Which medical schools should I apply for?

There are significant differences between medical schools in what they offer, teaching styles and entrance requirements so it is important to use your 4 choices wisely. There are 3 main factors to consider:

1. Type of course- Do you want a traditional approach where scientific teaching comes first before clinical experience? Do you want to do a PBL based course? Do you want to be able to intercalate and get an extra degree? This requires time and effort to research the different universities and if possible you should visit them on an open day.

2. Location- The medical school you choose will be your home for the next 5/6 years, so it's worth thinking about the sort of place you would be happy living in for this amount of time. Do you want to live in a big city? Do you want to be nearer to home?

3. Entrance requirements- It is important to be tactical when applying for medical schools, with each using GCSEs/A levels/ BMAT/ UKCAT/ interviews differently. Play to your strengths to maximise your chances of getting a place. In reality all medical schools are competitive but it's good to choose a range between the more and less popular ones.

Good luck with your application!