A complete guide to the medicine application process
Choosing to study medicine is not an easy decision. It requires hard work and commitment from the very start, including in the application process. Like other university and higher education courses in the UK, you have to apply to medicine through The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The application includes all your choices, personal details and a personal statement.
The UCAS deadline for medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry is always earlier than other courses. This is usually around Mid-October - for 2021 entry the deadline was 15 October 2020. This means it is really important to get your choices finalised early and your application started as soon as possible. You can normally register for UCAS fairly early on in the process. If you are applying from school/college, they will help you through the application process, but it is fairly straightforward for graduates too. If you have already applied, then you may be able to use the same account as the first time around. When I registered I had the same personal ID as when I applied to university the first time. Once registered, the application is just filled out online.
UCAS only allows a maximum of four choices out of five for medicine. This means you must pick your chosen four medical schools very carefully. Some universities allow a different personal statement for the fifth choice, but others do not. The fifth choice is therefore usually a science-related course, for example biomedical science. It costs £20 when applying on UCAS for one choice and £26 for more than one choice. It is better to apply to more than one medical school unless you know you will definitely get in at your one choice. However, applying to more than one medical school will not only increase your chances of getting an interview/offer, but it is only an extra £6. Other personal details you will need to fill in on the application include student finance, qualifications, employment history, a reference and your personal statement. The referee should be someone who knows you in an academic capacity - if you are at school/college for example, you may ask one of your teachers. For graduates this might be an academic advisor or tutor - I asked my academic advisor from Manchester University to be my referee.
The personal statement is one of the most important parts of your application. It is an opportunity for you to show admissions tutors why you want to study medicine and to stand out from all the other applicants. A medical personal statment should essentially show you have what it takes to be a doctor, highlighting all the key qualities and experiences you have that a doctor requires. You should write about your motivation to study medicine, work experience and volunteering, as well as any other experiences you have had that could be relevant. The length limit for the personal statement is 4,000 characters and 47 lines - roughly one side of A4. Due to the limited space it is important to be as concise as possible, whilst maintaining all of the key content you want to include. The personal statement of a school/college leaver will look very different to that of a graduate.
Here is my graduate personal statement as an example:
The realisation I wanted to pursue a career in medicine was a gradual process, developing throughout my undergraduate studies and amplified by a range of volunteering and work experience. It partly stems from a strong personal interest in metabolism, with a family history of diabetes; whilst the recent loss of a grandparent to stroke has sparked an interest in neurology. Studying metabolism and infectious diseases, together with volunteering that has fuelled my desire to care for and help others, has reinforced my commitment to studying medicine.
Through volunteering and working, I have had to call upon skills which I would be utilising in medicine. Being involved with a Citywise - a local charity who work with children that have behavioural and learning difficulties, I have been able to make a difference to these children's development and help them work towards being the best version of themselves. Similarly, being a mentor for NCS and having complete responsibility for a group of young people for four weeks has allowed me to experience the kind of management I might need to possess in the future as a doctor. Managing their demands and keeping their needs and sensitive information private has allowed me to develop an understanding of the kind of relationship of trust between doctors and patients.
Shadowing doctors at Wythenshawe Hospital gave me insight into the challenges faced by doctors in the NHS and allowed me to appreciate the importance of empathy and compassion when treating patients. Observing an aspergillosis clinic demonstrated to me the primary concern of patient safety, as well as doctor-patient confidentiality. Meanwhile, speaking to GPs and junior doctors has highlighted the realities of a career in medicine.
Volunteering at a day centre for the elderly allowed me to interact with sufferers of Dementia and other diseases associated with old age. I was involved with serving them food, talking, reading or playing games with them, as well as assisting in their mobility. My time here developed my interpersonal skills, recognising the value of patience and the difference simply talking to someone can have on their general health. It also inspired me to research the symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, as well as undertake a four week Future Learn course, "The Many Faces of Dementia". This broadened my understanding of dementia, particularly with its less common forms. Volunteering at an Age UK charity shop was also a satisfying experience, supporting the vital work they do and seeing the direct benefit of this within the local community.
Whilst my undergraduate and Master's degrees have largely been research based, they have still required organisational skills and the application of knowledge in different situations. My Master's research project involves defining the molecular basis of invasive aspergillosis and identifying potential targets for treatments. It has emphasised the need for better therapies for treatment of fungal diseases and shown how cutting-edge research can translate into medical advances. Being a leader in the UoM peer-assisted study scheme has allowed me to communicate my passion for science to others, through facilitating the learning of groups of 20 first year students.
Running has helped me maintain a work life balance, including representing UoM in their cross country team. It is a great way of raising money for charity too - taking part in the Great Manchester Run I have fundraised for Cancer Research UK, Citywise and The Stroke Association. Other means of keeping fit include playing badminton, whilst to relax I play the piano. These activities have taught me how to manage my time effectively, as well as dedication and commitment.
My volunteering and work experience, together with my composed temperament, enthusiasm to learn and eagerness to improve the well-being of others, makes a career in medicine ideal for me.
As you can see, the content of a graduate personal statement is different to a school leaver. More on this will follow in the Medicine for Graduates series.
Here are some useful tips for personal statement writing:
As with anything, it will help massively if you plan out your personal statement before you begin writing.
This can be as simple as a mind map to gather your ideas down. It is important to have structure to your personal
statement too, so that it flows nicely when read. Don't be afraid if you go over the word count initially - that's what
drafts are for and you can always cut down later.
Best of luck with writing your personal statement!