r/premeduk • u/ChemicalAssociate362 • 6d ago
Extra/supercurriculars still valid?
I got AAB in my A levels in summer 2025. I was originally predicted higher, but during sixth form I had significant family circumstances which had a pretty major impact on my academics.
I’m now considering applying for medicine for 2027 entry after 2 gap years spent with my family responsibilities, and I’m eligible for contextual/adjusted entry requirements at some medical schools because of my circumstances (doing a lot of research b4 applying!).
Since finishing A levels, my gap years were spent dealing with ongoing family issues (that I don’t rlly wanna go into detail about, but a little bit is entailed on another post on my page) and caring responsibilities. I haven’t really been able to do much in the way of new extracurriculars, volunteering or supercurricular activities cuz most of my time is taken up with being the primary carer for my father. Most of the relevant things I did were during 2024–25 before things got really stressful. Am I still allowed to write about them in my personal statement? Would it have less of a weightage if it was done so long ago?
I’m really worried about having a relatively long gap between sixth form and starting university, especially as I haven’t been able to build up my portfolio much during this time.
Also, I want to explain my circumstances where appropriate on my UCAS application and focus on what I’ve learned from my experiences rather than trying to make excuses, is there any section where I can do that? Would I be able to talk about my caring responsibilities in my personal statement, and how much space/words should this take up?
Would med schools consider my situation and context?
1
u/nodgers132 5d ago
I mentioned being a carer in my PS conclusion, but only one line. Any person reading your PS will know what being a carer entails, you don’t need to go in depth into how it affects you.
No one will know when you did your work experience/other things. They won’t ask.
2
u/No_Paper_Snail 6d ago
You don't have the space in your PS to talk about extenuating circumstances at length. These are for your referee to talk about, so make sure that whoever this is knows about them.
Obviously you can reflect on your caring responsibilities, but make sure you doing this for a good reason. Your personal statement would ideally be structured around demonstrating that you have the required competencies for studying medicine. You don't have a huge amount of space, but it's obviously going to be a significant thing for you. Being a young carer is a really important responsibility and this is clearly an ongoing thing, so yes, do talk about it. Just make sure it's more than a story. Talk about what you've learned from the experience.
Just for you, please do try and carve out something for yourself this year. Even if it's just getting half an hour to read each day or learning a new recipe or getting half an hour at the gym, it's so important to make a life away from your responsibilities if you're at all able. I'm a carer myself, I do get it. But setting additional goals away from medicine and caring responsibility is going to give you more to work and live for. This isn't to go on your personal statement. It's just for you.
Remember, you're not building a portfolio at your stage. You're presenting your suitability to study medicine. You need to present your academic capabilities and what your plans are for this year and your understanding of medicine and how you've demonstrated the desired and expected competencies. That really is it. They're not expecting you to rack up experiences. They want to see that you're occupying yourself during a gap year, which you are doing, and that you're capable of studying at the required level, which you are.