Wednesday 05-02-2025 - 12:06

About 2 years ago, I was completing my UCAS application to study medicine. After 2 interviews, I ended up with 4 rejections and accepted my BSc Biomedical Sciences offer at Queen Mary University of London.

 

During my first year on that course, I tried applying again, having achieved top A Level grades and an improved UCAT score. Being a first year student at a university, I found myself limited to a handful of universities that would accept me. I still applied and received 4 interviews. However, I still ended up with 4 rejections. I had prepared for the possibility of rejections too – I kept working on the Biomedical Sciences course too and averaged over 80% (equivalent to a 1st class degree) across my modules.

 

Towards the end of my first year at QMUL, I started volunteering at a hospital. This gave me real insight into the caring role that doctors need to have, as well as an understanding of the responsibilities of a range of staff in the multidisciplinary team. It was also a good opportunity to gain patient contact inside a secondary healthcare setting and understand accessibility and confidentiality issues faced by patients.

 

On results day 2024, I found a number of clearing openings for Medicine courses on UCAS. One of these was at Edge Hill, where I was invited to an interview the following day and was soon offered a place on the course.

 

I have loved the MBChB programme since starting in September. Learning clinical skills from the start of the programme, as well as key skills such as leadership, communication, and research, has been fun and rewarding, and I look forward to learning more science alongside these skills.

 

There are a few lessons that I have learnt during my applications:

· Keep persevering - If you want something and you keep trying and keep improving, you will eventually achieve it. This could be a place at the course you've always wanted to read, or something else that you've always wanted. For me, this meant not giving up after being rejected 8 times over my 2 applications, but looking for opportunities to apply to medical school, such as through clearing.

 

· Reflect on past experiences - I eventually reached Edge Hill after I reflected on how I could improve my application, before taking action on this. Reflection isn't just an interview technique - it's how we all learn from everyday experiences. For example, I realised that I had little insight into the roles of various members of the multidisciplinary team, which led me to gain voluntary experience in a hospital to better understand the range of roles.

 

· It's not easy applying to study Medicine as a 1st year student - It took many phone calls and hours of research to learn that very few (maybe only 5 or 6 of over 30) medical schools allow 1st years from other universities. This route is very limiting, but it did allow me to explore my interest in the science aspects of medicine further, which made the challenge worth it for me. I realised, through this process, that even if something is very difficult, investing time, effort, and commitment can make it a reality.

 

· Be prepared to fail - Everyone will fail at something at some point in their lives. This could be failing an exam, not getting an offer for the course you want, being rejected at a job application, or not achieving a goal. But that does not mean you should give up; these are all learning opportunities, which can build you up to become stronger and a better achiever at the next opportunity.