I’ve spoken about strategic application before, and as the UCAS deadline comes closer, I will continue to give you my top tips for the application journey. However, it's important to remember strategic application is NOT everything. Of course, you want to apply to medical schools where you have a high chance of being called for an interview. But you need to remember that in the end, you will be attending that medical school. Do you like their course structure? Do you like the area? Can you see yourself living there?

These are just as important to consider. For example, I preferred a busy city environment, so most of the universities I applied to were located in cities.

So to help you make an informed decision on which universities to apply to, beyond your academics, I’m going to tell you about the variations in course structure and how you can work out which is best for you.

Traditional Course

• This involves splitting the course into pre-clinical and clinical years
• Pre-clinical years involve learning all the scientific theory first, typically through lectures and anatomy sessions
• The clinical years involve working on different rotations in healthcare under supervision
• This course structure is offered by the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge

Integrated/Systems-based Approach

• This is the approach used by many medical schools now
• Instead of having pre-clinical and clinical stages, these two have been integrated, which encourages early patient contact and placement opportunities
• It's important to highlight that some universities have their course more integrated in comparison to others
• There are different methods to integrate learning, including PBL, CBL and EBL

Problem-based learning (PBL)

• Students often work in groups, working to resolve different medical cases or problems, whilst also learning
• This often relies on self-directed learning, group work and an enjoyment for problem solving, as facilitators guide students, but this relies more on interaction between students
• An example of some universities that teach the medicine course in this style includes the University of Manchester and the University of East Anglia

Case-Based learning (CBL)

• Small groups are led by tutors where a medical case is explored, and this is often supplemented by seminars, lectures and clinical skills practice, so learning is done from real-world cases
• CBL places a greater emphasis on learning within clinical settings, and often students take part in CBL alongside clinical placements
• The University of Liverpool is one of the medical schools that teaches in this style

Enquiry-based learning (EBL)

• This is very similar to PBL, as a facilitator establishes facts or questions, then students conduct self-directed learning into research issues and questions to develop knowledge
• This is one of the newest teaching styles

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Intercalation Options

An intercalation is the opportunity to do an additional degree by taking a year out of your medicine degree. This is compulsory at some universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial, which is why their medicine course is 6 years long. However, at many universities, it is optional. This is your chance to explore a topic that interests you in more detail. Again, make sure to check specific universities on their intercalation opportunities. Although this isn’t something you need to decide right now, it's a good idea to work out if this is something you want to do. If you’re unsure, picking a university where intercalation is optional is a good idea, giving you flexibility.

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Dissection and Prosection

In full body dissections, students actively dissect a whole body to learn anatomy, which can be beneficial as they have an opportunity to see the anatomy of the body themselves. This is considered to be a more hands-on experience and useful for you if you enjoy learning through experience. This is offered by fewer medical schools. In prosection, structures have already been dissected for you, so you are looking at all the structures preserved and explained to you instead. This can allow for a more focused approach, and you often have the opportunity to see different variations of structures, too. This is offered by many medical schools.

It's important to highlight that both methods are highly effective in teaching anatomy, and it is best for you to decide on a medical school based on how you would prefer to learn anatomy, as everyone has different learning styles. As you can see, there is a variety of different course structures and ways to learn medicine. This is beneficial as you can pick the teaching style that works best for you! To help you decide, I have written the pros, cons and summary of what each teaching style requires.

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A traditional course helps you to have a very deep understanding of anatomy, biochemistry and the fundamentals of medicine before going onto placement. This could help you feel more prepared

However, it's important to consider that during your pre-clinical years, you will not have any patient contact either, so you may not see the theories you're learning come into action.

If you are someone who loves problem-solving, then considering teaching styles like PBL and EBL is a good idea. These teaching styles help you to constantly improve your intrapersonal skills, such as teamwork and communication. However, it's important to remember that PBL and EBL often rely more on self-directed learning and discussions within your groups.

Within CBL, teamwork and self-directed learning are still important, and this focuses on analysing clinical cases very early on.

The 4 medical schools you decide on should not just be decided through strategic application, but also through course structure, location and knowing that you could see yourself going to that university too.

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So last week, as part of your interview insight, I told you to open up a doc or take a paper and list all your experiences. This week, I’m going to tell you how that list of experiences is going to help form the basis of your medical school interviews.

Part of doing well in your medicine interviews is about understanding the interviewer's psychology and what they are looking for in you. There are many aspects to this, but ONE of the key documents to read to help you understand this is the Medical School Council’s Core Values and Attributes document. Within this document is a list of all the skills medical schools are looking for in you. So take a look at your list of experiences you made, and look at the MSC document and see what skills you have developed that medical schools are also looking for. You have created an ultimate guide for what skills medical schools are looking for and how you have shown and developed these from YOUR experiences. This now becomes your superpower and essential foundation for interview success.

However, interview psychology is more than just having done the skills that medical schools are looking for. Having the right question structures, insightful answers, and confident presentation are essential so you can show up as your best self and secure your offers. If you want to set yourself up for complete interview success by learning ALL the content necessary for interviews, understanding interviewer psychology to perfect your structures and deliver confidently, then click the link below to start!

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I am giving you free access to my UCAT notes, which are filled with tips, strategies and confidence-boosting tips, to help support you on your UCAT journey.

Additionally, you can check out my website for resources such as the A* AQA A-level psychology notes, my notes templated designed in an active recall format and ultimate medicine interview resources to help you secure your offers.

📸Here are the links to each of my social media pages, so make sure you follow! In all, I detail the advice and tips you need to help make your application to medicine so much easier! If you ever need any help, feel free to reach out to me at loveleenj241@gmail.com