Should I go to medical school? Factors to consider if applying in 2024

Deciding to pursue a career in medicine is a significant life choice that requires careful consideration. The year 2024 presents a unique trouble for aspiring medical students, with backlog of the healthcare systems, dropping numbers of working medical specialists caused also by Sunak’s new immigration policy, and changing societal needs. Before taking the plunge into medical school, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons and understand if this path aligns with your aspirations and circumstances.

Traditional Medical School:

A Tried – and - Tested Path

PROS:

1. Comprehensive education – Traditional medical school provide a well – structured curriculum. It covers a range of medical topics, ensuring students that they will leave with a solid foundation of medical knowledge.

2. Research opportunities – Established medical school often offer robust research programs, allowing medical students to explore medical breakthroughs and contribute themselves to scientific advancement.

3. Networking – Medical schools provide a platform to build a network of peers, professors, and mentors, which give ahead for the future, advantages other students won’t have.

4. Prestige and recognition – A medical degree from reputable medical schools carries a high level of prestige, respect, and accreditation. Despite of amazing possibilities and networking boosting up a medical career, research and more.

CONS:

1. High costs are the main reason why many students hesitate with medical applications and students’ loans repayments. It will create a significant financial burden not everyone can face, especially with no family support and with no previous networking in place. After all, it currently takes up to 15 years of training to become a fully qualified specialist doctor, including five years at medical school at a cost of up to £50,000 a year in fees. NHS bursaries only cover up to £2,643 a year of that (£3,191 in London). The recent BMA survey (2023) found 44 per cent of medical student respondents said they were likely to run out of money before the end of the academic year. Less than a third (31 per cent) felt their tuition fees represented value for money, and 5 per cent were planning on leaving their course in next 12 months.

2. Limited flexibility – The structured curriculum of medical schools will leave less room for pursuing any job opportunities, again leading students with a huge financial dilemma over living expenses, facing a dire dilemma between every day, and following a dream.

3. Lengthy duration – Medical school typically takes five to six years to complete, prolonging the time before a student can practice, therefore any later admission will end with later start of becoming a doctor. This may influence a mature student’s work and family life with additional debt and no time for medical school altogether.

4. Intense competition – Admission to medical school is highly competitive, requiring emanant extracurricular activities and exceptional academic records.

Medical Apprenticeships:

A Modern Approach

PROS:

1. Very convincing in this route is earning while learning; apprenticeships offer the opportunity to pay bills, while receiving education and training. It helps elevating financial strain and leave with no necessary choices to make to progress with a dream course. At present, medical students are students at the university, which contracts out the clinical placements to NHS placement providers in return for payment of around £30,000 per student each year. But the apprenticeship model turns this around with the student being an employee and the NHS trust contracting out their academic studies to a medical school. The report published in December by the Sutton Trust, social mobility charity, found only five per cent of those starting degree apprenticeships in any subject were from lower income areas, compared with 6.7 per cent of those going to university.

2. Structured training – Apprenticeships offer a well - defined training plan, which combines practical experience with theoretical learning.

CONS:

1. Limited choice – Comparing to a traditional medical route, medical apprenticeships might not be so widely available as traditional medical schools, therefore there are limited options to where apply.

2. Less prestigious – Many medical apprenticeships are not seen seriously, expanding degree apprenticeships is a hot political priority, with an ambition to widen access to a variety of top professions. Little surprise then that only about 4 per cent of doctors come from working class backgrounds, so for poorer students less prestigious course will make more harm than good. Choosing to pursue medical school in 2024 requires thoughtful introspection and research. Beyond the allure of a respected profession, aspiring medical students should consider their passion for medicine, educational readiness, financial implications (and the lack of financial stability a doctor job may give you for many years in your early stages) and your adaptability to a changing healthcare landscape. While becoming a medical professional can be immensely rewarding, it's crucial to ensure that the decision aligns with a student’s long-term goals, values, and circumstances.