Just Ask: A Medical School Offer, a Sunset, and a Lot of Love for Life

Today, as I stared out of my window, the sun left behind a yellow burn on the sky - the kind of glow that lingers, refusing to say goodbye. Somewhere in the fading light, heart-shaped clouds fluttered past like love notes from the universe. Maybe it was the sunset. Maybe it was just my mood. But it felt like a quiet, poetic reminder: life is good.

Actually, scratch that. Life is great. Even when it’s heavy. Even when it’s loud and confusing. Especially then. Life still gives us little slivers of brilliance - like sunsets, like second chances, like UCAS offers you thought were out of reach.

Recently, a mother sat down with me, worry written all over her face (and eyebrows - the eyebrows always say it all). Her child, an IB student studying outside the UK, was aiming for the ever-glamorous, always-competitive world of UK Medical Schools.

She said, “We just don’t know where to begin.”

And I said, with the confidence of someone who’s watched way too many spy thrillers, “Don’t worry. You’ve come to the right place.”

The student’s predicted grades? A dazzling 42. That’s not “fair” - that’s “get the bunting out and start the party” territory. For most medical schools in the UK, that’s a solid foundation. But, as you may know, getting into Medicine isn’t just about grades. It’s about gracefully pole-vaulting over hurdles like UCAT, personal statements, and interviews - all without tripping on your own ambition.

And when you're an IB student, the BMAT's science-heavy sections (hello Physics, old foe) can feel especially unfriendly. But in this student’s case, it wasn’t Section 2 that threw the spanner; it was Section 3. The essay. The English.

English wasn’t their first language. And while grammar can be drilled and vocabulary memorised, true academic writing, persuasive, clear, and confident, takes time. Time this student didn’t really have.

So we got to work.

Let me say this for the record: mastering English isn’t a quick-fix situation. You can’t just binge-watch Downton Abbey and walk into UCAT with Shakespearean flair. It takes strategy, technique, patience, and a bit of psychological warfare (against self-doubt, mostly). But it’s worth every moment.

And then there’s the interview. The dreaded performance. You might be the chatty student who’s been voted “Most Likely to Become a YouTuber.” Or the quiet one who communicates through manga annotations. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, interviews are an art.

Luckily, this student could talk. Oh, they could talk. In fact, despite scoring just above average in UCAT, I had a strong hunch (the kind that makes you sit up straighter): this one’s going to nail the interview.

Of course, we had to fine-tune a few things. Less “er…” More impact. Less jazz hands. More structure. But the result?

An offer from UCL Medical School.

Cue the celebratory snacks.

So yes, I love what I do. Helping students find their voice, their confidence, their way into some of the most competitive courses in the UK - that’s my idea of a great day.

But this story isn’t just about Medicine. Or even just about this one student. It’s about something simpler:

If you’re stuck, academically, emotionally, even existentially, just ask.

Ask early. Ask big. Ask small. Ask me.

Because sometimes the right question can change everything.

Need help with your university application?

Whether you're applying to Medicine, Law, Engineering, or something else entirely, I'm here to help. Personalised support. Premium care. Proven results.

→ Get in touch today. And remember: just ask.