#applyingtomedicalschool

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Something most of us A Level doctor-wannabes (I still classify myself as that, it's highly accurate after all...) want to know is how the *insertswearwordofchoice* did those medical students got in to medical school.

Seeing as I'm still feeling confused about the process and how the Sithspit I got in myself, I thought I'd write it out. Maybe then it'd make more sense.

So... Steps to getting into Med. School (The Abridged Guide)*

1) Get involved in a lot of community work. A lot. (This should be started in your iGCSE years or if possible slightly before, after AS exams, you will have no time whatsoever for anything else but those textbooks.)

2) Choose the right subjects. (Most Universities have the requirement of Biology and Chemistry, the other two A Levels? Go crazy. I did English Lit. Asian parents being Asian wondering why I took such a "soft" subject. It's not. It was definitely one of the toughest things I had to struggle through.)

3) Research. There's no point in wasting a UCAS application. You've only got four. Choose wisely young one. (For example, International students should take a look at the Unis with the highest amount of International students. It's not just about reviews, you're trying to get into medical school. If you don't like where you ended up - well tough. Luckily for me though... :D)

4) UCAS. Urgh it was painful. So if you can get an agent - great. If you have a placement centre** - even better. If you don't - tough luck mate. But you've got to be very careful when doing this, which reminds me...

5) Before you submit, you've got to have a personal statement of no more than around 600 words (to be safe). Ouch. For someone like me who tends to ramble (as evidenced), that hurts. You have to condense everything about yourself, why you want to do this, what you have done to go into this (this is where the community service thing back in the iGCSE days comes in handy) and etc. Your personal statement, unlike in most other courses for Uni is essentially your job resume. Which reminds me...

6) BE ORIGINAL! Um, if you can. Considering that thousands of people have the same original idea as you at any one time, pen it down quick, and submit quick, proofread all you can, then hand to your various editors. But do it as fast as possible. You do want to catch their eye don't you?

7) Register and start practicing and do well in the UKCAT and the BMAT (depending on the Unis you applied to). Which is why I would say to put Liverpool in as a backup. I'm pretty sure it's getting close to being the only one that doesn't require either. Then again, it might be outdated information now. So concerning this step, refer to Step 3.

8) Submit and wait...

... No one called you for an interview? :( Ummm... My condolences? But if you're really determined, take it as a sign to go on a gap year, get some work experience done, then try for the next academic year's application. If nothing else, it does show you're determined.

9) So! You got an interview! :D Congrats! You're half done (not through these steps, through the process). Now you've got to practice. Most of what you might get asked is in your personal statement. So familiarise** yourself with it. And with some stuff you didn't include. If you've got a medical journal subscription, or if you just use Medscape, read up a little on that too.

10) Be confident, not cocky. Practice with other medical student wannabes. You'll sharpen each others skills. Practice on anyone. And believe in what you say! Don't be afraid to accept correction! But...

11) It's okay to stutter and grasp for words once in a while.The interviewers were once in your chair. They'll understand if you are a bit nervous. But don't freeze. And don't be very submissive, you've got a backbone. Use it. Essentially, try and strike a balance.

12) Interviews for medical school are like your personal statements. Other courses might be different, but this - this is your job interview. So smile and give one firm handshake. You can't go wrong if you try to remember to begin with that.

13) You're done with the interviews? Now, all you need to do is wait...

...So they didn't like your interview? ...I'm sorry... You did come very close though! So take that gap year, get in some work experience and try again. Determination does take you very far.

14) You've got an offer! Great! Now's the time to going back to hitting those books. In some cases where you (you strange, strange why you're doing this to yourself person - *looks in the mirror while saying this*) are doing your A Levels in a year and a half instead of the usual two, this step till step 17 are your Steps 10 to 13. On the bright side, you get an unconditional offer as opposed to a conditional one.

15) While hitting the books, don't forget to take a break or two in between. You'll burn out slower that way. And when it feels like you're hitting yourself with a hammer? That's probably the best time to get away from that study table and play an hour of Star Wars: The Old Republic (or another game of your choice). You could also read, listen to music or watch some TV. Whatever works for you.

16) If you're a crammer (not that you didn't study for this well before the exam, but sometime, you want a refresher the night before) make flashcards. Make them colourful** and make them suited to you. Then the night before, or even the hour before your exam, go through them. If nothing else, it reassures you that this is all in your head. (Note:- You can't do this for Maths. In iGCSE or otherwise. There's no cure for Maths except practice.)

17) Take the A Levels and do not panic. Panic does kill you, it whites out your brain when you should be dumping out everything you learnt. So deep breaths, and if you're a person of faith (like me! :D) pray. It does help.

18) Guess what? You're done! Now just wait for those results (if you are a two year A Levels student) to confirm that you have gotten in. Congrats. :D. You're a medical student.

Notes:-

* This BTW is written by someone who has been in the British educational system all her life, applying to a UK medical school. If you're an American, it's probably different. You go through 8 years for an MD. We go through 5 for an MBBS. It's all the same though in the end :D.