Top 5 UCAS Tips

This is the final in my current mentoring series! Here's my top tips to tackle the dreaded UCAS and that pesky personal statement... Next week, I am meetingup again with the students, so there may be more insights into the world of medical school application soon! But I will return to more foodie, vegan stuff soon!

1. Reflect

No matter how small or simple your work experience may seem, it isn't what you have done, it is what you have gleaned from it. Talking for 10 minutes about something that really affected you, or really interested you about your work experience is much more impressive than a long list of “exciting” placements.

2. Get something down fast!

It is very daunting looking at a big blank sheet of paper, and the hardest part is getting started on your personal statement. Just get the bare bones down as soon as possible. This might be basic notes on academic success, work experience and extracurricular. 

I was always told for a medical application to have an 80%/20% split, with the majority being academic. 

Once the basics are down, it can than be bulked up with details and reflection, and refined and read over by other people. But the hardest bit is honestly just getting the basics down!

3. Don't lie

You will be being interviewed by the leading experts in medicine. If you say you have read a research paper, or did some experience that you haven't, these people will quiz you and will know that if you haven't been honest.

A little bit different, but if you say you have a passion for a certain aspect of medicne, be prepared to know your stuff about said subject! You could be being interviewed by the leading consultant in that speciality!

4. Make it relevant

If you choose to do the 80/20 split, make even the 20% of extra curricular relevant to medicine.

For example, I love to run, and run 10ks and half marathons for charity. This may not immediately seem relevant to medicine, but the skills gained from my running are. These can be things like time management, organising runs and a training schedule, and commitment, signing up, training and actually doing the race! These skills are transferable, and illustrate some of the qualities wanted in our future doctors.

5. Remember - Any work experience is useful!

It is really difficult to get placements shadowing consultants if you don’t have one in the family. This is why this programme is amazing! I was looking at your timetable with serious green eyes! This is an amazing opportunity! But don’t worry if you can’t list off series of exciting placements, as medical schools understand how difficult it is to get work experience with age restrictions and issues of confidentiality. Any work experience in a caring environment will be helpful, even volunteering over a longer period of time can be useful as it shows commitment.

Also, overseas placements that cost money won't be seen as more impressive as any other placement. I spoke to 4 admission tutors during my application, because this concerned me as I had spoke to many fellow applicants who had been able to travel and volunteer overseas. All the tutors reassured me that any experience that requires payment will not be seen as more impressive than any other.