confusing as well when you, when you come to doing your White Space questions. So, um it, it depends on what you're really most interested in. Um, just sort of have a think like the next few weeks, just what you really want to do, you can sort of think about what evidence you've got for sort of each thing. Um And if there is and with your research one, I think it's been spoken about already, but, you know, make sure you have a clear sort of idea of what you kind of want to research or what, what kind of project you want to do. Um, you know, be specific about that because that's what they like to see. Um But I i it's, it just just don't, when your final year, like what you don't want to be doing is doing so many different questions. And sort of increasing your workload when you don't really need to be. And actually it's probably not going to be the most effective or efficient use of your time. So. Ok. Yeah. So I think that's everything. So, yeah, if you can, is there? Yeah, there is a feedback form for some reason I can't see the chart. So I don't know if it's still there. All right. Ok. Is it? I don't know why I can't see anything. There is a feedback form in the chart. So if you can just fill that out, that'll be really helpful and hopefully you can come to like the future sessions as well. So we've got like a whole series coming up and it should be really useful. Um I kind of wish like I'd known about like this kind of thing when I was applying. Um Yeah, thank you. Will um send over the powerpoint to those that have filled in a feedback form. So I uh I don't know if we can upload it here if we can just upload it here. So.