Are you toying with the idea of becoming a doctor but not sure where to start? It can often seem confusing especially if you’re not familiar with the UCAS process of how to manage personal statements and entrance tests and the dreaded interview too. Having been through this process ourselves, we understand how helpful it is to have the steps broken down so you don’t miss anything. Here is a breakdown of the step by step process you need to know to apply for medical school in the UK. Look out for more details on each of the sections coming soon!
GCSE grades:
GCSEs form part of compulsory education in the UK and there are no specific subject requirements at GCSE for medical school. However, some universities do require certain grades at GCSE or a minimum number of qualifications so it is important to be up to date with this. Check out our medical schools profile to find out the different medical school requirements for GCSE grades.
Work experience:
After you finish your GCSEs, it is a good time to start thinking about getting some work experience in as this can often take a little while to secure. If you are on the fence about applying for medical school, personally I found my work experience really confirmed for me that medicine was what I wanted to pursue. It can be hard to get work experience in the hospital or at a GP practice but remember even volunteering at a nursing home or a hospice will give you some exposure.
UCAT (previously UKCAT) and BMAT:
There are 2 possible entrance tests (UCAT or BMAT) which are required – different universities require different ones, so make sure you check to see if you need to sit the UCAT, the BMAT or both. The UCAT is a computer-based exam which students sit anytime from June-September just before you apply. The BMAT has 2 dates, an earlier one in September and a later one in November, and this is a paper exam arranged to be sat in school. While these exams are probably one of the toughest parts of the process, it is possible to achieve high scores with practice and strategic prep. We want to provide you with insider tips, tricks and strategies for smashing these exams – stay tuned.
Personal statement:
In order to send off your UCAS application on the 15th of October you need to write a personal statement which essentially summarises why you want to apply for medicine and demonstrates any relevant skills or work experience you have undertaken to show your interest in medicine. The hardest part is probably the fine line between selling yourself and sounding too arrogant. Top tip – editing your draft with fresh eyes rather than straight after writing it will give you better perspective.
Interviews:
The last big hurdle in the application process is the interview, which can either be in a panel format or as an MMI (multiple-mini interview), depending on the university. While this can often seem like a daunting experience, remember the interview is an opportunity to really showcase your communication skills, and put some real personality behind the person writing the personal statement. Luckily, there are certain types of questions which come up often in interview so preparation plays a huge role. The biggest thing I have learnt about interviews is how important it is not to prep full answers to every questions as you will be thrown off by anything else. Instead, preparing examples and a couple of points for the common questions meant I was able to approach interviews with a conversationalist manner while sounding confident.
A level grades:
I know I said the interview was the last big hurdle but of course, there are grade requirements which must be met for whichever higher level education you are undertaking. The year of applying for university can be stressful with a lot of focus on interviews and test prep, so starting early and consistently putting in work towards your subjects will reduce the burden at the end. Your university offer ultimately depends on you meeting the grade requirements so they form as much a part of the application as everything else.
We realise it seems like there are so many components to this application process but hopefully when broken down, you can see there are a few key things you can do for each specific part of the process to make yourself stand out. If you have any questions, feel free to drop us an email or leave a comment! Look out for our guide on how COVID-19 is affecting the application process.
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