Sumaiya, Matthew, Elise and Kayleigh are four first year medical students who have a second thing in common: they all fundraised for the RMBF as aspiring medical students.
Hear their tips for aspiring medical students and how fundraising helped them get into medical school.
3 things I wish I knew as an aspiring medical student:
Sumaiya
1) Everything happens for a reason.
You may not know it now, you may not know it tomorrow; but everything that happens, however big or small during your application process, has a purpose! I didn’t get the UCAT score I had dreamed of yet I still ended up at a university that just feels meant to be.
2) Focus on being yourself rather than being the “poster-applicant” you think medical schools want to see.
Personalise your application, be natural in interviews – even though it’s nerve wracking, the interviewers want to see you for who you are. Your passion shines through by itself when you aren’t consciously trying to prove it!
3) It gets better.
Although the medical application process can feel long and tedious at times, it really is worth it when years of your hard work accumulate to you being one step closer to your dream as a medical professional. You will look back on these times with fondness and gratitude for your past self for working so hard so that you can be in the position of a medical student!
Matthew
1) Don’t be scared!
Fear is often what limits your own potential. Having faith in yourself is the first step to success.
2) Don’t compare yourself to others.
Everyone progresses at different pace. Just because someone else is doing something doesn’t mean you have to do it. There is not a one and only formula for getting into med school. So, focus on and do what you enjoy the most and what suits you best!
3) Don’t stress…
Especially when you are preparing for or waiting for interviews or offers. A healthy amount of stress can be helpful, but excessive stress affects both your mental health and your performance. Keep calm and your offers will come!
Elise
1) You don’t need to be perfect to get into medicine.
Being able to reflect on your mistakes and grow from them is much more valuable.
2) Comparison will drain your confidence faster than failure.
Everyone’s journey into medicine is different and everyone has their own unique strengths.
3) Interviews test your thinking and not knowledge.
If you get an interview, they know that you have the knowledge and ability to achieve high grades. But they care more about you as a person: do you have the empathy and reasoning to become a successful candidate?
How fundraising helped me get into medical school:
Elise
“Being able to raise money for the RMBF helped me as an aspiring medical student in many ways. Firstly, it was amazing to learn about the RMBF charity and everything they do to support both medical students and doctors.
Secondly it helped me become more confident in my communication and time management skills, as I was organising a concert at my school by myself, and I was actually able to mention my fundraising in my medical school interviews.”
“Finally, fundraising for such a good cause helped me to have an appreciation that even doctors struggle and having empathy for everyone is so important in today’s world.”
Kayleigh
“Fundraising for the RMBF by selling homemade Christmas cards taught me that even small skills can make a real difference. It showed me that whatever I learn or create can be used to help someone who needs it — a lesson I’ve carried with me into medical school.”
“When the workload gets intense, it’s grounding to remember that these skills will one day support patients who rely on us. And if all else fails, at least I know I’ve got a backup career in festive card design!”
Find out more about Kayleigh’s fundraising.
Get involved
- Sign up as an aspiring medical student fundraiser
- Get inspired by our Fundraising Heroes