A Step-By-Step Guide For Applying To A Medical School In South Africa

Deciding to study medicine

Becoming a medical doctor, especially in South Africa, should be viewed as a passion and not as a means to make a massive salary. Yes, there are medical and surgical specialties that pay well, especially in private practice but you have to realise that this is putting the apple-cart in front of the horse.

You must know that studying medicine requires 5 to 6 years of full-time study together with working in a hospital setting during the clinical years. You will be exposed to patients with illnesses such as hepatitis B, HIV and tuberculosis. Working in casualty departments you'll realise that these can be chaotic areas as you have to deal with many types of emergencies. You also need to know that in order to become a doctor, you need to complete 2 years of internship training and 1 year of community service in a rural setting in order to be allowed to work in a private GP practice or to specialise further.

These are all factors that need to be considered before wanting to study medicine.

Go online and visit the websites of medical schools

Search for your prospective university's website and do some research on what the requirements are of their medical school. A lot of the webportals are easy to navigate, and unfortunately some aren't that user-friendly, but you will have to check it out for yourself.

The following areas should be searched for in order to find relevant information:

• The admission requirements – these can vary among the different universities.
• The university's language policy, i.e. what languages of teaching are offered such as single medium, parallel medium or T-option.
• Check if online applications are allowed - this can cut down the time spent on applying for a medical student post.
• Find out exactly when the closing date is for applications - you'll notice that medical schools' (faculty of health sciences) closing dates differ from those of other departments.
• Studying at the chosen university - check the website to see if it's a place you would enjoy studying at. Look for Testimonials of others and ask people who are studying or have studied there.

Studying the correct subjects

It's important to have the correct subjects in high school as this is pretty much non-negotiable since it's part of the medical schools' requirements. This includes having the subjects Mathematics, Physical Science (both physics and chemistry) and/or Life Sciences (previously called biology) in Matric/Grade 12.

Extremely good marks are required in these subjects in order to be admitted to study medicine. We're talking anywhere from 85% and over. Those achieving between 80-85% can still be accepted if they have been involved with extra-curricular activities.

If you don't have the correct subjects or the best results and you want to study medicine, there are always other options such as doing a post-matric year where you can take the required subjects or work on improving your marks.

Being involved with extra-curricular activities

The selection committee for new medical students, at the faculty of health sciences at South African universities, like to choose individuals who have shown that they can handle a large workload and who are multi-talented. They assume that if you can involve yourself in extra-curricular activities and still do well academically, then you're able to handle the workload that comes with studying medicine and be able to perform well at university level. Being involved in sporting or cultural activities helps with your application and you'll notice that they do ask for this on the application forms.

Having a leadership role in school

Being involved in any leadership role - whether it's a school based organization such as being a prefect, a head chorister in the choir or captain of a sports team, or in a religious organization such as a Sunday school teacher or under-deacon - these will all count in making your application look more favourable. 

Taking part in community service programmes

Medicine in South Africa is all about giving back to the community, and if you are involved in community programmes such as the Interact Club at school or the local Rotary Club in your city, these will all show that you are someone who already wants to give back to those who are less fortunate. You shouldn't just be involved in these organizations because it makes you application look good, but rather because it is something that needs to be done.

Trust me, there's no better feeling in this world than when you've helped organize a Christmas party for a group of orphans who have never experienced being given a gift before. The smile on their faces is better than any gift than you could get yourself.

The Physical Application Of A Medical Student

If you've thought about your decision and looked at what studying medicine in South Africa involves and you have decided that this is what you want your career to be, then you need to apply to your chosen medical school(s). Apply to many medical schools if medicine is definitely what you want to study. This allows you a better chance of being accepted into one of these institutions.

We have mentioned what will be required by the medical schools, but give them more than what they need. The more extra-curricular activities you have taken part in the better. This shows them that you're not scared to study medicine, that you're up for the task and that you want to take part in this challenge.

A motivation/cover letter isn't required, but type one up telling the admission committee who you are, why you want to study medicine and why you would make a great doctor. This will make you stand out to the committee members and they will remember your name when you impress them. You need to sell yourself to this committee and make them want to have you at their medical school.

All of the medical schools will ask you what your second and third choice fields of study are, and you need to choose areas that you would consider studying if you are not accepted as a medical student. Good choices would be those that you can study and get decent marks in that you can use to apply for medical school again. These choices would include a Bachelors in Medical Sciences (M.Med.Sc.) and Bachelor of Sciences in Physical and Biological Sciences (B.Sc.)

Supplying reference letters

It isn't a pre-requisite to supply the medical school with reference letters, but these help when selling yourself might not be enough. Having a well written reference letter, from your headmaster or priest of your church telling them that you would be an asset, can have a big impact on you being selected as a new medical student. Two letters are more than enough unless the medical school does actually request more. 

The National Benchmark Tests

South African medical schools have assessments called the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) and are sort of equivalent to the American SAT tests. If these medical schools want you to write these assessments, then you need to be sure of which ones they require. The tests that are usually requested to be completed are the AQL and MAT for most healthcare-related fields (these will be discussed in detail in another article). Your school teachers can also guide you in when would be the best time to complete these tests, and may even assist you in studying for them. It doesn't hurt to ask, and teachers tend to make an effort for their students.

Although the medical institutions don't like to admit this, they actually do rely on the NBT results achieved by the prospective medical students. The way the questions are asked in these tests are different than in school so ask your teachers for assistance.

Playing the waiting game

All that is left then is to wait. You will be notified soon enough, so just relax and focus on other important aspects such as your studies as you still need to complete them and get good results.

If you are accepted, then congratulations. If more than one school has accepted you, then you will need to make your decision and answer promptly because the amount of places are limited and yours may be given away if you don't reply quick enough.

If you weren't accepted to the medical school you wanted, then there's always the second or third choice you put down. Remember, you have a chance to reapply after 6 months on your new results, and these will be on subjects primarily focusing on human and life sciences subjects.