All Things Medicine

Hey @arezoo! 

I did the early BMAT (in August) and I did the UCAT in late September. I used Medify for both BMAT and UCAT. I started preparing just over a month before the exam. However, I would recommend spending a bit longer especially on the BMAT because there is actual content you have to know for that. 

Use the official past papers for BMAT on this website: https://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/bmat/preparing-for-bmat/practice-papers/

On Youtube, Ali Abdaal has got a really good series on BMAT. Check that out too!

Yes, of course reading books can help. Whatever you read, make a note of anything you found particularly interesting and what it made you think. Universities want to see HOW you think so make sure to be specific in your personal statement. 

I have included some recommendations down below (some of my personal favourites):
1. This is going to hurt 
2. Twas the nightshift before Christmas
3. Do no harm
4. Fragile lives
5. Being mortal

Keep up to date with the latest developments in Medicine. Stay proactive and do things like summer schools, work experiences or maybe even starting a medical society/club in your school! Do extracurriculars that would highlight the skills doctors have such as leadership, teamwork and communication.

@arezoo Most applicants tend to have some sort of work experience/volunteering. It does not necessarily have to be in a hospital or GP. It could be in a care home as well. Anything that highlights taking initiative and shows empathy would be good. 

Here are some links to different volunteering programmes: 
https://do-it.org
https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk
https://www.youthactionnet.org
https://www.sja.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/

For work experience, because they have been cancelled because of Covid-19, you are in the same boat as most other applicants. However, sign up for these virtual work experience programmes (remember: take initiative to do things!)
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/training-exams/discover-general-practice/observe-gp.aspx
https://bsmsoutreach.thinkific.com/courses/VWE

And yes, of course! Tutoring is something really good to talk about in an interview. Just remember, whatever you do, spin it around and link it back to medicine. ALWAYS!

Hey @fardin! 

Oh no, you don't have to do the BMAT at all if the university does not require it. Doing it (if the uni doesn't require it) does not give you any advantage over other applicants. 

Before applying, check which uni requires what. Some require BMAT while others require UCAT. 

Only the following Medical schools require BMAT: 

• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford Medical School
• Imperial College London
• University College London
• Leeds’ School of Medicine
• Brighton & Sussex Medical School
• Keele University
• Lancaster University

Here's the list of the universities requiring UCAT: https://generationmedics.org.uk/complete-list-of-universities-that-require-ucat/

Carefully look at each university's entry requirements as they tend to be very specific.

Let me know if you have if you have any other questions!

@saads

@omar is studying dentistry at kings

Hey! @therealgroot 

You start preparing for BMAT and UCAT in year 12, usually around the summer at the end of the year.

It varies between sixth forms whether they provide support or not but most people prepare for it independently outside of school. Your sixth form might provide financial support/access to resources but your learning has to be self-directed.

Most people who apply for medicine put down pharmacy (see more on that down below by @m-tawofi) or biomedical sciences as one of their choices. This allows you to apply for graduate entry medicine later on as a lot of medical schools require an undergraduate degree in something science-related.

But there are a few medical schools who don't really mind what your undergrad is in (could be in humanities subjects too!). 

Some medical schools have this scheme where you start off doing biomedical sciences but they allow you to transfer onto medicine after your first year but they allow very few people to do this so it is highly competitive.

A few universities have gateway to medicine/medicine with a foundation year courses too so look into that. King's College has an EMDP programme that has reduced entry requirements for medicine but it's a year longer (so kind of like medicine with a foundation year).

Other healthcare courses are nursing, physiotherapy, radiography, and physician associate to name a few.

If you're keen on doing medicine you could take a gap year and reapply as well because graduate medicine is generally considered more competitive than undergrad medicine. 

Is there a particular alternative career you want to know more about?

And on a side note, although it is good to have a backup plan, you'll have two years to work towards your A levels so if you really put in the work, you should be able to get the grades you need for medicine! ? 

@mahnoor

I just know I love Bio and Chem and would love to undergo further study in a field that combines both of them

And I guess the reason I want to pursue medicine is I really like the work that doctors do and I want to study it more, but I dont want to be the person making the decisions over someone's life - and I heard that even if you dont become a doctor, having a medicine undergrad degree is quite powerful to have in terms of a CV

@mahnoor

physics is actually more impressive than maths imo

@mahnoor

My motivation was that I looked in the mirror and said to myself - this is it - All these years  of primary school, middle school, high school and sixth form comes down to this. A few more months. A final stretch. It will be over and what will I have to show for it. 

(I don't know why I am writing in this tense, maybe because its 5am in the morning and I haven't slept all night).

I also stuck my UCL offer letter on my desk where I studied and kept looking at it.