Eight aspiring medical students from schools across the Island recently took part in a four-hour mock Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) event at St. Ninian’s Upper School, helping them prepare for the medical school application process.
St. Ninian’s AimHigher Co-ordinator, Jonty Haywood, designed seven interview stations to assess the key skills and attributes required for a career in medicine. These included exploring the realities of working as a doctor, performing calculations under pressure, explaining medical concepts to a child, prioritising actions in a crisis, and applying ethical principles to complex scenarios. One roleplay station required students to demonstrate professionalism and empathy while informing a parent of a vaccination error involving their child.
Seven volunteer assessors generously gave up their afternoon to support the event. Among them was Dr Karen Wilson of Mannin Doctors, who interviewed each student, provided individual feedback, and shared insights from her own career in medicine. She also delivered an invaluable live demonstration of how an experienced doctor might approach a sensitive conversation with a concerned parent.
Competition for places at UK medical schools remains exceptionally strong. Applications increased by 10% last year, and despite many candidates achieving excellent Sixth Form results, securing relevant work experience, and attaining strong University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) scores, only around one in four applicants ultimately gain a place.
St Ninian’s is extremely grateful to the professionals who volunteered their time and expertise to support the event. The school would welcome interest from Isle of Man doctors and healthcare professionals who would like to contribute to future sessions and help prepare the next generation of medical professionals.
