How Medical Schools Use Your Personal Statement in Selection
You might be wondering, after all this effort writing the personal statement, how exactly do medical schools use it? The answer is that it varies by university – each medical school has its own admissions process. However, there are some general patterns:
Initial screening for interviews: Some medical schools do read and consider the personal statement when deciding whom to invite for an interview, especially if your grades and test scores are within their typical range. In the past, each school had its scoring system for personal statements. Still, nowadays most schools have similar expectations, and many do not formally “score” the statement on a numeric scale. For example, King’s College London states that they consider your UCAS personal statement (along with GCSEs, A-levels, reference, and UCAT) when shortlisting candidates for interview. On the other hand, some schools, such as Brighton & Sussex, say they do not use the personal statement at all in the selection process.
The majority of medical schools fall somewhere in between – they may not assign a specific score to the statement. Still, they will read it to ensure you have the relevant motivation and experiences before offering an interview. Bottom line: You should assume your UCAS personal statement will be looked at and can impact whether you get an interview. At the very least, it’s often a tie-breaker. For instance, the University of Bristol doesn’t initially score the statement, but it will use it to differentiate between applicants with identical interview scores or academic profiles. Many other schools reserve the right to consider the statement in borderline cases. Since you typically apply to four medical schools, check each of their admissions policies – but because you submit the same statement to all choices, it needs to satisfy all of them.
During interviews (discussion or tasks): Almost every medical school will use your UCAS personal statement during the interview stage in some way. If the school conducts traditional panel interviews, expect the interviewers to have read your statement and to ask you questions about it. If the school uses Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs), one of the MMI stations might be based on your UCAS personal statement or on topics you raised in it. For example, Keele University has an MMI station where an interviewer will discuss your relevant experiences and may ask you questions about aspects of your UCAS personal statement. Similarly, Sheffield notes that while they don’t score the statement for selection, they commonly explore the activities and values mentioned in the statement during MMIs. What this means for you is that everything you write is fair game to be brought up at an interview. This is why we emphasised in the tips: include only what you’re comfortable talking about and be very familiar with your own content. Medical school interviews often feel like extended personal statement conversations, where you get to elaborate in person on what you wrote. If you wrote about a book you read or a work experience you had, you can almost guarantee you’ll be asked to discuss it. The personal statement essentially provides interviewers with material to probe your insights, motivations, and sincerity.
Post-interview and offer decisions: In some cases, the personal statement might come back into play when the admissions committee is making final offer decisions. For example, a university might review the whole UCAS application (including personal statement and reference) for candidates on the borderline of an offer after interviews. The UCAS Reforming Admissions report notes that the personal statement “could be the difference between getting an offer or not, for example, in borderline cases or where there are multiple applicants with a similar academic profile”. This means if you and another candidate have very similar grades and interview performance, a stronger personal statement could tip the balance in your favour. Additionally, a few universities (such as UCLan, according to recent data) do consider the personal statement and reference as part of their selection formula. Those are more the exception than the rule now, but it highlights that your statement can still carry weight throughout the entire admissions process.
Meeting criteria and red flags: Medical schools also use the personal statement to check for any red flags or minimum requirements. For instance, some schools expect to see that you have done a certain amount of work experience or that you understand the importance of teamwork and communication. They’re ensuring you meet the non-academic entry criteria. The statement is also a place where you might mention any extenuating circumstances or context related to your application (although UCAS now has separate sections for extenuating circumstances).
On the positive side, a well-written statement with genuine insight can strongly reinforce the rest of your application. On the other hand, if a statement is poorly written or seems inauthentic, it may raise concerns. Admissions tutors have noted that extremely generic or exaggerated personal statements don’t make a good impression. For example, claiming “it has been my lifelong dream to cure cancer” without any evidence of understanding what that entails could make them sceptical. Therefore, the UCAS personal statement can indirectly influence how interviewers perceive you, even before you walk into the room.
🏫 Medical School-by-School Breakdown (2026 Entry)
Below is a comprehensive list of UK medical schools and how they currently use your UCAS personal statement:
Universities That Actively Use the Personal Statement in Selection
These schools directly consider your UCAS personal statement when shortlisting for an interview or making offers:
Aberdeen: Reviewed before and during the interview process.
Birmingham: Used both before and after the interview as part of a holistic assessment.
Brunel: Selection panel reviews personal statements and references to shortlist.
Cambridge: Used as a basis for discussion at the interview.
Cardiff: Considered for applicants who pass the academic threshold.
Glasgow: All aspects of the UCAS application, including the PS, are reviewed.
King’s College London: Used alongside GCSEs, A-levels, and UCAT to shortlist for interview.
Leeds: Explored during MMI stations to assess motivation and enthusiasm.
St Andrews: Assesses academic performance, PS, reference, and UCAT score holistically.
UCLan: Personal statement and academic reference are scored for interview selection.
Universities That Refer to It During Interviews or Tie-Breakers
These schools don’t score your PS formally, but may use it during interviews or in borderline cases:
Anglia Ruskin: Discussed during MMI but not scored.
Aston: Read but not scored—considered with references.
Barts (QMUL): Not scored, but interviewers consider your interests and talents.
Bristol: Only used to differentiate between applicants with identical interview scores.
Edge Hill: Used in tie-breaker decisions.
Edinburgh: Not assessed, but useful preparation for Assessment Day.
Exeter: Likely to be referred to at interview.
Hull York: Not scored, but read and can influence decisions for borderline candidates.
Imperial: May be reviewed at interview.
Keele: Not ranked, but one MMI station is based on your experiences from the PS.
Leicester: Not routinely read, but may be used in tiebreakers.
Manchester: Uses a separate Non-Academic Information Form; PS may be read in specific cases.
Norwich (UEA): Used at interview but not for shortlisting.
Nottingham/Lincoln: Reviewed post-interview to confirm satisfactory non-academic background.
Oxford: Likely to be discussed during the interview.
Queen’s University Belfast: Considered during MMIs but not scored.
Sheffield: Explored during MMI but not formally scored.
Southampton: Used at Selection Day.
St George’s: Read but not used for selection.
Swansea: Considered and discussed during the interview.
Universities That Don’t Use the Personal Statement at All
These schools either don’t read or assess your UCAS personal statement at any stage of the admissions process:
Brighton and Sussex
Lancaster
Liverpool
Newcastle
Plymouth
Sunderland
UCL
Warwick
Universities That Do Not Specify Usage Clearly
For these schools, it’s unclear how or if the UCAS personal statement is used:
Dundee
Kent and Medway
🎯 What This Means for Your Application Strategy
Targeting Schools That Use It Heavily? Focus on crafting a compelling, reflective personal statement. Highlight your motivations, work experience, insight into medicine, and commitment to the profession.
Applying to Schools That Don’t Use It? Still, write a strong statement—many universities may refer to it at the interview, and a well-prepared PS is a valuable tool for MMI prep.
Mixed Approach? Treat your PS as a key piece of preparation for interviews, even if it’s not directly scored.
✏️ Final Tips for Writing Your Medicine Personal Statement
Be genuine: Show enthusiasm and authentic motivation for medicine.
Reflect deeply: Focus less on what you did, more on what you learned.
Structure clearly: Use paragraphs to build your story: motivation → experience → insight → suitability.
Tailor for interview: Assume it will be used in discussion and be ready to expand on every point.
Keep a copy: Several schools refer to it at the interview—review it regularly before interview day.
Final Thoughts
Writing a UCAS personal statement for medicine is undeniably a challenge. Still, it’s also a valuable opportunity to reflect on your journey and showcase why you’re passionate about becoming a doctor. Start early, so you have time to brainstorm, draft, and revise multiple times. Ensure you receive feedback – your teachers, mentors, or career advisors can often provide valuable input on whether your statement is clear and compelling. However, ensure the final product is in your own words and that you believe in every word you’ve written.
Remember, medical schools aren’t looking for literary masterpieces or overly heroic stories – they’re looking for genuine motivation, understanding, and potential. By including relevant experiences, demonstrating insight into what you learned, and conveying your enthusiasm for medicine, you will already be giving them what they want to see. As one official guide emphasises, keep it personal and unique to you, and avoid the clichés. If you do that, your authenticity will shine through.
Finally, don’t be intimidated by the process. Thousands of students get into medical school each year, and every single one of them has to write a UCAS personal statement. With the new 2026 format, you have a clear framework to build on – use those questions to structure your thoughts. Take it step by step, and by the time you hit “submit,” you should have a statement that you’re proud of and that truly represents you. Good luck with your medicine application!
