For those seeking to enter the field of medicine, it should be noted that it can be a highly competitive subject depending on where you choose to study.
Regardless of where you choose to study, The Future Medic has expert science tutors who have years of experience and understanding to be able to help you in every key area of your introduction towards medical studies. So with that being said, what are the qualities of a medical student?
Where can being a medical student lead you?
If you need a reason as to why you should study Medicine, just know that the opportunities facing you are endless. A whole host of industries will eagerly welcome Medicine graduates because they will value your extensive subject knowledge and transferable skills.
A Medicine degree qualifies you for a role in healthcare, sciences, public health or research, but it also opens the door for alternative careers, whether that is in the UK or in Europe and beyond.
With a Medicine degree, you can:
- Work as a doctor in the Armed Forces
- Open your own private medical practice
- Become a medical manager
- Work in medical communications
- Become a higher education lecturer
- Join a public health team to keep the general population healthy and safe
- Become a research scientist
- Work in pharmaceutical sales
- Work as a forensic medical examiner
- Work as a medical writer or health journalist
- Work for a medical charity
- Work in sports and exercise medicine
- Work in medical relief work, to help people in emergencies and after natural disasters
- Become a medical advisor on television or for media outlets
- Become a medical-legal advisor
- Become a politician
What are the qualities of a medical student?
Understandably, not every person has the aptitude to become a medical student, there are various factors that determine your effectiveness as a medical student and future practitioner.
So how is this assessed?
Due to the critical nature of the medical field, certain tests must take place before being a medical student, one of them being the UCAT.
The UCAT test
The UCAT is designed to support a strong academic record by testing various situational and skill-based areas that a student would need to possess to make it in the world of medicine naturally. The scoring is split across five categories which all make up individual parts of the test. These are:
Verbal Reasoning (Score between 300 and 900): True, false and don’t know answers are required to be selected from in this section which tests a student’s ability to communicate effectively in high-pressure scenarios.
Decision Making (Score between 300 and 900): This section uses a mix of data sources to understand the individual’s decision-making style and whether they would reach the ideal outcome in various situations.
Quantitative Reasoning (Score between 300 and 900): Problem-solving based on different facts and figures makes up this section, one of the best sections for understanding whether an applicant has the core skills to make it in the medical world.
Abstract Reasoning (Score between 300 and 900): Abstract skills are required within all medical fields, with this section involving candidates facing many different shapes and patterns. The goal is to find recurring themes or predict the next steps, as would be required if the student was faced with a set of patient test records. This test covers four different pattern types and structures that test the combination of various brain parts.
All four of the above categories are combined to offer a combined scoring, whereas the situational judgement section awards candidates a banding that best represents the answers they gave.
Situational Judgement (Score between Band 1 and Band 4):Otherwise known as SJT, candidates are faced with a range of situation outcomes and tests the types of decisions they would make based on a whole host of influences. This area brings in ethical and personal opinions to understand how individuals can bypass their own thoughts and beliefs to make unbiased, patient-focused choices.
You can access UCAT question banks on the UCAT website, which we have highlighted below:
- Verbal Reasoning Question Bank
- Decision Making Question Bank
- Quantitative Reasoning Question Bank
- Abstract Reasoning Question Bank
- Situational Judgement Question Bank
Click here to access the UCAT practice tests on the UCAT website.
What happens if I fail the UCAT?
If you fail the UCAT then you won’t be able to attend any institutions that require a pass for you to study. Generally, you can retake the test the following year. Failing your UCAT does not mean you don’t have the qualities needed to be a medical student. Sometimes, these qualities need to be taught & encouraged, which is what we offer.
UCAT tutoring
With our UCAT tutoring service, you will have one-to-one tutoring with our medical education specialist, who sits on medical school interview panels.
Under the guidance of your tutor, you will get all the help you need to ace the UCAT and achieve your best possible UCAT score.
Choose from anywhere between 1 hour of UCAT tutoring to 20 hours, to help you unlock your full potential.
It doesn’t matter how far along you are in your Medicine journey- whether you are applying during your A-Levels, or if you have previously been rejected for Medicine and you need a higher UCAT score- we are here to help!
Maybe it is interviews that you struggle with? If that is the case, we also offer interview tutoring with our experts.
We enjoy coaching Medicine applicants, so that they can start their journey of becoming a doctor.
It doesn’t matter how far along you are in your Medicine journey- whether you are applying during your A-Levels, or if you have previously been rejected for Medicine and you need a higher UCAT score- our UCAT online course is sure to help!
What if I have the qualities but struggle with writing?
You may have all the skills and answers needed to be one of the best medical students around, however, your weakness may be writing. This can become especially difficult when you have to write personal statements, if that is the case, we can help.
Our team of doctors have read thousands of medicine personal statements as part of the medical school admissions process, and know exactly what is required to make your personal statement special and unique. We’ve got some amazing support options for you to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement. These are:
Shine Bright Like a Diamond
With this service, you can start with having written nothing, and by the end, have created the perfect medicine personal statement for you.
What you get:
Unlimited Hours of Coaching
Unlimited Reviews
The best service available
One-To-One sessions
Intensive Personal Statement Tutoring
We help you write your medicine personal statement from scratch if needed. We help you structure it in the best possible way, focusing on each section in detail with unlimited redrafts and unlimited reviews until it is perfect.
We will also tutor you on aspects of the statement you will be asked about in interview.
Personal Statement coaching
Book a one-to-one session with our expert tutors. Get specific coaching on the five domains of your PS as well as guidance on:
Structure
Language
Syntax
Authenticity
We can also go through with you what questions you are likely to be asked at interview about your PS.
Last minute checkup
This is a review of your medicine personal statement by one of our admissions’ panel doctors. The constructive criticism and advice you will receive will focus on the 5 domains:
Language
Expression
Professionalism
Thematic Tone
First Impressions
Any Red Flags
Whether you need help with your UCAT, your personal statement or even interview skills, we have all the skills you need for you to become a medical student. Book your personal statement guidance today!
Get in touch with The Future Medic today
Our team at The Future Medic understands the responsibility to provide our country with the next generation of bright minds who will innovate, revolutionise and excel in the study of medicine.
That is why we have made it our mission to supply you with all the knowledge, skills and resources you could possibly need to enter this competitive yet rewarding field of expertise. We hope to have highlighted the need to have input from our expert science tutors which can be supplemented by our courses.
We hope to have answered the question, “what are the qualities of a medical student?”
So what are you waiting for? To access the very best in medical school interview tutoring, head to our website now. Alternatively you can contact us directly, got a few more questions? Our blogpage may be able to help.
