• Medicine is a science, therefore you will need to be have strong scientific ability (or the skills to develop this ability – this is particularly relevant to entrants who are selected from a non-science/traditional background)
• You must also possess the capacity to learn and to retain large amounts of information
• You will need good analytical and reasoning skills
• Much of the work is patient-focused and involves teamwork with other healthcare professionals. Therefore you are required to have good people skills
• Medical practice requires lifelong learning and the work can be challenging. Therefore you must be highly motivated by a strong interest in medicine
• Other skills required are time-management, leadership and an enquiring and critical mind (these are skills that you will learn as you progress through medical school)
• It is very competitive to get into medical school, and if you are applying from school, 6^th form college or a college of further education you will need to have good A-level results (or equivalent qualifications), and usually have studied sciences. The majority of medical schools require A levels in chemistry, whilst others will accept AS level in chemistry, depending upon the other qualifications being offered. Some require biology at A’ level. See the NHS Careers website for further guidance.
• Many medical schools in the UK also require that you take the UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test) or the BMAT (Bio-medical Admissions Test). These are aptitude tests i.e. a test of your mental ability, rather than an academic test of your knowledge.  
• If you are a graduate thinking of entering via the accelerated programme you do not necessarily have to have a first degree in a science to gain admission – although this varies depending on the medical school, and these places are highly competitive.

• It will also help in your UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) application to have other non-academic interests to show that you are well-rounded as a person. UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK. (See our section on: Applying to Medical School).
• Medical schools are encouraging widening participation to attract, support and enable greater numbers of disabled students and so to encourage a more diverse medical workforce.
• The Medical Schools Council also provides the following guidance:

'Applicants are encouraged to seek advice from the Medical Schools as early as possible to facilitate timely consideration. A history of serious health issues will not jeopardise a career in medicine unless the condition impinges on professional fitness to practise. In addition to the Medical Schools, the disability centre within the University can also advise disabled applicants.'  (see point 6 in Guiding principles for the admission of medical students).

• Medicine is one of the most highly respected professions and the majority of doctors find their work highly rewarding and enjoyable
• After graduation from university, if you choose to work as a doctor, you will be paid a reasonable salary during your training which will increase as you become more experienced. The NHS Careers website has up-to-date information on remuneration
• There are over 60 different specialties in medicine, and there are many differences between each specialty so there is a high likelihood that you will find a role which is suited to your particular personality and interests. Even when you choose a specialty there are many different roles within that specialty. For example, if you choose to become a GP, you could become a GP with a special interest in a particular area of medicine
• In addition there are also opportunities to get involved with teaching, management and research if you are interested in any of these areas
• Historically, there has been good job security working as a doctor in the NHS – it has not been as affected by recession as the private sector
• There is a strong supportive system in place for medical students and trainee doctors, overseen by the medical school, the postgraduate deaneries and the GMC (General Medical Council). During your training you will be helped and supported by your designated tutors, educational supervisors and clinical supervisors as well as the director of medical education for your NHS Trust

• After graduating from medical school, it will take several years to train to become a GP or hospital consultant (see our section on the length of training)
• In some specialties, it is very competitive to gain a training place. If you opt for a very competitive specialty, you will need to be prepared to work especially hard during your training. However, the good news is that you do not need to choose which specialty you wish train before or whilst at university. This sort of choice is made after medical school; at present it is made during the second year of post-graduate medical training, although planning ahead and considering all your options is encouraged from the earliest stages
• Patients become ill and need care at all times of the day and night, 365 days a year! The hours are generally longer than the average 9-5 job and you sometimes have to work unsociable hours, both during your training and throughout your working life (although this depends on the specialty you choose and there are also options for part time working).There have been major changes recently and doctors now should generally not work any more than 48 hours per week
• You will need to be emotionally resilient to deal with patients’ suffering and death. You will also need support their families through these periods
• If you go to medical school you may be concerned about the financial implications around not earning any money for approximately five years while you are studying, and the level of student debt that you may acquire. However there are student loans and also some grants available; information on these can be found on the Money4MedStudents website
• You should think carefully about what type of doctor you want to be. Do you want to work in primary care (i.e. in the community) or in secondary care (i.e. in a hospital-based role)? Patients' needs and consequently the needs of the service are changing; we have an aging population, and many patients have chronic conditions. Much of this care will be delivered in the community, so currently 50% of the specialty training opportunities are in general practice (click here to watch a short video about general practice), and there will be increasing needs for elderly care specialists. Mental health problems are also common and there are increasing opportunities for those who are interested in specialising in psychiatry. Not everybody who wants to be a surgeon will have the opportunity to become one
• Training in medicine will often demand that you are very flexible. For example throughout your training you may have short stints working in different hospitals (although they will be in roughly the same region).  This could mean that you have to move from area to area, living in one place for four months or so, before having to move again, and this has implications for your family life.