4. Interviews

Medical interviews in the UK are mainly conducted in MMI format (except Oxbridge - which is conducted in academic format) and in the past, students were usually required to fly directly to the UK for the interview. However, in the case of the epidemic, medical schools have exceptionally allowed students to choose the online format. As a result, the online interview format has changed to a panel interview, where students meet with one to three interviewers individually.

The MMI or panel interviews do not involve much academic discussion, but mainly focus on medical ethics, scenario-based questions, enthusiasm for medicine and specific interests. However, these interviews can be quite difficult and require near-perfect judgement and on-the-spot skills in order to stand out from the rest of the candidates. Therefore, Helios advises students to set aside a lot of time to practise and prepare for the various interview questions to ensure that they have enough talking points and angles to get to the interview.

5. Personal Statement

The personal statement in medicine is arguably the most difficult of all subjects to write well. It can be broadly divided into three parts: enthusiasm for medicine, academic discussion and extra-curricular activities. While academic discussion is the most important part of the general personal statement in the UK, it becomes even more important at the medical level. It is difficult for the average student to access medical-related books during their high school career, so they have to spend time finding books or articles that are relevant to their academic interests, digesting them and researching them to discover their own unique perspectives and opinions, and then refining them before expanding on them in their personal essays. It is important to note that the book or article discussed in your personal statement will most likely be asked about in the interview. Therefore, it is important that you do not discuss concepts and areas that you are unlikely to understand thoroughly in a short period of time.

The enthusiasm for medicine was also the downfall of many of the students' personal narratives. Frankly speaking, most students wrote about their interest in medicine because they had experienced the significance of the work of a doctor due to the illness of a family member or themselves. This is a cliché, but it is not absolutely undesirable. However, if you do so, you must tell your 'story' in a unique and personal way. Of course, it is usually better if the interest in medicine is discovered through other extra-curricular experiences or events and is presented in a short personal narrative.

6. School and Subject Selection

Generally speaking, universities requiring BMAT (e.g. Oxbridge, Imperial College, University College London) are more competitive than those requiring UCAT (e.g. King's College London, University of Liverpool). If a student's predicted grades and internal ranking are not outstanding, we recommend that you focus on UCAT and choose all schools that require UCAT. If the student's grades and CV are good, we generally recommend two BMAT schools and two UCAT schools.

In the JUPAS system, you can only take a maximum of four medical courses. Helios generally recommends the BSc Biomedical Sciences, as some universities have an internal transfer mechanism that allows students to transfer to medicine in their second or third year if they meet all the requirements. There are also students who choose to return to medicine after graduation with Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM).

7."Real" entry requirements

In terms of subject requirements, most UK universities will require students to have studied Chemistry and Biology. If you do not have Biology or Chemistry results, although a small number of medical schools will accept it in principle, still, Helios strongly recommends that you try to take international examinations in Biology or Chemistry to make up for the shortfall.

With medical schools being extremely competitive, examination results are also a prime consideration. Although many UK medical schools have entry requirements of 555-5*55 / AAA-A*AA, this is clearly the lowest entry level. In the Helios team's experience, successful students are generally expected to achieve 5*5*5-5*5*5*5* in their elective subjects, plus 5* or more in English Maths, and A*A*A* in their A level.

In terms of the academic system, the success rate of A levels is frankly higher than that of DSE. The reason for this is that A level students usually take their GCSEs in an earlier year, and there is a formal internal examination at Year 12 at the British Prep School to measure students' predicted grades, which is more credible than the DSE predicted grades. For more information, please contact Helios.

8. Relevant extra-curricular activities and hands-on experience

Finally, medical-related internship and activity experience is a requirement for university applications. As the global epidemic eases, UK medical schools may no longer be willing to accept applications from students without medical internship experience. Therefore, it is important that students take the time to look out for medical placements, both virtual and physical, and attend as many as possible. If there is time to spare, volunteer activities and science-related competitions can also help with medical school applications.