One of my earliest memories with Medic Mentor is writing about learning how to suture on a banana as part of a course in a CV building workshop at a National Healthcare Weekend. This was where I first encountered a few friendly medical students who later became an inspiration to me. I was a keen student who asked many questions.
Applying to medical school is a strenuous process and you are always collecting information to help you make informed decisions so there are no right and wrong questions – ask all of them!
Throughout my time at Medic Mentor I have continually been surrounded by people who have helped me to realise my potential. I also learnt that medicine is not just about working in the four walls of a hospital; there is an array of opportunities that you can get involved in. I am particularly appealed by the research and teaching aspects and discovered this when writing for the National Essay Competition. I would highly recommend it as this will help you with your wider reading for interviews and personal statements as well.
Aside from having the opportunity to build a lasting network and seeing some familiar faces at different events whilst preparing for medical school – which can at times be exhausting – being around peers with similar career prospects helps to alleviate the stress as they are going through it with you. It is so important to remember that the hard work will reap rewards and you will be successful.
Having attended the Summer School I felt that I had grown as a person. I connected more with the Mentors and became more confident in working through tasks at practice MMIs. Some of my favourite stations included providing innovative solutions to current health issues and describing signs of a disease from a photo. I nurtured an interest in appreciating the differing pathways to become a doctor and gained a wealth of information in an intense week where all the particulars of my application were coming together.
At present, I have almost completed my Medic Mentor Gold Award that has ameliorated my ability to reflect on many experiences. Reflection is a skill often overlooked by aspiring medics when it is surprisingly one of the most significant and easiest ways to impress interviewers and admission tutors. An easy way to incorporate it into your work is to mention what you would change or what you did following an activity to secure your knowledge. For instance, reading an article on Parkinson’s Disease after seeing a patient suffer from it during work experience. What I love about Medic Mentor is that not only are they with you every step of the way during your medical school application, but it goes beyond that and there is so much to do as a medical student too.
I have received medical school offers from both King’s College London and St George’s University of London and I could not have done it without the ongoing support of my mentors and my parents. Thank you for reading, I hope this has been insightful and wish you the best as you embark on this life-changing journey.
Namrata Juneja, Medic Mentor Review
