Hi everyone,
I’d really appreciate some honest advice because I’m seriously considering applying to graduate entry medicine (GEM), ideally at King’s, but I’m not sure how realistic it is for me.
A bit about my background: I have a 2:1 undergraduate degree in Psychology, and I’m currently doing a Master’s in Neuroscience at King’s College London. Though I have some experience in lab work by my uni (EEG, MRI) I don't objectively have experience with volunteering work at hospitals. Through my studies, I’ve developed a strong interest in the brain, behaviour, and mental health, which is what’s pushing me toward medicine. Long term, I think I’d be interested in psychiatry, but I’m also curious about neurosurgery (though I know that’s extremely competitive and demanding). Realistically speaking, now that we are approaching end of April I'd like to know what are my chances.
My main concerns are:
• I don’t have much volunteering or clinical experience yet, which I know is important
• I’m not sure how competitive GEM is, especially for King’s
• I’m worried I might be underestimating how difficult the whole process is
So I guess my questions are:
- What are my realistic chances of getting into GEM with my background?
- Is applying to King’s GEM overly ambitious?
- How much does lack of volunteering/work experience hurt my application, and what would you recommend I do now to improve it?
- Is GEM actually achievable from where I am, or does this sound like a bad idea?
- For UCAT, how hard should I realistically be preparing, and what strategies worked best for you?
I’m also open to hearing if anyone thinks this might not be the right path for me. I don’t want to go into this blindly if it’s not a good decision.
Any advice, experiences, or reality checks would mean a lot. Thanks in advance!