RadCast Xmas Edition: Getting Ready To Smash The New Year
MSRA Application Updates, ST3 Applications And 1-To-1 Interview Updates
Ho, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum (rose-water for those of you that don’t drink) ☃️!
For many of you this period should have been a time of festivity, family and feasting. Instead, Santa f**ked us over and brought us misery and madness in the form of MSRA revision 😭.
By now you should all know the differential diagnosis for the red eye and be able to give the spot diagnosis for why a 30 year old woman thinks Tom Cruise is in love with her despite never meeting him. Of course we say this in jest but honestly, we know it’s tough since you’re probably using all your available time for revision purposes. This is made even worse since the honour of having a day off on Xmas or New Years by the HR gods is like being chosen as tribute in the Hunger Games.
But don’t stress, we’re here to help and in this newsletter episode, we just want to give you some application updates including how we can help you putting the finishing touches on the ethics side of your MSRA preparation.
MSRA Application Updates
All of you should now have booked your MSRA slot. Now that you have a date for this beast of an exam, the focus should now be on the finishing touches so you can slay the MSRA and get shortlisted for an interview; as per the application booklet, MSRA results will be out by the week commencing 5th of February 2024.
For many of you, your natural ‘comfort blanket’ is the clinical side of the MSRA since you can progressively get better through practice. But man oh man, the ethics is a real bi*ch. When we reflect on our own experiences, we remember vividly the countless number of keyboards broken in anger from reading contradicting resources, vague explanations and the lack of any structured frameworks which could be used across multiple scenarios. However, as the great philosopher Jay-Z once said, “I got 99 problems but a bi*ch ain’t one” and we don’t think that for a high stakes exam, it should feel like you’re playing Russian roulette in a random number generator. That’s why we’re here to help and we’re proud to invite you all to sign-up to our MSRA ethics top-tips webinar.
Over a 2 part series, we’ve provided you a series of key principles, themes and frameworks to help you smash the ethics side of the MSRA. Specifically, we’ve condensed what we’ve learnt from our experiences but more importantly, summarised the knowledge and experience from applicants who nailed the ethics side of the MSRA into this webinar series. Candidates who used as part of their final preparation really valued the "framework" approach we took since since we aren’t focusing on “memorising” responses to specific questions since they won’t be repeated word-for-word. Rather, it provided them “foundations” which they could rely on as an anchor to help answer the new scenarios in the real exam.
Since it’s easier to digest this type of content at your own pace and you probably have varying commitments, we’ve decided to pre-record the content so it’s more convenient and accessible. You can access the 2-part webinar via the link below:
ST3 Applications 2023-2024
For the first time ever in the 2021-2022 application cycle, candidates could apply to join clinical radiology at the ST3 level. This was a real game changer and one that was positively received by the community as a whole. For those of you thinking of pursuing this route, you’ll be aware that the ST3 applications will be repeating this year 🥳. Now the applications for this have closed on Oriel and you should be aware of the following key dates in terms of the next steps of your application:
Evidence verification upload dates: 5th February – 19th February 2024
Verified self-assessment score appeals: 29th February 2024 (by 5pm) – 5th March 2024 (by 5pm)
Interview date: Tuesday 2nd April 2024
For those of you thinking of applying, please note that it isn’t a “walk in the park”. Rather, they’ve asked candidates to demonstrate that they had acquired the ST1 & ST2 competencies in clinical radiology. To do so, candidates had to get an “Alternative Certificate to Enter Clinical Radiology Specialty Training” form completed. Here, a Consultant who is FRCR’d has to sign you off as demonstrating the ST1 & ST2 competencies.
Finally, those of you thinking of applying should note that they probably won’t use the MSRA. Before you go off jumping for joy, this could actually be a double edged sword. Why? Because the focus shifts from the MSRA to your portfolio and interview performance. In fact, the portfolio criteria for ST3 entry are a lot more intense than the ST1 and included the following (based off the 2023-2024 cycle):
Additional undergraduate degrees and qualifications
Postgraduate degrees and qualifications
Additional achievements e.g. prizes/awards
Presentations/posters
Publications
Teaching experience
Training in teaching
Quality improvement
Leadership and management
Radiology reporting statistics
Most of you will be familiar with most of those domains apart from the final one. The more you have, the more you score. Candidates last year got top marks if they have over 3500 examinations reported over the last 2 years. As you can tell, the ST3 posts are really geared towards candidates who are already doing radiology training e.g. international graduates.
If you’re thinking of applying and looking for some guidance, please feel free to send us an email via the button below. We had a handful of applicants that we supported last year who absolutely smashed it and are now living life as ST3 radiology trainees.
RadCast 1-To-1 Interviews 2023-2024
We’ve been inundated with requests for our 1-to-1 interview bookings this year. Whilst we’ve been blown away by the interest, we want to make sure you’re all prioritising the right things at this stage of the application. Like genuinely, there’s no point preparing for interview when you haven’t sat your MSRA. It’s just a distraction. That’s why we’ve decided to reserve the bulk of our interview slots from February 2024 onwards (after candidates have been shortlisted for an interview based off their MSRA score). However, we will make some slots available during the January period for those of you that still want to go ahead. We’re just finalising those dates and then will be inviting candidates to book using our updated booking platform. If you want to hear first about when these slots are live, please make sure to register your interest by clicking on the button below:
Parting Words From Us At RadCast
As the year comes to a close, it acts as a natural point for some inner, deep sentimental reflection. But YOLO, ain’t nobody got time for that.
You know, that we know, that you are the best. What more is needed? Thanks for making this year so awesome and for giving us the privilege to be part of your application journey. Exciting things are coming in the 2024 year and we’re honoured to have you on that journey #newyearnewme. Now off you go to get yourself ready for the ultimate Xmas festive bangers…Spiderman 1, Shrek and Home Alone👌🏼!
See you in the New Year 🥳🎉🥳,
From your “will this scan change management” friends,
Jamie, Uzoma and Muhammad
RadCast Co-Founders