Thank you! More videos are in the pipeline, it’s just tricky finding the time with training and hospital rotas… but watch this space 👀

So glad you found it useful! Good luck :)

Congratulations! Good luck!

@@xpingars great video which stethoscope do you have?

Littmann Cardiology IV (top tip: wait until Black Friday sale to get it!)

Personally it’s three years of training in one location and complete autonomy once you’ve qualified. It’s the path that gives you the most flexibility in a short space of time. That being said it’s not for everyone - GPs deal with a huge amount of uncertainty and the days are stressful. It can also be very isolating especially if you prefer working in teams

For your A levels question chemistry and biology are themselves really difficult subjects and the transition from GCSE and A levels is quite a big jump. I did biology chemistry and maths and found it really difficult because every one of the subjects were challenging. If you are naturally good at pure maths meaning the theory in maths then you might enjoy maths. However, universities don’t really need you to do maths and maybe pick something you really enjoy but definitely check on entry requirements as some universities would not accept some courses. Med school is very competitive like you said. So I would say get as much exposure as possible and keep a diary of work experience this will help during personal statement and interviews. Also, look at the admission tests so UCAT and BMAT don’t prepare for them super early rather manage your time at the end of Y12 to be able to tackle them. The higher your score the better chances you will get. When applying look at the university requirements do they need you to have a certain number of 7,8 or 9 and look at their selection process do they score you and how do they do this. It’s best to look at what universities you have a higher chance of getting into then break it down to where would I like to go. Good luck in college hope this is useful.

Chemistry A-Level is essential. Biology isn't technically required by most medical schools but it's usually expected for most applicants to have it. Maths isn't essential - you're better off picking a subject which you are good at and more likely to get an A/A* in (although certain subjects like General Studies aren't accepted or are viewed as weak so double check that). That being said, plenty of medics do maths A-Level so if you enjoy it, go for it. You can't guarantee a place at medical school but starting early and trying to tick all the right boxes will help. Most important is good grades at GCSE and A-Level. Also work experience, volunteering, evidence of interest and commitment to Medicine, extracurriculars, and good UCAT/BMAT scores. Show you have a wide range of personal skills, are a well-rounded person (not just focused on grades - have hobbies etc. too!), and have a realistic view of medicine. For interviews, make sure you're up-to-date on medical issues and news, and that you have a good understanding of NHS values etc. GP is considerably less years of training than most other specialties. Even then, it is 5 years of medical school, 2 years of foundation training, and 3 years of GP specialty training. However, it's a very versatile job and if it's what you truly want to do, it's definitely worth it. If you stop training after foundation years, you can continue to work as a doctor (although your pay will be limited by your training). You could also go into other careers e.g. medical education, politics, leadership, or something completely different and unrelated to medicine. medicfootprints.org/ is a good website for information about careers after a medical degree. Yes, you can withdraw from medical school at any point and it's not too uncommon. However, you will still have your student loan to pay off. Also, you wouldn't be able to go back into medicine if you left without completing (most medical schools make a point of saying this on their application websites). Depending on how much you've progressed through medical school, you may be able to leave with a certificate/diploma/degree - usually in medical sciences/biomedical sciences etc. based on the modules you've passed - although this probably varies between universities. It is definitely manageable - evidenced by all the doctors and medical students succeeding now. But it is a tough road and you should definitely make sure you're willing to commit to it before you apply. Being a paediatrician and a GP are very different. One is hospital-based, one is community-based. One sees only children, one sees mainly adults (and some children). The conditions and treatments you see are very different. The training pathway and career lifestyle are the biggest difference. Paediatric is (from memory) 8 years specialty training - so 10 years post-graduation. GP is 3 (so 5 years post-graduation). Also, paediatrics involves mandatory on-calls, nights and weekends. GP hours are normally 8-6ish (with the option of working out-of-hours only if you choose to). The pay is also different (although may change, given the current climate). In paediatrics, you are on a lower training salary for longer, but then yet consultant pay. In GP, the training period is shorter, but the 'normal' GP consultant pay is lower. That being said, GP partners or locums can earn considerably more. On my GP placement, I've met a couple of GPs who were deciding between paediatrics and GP and ultimately chose GP because it's got a MUCH better work-life balance than paediatrics... That's the most common reason people choose NOT to go into paediatrics... Although obviously this is very person-specific.

@@bmcdermott Thank you so much for taking your time out to answer my questions. I am at college currently doing maths, biology and chemistry. And still want to do medicine at uni to become a GP. If you don’t mind, can you pls give me some tips on UCAT and BMAT preparations? Also how can I definitely ensure medicine is for me. I’ve always been an indecisive person. Whilst I would love to become a doctor, sometimes I just get second thoughts about it and think that it’s not for me. I’d appreciate your help, and thank you sooo much for taking you time out to answer my questions. It really helped! 😊 Thanks

@@queen5704 I didn't do the BMAT so I can't help with that. For the UCAT, PRACTISE. And as soon as you've worked out the vague pattern of questions, practise under time conditions. There's no point getting good at answering the questions if it's not within the time limits because that's the biggest challenge with the UCAT. If you are eligible for extra time due to disability etc., make sure you apply for it for the UCAT exam. But practise practise practise is key. I used Medify which was really useful. Websites are better than books because of the time limit. Do work experience in hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes. Remember that even if you want to be a GP, you're going to have to go through med school, foundation years and GP training including general medicine so make sure you're willing to do that. Talk to doctors during work experience and ask them what their work-life balance and experience was like. Watch KZfaq videos where people reflect on these things. Read books and doctors' memoirs (including "This is Going to Hurt" by Adam Kay which draws attention to some of the pressures in the NHS). Pay attention to the current issues in the NHS and listen to what the doctors are saying - it's very much not exaggerated and you need to understand what you're getting into. But also remember that there are options other than working as a doctor or staying in the UK after Medicine. A lot of people aren't 100% sure but if you're 90% sure and there isn't anything else you definitely want to do instead, then that might be enough. But make pro and con lists including practical and rational reasons, not just "what you enjoy" and that will help your decision. Also think about other things that are important in your life - do you want children, etc.? These things are a huge factor to consider when deciding what career path and lifestyle you want.

Yes 🤗