Applying to medical school felt incredibly daunting to my 17-year-old self, with misinformation, paid-for work experience, and myths being spread across the internet. At In2MedSchool, we believe that applying for medical school should be accessible for everyone – so let’s bust these application myths together!
Myth: you need tonnes of clinical work experience
Truth: medical schools will understand that not every student will have clinical work experience, the most important part of your work experience is reflection and being able to link the things you learnt to medical school or your future as a doctor. For example, many of my friends and Iopted to work in a care home as obtaining clinical work experience was tricky. I got to refine my communication skills much more than I would have been able to if I had shadowed a doctor, and this provided valuable points to reflect on in interviews.
Myth: you need all A*s to get in
Truth: while having good grades will never put you at a disadvantage, it is not the end of the world if you don’t have perfect grades. Check the medical school’s website for further information about how they use grades to review applications. Some medical schools weight GCSEs more than others; some lower A-level requirement grades for widening participation students; some have gateway/foundation years; and some lower entry grades if the student has completed an Extended Project Qualification. When I applied to Keele, they lowered my entry requirement to AAB as I had obtained an A* in my Extended Project Qualification, which put less pressure on me during my A-levels. If you cannot see yourself making the grades, I strongly recommend looking at completing a foundation year. For example, upon completion of the University of Bristol’s gateway year, you are automatically enrolled into their mainstream medicine course.
Myth: your medicine journey is over if you aren’t successful the first time
Truth: there are so many routes into medical school. As heartbreaking as it may be, it is important to be determined and not give up at your first cycle of rejections. Take a step back and reflect on what you think may have gone wrong during this application cycle. My advice would be to take a gap year and reapply, having worked on your weaknesses. This would also be a great opportunity to earn some money before medical school, so you won’t have as much financial pressure while studying. I would advise taking a gap year over doing another degree and reapplying further down the line, it will save you a lot of time, stress and money.
Myth: you must have a perfect UCAT score to get in
Truth: like grades, each medical school places emphasis on different parts of your application. Some medical schools may rank by UCAT score, whereas others will have a lower cut off score that students must pass to reach the interviews stage. After you have your UCAT score, do some research and apply to medical schools strategically. Make the most out of your application by applying to medical schools that quote your expected grades/UCAT score – rather than taking a gamble.
All medical schools in the UK are regulated by the General Medical Council, and providing you meet the right requirements, every student should become a doctor at the end of their training. Currently, the medical school you attend does not impact foundation training applications. So, I would recommend applying strategically if you think you have a deficit in your application – so you can maximise your chances of getting in and working in your dream career!
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