There are challenges...
Medicine is extremely demanding and strenuous - long working hours, high-stake and pressurised jobs can take a toll on anyone.
You'll be dealing with illness and suffering regularly which is not easy - it is upsetting and unfortunate to have to see people in pain.
You'll be making difficult decisions regarding treatment, which determine a patient's health and wellbeing. It might not always be clear what's the best thing to do.
Long training period - 5/6 years of Medical School followed by 2 years of Foundation Training, followed by Specialty Training which can take up to 8/9 years extra.
But, you do need to remember that this is the nature of the job. You're doing something amazing in the process, helping other people, improving your own knowledge and skills. In order to become a high-quality clinician, you need to endure the challenges and take the time required to gain as much experience as possible to be a safe and thorough doctor. It's all part of the process.
Coping mechanisms are essential to prevent yourself from giving into the challenges - having an active social life, having hobbies and plenty to do outside university/work will help this. Mindfulness and Meditation is also great to unwind and relax during stressful times. Going to your family, peers and supervisors whenever you feel overwhelmed will allow you to share your thoughts and feelings and get advice on how to avoid feeling down and pressured.
Over time, you will become more resilient and perseverant, which will make you immune to these challenges to some extent - all you need is experience.
Factors to consider
Location
Entry Requirements
UCAT or BMAT?
This may be more important for some than others. It depends on you priorities - living in a place with good public transport for commuting, a place with good connections. a place close to home or even far away, living in a bustling and lively city or somewhere smaller and more peaceful. It's completely down to you. If possible, visit the university in person or look up its location and surroundings online - see if it suits you and your needs or not.
UCAT or BMAT?
Entry Requirements
UCAT or BMAT?
Some universities require you to take UCAT and others require BMAT. These are both very different exams so read more about them and which one you prefer and think you'll perform better in. You may take one exam or you may take both - this is completely down to your choice. There are many more UCAT universities than there are BMAT ones.
By the time you apply via UCAS you will already know your UCAT score, and can choose where to apply accordingly. BMAT is taken after you submit your application, so be careful when choosing BMAT unis and consider how well you need to perform to meet their requirements.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Find out the specific entry requirements for each medical schools you are interested in - different ones will take different things into account when deciding whether invite to interview.
Some will assess the application holistically, weighting all aspects; others will require you to achieve a certain entrance exam score before they consider your application further.
Cost of Living
Social Aspect & Extracurriculars
Entry Requirements
It's likely that as a student, you'll be living on a tight budget. Different cities and towns have different accommodation costs and vary in overall expenditure (although the tuition fee is set at £9250 per year). Do some research into how much you'll be paying for rent, food, nights out, travel, extracurriculars and find the places which are best for your budget. You'll be living there for 6 years so it's important to be realistic.
Social Aspect & Extracurriculars
Social Aspect & Extracurriculars
Social Aspect & Extracurriculars
Find out about the societies and clubs in the university and see if you like what's available to do outside academia. Find out about things to do in the city, if there;s something in particular you're after e.g. night life, sports facilities, music facilities. Medicine can be very stressful so it will be important for you to partake in other enjoyable activities to relax regularly.
Course Type
Social Aspect & Extracurriculars
Social Aspect & Extracurriculars
Different medical schools have different teaching styles and focuses.
Think about how you learn best and which course type will allow you to maximise your learning experience. Many medical schools combine learning techniques so look these up for each one and find the ones you prefer the most.
Some medical schools offer the opportunity to intercalate - where you spend an extra year doing a Bachelor's Degree (BSc) in a separate subject (this can be related to medicine or it can be unrelated). Intercalation is compulsory in some universities but optional in others, so make sure to check this out.
Entry Requirements
Check the entry requirements for all the universities you are interested in as they are specific to each one, then narrow your list down to the ones that suit your credentials the most, or what you think you can realistically achieve.
GCSEs / Secondary School Qualifications
Some may require a minimum grade in all or certain subjects (sometimes english and maths), or some may not regard these at all.
A-Level / Equivalent Qualifications Predicted Grades
These tend to be looked at more often as they indicate your potential performance. Some unis may require a minimum grade while others won't. They may also require you to take particular subjects, such as Chemistry (a must) and sometimes Biology, followed by a third subject of your choice (which may also be specified e.g. Physics or Maths)
Personal Statements
Outline your motivation and suitability to study medicine in addition to academics. Some universities will use PS less than others, as they are aware of the third-party influence when writing them. Visit the Personal Statements page to find out more about writing one.
UCAT / BMAT Score
Some schools may have a cutoff/ minimum score, below which your application will not be considered further. On the other hand, others assess your application holistically and entrance exam score is simply one factor. That said, a high score will no doubt be beneficial. Visit the UCAT & BMAT page to find out more.
A-Level / Equivalent Qualifications Attained Grades
The minimum standard A-level offer for different medical schools varies, so look for one which you think is achievable or close to your current working standard/predicted grades, as you need to be able to achieve these results if given an offer.
Course Types
Traditional
These have a divided structure with 2-3 years of pre-clinical work (predominantly theory and lecture-based). You will learn the disciplines of medicine through physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, before applying it in the 2-3 clinical years that follow. This course type is ideal for those who want to develop a thorough knowledge base before entering a clinical setting, so you can be confident when working. You may also have to write a fair amount of essays which is great for academic experience, but if you prefer a more practical and 'on the shop floor' style of learning, traditional might not be for you.
Integrated
You will do clinical training alongside learning theory, and you will learn things with respect to body systems - e.g. you will learn the physiology of the digestive system rather than learning physiology in isolation. This course type is ideal for those who want to develop clinical skills straight away and apply knowledge from day one, becoming more comfortable with patient contact from an early stage. This may be daunting for some as you might feel that you don't have enough knowledge at the beginning. The course may incorporate aspects of PBL and CBL (see below) as well to supplement learning further, allowing you to apply the theory to cases and also do some self-directed learning.
Problem-Based Learning (PBL)
The main focus of the course will be on problem-solving & case studies in small groups, where you will direct your learning, gather information by yourself and collate notes and discuss with your group and facilitator. You will also be supplemented by lectures, teaching and clinical teaching but the degree of PBL used will vary based on the university, so look this up for each medical school. It's a practical approach to learning, working on a case-by-case basis and if you enjoy self-directed learning and working in teams, then this course is ideal for you.
Case-Based Learning (CBL)
Similar to PBL but incorporates more learning in a clinical environment. You will have a host of different learning types including lectures, seminars and also practical aspects like dissection, clinical skills practice and learning in the community. The learning from each case is integrated and discussed, while considering how they will apply and use their gained skills in the future.