Check list to get to medical school in the UK
- Maddy
- Apr 19, 2020
- 4 min read
If you want to be successful, find out what the price is and then pay it.
''Scott Adam''
Introduction
I can clearly admit, I encountered so many challenges to get to medicine. I was just an international student who had no idea about the process of the application. So, I decided to write this mini check list and tell you about the tasks that you need to think about when you are applying for medicine. So grab your cinnamon tea and start.
1. Budget check
If you are an international student, you know what I am talking about.
With the average of £ 30000 tuition fees per year, medicine is one of the most expensive courses in the UK for international students and funny enough you usually cannot apply for scholarships like everyone else does.
So if you are planning to go for medicine try to save money as much as you can before starting your course.
2. GCSEs grades ( Diploma )
As an international student I was struggling with this one as I had my Iranian diploma. I had to ask every university whether or not they accept my degree, and this is what I encourage you to do as well.
If you decided to do your GCSEs you need minimum of 5 GCSEs with the grade B ( 6 ) to get to medicine, and this doesn’t apply to all the universities some universities like Cambridge don’t have any criteria for GCSEs but candidates usually have As ( 7 ) and A*s ( 8, 9 ). I think it’s handy to look at the following link. It just simply categorises the name of the universities and their GCSEs requirements.
3. Work experience
This is hard to get but by far the most fun part of your application. If you are international, you should start going to work experiences from your home country because it is usually easier to get and it will boost your work experience application in the UK. Plus, It’s always better to know about different healthcare systems.
Work experience doesn't have to be just shadowing doctors. You have variety options like shadowing nurses or working in care homes. These experiences help you to be aware of the importance of other positions in the healthcare system.
4. Project
Everyone will tell you that doing a project is not important, which is so wrong.
Project is like a brownie point which helps you to make your application sparkly, and it’s probably the only way that you can push yourself to explore beyond your text books, and get more excited about your medical path.
5. IB and A-level Predicted grades
As we talked before, you get your predicted grades based on your first year performance, so don’t mess this up. Because, this is for sure the most important part of your medicine application.
Usually, the requirements for universities start with AAA with the Chemistry as the main subject.
A level: https://mahtabafzali.wixsite.com/study-vibes/post/3-facts-i-wished-i-knew-before-starting-a-level
6. Personal statement
For this one personal tutor is crucial. Your personal tutor can be a teacher in your school or a mentor from other organisations. They will read your personal statement and give their feedback on it, which is so helpful.
My tutor was an amazing teacher is our school, he really cared about my application and I loved that. However, I will put a link of some organisations bellow that can help you in this process. Remember to get a tutor you need to apply ASAP.
7. UCAT/BMAT
These are two different sets of exams that are required for different universities. I will just put a link for you to explore both exams and the universities that require each of them.
8. Interview
If you got to this point, medical school probably liked your application and you will get your offer if you show you are passionate and a right person for medical course.
The two common interviews are in the format of MMIs or panel interview.
Multiple mini interview ( MMI ) contains 6 to 10 stations. In each station you will be introduced to a new interviewer and new question and you will be given roughly 5 minutes to answer it. When your time is done you will be asked to change your room and answer the next question.
Traditional/panel interview requires you to answer questions of interviewers in one go.
Keep in mind, team work and writing task may be required in both interview format.
9. Get the grades
After all these you will get that beautiful email that says you have your place in medical school. You had to see me when I got my grades I literally got crazy. It’s a really memorable moment and I’m so happy I had my family and friends to share this happiness with them.
10. Health check
After you got your place it’s the time for vaccinations!
As you will have GP and hospital placements, you need to make sure you will protect yourself and others. So look for a list that will be sent to you from university.
If you didn’t manage to get your vaccinations university will probably provide it, but don’t risk that get as many as vaccines as you can.
11. Criminal record deceleration
You need these records from your home country. So please don’t leave it to last minute because I did it and it’s not fun.
Conclusion
Ultimately, I’m so elate that you are thinking about medical school, or just considering it as one of your options. I have to add that if something went wrong and you didn’t manage to get in for the first time don’t think you are not made for it. I know it’s easy to say and hard to do, I got rejected from 3 of my choices and got 1 so I know it’s stressful. But, remember you should keep trying because you will be a doctor who won’t give up on difficult situations in future as well.
So I will end this with a thank to all the health care workers around the word, who are not giving up in this hard situations. I hope one day I can get as strong as they are.
Wish you all a strong spirit,
Mahtab XOXO
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