Work Experience

The Importance of Work Experience in Medical School Applications

Work experience is a key part of the medical school application process—but it’s not about collecting impressive job titles or clocking hours with famous surgeons. Medical schools want to see what you’ve learned from your experiences, not just what you’ve done.

Many applicants assume that shadowing a top neurosurgeon or consultant for a week automatically gives them an edge. However, medical schools understand that the value of work experience isn’t measured by the prestige of the placement, but by your insight into the realities of healthcare. For example, spending time with a healthcare assistant in a care home—supporting patients with personal care and daily tasks—is just as valuable, if not more so, than observing high-profile surgeries. These experiences expose you to the human side of medicine, teamwork, and the kinds of challenges patients and staff face daily.

Reflection is key. Simply listing where you spent your time is not enough. Admissions tutors want to read thoughtful reflections showing you’ve engaged critically with what you saw and experienced. What surprised you? What did you find challenging? How did the experience change or confirm your views about a career in medicine? Without this reflective element, work experience adds little value to your application.

Beware of Paying for Work Experience

In recent years, many companies have started charging large sums—sometimes thousands of pounds—for “exclusive” shadowing or residential work experience weeks with top surgeons or specialists. While these programmes might offer unique experiences, you absolutely do not need to pay for work experience to strengthen your medical school application.

Spending £2,000 to shadow a cardiothoracic surgeon and learn suturing or x-ray interpretation is not a requirement and will not necessarily impress admissions tutors more than a free week of work experience at your local hospital or care home. Medical schools want applicants who show a genuine understanding of what medicine involves—its demands, its rewards, and its realities—not just flashy experiences.

What Medical Schools Really Want

At the core, medical schools are not looking for mini-doctors; they want students who have a realistic and heartfelt appreciation for what a career in medicine entails. Genuine curiosity, empathy, and maturity often come through in the reflections on varied work experiences, whether that’s assisting in a nursing home, volunteering in a clinic, or observing in a hospital ward.

Ultimately, the quality of your learning and reflection matters far more than the quantity or glamour of your placements. Focus on meaningful experiences, learn from them, and articulate that learning clearly—this is what will make your application stand out.