School leavers

The training and employment career of a physician is a long and complicated one, and important steps need to be taken at an early stage to prepare for becoming a doctor, both in terms of academic qualifications, and extracurricular experience.

A-levels

The most important factor to consider while still at school is which A-levels to choose, as this will be a key factor in getting into medical school. There is no single criterion for A-level selection, with almost every different medical school stipulating different required, recommended, and even disregarded, A-levels. As general rules, chemistry is key (compulsory for a large majority of medical schools), biology is recommended (compulsory for a handful of medical schools), and maths is never compulsory but often useful. Many universities will demand chemistry, plus two technical or science-based subjects. The UCAS website has a full list of UK medical schools, with profiles detailing mandatory academic qualifications. It is crucial for potential applicants to investigate the exact A-level requirements of medical schools to which they wish to apply.

In terms of grades, AAB is usually expected across all medical schools, but some demand AAA. Sometimes an A is required in certain subjects. Again, UCAS’s list of medical schools will outline required grades, and where they might be subject-specific.

Other preparation

On top of A-level results, applicants are also expected to demonstrate an understanding of, and passion for, a medical career; academic excellence is not the only prerequisite for being accepted on to a course. The best way to demonstrate this is with reference to experience, and there is a wide variety of ways you can accumulate this experience.

The most obvious, and most common, way of gaining experience is by doing a straightforward work experience in a medical setting. Many schools and colleges run work experience programmes, and may have contacts with the right people in hospitals and clinics to make this possible. Alternatively, individuals can contact hospitals directly to see if work experience can be arranged. Hospital work experience is difficult to get into, so multiple applications, submitted well in advance of when a student is available for a placement, are advisable.

If getting formal hospital work experience proves too difficult, there are other options to consider. Medical charities, such as St John Ambulance, or care organisations are often have unpaid volunteer positions. It is also worth considering gaining experience in a non-clinical, but clinically-related setting, for example as a receptionist or assistant in a GP surgery or clinic.

As well as gaining experience, there is plenty of reading that can be done that will help to expand an applicant's medical knowledge base. Student BMJ is a medical journal which is highly recommended by medical schools and targeted towards medical students. It is also worth investigating medical schools’ reading lists, to see if there are any books at an appropriate level.

In person

First year medical student, Natashja discusses why she chose medicine, her first year of study and offers some words of advice for future medical students.