As a starting point, it is very important to be realistic in assessing the chances of being able to achieve the minimum entry standards for a medical school. We are not being pessimistic here, but in reality, there are more students than there are places at medical school, so it is no surprise that high academic performance plays a big part.
High entry requirements are a way of ensuring that students are of a suitable academic calibre. Successful completion of a medical course is academically very demanding. If you are unrealistic in assessing your chances and ignore the advice of teachers and advisers, you will be faced with unnecessary disappointment and heartache. If you believe that you are capable of achieving the minimum entry requirements, it still does not necessarily mean you will be successful in gaining a place at medical school.
Medical courses are longer than other courses at university and over the five or six years you will cover a wide range of knowledge and skills. After graduation, you must spend a further year working as a doctor under supervision in a hospital as a ‘house officer’. You could be on duty for up to 72 hours a week but actually working up to 56 hours. Whatever the long term financial rewards you have in mind, it will be some years before you will be in a position to have a permanent post.
