How Can I Help My Students Get Into Medicine?

In addition to your students’ academic score, UCAT score and university interviews, some medical schools require (or ‘highly recommend’) studying specific subjects at sixth form. Every university has its own set of requirements, so your students will need to thoroughly read and understand the admissions guidelines.

Every university expects at least a grade B or 6 in English Language and Mathematics at GCSE. While no set rule applies for A levels/Highers/IB, you can expect most universities to require a science based A level at grade ‘A’ or above.

Read about the prerequisites for medicine & dentistry

Perhaps your students ask, “Is medicine right for me?” They probably already have the ability to score well in exams and gain admission to a medical school. But before they make one of the most important decisions of their life, they need to have a realistic idea of what to expect. Here are some things you could point out that they need:

Aptitude

The entry criteria for medicine are designed to ensure students possess the right qualities. Your school and university exams measure academic abilities and proficiency in core subjects. The UCAT tests cognitive and emotional reasoning skills, as well as the ability to perform under extreme pressure. Interviews assess your ability to demonstrate the NHS values: working together for patients, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care, compassion, improving lives and everyone counts. These are all skills that doctors require.

Passion

Few people succeed in any career without passion. Yes, medicine is an incredibly interesting subject to study, but students also need a genuine interest. There’s no better way to develop students’ passion than to research the careers of medical practitioners and read about their journey. Our own Head of Education, Dr Ray Boyapati, shares some of his experiences and passion in our UCAT workshops.

Commitment

Students should be realistic about the commitment they’ll be making. Medicine is a career that involves lifelong learning. In addition to 5-6 years of university studies, it can take up to ten years to independently practice some forms of medicine after university. Then the real commitment begins. Most people understand the rewards but it’s difficult to get a realistic idea of the challenges of medicine. Being responsible for people’s health requires commitment and sacrifice.

Understanding

Before they make a decision to study medicine, we highly recommend that your students speak to as many practicing physicians as possible, read case studies, and carefully research the medical entry process.

Our Head of Education, Dr Ray Boyapati, provides virtual work experience through his Doctor Chats with Dr Ray series on Instagram TV.

Most students with their eye on a career in medicine understand the hard work, dedication and practice required to succeed in exams. They understand how to answer technical questions based on lessons and texts.

But the UCAT is nothing like the exams they’re accustomed to. That’s why many overconfident students who sit for the test unprepared not only fail the exam but also fail to finish it. The UCAT is designed by universities to find the students who possess specific mental abilities considered important in medicine. The unorthodox questioning and time pressure make it one of the most difficult obstacles on the path to a career in medicine.

But with the right preparation, strategy and practice, students can ace the UCAT. They can enter their dream course with ease, and sometimes even gain scholarships. Smart students begin their preparation well in advance of the UCAT, which occurs in July-September each year. With regular practice, most MedEntry students excel in the 184-question exam.

You can learn more about UCAT from the following resources:

• Frequently Asked Questions about UCAT page
• Comprehensive Guide to UCAT
• UCAT Handbook: This comprehensive 118 page guide covers everything you need to know about entry into medicine and dentistry
  

Your students should already have an understanding of university requirements from the first step in their journey - choosing the right subjects. Now it’s time to apply. They’ll need to be sure they are on track to achieve the required academic and UCAT scores, as well as minimum scores in the right subjects.

Each university will apply its own weight to each requirement (academic score, UCAT and interviews), so make sure students understand how that affects their eligibility. Before applying, students should ensure they have the most up-to-date information by contacting the admissions officer of each course they’re interested in.

They’ll need to apply via UCAS and applications close mid-October each year, so they’ll need to make sure they are organized and submit their four medical school choices early.

MedEntry provides information on most university health science courses. Read MedEntry's Free University Admission Guide.

Universities look for ideal personal qualities in each prospective student. In many cases, the university will consider the interview to be more important than academic and UCAT scores.

It’s important to understand that your students’ interview is not a casual chat or a general ‘getting to know you’ process. They cannot ‘wing it’ or rely on charm. They are competing against other applicants, and just like any other competition, those who prepare and train for the event are generally the winners.

Given the huge amount of work required to get to this point of the journey, it’s understandable that students can feel particularly anxious about a face-to-face interview. Fortunately, there are specific and effective ways to prepare. With the right techniques and strategy, students can walk into their interview feeling relaxed and confident.

MedEntry provides the resources, training, strategies and personal guidance to help students impress universities and gain admission into their dream course. We also provide free basic information that answers many frequently asked questions about interviews.

Read about Medical Interviews & MMI

Your students have navigated through the difficult application process including the UCAT, UCAS, and interviews. But now comes the ultimate decision: which medical school should they choose? Speaking to those closest to them including family and friends is always important but ultimately it is a very personal decision. There is a lot of misinformation out there, a classic one being that prestige or rank of the medical school is an important factor in career progression.

However, there are a number of important factors to consider including location, cost of living, clinical placements, course structure, teaching style and student life. It's not an easy task, but we've prepared a comprehensive guide on how your students can choose the right medical school for them.

Choosing Your Medical School: A Comprehensive Guide