BSMS > About BSMS > Information for schools, teachers and parents > In Focus - Sam Stapley

In Focus - Sam Stapley

Sam Stapley

Year of Study: Year 5

Fifth Year student Sam Stapley discusses his transition to university life, the best things about living in Brighton and Hove, and how he chose which medical schools to apply to.

What made you want to study at BSMS?

A number of things! I am from Brighton and so I know how wonderful this city is which was a big reason to stay. Furthermore, through having been on the BrightMed programme I was very familiar with the medical school and felt comfortable staying. The practically minded and clinical focus of our course was also attractive to me as well as the opportunity to do dissection.

What work experience did you undertake before applying to medicine? How was it beneficial?

I spent two weeks in the hospital shadowing doctors during the Years 11 and 12 summers, one week with the vascular department and one with the trauma and orthopaedics department. It was really useful as it gave me a good insight into the functioning of hospitals and some direct experience of some of the qualities that are important to being a good physician. However, it taught me very little about medicine because I was too inexperienced to properly appreciate the information that was available to me. I feel my two years working with a charity specialising in physiotherapy for children with cerebral palsy taught me far more that has been useful to my career. Having to balance charity work with academic studies was really valuable in terms of time management. Working with kids impressed on me the importance of having a professional but friendly demeanour when working in a care capacity, something I have carried through into my time as a medical student.

How did you prepare for the BMAT/UCAT?

Practice! I found BMAT practice a lot more straightforward and the key is just to do all of the past papers and read up on anything you're not sure about. UCAT is a little more complicated so I'd recommend getting access to various online question banks to give you an idea of the style and timing of questions as well as how to operate the online system. With the UCAT the main thing you can do is get familiar with how they ask questions.

How did you prepare for your interview(s) for medical school?

MMI interviews were not common when I applied to medical school so I can only give my experience of panel interviews. The key thing is to practice loads of questions so you have an idea of what is coming your way as well as keeping up to date with medical news and things happening at the university - they like it if you come across keen to go to their institution.

Do you have a top tip for interviews?

Be yourself! I know its said a lot but presenting a clear and confident personality will not only make you more comfortable but also allow the interviewers to get a better sense of you as a person. Also I'd recommend really knowing your personal statement as that will help you come across coherently and prevent you from becoming stressed.

Is there a piece of advice you wish you could have given your younger self when thinking about/applying to medicine?

Actually visit the universities before applying to them, partly to assess the atmosphere of the university but also to have a look around the city to see if it is somewhere you'd like to live. I didn't visit two of the universities I applied to beforehand and wish I had done.

How did you choose which medical schools to apply to?

It's important to apply to universities that you have a shot at getting into and as such, I applied to universities that suited my academic profile. I have a D in AS politics so didn't apply to universities that looked at AS grades. Similarly, I didn't do maths or physics at A-level so I didn't apply to universities that had a preference for those. However, I personally think it is vital to apply to a medical school in a city you'd like to live in, you have to spend at least five years at medical school so I think it’s so important to do it in a city that you can enjoy, it makes studying so much easier. Finally, I think it's key to look at each university's curriculum and see which fits your style of learning, whether that's very academic or more practically-minded or dissection versus prosection.

How did you find/ manage the transition to university?

I went to a large college and so the step to university didn't seem particularly dramatic. However, what did feel odd was realising that I actually had to properly study! I think when you apply to medical school you feel like you're applying to be a doctor, which is in some ways true, but you are also applying for a long and difficult degree course and so you actually have to put the work in, something I probably should have done a little more of over the years!

Which part of your course have you found the most interesting so far?

Actually being on hospital wards. Lectures are useful but they don't do a very good job of preparing you for the realities of medicine or for life as a doctor and so being on wards and seeing patients really helps me stay enthused as well as learn about the many facets of medicine.

What has been your BSMS highlight so far?

Spending time in A&E, it’s the area of medicine I am most interested in and so working in an Emergency Department and actually seeing how it works is really rewarding.

What is your favourite thing about studying and living in Brighton?

The music scene! I am a musician and as such living in a city with such a vibrant music scene and counterculture helps keep me relaxed and enjoying life during the times when medical school can be a little trying.

Do you have a favourite place to visit in Brighton and Hove?

The North Laine is the centre of what I think makes Brighton the amazing city it is. Lots of small, independent shops and cafes (and pubs!) help give this city a fierce uniqueness which is endlessly enjoyable.

What is your top tip for prospective applicants applying to study medicine?

There is no model medical student, so don't try and be one. Throughout your application process, it is key to understand your strengths and weakness, harnessing them to produce an application which is genuinely reflective of you and all the qualities that make you special.