Applying to medical school - what unis?

Applying to medical school - what unis?

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VS02

Original Poster:

2,082 posts

62 months

Sunday 2nd February 2020
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Thanks everyone for the help it’s much appreciated biggrin

I feel like I should make it clear though that I am lucky to have a dad with a good profession who provides monetary support to me out of choice and is not a total st. Without him I would’t be anywhere, I wouldn’t even have a car for starters, and I would still be in a council home (during the time we weren’t in contact with my dad we lived in a council home in a poor part of the country)

Thus I feel bad as this thread looks like a sob story when it shouldn’t be. I however am very grateful and touched by the members on this website!

My mum wants me to stay home, I don’t really have a problem with moving but I want to be quite close to my family so I wouldn’t consider Scotland etc.

Maybe 2-3 hours away, but obviously for Medical school I have to take what I can get and this is not really a factor. But if I have the choice that’s what I want to do.

A doctor I got in touch with suggested I do a preliminary year to help me get in to medical school. I am not a complete airhead dreamer but I do struggle sometimes with remembering everything I learn and motivation [to study A level] as I get easily distracted. I only barey obtained “A” grades at GCSE in Biology, Chemistry and Maths with “B” grades in every other subject. And I know for medical school you need A* across the board. Especially now the new scaling means there are A** grades. Which means I was very disappointed.

I’ve been to a couple of “open days” now. I visited a conference in Nottingham with a couple of others where many medical schools were present, and then an industry run course at Kings’ College. Proper open days are starting soon as well, so I’m hoping to visit a few of those too.




loafer123

15,501 posts

217 months

Sunday 2nd February 2020
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My daughter is hopefully going to medical school this autumn (one offer, one pending).

Advice from this roller coaster process;

Study hard for the UKCAT...lots of past papers.

Some of the new medical schools specifically support those from less advantaged backgrounds, for example KMMS, and have access programmes...that may be a great route for you, being quite close to London, but cheaper!

Be very strategic in where you apply...everyone had good grades, so are you also good with work experience, or interviews, or UKCAT score? The goalposts do move, but some are easier to get to than others. For example, Scottish unis have very limited numbers from England, preferring Scottish and overseas candidates.

If you can, do application preparation courses. My daughter did MediRedi...brilliant and demystifying the process, and an excellent success rate. Particularly good at practice for MMI interviews, which are a new experience!

TSR can be helpful, but also can be toxic. Read it, but not too often.

You can do one unusual A level...my daughter is doing two sciences and an Art subject. The Art stands out in a sea of triple or quad sciences. Also you don’t need to do four. They ignore the fourth.

Overall, like anything in life (and business for that matter), the process is a series of hurdles, GCSEs, UKCAT, work experience, personal statement, selection for interview, interview process , offer, A levels. Each time you get over one, you leave competitors behind, so keep your eye on the prize.


tannhauser

1,773 posts

217 months

Sunday 2nd February 2020
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I'd recommend having a look at Newcastle - no firsthand experience of medicine but knew loads of undergrad medics and dentists and got good vibes. Russell Group too. Awesome city and only 3 hours from London on the train?

oddman

2,415 posts

254 months

Sunday 2nd February 2020
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VS02 said:
I am not a complete airhead dreamer but I do struggle sometimes with remembering everything I learn and motivation to study A level as I get easily distracted. I only barey obtained “A” grades at GCSE in Biology, Chemistry and Maths with “B” grades in every other subject. And I know for medical school you need A* across the board. Especially now the new scaling means there are A** grades. Which means I was very disappointed.
Hate to diverge from he very helpful and positive suggestions from fellow medics but, TBH, I think you'll struggle. A levels are a step up from GCSE, medical school a step up from A levels and postgraduate exams (which you do whilst working 60 plus hours a week) are a massive step up from medical school exams. Every step along the way you need to be more independent and self motivated.

I think the suggestions of medical sciences degree or other health profession are sensible.

GOATever

2,651 posts

69 months

Sunday 2nd February 2020
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tannhauser said:
I'd recommend having a look at Newcastle - no firsthand experience of medicine but knew loads of undergrad medics and dentists and got good vibes. Russell Group too. Awesome city and only 3 hours from London on the train?
This is a very good shout. You’ll be in it for longer than most other degree courses. The social aspect shouldn’t be understated, or the cost of living.

Jaska

731 posts

144 months

Sunday 2nd February 2020
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While A levels/University is a step up its also worth noting that they are much more focused in the field. Some people are literally only interested in say, genetics. Those people would get a C for biology at school but find university way more interesting and enjoyable.

Same for Medicine as a field, almost none of the gcse science curriculum is based on medical treatment (kids need to learn what photosynthesis is clearly, instead of why we take antibiotics, or how we invent new drugs etc...).

If you're dedicated, you'll find a way through, but you already need to be more dedicated than someone else in your position who got all A's at GCSE.

As an aside, while I do think some science degrees are 'easier' than others, it's just as difficult to reach the peaks in all of them. Sure you can do Biology or Genetics and work in a lab testing blood samples forever but you could do biomed and then a PhD and postgrad and dedicate your research to one tiny area where you are expected to know everything and anything that's going on and save lives through the research you do, and it'll be just as stressful! smile

MethylatedSpirit

1,907 posts

138 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
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I wouldn't discount Scottish universities because of distance.

Glasgow / Edinburgh is roughly 2-2.5 hours to London and a cheap flight away (including check in and travel to airport)

Accommodation can also be more affordable. I paid 475 per month incl gas/elec/wifi for shared accommodation privately.

Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Monday 3rd February 11:56

Flying machine

1,132 posts

178 months

Monday 3rd February 2020
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oddman said:
VS02 said:
I am not a complete airhead dreamer but I do struggle sometimes with remembering everything I learn and motivation to study A level as I get easily distracted. I only barey obtained “A” grades at GCSE in Biology, Chemistry and Maths with “B” grades in every other subject. And I know for medical school you need A* across the board. Especially now the new scaling means there are A** grades. Which means I was very disappointed.
Hate to diverge from he very helpful and positive suggestions from fellow medics but, TBH, I think you'll struggle. A levels are a step up from GCSE, medical school a step up from A levels and postgraduate exams (which you do whilst working 60 plus hours a week) are a massive step up from medical school exams. Every step along the way you need to be more independent and self motivated.

I think the suggestions of medical sciences degree or other health profession are sensible.
This is certainly a consideration that you should address. Can you get or do you have the required grades? I understand that competition is fierce to get a place now, with so many different boxes ticked. I'm not sure that I would get in if I applied again (I finished in 2005). I agree with everything that g3org3y has posted - very helpful. Talking to colleagues about their children applying really highlights the importance of the MCAT, for which I have absolutely no knowledge. I do remember that when I applied the grades part was just considered as an expected tick box, and things like extracurricular activities and volunteering/work experience were considered to be important (or so I believed). I also think that the most difficult thing is getting in, as after the first year very few drop out from what I saw and so long as you put the work in you'll pass the exams - even I did! It might be worth you having an informal chat to an admissions tutor and get a blunt appraisal of your chances and what you might need to focus on.

In my experience of working in England, Wales, Scotland and NI I have never come across the old boys network described by GOATever (are you a medic GOAT? - I'd be interested to hear your experiences). In fact I think that the university chosen has none/minimal impact on your career progression in medicine - there are juniors that I have worked with who graduated from medical schools that didn't even exist when I was choosing my place and as far as I can tell it hasn't hindered them in the slightest - ability, hard work and being a decent person seems to be more highly valued. I would select the medical school on the basis of what appealed to you, but in all honesty I think that you may have to go for whatever one(s) you think will give you the best chance.

Sadly, the final comment from me is that you should consider if you actually want to work as a doctor in the NHS and what tomorrows NHS might look like. Important when you consider how big organisations and governments treat staff in such environments, debt accrued and salaries as a junior doctor, or indeed some more senior grades. Those in many other industries would probably be quite surprised just how bad an employer the NHS can be. What experience have you got of the job? Have you spoken to those doing it. I work in a private practice outside the NHS now, but I hear from many colleagues that it isn't all rosy and there are many many complaints. You could of course go abroad, either to train and/or to work? That said, negative bits aside, medicine is a great career choice for most who choose it, you'll see some amazing things (not all good), be in a very privileged position, be able to help others in all sorts of ways, and I certainly don't regret it.

There is so much to consider, but give it your best shot and hopefully you'll succeed!

oop north

1,603 posts

130 months

Friday 7th February 2020
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this is my username said:
My daughter recently started medical school. She took an interesting approach to selection which was far more intelligent than anything I would have managed at that age. It went like this:

Decide whether you are going to do the UKCAT or the BMAT. She chose the UKCAT as you can take it at a time of your choosing and you get the results straight away. She was also less interested in the places which use the BMAT.

Do a lot of prep for the UKCAT. Nothing in the test should be a surprise.

Once you have your UKCAT test results then research what universities look for in their admissions. There is no point in applying to a university which applies a cutoff on the UKCAT score which is above what you have. She did well in the UKCAT so applied for places which used the UKCAT score as the primary selection criterion for interview. If your UKCAT score isn't so good then you need to look at places which put more emphasis on your personal statement. She took the UKCAT during the summer holidays so had time to prepare and then time afterwards to get her UCAS application finished.

If your school doesn't provide support for medical school interviews (mock interviews etc) then find one that does - you don't necessarily need to move there, you could see if they will let you attend their support sessions.

If at first you don't succeed then keep trying - there was someone on the course at one of the universities we visited who was late 20s and had been applying every year since he was 18 .....

Edited by this is my username on Sunday 2nd February 08:58
This is v good advice - my daughter also chose to do ukcat and ignore bmat - the latter would have enabled Oxbridge and some other odds and sods - cannot remember which. She is at Edinburgh now in yr1. No way could she manage a part time job at the same time

One thing she did was to look at the ratio of applicants to places - some places are harder than others to get in to. Edinburgh don’t do interviews - all on academic ability

mrtwisty

3,057 posts

167 months

Friday 7th February 2020
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I would strongly suggest you read this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Going-Hurt-Secret-Di...

I'm not a medic, but have worked with them for over ten years. It can be a very challenging career. One of the hardest there is. Also one of the most rewarding. It definitely seems to be a 'life' rather than a 'job' for many.

The level of commitment is beyond what most people would believe. I honestly think you have to see it to understand it.



knk

1,279 posts

273 months

Friday 14th January 2022
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I went to Leeds (albeit graduating more than 25yrs ago).
Great city, great medical school.

But any that will take you, the ground is very different to when I went to interview, talked about rugby and beer, and was offered a place as long as I got BBC grades, or unconditional for London.

Sam2022

38 posts

29 months

Monday 17th January 2022
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Flying machine said:
.......

Sadly, the final comment from me is that you should consider if you actually want to work as a doctor in the NHS and what tomorrows NHS might look like. Important when you consider how big organisations and governments treat staff in such environments, debt accrued and salaries as a junior doctor, or indeed some more senior grades. Those in many other industries would probably be quite surprised just how bad an employer the NHS can be. What experience have you got of the job? Have you spoken to those doing it. I work in a private practice outside the NHS now, but I hear from many colleagues that it isn't all rosy and there are many many complaints. You could of course go abroad, either to train and/or to work? That said, negative bits aside, medicine is a great career choice for most who choose it, you'll see some amazing things (not all good), be in a very privileged position, be able to help others in all sorts of ways, and I certainly don't regret it.

There is so much to consider, but give it your best shot and hopefully you'll succeed!
I would echoed Flying machine's last paragraph. The NHS of today is different from a decade or so ago, and perhaps not for the better for both patients or healthcare professionals. The attrition rate is high for various reasons and many graduates are leaving the profession entirely or moving abroad.

If you ask me would I do medicine again, yes, as it is a robust degree with flexibility other degrees do not afford. Would I work in the NHS, nope not a chance. I say this after 15 years moving away from a specialist career in surgery into a analyst role in management consultant. And am more than happy taking a pay cut for the reduced stress etc working as a doctor.

VS02

Original Poster:

2,082 posts

62 months

Monday 17th January 2022
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knk said:
I went to Leeds (albeit graduating more than 25yrs ago).
Great city, great medical school.

But any that will take you, the ground is very different to when I went to interview, talked about rugby and beer, and was offered a place as long as I got BBC grades, or unconditional for London.
I ended up missing my great offer to Exeter (by a large margin). A mixture of struggling with A-level chemistry, being fked by COVID, and missing school for health reasons.

Decided against resitting (due to a grudge against my secondary school for the way I was treated), decided to try my hand at a transfer to medicine course instead.

I’m currently on a Biomedical Sciences transfer to medicine course. I need to get a first class this year (above 70%) in order to be able to move to medical school next year.

Currently within that margin, but who knows whether I’ve “ jinxed” it now frown

Applying to Sheffield, King’s College, Manchester, St. George’s, haven’t decided on the last yet. Only one of those is Medicine


gangzoom

6,403 posts

217 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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VS02 said:
I’m currently on a Biomedical Sciences transfer to medicine course. I need to get a first class this year (above 70%) in order to be able to move to medical school next year.

Currently within that margin, but who knows whether I’ve “ jinxed” it now frownl
Stick with it, none of my family are doctors and I couldn't speak a word of English aged 9 but I got in and completed the course!. I purely applied for medicine because I was told by my school I was 'too dumb' too get the grades, but am glad I didn't listen to the school.

I find the clinical work incredibly rewarding, stressful yes, but I cannot think of another job I rather do. The medical degree opens up so many other non clinical career prospects its quite unbelievable.

It is life long learning though. Since finishing medical school I've done a MD, x2 PGDip, x2 PGCert, and currently about to start another PGDip that I hope to progress to a MsC, thats in addition to half a dozen postgraduate exams.

My job role/position is always constantly changing, and I can now almost pick and choose what I want to do. Its like been self employeed with zero worry about job stability, as a result I absolutely love what I do!!

Good luck and hope you get in to where you want to go. Where you go to study acutally doesn't matter, its getting in and completing the course that matters.


Edited by gangzoom on Wednesday 19th January 07:34

QuickQuack

2,277 posts

103 months

Wednesday 19th January 2022
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VS02 said:
I ended up missing my great offer to Exeter (by a large margin). A mixture of struggling with A-level chemistry, being fked by COVID, and missing school for health reasons.

Decided against resitting (due to a grudge against my secondary school for the way I was treated), decided to try my hand at a transfer to medicine course instead.

I’m currently on a Biomedical Sciences transfer to medicine course. I need to get a first class this year (above 70%) in order to be able to move to medical school next year.

Currently within that margin, but who knows whether I’ve “ jinxed” it now frown

Applying to Sheffield, King’s College, Manchester, St. George’s, haven’t decided on the last yet. Only one of those is Medicine
Damn, I wish I'd seen your post at the time back in 2020, I might even have been able to help with the chemistry!

Don't lose heart if you're set on medicine and you're capable (sounds like you are). I graduated in 2001 having started at Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in 1995 (before it was swallowed up by the UCH/UCL empire) and over the past few years, and I've mentored several kids with no medical or academic backgrounds into medicine both directly and via BMS transfer. Feel free to drop me a line if you want a chat.

VS02

Original Poster:

2,082 posts

62 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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QuickQuack said:
VS02 said:
I ended up missing my great offer to Exeter (by a large margin). A mixture of struggling with A-level chemistry, being fked by COVID, and missing school for health reasons.

Decided against resitting (due to a grudge against my secondary school for the way I was treated), decided to try my hand at a transfer to medicine course instead.

I’m currently on a Biomedical Sciences transfer to medicine course. I need to get a first class this year (above 70%) in order to be able to move to medical school next year.

Currently within that margin, but who knows whether I’ve “ jinxed” it now frown

Applying to Sheffield, King’s College, Manchester, St. George’s, haven’t decided on the last yet. Only one of those is Medicine
Damn, I wish I'd seen your post at the time back in 2020, I might even have been able to help with the chemistry!

Don't lose heart if you're set on medicine and you're capable (sounds like you are). I graduated in 2001 having started at Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in 1995 (before it was swallowed up by the UCH/UCL empire) and over the past few years, and I've mentored several kids with no medical or academic backgrounds into medicine both directly and via BMS transfer. Feel free to drop me a line if you want a chat.
I have 2 chances to get in to Medicine, one to start this year at Sheffield and the other, a possible opportunity to apply to study at the University of Liverpool but that is not guaranteed regardless of mark, and it is also for 2023 entry, which is quite a long time since my A-levels, corresponding to two years of missed time, that is nearly as long as most people’s bachelor’s degree.

I am faced with the prospect of not getting in again this year, this means that I have had to consider what I want to do next.

I have already decided against biomedical sciences, I just feel it is not for me and I am not particularly enjoying the course material, although it may be unfair to come to this conclusion before the end of even the first year. Also, I have not really particularly fitted in much at the university where I am, I have had an OK but quite boring time but I feel I could improve my experience elsewhere.

Going off the content I researched for my dissertation that I presented for one of the Sutton Trust programmes as well as my EPQ, I have decided for my backup choices to apply to more epidemiologically oriented courses.

I tried finding epidemiologists to tell me more but I couldn’t find much. A quick browse of The Student Room (I guarantee barely anyone on PH is on The Student Room too hahah, its a forum populated by a fair few truly awful people in my opinion), but excusing my bias towards it, apparently Epidemiology is a module common in most Medicine degrees in the UK and is considered irrelevant?


What would your opinion towards this be? My intention is at the moment to study postgraduate Medicine after doing this degree anyway if it all goes to st, regardless I am interested in becoming a doctor of epidemiology anyway? Obviously not having started any degrees related to that yet, I don’t know, but it seems interesting. Does an NHS employed epidemiologist benefit from a medicine degree?



gangzoom

6,403 posts

217 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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VS02 said:
I have already decided against biomedical sciences, I just feel it is not for me and I am not particularly enjoying the course material, although it may be unfair to come to this conclusion before the end of even the first year.

My intention is at the moment to study postgraduate Medicine after doing this degree anyway if it all goes to st, regardless I am interested in becoming a doctor of epidemiology anyway? ..........Does an NHS employed epidemiologist benefit from a medicine degree?
Medicine as a career is not easy, you will not 'enjoy' all of the stuff you have to do, and to be frank most junior doctors at some stage hate their life as doctor so much they consider giving up. Stress and hard work are a given, however, rewarded eventually.

If you are losing interest in Biomedical Sciences already you need to decide if you are serious about pursuing a career in medicine. As some people have already suggested if you want to be a good/successful doctor you have to be prepared for the job to become the most important thing in your life second only to your most close relatives.

Assessing if you have the mental determination to get through the worst parts of the job is what partly the application teams are looking for, and saying you 'gave up' on a Biomedical Sciences course because you got bored of it isn't going to score many points if at all.

At the end of the day you will have peoples lives in your hands - sometimes literally, so personal 'enjoyment' of what ever role you are doing at the time really doesn't matter. You have a job, and it needs done to 100% of your ability regardless of your enjoyment. Given no one has a time machine, your application form into medical school need to show you understand and is prepared for the demands of the job.

As for epidemiology, it's not an accident the Cheif Medical Officer of England is an Epidemiologist, but Dame Sally Davies who proceeded Chris Whitty was a haematologist. The important part is the medical degree, you can specialise in whatever you want post-graduation but the difference a medical degree makes in career progression as you get older is night and day, you can see that in pay alone. My 1 day a week contracted with the University would pay for 50% of a FTE non-clinical Lecturer, its the 'clinical' experience that is invaluable, at a time when the University is making other staff redundant left right and centre, they are desperate to secure the time of more clinicians.

If you are committed to getting into medicine keep your eye on the long-term goal. Get your head down and put the work in. Age isn't an issue for anyone, focus and motivation is far more important.



Edited by gangzoom on Monday 24th January 06:32

VS02

Original Poster:

2,082 posts

62 months

Monday 24th January 2022
quotequote all
gangzoom said:
If you are losing interest in Biomedical Sciences already you need to decide if you are serious about pursuing a career in medicine. As some people have already suggested if you want to be a good/successful doctor you have to be prepared for the job to become the most important thing in your life second only to your most close relatives.

Assessing if you have the mental determination to get through the worst parts of the job is what partly the application teams are looking for, and saying you 'gave up' on a Biomedical Sciences course because you got bored of it isn't going to score many points if at all.
Thank you for your words. Regarding this part I should clarify better that it is the analytical chemistry and related lab work side of the biomedical sciences which I have not been enjoying. Currently doing an immunology module which is great.

When you were at university studying Medicine, were you able to keep a good work/life balance?

Re: the last part, I am on a transfer course so as long as I get the 70% I am on the university’s pathway to studying Medicine at the partner school (Sheffield). Best not to mention BMS then I assume?

loafer123

15,501 posts

217 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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VS02 said:
When you were at university studying Medicine, were you able to keep a good work/life balance?
My daughter is studying medicine, now in her 2nd year.

She was home for the weekend, and did some studying, including catching up on online lectures, but had time for socialising too.

It depends whether you think that is a work/life balance, or whether you want your weekends to be your own?

ChocolateFrog

26,090 posts

175 months

Monday 24th January 2022
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EarlofDrift said:
I know someone that became a Dr and went to a Russell Group uni, some of the stories.

Said at the end of the year they had a memorial service for the deceased body he'd spent the last few months hacking bits off.
My dad went to med school in the 70's, they did open heart surgery on live dogs, I'm guessing that doesn't happen these days.