Resources to help with your application
Here are some examples of places you can reach out to for help with the application process.
ACCESSIBILITY IN MEDICINE (AIM) EDINBURGH
AIM is a student run society working to provide free mentorship to aid students from widening access backgrounds in applying to medical school.
Eligibility:
Anyone can access the resources on the AIM website.
Widening access students can sign up for mentoring, details of eligibility criteria is available on the AIM website.
Currently available:
Guide to ‘medical school application’ can be accessed by anyone.
Free mentoring for future applicants to medicine from a widening access background, email accessibilityinmedicine@gmail.com for more information.
YOU CAN BE A DOCTOR (YCBAD)
YCBAD is a Scottish charity founded and run by a team of doctors and medical students with the aim of breaking down barriers to enable individuals from underprivileged backgrounds to embark on the path to a medical career.
Eligibility:
Application timeline and information for parents, carers and teachers can be found on the website and accessed by anyone.
To sign up for events pupils must fulfil one or more of the widening access eligibility criteria, full details can be found on the YCBAD website.
Available events:
‘Introduction to anatomy’ = aimed at S4/5 pupils, combination of lectures and interactive workshops.
‘S1 programme’ = interactive classroom sessions which aims to introduce kids to the human body and healthcare as a career [currently being extended to include S2/3].
‘Virtual work experience’ = online material to supplement in person work experience and develop insight into a medical career.
‘UCAT summer school’ = online event discussing how to book the UCAT + techniques to approach questions.
‘Mock interviews’ = personalised feedback to allow improvement of interview technique and tips on common questions.
‘Personal statement reviews’ = feedback on personal statement to enhance application.
IN2MEDSCHOOL
In2medschool is a registered charity run by doctors and medical students. Volunteers work with students, schools and communities to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to study medicine and healthcare-related degrees at university.
Eligibility:
Anyone can access the resources on the In2MedSchool website.
Students at private or independent schools cannot sign up to be mentees but can sign up to events and newsletter.
To have access to all the resources must attend a public / state school + meet one widening participation criteria, more details can be found on the In2MedSchool website.
Resources:
Mentorship programme to guide aspiring students through the medical school application process.
Youtube playlists containing: personal statement guidance, clinical cases, virtual work experience and more
REACH
Reach is a national Widening Participation project, funded by the Scottish Funding Council and part of the National Schools Programme. It supports eligible S4 to S6 students in local state secondary schools, who are considering studying medicine (as well as dentistry, law or veterinary medicine).
The Reach project is co-delivered on a regional level by University of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews and is a multi-exit programme meaning it supports pupils to apply to any university.
Eligibility:
Anyone can access Reach’s free online pupil resources page.
Access to events is open to pupils who meet one or more of Reach’s eligibility criteria.
Resources:
If you meet one or more Reach eligibility criteria, you should sign up to the programme on their website and then you will receive information directly about the resources available and events being run.
Run by full time staff as opposed to other services which may be run by volunteers who are current doctors and medical students, this allows for quick access to support Monday-Friday 0900-1700.
Available to offer personalised information on subject choices, applications and alternative routes into the career.
Work closely alongside admissions and therefore the team have a specialist knowledge on the application process.
There is also lots of useful information on the website that can be accessed by anyone including information on alternative routes into medicine, information on applications or information on student life.