Rome Wasn't Built In A Day: Preparing For The 2023/2024 Radiology Application Cycle
Sharing with you the MASSIVE changes here at RadCast HQ in preparation for the 2023/2024 radiology applications
Yes, it’s that time of the year again. We’ve closed the chapter on last year’s application cycle, said our tearful farewells to the “batch” of 2022/23 and done a thorough spring clean at RadCast HQ (we’ve made sure to recycle all those cans of Red Bull we needed for those back-to-back interview sessions). In terms of what we’ve been upto, we’ve been busy behind the scenes holding looooooong team meetings where we’ve looked at all your feedback and tried to incorporate it wherever possible. Whilst we cannot thank you enough for your invaluable criticism, we’re now ready to share what we have in store with you. And boy, as is RadCast tradition, we’ve taken it up a notch. So, we’re ready to rock, geared up to roll and of course, prepared to kick ass. Let’s do this. Clinical radiology applications…2023/2024 style (kapow).
CRAC Is Dead, Long Live CRAC V2!
One of the major feedback points was the ‘usefulness’ of our flagship Clinical Radiology Application Course (CRAC). When we first brought our baby into existence back in 2018, the application process was entirely different. The portfolio scoring system was not revealed until you went to the interview (held at the swanky RCR building in London) and the actual interview focused on your knowledge of radiology as a specialty e.g. do you know your i-Refer from your IR(ME)R. Fast forward to 2023, that’s no longer the case with the portfolio guidance being made readily available online, with candidates doing their own self-assessment electronically, and the interview focusing less on your technical knowledge of radiology as a specialty. As the application process changed, we worked tirelessly to update our CRAC to reflect those changes. But, based off your feedback, it seems we need to go back to the drawing board with CRAC…breaking bad style
Specifically, we’re going to rejig the flow of the content on the course. Firstly, we’re going to transfer all the portfolio/MSRA stuff onto our YouTube channel (so make sure to subscribe). Secondly, based on the interview format for the last few years, there’s less emphasis on the nitty gritty radiology specific information. Rather, it’s more about how you approach ethical scenarios and being able to answer questions on your skills/attributes. In our refined, purer CRAC we are going to reflect this focus with candidates getting access to these modules first (plus new modules which we’ve started working on). Will we delete our ‘commitment to specialty’ modules? Hell no! Listen, they could easily change things around…again. Do you want to be the one caught out? I doubt it! So, we’ll keep the modules there but put it under the banner of ‘legacy’ content. Trust me, it doesn’t take too long to go through these modules and if used strategically, can really take your answers to another level.
Finally, as was the case for previous years, we will be inviting candidates to submit their best radiology reflective abstract and/or best radiology clinical audit/quality improvement project as part of our CRAC international prizes.
You can enroll onto CRAC V2 using the button below:
There Is Power In Numbers & There Is Power In Unity - Access Application Mentorship Via CRAC
One of the really cool things we thought of a few years ago was inviting candidates to an exclusive ‘radiology application group’. At first, we just wanted to use this as a space where you could chat to others in the same boat as you. Genuinely, there’s something comforting about sharing your own application stresses, MSRA woes and frustration about random last minute delays with others also experiencing the same thing. But over time, the purpose of the community evolved with more of a mentorship focus. Basically, the group became a space for candidates to ask application related queries and get quick/immediate responses from one of us at RadCast. Based on the feedback we received, candidates really appreciated not only being able to join a bespoke community of other candidates applying for radiology but also, getting this 1-to-1 mentorship through the group. So, we’ve decided to refine things further.
In particular, we’ve updated our group and organised it into specific sections for different parts of the application process. Got a question on the portfolio? You can now ask in the portfolio subgroup. Got a query on the interview format? Ask away in the interview subgroup. This allows us to keep the group chat streamlined and not a cesspit of conversations within conversations. So how do you access this mentorship? Well, in a similar fashion to previous years, we’re going to keep this exclusive for those enrolled onto our CRAC. Yes, we do facilitate guidance via our emails but this group takes it up a notch (plus you’ll have access to the application support through the CRAC). If you’re ready to join the community, just sign-up for the 2023/2024 CRAC via the button below:
Get A Competitive Edge - Sign Up To Our Radiology Application Webinar
If you’re not working on your application now, then seriously what are you doing? Honestly, this is the ‘calm before the storm’ where you have ample time to blitz through your portfolio and starting smashing your MSRA prep. “But it’s only May guys, relax you losers”! Firstly, we’re not losers. We’re too cool for school. Secondly, the best time to start was yesterday, the second best time to start is today; yes we robbed this quote, deal with it. Ask any candidate who didn’t get shortlisted for an interview based on their MSRA score and you’ll see how much they wish they revised for just a bit more. Or ask any candidate who was just a few marks off the threshold to be ranked and how they wish they got those extra portfolio marks. Hindsight is 20-20 and trust me, going to Specsavers after being rejected can be a right bit*h. “But guys, fair enough you’re really cool and awesome, but what do I work on? I’m just confused cause there’s too much”! Don’t worry young Padawan, we know paralysis through over-analysis is a thing. That’s why we’re here to help!
Specifically, we’ll be holding a Zoom webinar where we’ll 1) go through the 2022/2023 application cycle and the changes that happened e.g. portfolio, interview etc and 2) provide you with our top tips on how to maximise your time now (the RadCast way). To register your interest, just click on the button below and complete the short form.
Our RadCast Roadmap For 2023
Finally, one of the feedback points we got centred on giving you, our community, a heads up on things we were working on. Reflecting on it, we totally appreciate the point being made. Since we’re a relatively small team, we’re often running at 100mph with a focus on building, refining and executing. As a result, there often can be periods of radio silence from us and then BOOM, we’re unravelling a series of products or services. But we know this is far from ideal and that’s why this year, we’re going to do our very best efforts to openly share our proposed roadmap for 2023 in terms of what we’re working on. So, without further ado, below is our proposed roadmap for 2023:
May - Cohort 6 of our MedEd course (www.radcast.co.uk/courses/meded101). This is our 2 day intensive ‘Teach The Teacher’ course which covers the fundamentals of medical education theory. As part of your enrollment to this course, you will be eligible to participate in our RadCast Academy National Teaching Initiative. Here, candidates are able to deliver radiology focused teaching to our network of medical students and junior doctors. You can see examples of prior work on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RadCastAcademy/videos
May - Zoom webinar covering the 2022/2023 application cycle and our top tips on preparing for the 2023/2024 application window.
May/June - revamping the Clinical Radiology Application Course content based on changes to the 2022/2023 application cycle.
July - our coveted international Roentgen radiology anatomy competition is back! Medical students and junior doctors (non-radiologists) are welcome to participate. You can find out more information about the prize via the link below:
September - we’ll be launching a new course. We can’t say much since we’re just finalising a few details.
November - applications for clinical radiology will likely open on Oriel so we’ll be locked and loaded to offer support via email/exclusive telegram group.
December - we’ll be getting our festive Christmas jumpers ready but more importantly, providing you last minute support for key application points such as the MSRA.
The above is just a skeleton of what we intend to do. We obviously want to do more but obviously, we also don’t want to overpromise and underdeliver. That’s why we’ve purposely haven’t provided set dates since things can always happen e.g. life and we don’t want to disappoint you in the process.
So, that’s that! As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a strong radiology application. That’s why you got to start the grind now. We’ll of course be there with you every step of the way and as always, feel free to reach out to us via hello@radcast.co.uk if you have any questions.
Take care,
From your “A.I. is going to replace you” friends,
Jamie, Uzoma and Muhammad
RadCast Co-Founders