If you’re thinking that a medical degree is the academic career path for you, then it’s never too soon to start thinking about university options.
Here’s how to shortlist your medical schools of choice in five easy steps
Find the medical degree course that works for you
There are several different gateways to gaining a medical degree, with a standard bachelor’s degree spanning five years. However, for potential students with high academic achievement who have faced barriers to them continuing their studies, there are specialised courses available, so do your homework and shortlist the universities that offer the best course for your personal circumstances.
Home or away?
Living away from home isn’t for everyone. Some students love the additional freedom and independence that studying away from home offers, whereas others prefer to stay at home for additional support and to help save money that would otherwise be spent on student accommodation.
Again, choose the option that suits your individual circumstances as this will help whittle down your medical school shortlist. There is no right or wrong answer here, it’s entirely down to your financial circumstances and personal preference.
Success rates
By now, your shortlist should have come down to four or possibly five universities that offer the course you want at a location that works for you.
Next, take a look at the pass or success rates for your particular course as this will allow you to rank the medical schools from number one (best results) to the lowest success rates.
University facilities
University life isn’t just about hard work and no play; you’ll want to embrace some of the extra curricular activities too! To find out which university has the most going on in terms of your particular interests, take a look at the medical school’s websites as the first port of call.
For real reviews of Uni life from students who have, or are currently studying, you can also find a wealth of information on social media, so don’t be afraid to reach out to a few students to ask for their opinions.
Check the grades you’ll need
Finally, before you create your final medical school shortlist, it’s a good idea to see what grades you’ll require to have a good chance of being accepted on to the course and measure them up against your predicted results.
This will hopefully give you the inspiration and motivation you need to work as hard as you possibly can to gain a place at your university of choice.
