On this page, you will find some recommendations on what to watch, read, listen and do to engage with your subject. As well as feeding your intellectual curiosity, these links may provide useful material for your UCAS statement. Once you have engaged with the links, make sure that you practise putting your thoughts into words with the writing activity at the end.
Watch
Surgery’s past, present and robotic future
What doctor’s don’t know about the drugs they prescribe
No one should die because they live too far from a doctor
Read
British Medical Association, How to become a doctor
British Medical Association, Real Doctors
Antibiotic resistance: public awareness campaigns might not work
The London Patient and a Plan to End the H.I.V. Epidemic in the United States
High risk: anti-vaxxers in the delivery ward
Listen
How can the NHS provide a fulfilling lifelong career
Why Doctors should be on Social Media
Everyday Emergency, Doctors Without Borders
Do
- Find work experience. All medical schools now require applicants to have experience in a caring or service role, either paid or voluntarily, in a health or related field, as well as direct observation of healthcare. Step into the NHS is a good place to find relevant work experience.
- Research medical schools. There are 35 medical schools located across the UK. All of them vary in terms of their application requirements, as well as activities, clubs and social life that makes up university life as a medical student. Make sure you do your research on which medical school will suit you. Start by finding open days on the UCAS website and then ask your school for support to organise a visit.
- Brush up on your science. The first years of medical school are heavily science-based. Why not brush up on basic science concepts to get a feel for dealing with, and understanding, a lot of new concepts? The Faculty of Biology at The University of Cambridge have published an online list of questions for prospective medicine students.
Write
- To apply to university, you need to demonstrate that you are well informed about the subject and have a strong interest in studying it at greater depth. To get started, practice writing about your subject interests by composing short responses to the following questions:
- What have you watched, read or listened to that has inspired you?
- Why was it interesting?
- What new issues did you learn about?
- What do you want to find out next?
- What excites you about the subject?
- Why do you think studying the subject is important?