What if I don't get an offer?
Firstly, don’t panic! Applying to medical school is competitive (the University of Edinburgh gets around 15 applicants per place)[1] and due to high number of applicants, sometimes people who would also make fantastic doctors don’t get any offers first time round. However, this does not mean that you should give up! There are still a few ways that may get you that offer:
Ask for feedback
Regardless of which stage of the application process you receive a rejection, always email and ask for feedback. Most universities will be helpful in telling you where your application fell short for them, or in which areas you need to improve. This may help you should you choose to re-apply the following year, or feedback from an interview may assist with any other upcoming interviews you may receive.
Waiting Lists
Furthermore: some universities do offer a place on a waiting list for ‘near-miss’ applicants. These students may well get an offer for the same year of study applied for, should the students who have places on the course already choose another course as their first choice, or if they do not make the grades in the summer. This is ONLY accessible to the unsuccessful students who email the medical school admissions office and ask for feedback, and for those unsuccessful applicants who do not have any other offers from another medical school. These ‘near-miss’ applicants may receive an offer either in May, when successful students submit their firm and insurance choices to UCAS, and in August, when all applicants have received their results.
THEREFORE it is important that you do not let rejection harm your performance in your A-Level or Higher/Advanced Higher exams. You will only be considered for a place at medical school if you achieve the required grades.
What if I don't get the grades?
Some universities may accept resit A-Level or higher grades. Click here for a handy table of those which do and do not. If you do have to spend an academic year resitting some exams, the BMA advises that perhaps you could also gain some extra work experience or a part-time job that will make your personal statement even stronger when you re-apply.[2]
Consider your 5th choice option seriously. UCAS will only allow you to apply to 4 medical schools, leaving you able to make one application to any other course at another university. This will not interfere in any way with your application to medicine. This may lead on to…
Postgraduate Application
If your application doesn’t work out the first or subsequent times, another possibility is post-graduate entry. There are a number of courses offered at certain universities, including accelerated 4-year courses: use the NHS course finder to see if any may be suitable for you.[3]