Your next steps after UCAT and BMAT

Now that the UCAT, BMAT and UCAS personal statement are out of the way, the next step is for you to start preparing for your medical school interviews.

• In the past, medical schools have each done their own thing when it comes to interviews, but there are attempts being made at standardising them through the Medical School Council.

• You must start your preparation for medical school interviews now. May students leave it until they get called for interview (in which case they don’t have time to prepare especially if the timing coincides with mock A-levels exams at school) or wait until they undertake their first interview and fail (which wastes a valuable attempt).

• Even worse, some students call us after been unsuccessful after 4 interviews. Whilst taking a gap year is an option, another way to look at it is that you will be qualifying a year later than usual and that is a year longer to progression in your career and a year of lost earnings working as a doctor.

When are medical schools going to call me for interview?

• Medical schools can call you for interview at any time from now, although from our historic experience, most do not call for interview until at least December ⏱

• They can interview in batches, so do not be disheartened if your friend tells you that they have an interview at a university where you have applied to, but you have not yet.

• Also don’t think that because you have been called for interview early, your chances of getting an offer are necessarily better in some way 🔎

How quickly after interview will the medical school make me an offer?

• Some medical schools will make an offer rapidly after your interview. In the past they used to tell you straight after your interview whether you have a place, or at least give you a good hint that you were successful, but nowadays this is unlikely.

• Others will wait right until the end of March before deciding to give offers. Some during the peak of the COVID19 pandemic interviewed some candidates into April and May but hopefully this will not happen this year.

• Medical schools can give you less than 7 days notice to call you for interview. You may have also have a limited choice of interview dates and might not always be able to reschedule. Start your preparation for interviews now ⚠️

What format of interviews will medical school interviews use?

Traditionally medical schools have used a panel or multiple mini-interview (MMI) format.

• In the simplest form, a panel interview is where several examiners will sit together and take it in turns to ask you questions.

• There may be a panel member who takes notes and perhaps someone who is more of a psychologist. Such interviews are usually undertaken in person but can be done virtually.

The MMI format is now what is being used predominantly.

• The student moves between several stations. Each station typically is between 3 and 7 minutes in length but can be longer. At each station you are asked a specific question which does not usually carry forward to the next station.

• The examiners may change between each station. It is usually the student who will get up and ‘move’ to the next station.

• There will often be rest stations and the total number of stations will vary. During the early stages of the pandemic, we came across interviews as short as 20 minutes.

• This is the format we use on our Mock MMI circuit days, except after each station, we allocate time for individual feedback and reflection and provide feedback as a group after each circuit.

• MMI interviews can be done in person or virtually. If done virtually you may have the same examiner for several stations and the software can be used to virtually ‘move’ you between stations. You stay in the same seat at home. Typically the medical school will use software such as Zoom or Teams.

• You will usually not be provided with any immediate feedback from the examiner after the station or the full interview.

• However, if you do not obtain an offer, you must contact them for feedback so you can learn from your mistakes before your next interview at the next medical school. Medical school council guidelines state they should provide this to you.

If you are a student on our Medical School Interview Course, you can also contact us to help you interpret the feedback in confidence ⚠️

This is an example of an MMI circuit in progress on our Mock MMI circuit days. We provide 1:1 feedback after each station and feedback as a group at the end of each circuit.

Will medical schools interview in person this year or virtually?

• We anticipate several medical schools will continue to interview virtually, as this is logistically better for them and now, they also have the benefit of experience with virtual interviews.

• Even at this late stage, some medical schools have still not released clear details of their interview process this year. Some have stated they will only send details to students who they call for interview.

• Some medical schools will expect a piece of coursework in addition to the UCAS personal statement and you may well be questioned on your response in the interview.

Medicine is still a predominantly in person face to face subject, but there are some medical schools abroad that offer at least part of the pre-clinical years virtually from home. You will find that when you get study medicine, your lectures may well at least continue to be part virtual.

Our Medical School Interview Courses are taught in person by Dr. Abdul Mannan is small groups such as this course in Manchester (pre pandemic). Come and learn the skills you need to succeed in your interviews.

What about my A-levels and predicted grades?

• Remember, you still have your A-levels to study for as you go through the process of interviews. Your school will have provided predicted grades, but it is totally up to you alone to get the actual ones.

• As you will recall, in the past A-level exams were cancelled and it was up to your teachers to decide which grades you should be awarded and they did this on your performance in mock tests and coursework during the A-level years, so do work hard.

• Once you get to medical school, there may be exams to pass after each semester to progress. We have had some students defer entry because they did not agree with predicted grades and are waiting for actual grades.

• Do not neglect or ignore your A-levels at any stage of the process. Many students get offers but then fail to get the grades. We provide further guidance later in the year if you are in this position.