AimHigher Magazine 2021

condition and was admitted to hospital.
I couldn’t start my A-levels like everyone
else, instead I was taking large amounts
of medication with strong side effects and
unable to do simple tasks like washing my
own hair. Missing out on the first two weeks
of term really upset me and I worried I
would fall behind in my studies, but I also
knew I needed to get better. Eventually I
was able to start my A-levels and managed
to catch up with my classmates and make
new friends along the way.
In my first mock A-level exam in Biology
I got an E… I had revised a lot so this left
me feeling deflated. I quickly learnt that
I had to be more organised and revise
throughout my whole two years of college
if I wanted to get the grades needed for
medical school. For medicine applications,
the UCAS deadline is earlier than for other
courses so you have to be prepared and
do your research earlier than your peers.
The sooner you decide which universities
to apply to the better as you also need
to prepare for medical school interviews
alongside your exams, whilst also doing
extracurricular activities to boost your
application. You have to be prepared to put
the work in because there are many others
across the country competing for a place
on the same course as you.
Medical School
When applying for medical school, it’s
important to choose universities which
appeal to you and those you have the best
chance of getting into. Going to open days,
in person or online, is one of the best ways
to see if the university and course is right
for you as you get to see the facilities and
chat to current students. As well as specific
grade requirements, medical schools also
hold interviews for applicants. It’s really
important that you know your personal
statement inside out as this is something
you will be asked about. Knowing the
way in which you can apply your personal
statement to real life situations is essential,
providing examples of when you have
shown your skills. I recommend including
things which will make you stand out as
well. I was a member of a gospel choir
which I was asked about in interviews.
Although this wasn’t related to medicine,
the panel found it interesting and it made
my application more unique.
After gaining a place at the medical
school at the University of Liverpool, I
was ecstatic! As the first in my family to go
to university, I felt incredibly proud that
my hard work had paid off as I achieved
the grade requirements in my A-levels. I
was so excited to start; living in a new city
and studying a degree I was passionate
about. It took me a while to get settled
as university is very different from school
and I didn’t click with the others in my
accommodation at first. Soon enough I
made some great friends on my course and
we became closer by joining societies and
attending social events.
Phoebe chose an elective
placement in Malaysia
while studying.
I quickly saw that there wasn’t just one
type of person who got into medical
school. A lot of consideration is taken into
account to provide equal opportunities
for young people from all sorts of different
backgrounds who want to apply. If you
really want to become a doctor, you have
nothing to lose by going for it. It’s better
to give it your best shot than live your life
wondering what would’ve happened if
you’d just tried, right? Believe in yourself.
The competitiveness of studying medicine
can be challenging. It’s very different
from school as everyone is striving for
the same goal and there are lots of exams
throughout the course, therefore creating
a consistent revision schedule will help.
However, failing an exam isn’t the end of
the world. You can retake and seek support,
so being resilient and willing to try again is
key. Finding balance is also very important!
Working hard and doing things you enjoy
outside of your studies will support your
overall wellbeing as each of these is equally
as valuable as the other. Learning this skill
will help when you qualify as a doctor too
as the job can be very demanding. I’m still
working on finding this balance now as
I’m in my second year as a junior doctor;
it has been particularly difficult during
the Covid-19 pandemic but I have a great
support network around me and reach out
to others to take care of my mental health.
I once saw a patient who was blind and had
many health issues. She confided in me,
telling me she was scared about being in
hospital and that no one was listening to
her. I took the time to listen to her concerns
and ensured she received the care she
needed. The patient later thanked me for
the care I had shown her when we met
again, recognising me by my voice which
was a very rewarding moment. It felt good
that I was able to help someone and these
special moments with patients make it all
worthwhile.
Present Day
Without a doubt, being a doctor is one
of the best jobs in the world. Every day
you are doing exciting and unexpected
things, things you never thought you’d be
capable of! Things change very quickly so
there can be stressful days, but you learn
so much all the time which means you’re
always improving your quality of care for
patients. I’m very excited to complete my
foundation training this year and looking
back on everything I have overcome feels
incredible; my journey hasn’t been an easy
one but I wouldn’t change it. I wish I could
tell my younger self that I would be where I
am today, so instead I will tell you: if this is
your dream, you can do it.
Phoebe’s
Final Tips:
• Look up each course that you’re interested
in on the university’s website in detail before
applying.
• Spurgeons offers a wide range of services to
support young carers: spurgeonsyc.org
• Do not post anything about your medical
school interview online, it could get you
in trouble.
• Check out the Student Room to explore
the UK’s largest online student community:
thestudentroom.co.uk
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