This student applied in the 2018/19 application cycle and therefore the selection process at Southampton may have changed since then. You should read all the information a University sends you about the selection process to get the most up to date details!
Remember to check out the glossary at the bottom of the page for our explanations of all the jargon we medical students like to use!
More about this student
Sometimes students share information with us about their demographics, which may help put their application experience into a bit more perspective.
This student identifies as a white British woman who went to a comprehensive school in the UK that doesn’t regularly send students to medical school.
Our Summary
Course: Standard undergraduate entry
In person MMI Interview
Admissions Tests: UCAT
Best advice: Try to talk more about things you’ve actually done and what you learned from them, in the personal statement and interview, rather than simply saying you shadowed a doctor, for example.
Before I made my application…
Choosing to apply
When did you decide you wanted to apply to medicine?
Year 9
How did you choose what medical schools to apply to?
Strategically – chose based on different assets they required, I selected a high focus on things like long term commitment to care as this was something I had a lot to write about.
Completing work experience
What types of work experience did you do?
Care work (e.g. in residential care), Customer service role (paid)
How much work experience did you do?
A lot – I did numerous things like volunteering in a hospice and for the stroke association. I also volunteered in a school to help with children’s reading. I worked as an athletics coach and I had a part time job. Think this helped the most with things to discuss at interview.
How did you find your work experience opportunities?
Through a formal scheme or work experience placement
During the application process…
Admissions tests
What admissions test did you sit?
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT): https://www.ucat.ac.uk/
How did you prepare for your admissions test?
I spent a week before watching YouTube videos and doing the free practice tests. I did not over prep as a high score was not required where I was planning to apply
Interviews
What type of interview did you do?
MMI: Multiple Mini Interview. This type of interview usually includes several short interviews or ‘stations’ which may involve different types of questions and scenarios. This is different compared to a panel interview, which may cover the same scenarios/types of questions but be a more ‘traditional’ sit-down interview.
How did you prepare for your interview?
I read about the four pillars of medical ethics and looked up things about ethics and considered a good answer as to why I wanted to do medicine. I did not over research however as I believe I want to give honest non scripted responses which comes across far more genuine.
What happened during your interview?
I felt nervous and feel I messed up my first station however after that I got into the swing of it and it went quite fast. I remember a why medicine question. A question testing my communication skills with a person who was upset in a nonclinical setting. There were some questions about ethics and how to make ethical treatment decisions. There was a role play scenario with an actor which was about communicating with people in a clinical setting.
Glossary
Clinical work experience: Not every student will complete clinical work experience before they apply to medical school. Don’t worry, this is not required to be able to apply. You can use non-clinical work experience (e.g. a caring role, like in a care home) or even reflect on paid work you’ve done (e.g. in customer service) in a productive way.
YouTube: There are many current and recent medical students who create videos on YouTube about their experience and advice about applying. Remember that their experience is personal and individual, and may not reflect yours. They might provide some useful advice but remember that they might be advertising paid for services. Take their advice as part of a more holistic approach alongside moderated advice such as ours, and official advice from universities and test providers.
Four pillars of medical ethics: These four pillars guide ideas about medical ethics. Knowing and understanding them can help you prepare for your interview and how you answer questions. Four Pillars
Role Play: some interviews or interview stations may require you to engage in a bit of role play. You might have to act out being in a scenario where you might have to deliver bad news or a clinical decision.
