Tactical Application Selection

You have exactly four UCAS choices for medicine (or dentistry). Choosing the right combination of universities is one of the most consequential decisions in your application. This lesson provides a systematic framework for making that choice, based on your UCAT score profile, academic performance, and personal strengths.

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The Fundamental Problem

Most medical school applicants choose their four universities based on reputation, location, or gut feeling. This is a mistake. The optimal approach is to choose based on where you are most likely to receive an offer, given your specific profile.

Consider two candidates with the same UCAT score of 2100:

• Candidate A applies to Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester (all high-threshold). Result: zero interview invitations.
• Candidate B applies to Birmingham, Leeds, Cardiff, and Exeter (spread across threshold levels). Result: three interview invitations.

Both had the same UCAT score. The difference was strategy.

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Step 1: Know Your Score Profile

Before choosing universities, document your complete profile:

UCAT Scores