This post is on a topic that isn't the happiest but, unfortunately, is a reality for those wanting to apply for medicine. A great proportion of GEM applicants will have applied unsuccessfully from school or be on their second/third application, so it is a very likely possibility that you have done your best, gotten some interviews and no offers. So, what do you do about it?
The biggest, and probably most obvious, decision is going to be - will you re-apply again? Obviously, if you face 4 rejections (be this pre- or post-interview) you will feel very downcast and disappointed. No matter how many people tell you that it's just because its very competitive, there will be a part of you that thinks you are not good enough because other people have managed to get in. Although this may be the case, it is most unlikely. The truth is, that medicine at graduate-entry level is hugely competitve and it is virtually impossible in some instances (for example; to get an interview at KCL its around 65:1 and then to get an offer after that it is still 7:1).
You'll need to have a think about whether medicine is really for you - and if it is; you have to reapply!! As I wrote above, there are many people on their seond or third application so you can keep going if its really what you want to do. However, if throughout this process, you've realised that its not for you then there's no shame in that. You still have time to figure out what kind of career you are interested in and as we know, there are many different ways you can help people or be in the healthcare centre.
If you have made the decision to reapply, you'll need to know where you went wrong and what you're going to do about it. There's no point going through the heartache of 4 rejections and then not changing your application, particualrly if you got 4 pre-interview rejections. Also, it could be in your best interests to apply more 'strategically' - by this I mean; looking more into the details of what each university is looking for and seeing if you are more suited to one place's criteria than the next's.
If you are re-applying, it's important that you don't spend a year doing nothing... if you have quite a strong application (i.e you got to the interview stage everywhere so it seems like you tick all the criteria boxes) then you could go travelling or doing something suitably different or interesting that you cna discuss it in your personal statement and subsequent interviews. If not, spend the time 'boosting' your application (details below). Either way, you must be seen to not have spent the year sitting about and waiting to be able to reapply again for the next cycle. Also, doing something interesting will keep your mind off the stress of reapplying!!
Below, I've just outlined some common reasons for rejections and what you can do about it:
4 Pre-interview Rejections
Unfortunately, at this stage, very few universities will give you specific reasons as to why they rejected you so it'll be a bit down to you to try and figure it out. Generally speaking, pre-interview rejections are because you have failed to meet some of their conditions:
- UKCAT/GAMSAT/BMAT score not high enough
- Do not fulfil the academic criteria (eg: if they specific certail grades/subjects at A level or university and you do not have them - however, this is very much a lack of research on your part as this information will be readily available on both their website and the prospectus)
- Issues with the personal statement (some universities are very prescriptive about what they expect to see on your personal statement and if you haven't provided this, then you will not get an invite to interview. This is a lot harder to determine as you may be rejected based on your personal statement but you thought you had fulfilled the conditions)
If you are in this situation then, assuming you are re-applying, you will need to be very critical of your application and in the year that follows do everything you can to 'boost' your application:
- In terms of your extrance exams, this would be preparing for longer to ensure a higher mark and generally speaking, you will do better because its not the first time you're attempting them.
- In terms of your personal statement, you could go out and get more health/care related experience (this could even be working as an HCA so you have some great hands-on experience). However, you may feel you actually have enough experience so it could just have been how you wrote your personal statement (for example; you may have written it as more of a lsit of what you've done rather than showing what you learned from everything).
Post-interview Rejections
At this stage, you know that at least you are 'good enough' to be invited to interview. This means that you fulfill their criteria on paper so you may not need to change too much on your application. Obviously, you will need to retake some entrance exams but hopefully you will just perform better because you will have had more practice than the first time (with the UKCAT, there is normally a trend that your average score increases each time you take it).
Most universities will be able to offer some sort of feedback at this stage - although this may not always be that detailed it is still a starting point. For some of you, it may just be that you were very nervous because this was either your first interview or you have never experienced the format before (eg: as is often the case with MMIs). Whatever the case may be, you will be able to work on it because you will have more time. Take the feedback as constructive rather than a criticism and learn from it (assuming you are reapplying).
As with pre-interview rejections, there may be many things you can do to boost your application (see above for details) and, again, make sure you spend the year doing something that you can say is worhtwhile etc.
One piece of advice - don't go into further study unless you really want it. Many people are tempted to do masters or even PhD just to fill the time... This is not advisable as they are very time consuming and expensive and also, you need to have successful applications for them which isn't easy either. However, if you were always interested in getting a masters, it could be a good way to spend the year (particualrly if you find a one year course that attracts you)
So, that's about it... If this advice applies to you, then I'm very sorry for your disappointment but DON'T LOOSE HOPE!!! If you really want it, there'll always be a way :)
Dr Wannabe xx
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