‘How to Get into Medical School in Australia’ is the definitive guide on how to succeed in your application to medical school – and how to excel once there. The book provides comprehensive details of the admissions processes – both undergraduate and graduate – in an easy-to-digest, chronological format, to help you manage your application step by step.

This detailed handbook includes an overview of the admissions process and the career of a doctor, characteristics sought in potential medical students and how to optimise them, study techniques for high school and undergraduate students, information on how to prepare for the medical school entry exams (UMAT and GAMSAT), the pros and cons of undergraduate and postgraduate medical school, and timelines on when to begin preparing for each step of the application process.

The guide also features advice on special applications (for mature age, indigenous, rural and international students), non-traditional routes of entry, how to optimise your medical school application form (including sample resumés), and the all-important medical school interview – including how to prepare, how to dress and how to answer questions successfully on the day, as well as several pages of practice interview questions.

Once you have succeeded in gaining admission, the book also offers information on what medical school is like, and advice on how to excel and enjoy it (including a list of necessary textbooks). Additionally, the guide includes advice from people who have excelled in various parts of the process: those who aced their high school leaver’s exams, medical students, and junior and senior doctors. They describe their experiences and, most importantly, provide tips and guidance on how to succeed in getting into and studying at medical school. Also included are the profiles of every medical school in Australia, detailing entry requirements, contact details, fees, numbers of places for students and the focus and academic ranking of each individual school. 

Dr Timothy Shiraev completed his Bachelor of Science (Honours) in 2007 and his Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (Honours) in 2012. He has published various research articles in international peer-reviewed journals. 

How to Get Into Medical School

Editors and Contributors; CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION: Why You Should Read this Book, What it’s Like to Become a Doctor, Summary of the Application Process, My Experience; CHAPTER 2: CHARACTERISTICS OF A DOCTOR: Academic Qualities, Empathy, Communication, Teamwork, Leadership, Conflict Resolution, Self-Reflection; CHAPTER 3: STUDY TECHNIQUES: How to Study at High School, Exam Study, How to Study at University, Exam Study; CHAPTER 4: OVERVIEW ON APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL: Undergraduate Medical School Application Timeline, Graduate Medical School Application Timeline; CHAPTER 5: UNDERGRADUATE ENTRY INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THE UMAT: Universities that offer Undergraduate Medicine, General Undergraduate Entry Requirements, Timeline of the UMAT Process, High School Marks and Subjects, UMAT: Introduction to the UMAT, Sections of the UMAT, How to Study for the UMAT, Tips for the UMAT, Useful Resources, Preparation Courses for the UMAT, The Day Before the UMAT, On the Day of the UMAT; CHAPTER 6: GRADUATE ENTRY INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THE GAMSAT: Universities that offer Graduate Medicine, General Graduate Entry Requirements, Timeline of the GAMSAT Process, University Marks, GAMSAT: Introduction to the GAMSAT, Sections of the GAMSAT, How and What to Study for the GAMSAT, Tips for the GAMSAT, Useful Resources, Preparation Courses for the GAMSAT, The Day Before the GAMSAT, On the Day of the GAMSAT; CHAPTER 7: SPECIAL APPLICANTS: Mature Age Students, Graduate Entry into undergraduate Programs, Indigenous Students, Rural Students, International Students; CHAPTER 8: THE APPLICATION: Where to Apply?, The Application Form: Curriculum Vitae, How to Write a Curriculum Vitae, How to Best Present Your Characteristics, Lying, University Places and Fees; CHAPTER 9: THE INTERVIEW: Dress Code, How to Prepare for the Interview, In the Interview; CHAPTER 10: THE LETTER: Acceptance, Rejection: What Now?, Trying Again, Alternate Careers; CHAPTER 11: YOU’VE MADE IT INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL: Pre-clinical Years: Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, Diseases, Clinical Years: Presenting a Patient, On the Wards, Ward Rounds, Theatre, The Emergency Department, Radiology, Recommended Textbooks, Backing Up Work, Finances, Accommodation and Transport, What Now?; CHAPTER 12: UNIVERSITY INFORMATION: Undergraduate Medical Schools: University of New South Wales, University of Newcastle/ University of New England (Joint Medical Program), University of Western Sydney, Monash University, University of Adelaide, Flinders University, University of Queensland (Provisional Entry), Bond University, University of Tasmania, James Cook University, University of Western Australia (Provisional Entry), University of Otago, Graduate Medical Schools: University of Sydney, University of Notre Dame (Sydney), University of Wollongong, University of Melbourne, Monash University, Deakin University, Flinders University, University of Queensland, Griffith University, University of Western Australia, University of Notre Dame (Fremantle), Australian National University, University of Otago; APPENDICES: Practice UMAT Questions, Practice GAMSAT Questions, Sample Curriculum Vitae, Interview Questions; REFERENCES: Further Reading: Curriculum Vitae Writing and Building, and Interview Skills, Entry to Medical School, Medical Ethics, Medical School Resources, Medical School Textbooks, UMAT, GAMSAT and Study Techniques; Index