Wanting to apply to study medicine in the UK but not yet submitted an application? Or is your application already in? Well, the process is somewhat complicated and this 🧵 with 10 top tips is for you, from someone who has been an admissions tutor for 8 years!
#medicalschool
1/17
#medicalschool
1/17
First of all, if you haven't submitted your application yet, please be aware the clock is ticking! The UCAS application deadline is 15th October for Medicine, and late applications are rarely considered.
Tip #1: Don't miss the deadline!!
2/17
Tip #1: Don't miss the deadline!!
2/17
Of course, to apply, you have to have an idea of which schools to apply to! Two things should influence your choice:
a) Places you can meet the entrance criteria for,
b) Places you actually want to go to.
Lets consider each of those...
3/17
a) Places you can meet the entrance criteria for,
b) Places you actually want to go to.
Lets consider each of those...
3/17
Tip #2: sure you will meet the entrance criteria. These will include both academic attainment and an admissions test such as UCAT or BMAT.
Different schools have different requirements, but you can compare them here: medschools.ac.uk/studying-medic…
@ukmedschools
4/n
Different schools have different requirements, but you can compare them here: medschools.ac.uk/studying-medic…
@ukmedschools
4/n
If you are not sure whether you meet a school's requirements or not, the best thing to do is to contact their admissions team to find out. Better to find out before submitting an application, than to waste an application. You can only apply to 4 schools.
5/17
5/17
So Tip #3 is don't waste an application by applying to somewhere where you don't meet the requirements.
Tip #4 is DO apply to 4 schools. Entry is competitive, with many more applicants than places at every school. Maximise your chances.
6/17
Tip #4 is DO apply to 4 schools. Entry is competitive, with many more applicants than places at every school. Maximise your chances.
6/17
Do make sure you have the right admissions test for the schools you apply to. Schools that use UCAT don't accept BMAT, and vice versa. (So if you apply to a mix of schools, you will need both).
The deadlines to apply for UCAT and BMAT have passed. (See Tip #3)
7/17
The deadlines to apply for UCAT and BMAT have passed. (See Tip #3)
7/17
Tip #5: Only apply to places you want to go to. Do some research about the city, and the course. (All the courses are good and all regulated to the same high standard.) Visit if you can. If your application is successful you will be there for a long time!
8/17
8/17
It's important. Don't invoke sod's law - which is that the 3 places you want to go to reject you, and the 1 you really didn't want to go to makes an offer. Now you have a really hard choice - go and be unhappy, or reject the offer (when it may be the only 1 you ever get).
9/17
9/17
The personal statement is something applicants agonise over. But do you actually need one? Not all schools read them. If you apply to a school that does use them, you will need one.
Tip #6 - Find out if you need to write a personal statement
10/17
Tip #6 - Find out if you need to write a personal statement
10/17
If you do need a personal statement, make sure yours is original. Don't copy it from other sources - they are all run through plagiarism detection software, and a plagiarised statement is likely to get your application rejected.
Tip #7 - Don't plagiarise!
11/17
Tip #7 - Don't plagiarise!
11/17
Set out why you want to be a doctor, key experiences from your education so far, hobbies and interests, and any volunteering/work/care experience you might have.
Tip #8 - Do sell yourself, but be concise.
12/17
Tip #8 - Do sell yourself, but be concise.
12/17
It's not too early to start thinking about what you might be asked at interview, and how you might answer such questions. It is important to be prepared, but remember that interviews are conversations.
Tip #9 - Be prepared for your interview!
13/17
Tip #9 - Be prepared for your interview!
13/17
A small number of schools will send you the interview questions in advance to help you do this. If they do, then make sure you read and consider them!!!
14/17
14/17
Interviews are conversations. Don't recite preprepared answers. It makes you seem robotic, and it is very obvious.
Interviewers want to know what you think, and not what you think they think you should think, or what you think they think.
Tip #10 - Be yourself!
15/17
Interviewers want to know what you think, and not what you think they think you should think, or what you think they think.
Tip #10 - Be yourself!
15/17
Practice talking about yourself with people you don't know well, without notes.
It is OK to be nervous.
Think about:
- Why you want to be a doctor (this is a difficult question).
- What do you know about where you have applied to, the NHS
16/17
It is OK to be nervous.
Think about:
- Why you want to be a doctor (this is a difficult question).
- What do you know about where you have applied to, the NHS
16/17
Hopefully all of that will help you - and good luck! If you don't get in during this admissions cycle, most schools will accept reapplications, and (should it be needed), most accept resits.
Good luck - you have quite the adventure ahead!
17/17
Good luck - you have quite the adventure ahead!
17/17
I missed something! Work experience! Make sure you have some (healthcare related if possible but not necessarily with a doctor). Online experience is fine (for example: rcgp.org.uk/observegp)
Make sure you can talk about what you learned from it (not just what you saw)
18/17
Make sure you can talk about what you learned from it (not just what you saw)
18/17
(Ooops - ENSURE you will meet...)
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