LANCASTER UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SOCIETY
Choosing the right Medical School for you...
Placing the emphasis on the word 'you'.
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Many people around you, including friends, parents and teachers will all have their opinions on where is best to study, and this is great! However, it is important to remember that you will be the one moving/studying there, so it has to be the right place for you.
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Here are some things you may want to look into to help you decide.
When applying to a medical school it's good to apply with your strengths e.g. strong GCSEs or UKCAT/BMAT scores and aim to match it with the criteria from their websites. This will enhance your chances of getting a place, but in doing this, don't neglect your own preferences and where you think you would enjoy studying.
Read about the different styles of learning e.g. PBL, lecture based etc, find YouTube videos from different medical schools. If possible, visit an open day, to see if their style of course suits you. Also think about the area you'll be studying in and what that place has to offer you. Spend 5/6 years of your degree in a place you'll enjoy!
Sukhy Khosah, Year 3, Lancaster Medical School
Picking the right medical school for you depends on a number of different things. Firstly you should make a list of all of the medical schools that you are academically eligible to apply to.
Next think about whether you are going to sit the UKCAT, BMAT or both entrance examinations. Once you have your results back from these tests you can see which medical schools are likely to offer you an interview based on previous years cut off scores.
Once you know where you are likely to be invited to interview, think about where in the country you would like to study medicine. You might want to be in a busy city or you may prefer to be somewhere more rural. It’s also important to think about the course structure. Most medical schools use Problem Based Learning, however some use a more integrated approach and a few still use the traditional structure. Try to visit your choices before submitting your UCAS.
Matt Madden, Year 3, Manchester Medical School
Two of the most frequently asked questions when applying for medical is “where do you want to go” and “why do you want to go there”. By researching medical schools and reading into what they offer you get a feel for the place, but you soon realise they’re not dissimilar so it’s when you go to look round a medical school that you decide whether you can see yourself there or not. You will visit some and feel isolated and out of your comfort zone and then you’ll go to others where you instantly feel at home and can picture yourself starting the next chapter of your life there. You have to remember you’re at medical school for 5, possibly 6, years so you have to think to yourself “can I make this strange, unknown campus and city my new home”.
The medical school itself and the curriculum it follows should be of interest to you if you’re going to choose to study there but also remember that you won’t always be on campus and you should choose a city you can explore and really settle into. My number one piece of advice is go to as many open days as possible. You may end up at an open day to a university you have no intention of applying to and then receive a talk off the most inspiring clinician and realise that actually, that is the medical school for you.
Listen to people’s opinions and advice to help guide your way but ultimately the decision is down to you and even if you don’t end up in the medical school you initially thought was the right one, it may work out for the better. There is no wrong choice because medical school is medical school and it’s such an achievement to be there regardless of which one it is, but try and make an educated, well-rounded decision and apply to the ones you think are right for you.
Anna Clark, Year 2, Liverpool Medical School
When it came to choosing where I would apply, I tried to do it in the most systematic way possible. I tried to ‘play the game’ and choose medical schools that would suit my learning, and where my strengths would be scored highly.
I firstly used a map of the UK to highlight the medical schools that were close enough to home for me to travel back, but also far enough away for me to experience a new city.
I then started to look at how those medical schools taught their content, and how their courses were structured. I knew that I learnt in a practical way, and wanted a course with early clinical exposure. After visiting HYMS open day and experiencing what PBL was like- I decided that that suited my learning style. From there I then decided my shortlist of choices, visiting those open days.
After I received my UKCAT score, I chose my options based on how my score would be used, and the medical schools that advertised a score similar to my own to give me the best chance. I also chose to do the BMAT due to some of my top choices being BMAT universities- choosing these unis due to their early clinical exposure and more integrated course structure (Lancaster and Leeds)
Sally Lawrence, Year 2, Lancaster Medical School
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When I was choosing which medical schools to apply for, I first thought about which style of learning would best suit me. PBL seemed the most appealing as it’s more interactive and gives you space for independent learning, so I ruled out lecture-based courses. I then looked at medical schools close to home and with specific features that drew me in.
Lancaster was always a first choice for me as it was the smallest medical school, so I felt it would be more personal and the students would get more one-to-one help. My other choices were made by looking at the surrounding area and the hospitals where we would have placements. I preferred campus universities to the city; I find the countryside calming which helps me to destress.
Finally, I looked at particular qualities of each university from the use of cadavers and early clinical exposure to the societies available and sports facilities on the campus. Early clinical exposure was especially important for me as I find it easier to learn theory whilst putting it into practice, throwing myself into placements and talking to lots of patients!
Ultimately, everyone is different, and so is every medical school’s style of learning, and you should choose your medical school based on your own preferences.
Maddie Marshall, Year 2, Lancaster Medical School