Parents' Guide

Work Experience

If your child is looking to study Medicine, they’ll be looking for medical work experience. You can support them by helping them make a list of your local hospitals or surgeries, as well as encouraging them to keep track of their time at their placement – handy for writing their Personal Statement! 

Work experience offers a realistic view of what it’s like to work in healthcare, helping students understand the day-to-day responsibilities and challenges faced by medical professionals.

It provides opportunities to develop essential skills such as communication, teamwork, empathy, and problem-solving.

Types of Work Experience

1. Clinical Placements:

• Hospitals: Opportunities to shadow doctors and nurses in various departments, including emergency, surgery, and general wards. This exposure helps students understand different specialties and patient care settings.
• Clinics: Working in outpatient clinics allows students to observe patient interactions, consultations, and follow-up care. Specialty clinics offer insights into specific medical fields like cardiology or dermatology.
• GP Surgeries: Shadowing general practitioners provides a comprehensive understanding of primary care, early diagnosis, and patient education. Assisting with administrative tasks can also be beneficial.

2. Non-Clinical Placements:

• Administrative Roles: Positions such as medical records management or healthcare administration offer insights into the organizational aspects of healthcare and the importance of accurate record-keeping and patient confidentiality.
• Research Positions: Working as a clinical research assistant or in a medical research lab helps students understand the scientific basis of medicine, the development of new treatments, and the importance of evidence-based practice.

3. Volunteering Opportunities:

• Hospitals and Hospices: Roles like patient support volunteer or ward volunteer provide direct interaction with patients, helping to develop empathy and communication skills.
• Community Health Programs: Participation in public health initiatives, such as vaccination drives or health education programs, contributes to public health efforts and broadens understanding of healthcare’s impact on communities.
• Charity Organizations: Volunteering with healthcare charities focused on mental health, cancer support, or children’s health offers a broader perspective on healthcare issues and the non-clinical aspects of medical support.

Choosing A Medical School

Choosing a medical school is one of the most important aspects of your child’s Medicine application. You can assist them by looking through school programmes together, visiting different universities on their open days and helping them to think about their choices. 

Factors to Consider

1. Location:

• Proximity to Home: Consider whether your child prefers to stay close to home or is comfortable moving to a different city or country. Proximity to family and friends can provide emotional support, which is crucial during the demanding years of medical school.
• Urban vs. Rural Settings: Decide if your child prefers an urban campus with access to large hospitals and research facilities or a rural setting with smaller, community-based hospitals. Each has its advantages, such as diverse clinical experiences in urban areas or personalized attention in rural settings.

2. Curriculum:

• Traditional vs. Integrated Curriculum: Some medical schools offer a traditional curriculum with a clear distinction between preclinical and clinical years, while others offer an integrated curriculum that blends both from the start. Evaluate which style suits your child’s learning preferences.
• Special Programs and Electives: Look for schools that offer special programs, such as opportunities for research, global health initiatives, or unique elective courses that align with your child’s interests and career goals.

3. Reputation:

• School Rankings: While not the only indicator, rankings can provide a general idea of a school’s prestige and the quality of education. Consider looking at rankings from sources like The Complete University Guide or QS World University Rankings.
• Alumni Success: Investigate the success rate of the school’s graduates, including their performance on medical licensing exams, residency placements, and career achievements. This information can often be found on the school’s website or through alumni networks.

4. Student Support Services:

• Academic Support: Check if the school offers robust academic support services, including tutoring, study groups, and access to learning resources.
• Mental Health and Wellbeing: Medical school can be stressful, so it’s essential to choose a school that provides comprehensive mental health services, including counseling and stress management programs.
• Career Guidance: Evaluate the availability of career services, such as mentoring programs, job placement assistance, and networking opportunities.

Attending Open Days and Tours

Visiting campuses during open days allows students and parents to get a feel for the school’s environment, facilities, and overall atmosphere. It provides an opportunity to meet faculty, current students, and admissions staff.

• Assessing Facilities: During campus tours, you can evaluate the quality and accessibility of essential facilities such as lecture halls, libraries, laboratories, and clinical training centers. This can give insight into the resources available for your child’s education and training.

1. Interaction with Faculty and Students:

• Faculty Meetings: Meeting with faculty members can help you understand the teaching philosophy, curriculum structure, and research opportunities at the school. It also provides a chance to ask specific questions about the program.
• Student Perspectives: Speaking with current students can provide valuable insights into the day-to-day life at the school, including the academic workload, extracurricular activities, and social environment. Students can share their personal experiences and offer practical advice.

2. Exploring the Local Area:

• Accommodation and Living Conditions: Visiting the local area allows you to explore accommodation options, living costs, and amenities such as grocery stores, restaurants, and recreational facilities. This can help determine if the area is a good fit for your child’s lifestyle.
• Transportation and Accessibility: Assessing the availability and convenience of public transportation, parking, and accessibility to clinical sites is crucial for daily commuting and ease of travel.

UCAT

Taking the UCAT is one of the most daunting aspects of the Medicine application process, so your support will be incredibly important.

What is the UCAT?

1. Purpose and Importance:

• Purpose: The UCAT assesses a range of cognitive abilities and behavioral attributes that are essential for medical and dental professionals. It is not a test of academic knowledge but rather an evaluation of skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication.
• Importance: Many UK medical and dental schools use the UCAT as a key component of their admissions process. A strong UCAT score can enhance an application significantly.

Help your child by testing them on their scientific knowledge, helping them to go through practice past papers, registering for their tests as soon as possible – and, most importantly, encouraging them to relax! Invest in UCAT preparation books, online courses, and workshops that offer structured guidance and strategies.

Help your child develop a study schedule that balances UCAT preparation with other commitments. Practice under timed conditions to simulate the actual test environment.

Encourage regular breaks, physical activity, and mindfulness exercises to manage stress levels effectively.

Scoring and Results:

• Scoring System: Each section is scored separately, with a total score range typically between 1,200 and 3,600. The Situational Judgement section is scored from Band 1 (highest) to Band 4 (lowest).
• Interpreting Scores: Different universities may have varying thresholds for UCAT scores. Understanding these requirements is crucial for targeting the right medical schools.

Medicine Interview

Is your child worrying about their Medicine interview? You can help them by encouraging them to practice vocalising their opinions, talking about Medicine and running through different interview questions – for example, practicing questions on Ethics or NHS Hot Topics. This guide details all the ways you can help your child prepare for their interview.

Types of Interviews

1. Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs):

• Format: MMIs consist of a series of short, structured interview stations, each lasting about 5-10 minutes. Each station assesses different skills and attributes.
• Assessment Areas: MMIs commonly evaluate ethical decision-making, communication skills, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Some stations might involve role-playing scenarios or practical tasks.
• Benefits: This format allows applicants multiple opportunities to impress different interviewers, reducing the pressure on any single interaction.

2. Panel Interviews:

• Format: Traditional panel interviews involve one or more interviewers asking questions in a more extended format, typically lasting 20-60 minutes.
• Questions: Panel interviews often cover motivation for studying medicine, understanding of the medical profession, personal experiences, academic achievements, and ethical scenarios.
• Benefits: Panel interviews provide a deeper, more sustained opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and passion for medicine.

3. Traditional One-on-One Interviews:

• Format: Similar to panel interviews but conducted one-on-one with a single interviewer.
• Focus Areas: These interviews often delve deeply into the candidate’s motivations, experiences, and understanding of the medical field.
• Benefits: Allows for a more personal interaction and the opportunity to build rapport with the interviewer.

You can support your child during that period by being a source of positive reinforcement and encouragement throughout the preparation process. Celebrate small milestones and provide reassurance.

Reapplying To Medical School

If your child didn’t received rejections from their medical schools, it can be hard to know how to support them to take the next steps. This page will detail how to help them reapply to medical school, re-take their A-Levels and ask for interview feedback.

Reflecting on the First Application

1. Understanding Feedback:

• Request Feedback: Encourage your child to request feedback from the medical schools they applied to. Understanding the specific reasons for their rejection can provide valuable insights into areas that need improvement.
• Self-Assessment: Help your child conduct a thorough self-assessment of their previous application. This should include reviewing their personal statement, academic achievements, work experience, and interview performance.

2. Identifying Weaknesses:

• Academic Performance: Determine if their grades or test scores (such as the UCAT) were below the average for accepted students. If so, consider ways to improve these scores.
• Experience and Extracurriculars: Assess whether their work experience, volunteering, or extracurricular activities were sufficient and relevant. Identifying gaps can help in planning additional experiences to strengthen the application.

Improving the Application

1. Academic Enhancements:

• Further Education: Consider retaking or improving grades in key subjects. Enrolling in additional courses or postgraduate studies relevant to medicine can also enhance their academic profile.
• Test Preparation: Invest in comprehensive preparation for the UCAT or BMAT, utilizing online courses, practice tests, and study groups to improve scores.

2. Gaining Relevant Experience:

• Work Experience: Seek additional clinical and non-clinical work experience opportunities. Volunteering in healthcare settings, shadowing doctors, or working in research labs can provide valuable insights and strengthen the application.
• Extracurricular Activities: Encourage involvement in extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and commitment to service. Participation in healthcare-related clubs, societies, or community projects can be beneficial.

3. Enhancing the Personal Statement:

• Rewriting the Personal Statement: Guide your child in rewriting their personal statement to reflect new experiences, insights, and a deeper understanding of the medical profession. Highlight personal growth and how previous setbacks have been addressed.
• Seeking Feedback: Have the revised personal statement reviewed by teachers, career advisors, or professional services to ensure it effectively conveys their passion and suitability for medicine.