Beyond Borders: Dr. Rawan’s Journey to Medicine

Growing up in Syria 

When I was growing up, I actually wanted to be an engineer. But when I was around 14, the war started in Syria, which is where I lived. All of a sudden, it was an absurd idea to become anything but a doctor because people were dying every day.

From then on, I didn't have a plan B – it was always medicine. I started my medical degree at the University of Aleppo and studied for two and a half years. But after that, it wasn't safe to stay there anymore.

‘I thought to myself that when people are dying, they don't need a poet or an architect. What they really need is a doctor.’

I decided to relocate to the UK and start again from scratch. I spent my days and nights emailing UK medical schools to see if they would accept my qualifications (I didn’t have any A-levels or any kind of British qualifications). Most of them said no, some didn’t reply, and a few said maybe.

So, I decided to start working on my IELTS (International English Language Testing System) which is an English language proficiency test, and a requirement for all the medical schools I was applying to. After two attempts, I got the score I needed.

Searching for support and guidance

After completing my IELTS, I realised I also have to sit an exam called the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). I’d never even heard of this test before.

So, I started going to the library, looking at books and so on, but it just seemed impossible. I had to be adaptable to whatever came my way so I thought to myself I can’t worry about the IELTS or UCAT, interviews, and funding all at once. I need to take this one step at a time and things will work out. 

At this point, what I needed was an online platform to practise UCAT questions. That’s when I came across Medify. Medify appealed to me because, first of all, it’s affordable. And this was a very important consideration for me.

At the time, I didn’t have any source of income as I’d just arrived in the UK. Medify’s UCAT platform looked professional and was easy to navigate. I was also able to access Medify’s Personal Statement course for free, which massively helped me with what to write and how to make it flow nicely.

‘With Medify’s help, I got marks that put me in the top decile, so that made my interviews easier.’

I then started looking for affordable interview courses, but the prices were astronomical. So, I ended up using different online resources to prepare for my interviews.

I had no prior knowledge of the NHS and had no idea what any of the many acronyms meant. I wasn’t even familiar with any UK history or politics, so I researched this and made hundreds of pages of notes.

Overcoming barriers to entry into medicine

Eventually, I got four offers to study medicine at Glasgow, Manchester, QMUL, and Queen’s University Belfast. Although I was happy to receive these offers, there was still the huge issue of funding.

I applied to Student Finance England and my application was rejected because I hadn’t been a resident in the UK for at least three years. 

‘At this point, I thought, that’s it. This is the end of my medical path and I can’t do anything about it.’

Even though I got all my offers, I was disappointed. It felt like a waste of effort and I regretted going through all of that naively knowing I don’t have the funding.

I started to think maybe it was not meant to be, and that I should start looking into other career options such as tutoring, which I started doing that year alongside applying to medical school.

Refusing to give up on hope

I decided to start looking into scholarships. I remember when I received an email to interview for a scholarship, I actually archived the email as I thought it was a hoax.

As I was swiping left, I read the word ‘interview’, so I swiped right again. At this time, I was submitting applications to anything I could find online – I didn’t even remember submitting this specific application.

After attending the interview, I received an email saying that I’d been given a scholarship for the full tuition fees for five years of medical school!

I couldn't believe it was real because if you go online, you don't see that there's hope. Throughout my journey I had to search for all the answers I didn’t have. I read so much, and searched a lot in order to be prepared.

Having been awarded my MBBS degree with Distinction, I see my journey as a live example of a famous quote I believed in: ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’

My main message is this: If you’re struggling on your journey to medicine, don’t give up on hope. Equip and prepare yourself and take things one step at a time. Surround yourself with supportive people and stay away from those who put you down.

Unfortunately, many people think, ‘If this person does better, then I’m doing worse, and I have less chance of getting in.’ That mindset of competition and being up against each other is the wrong one to have. We help ourselves by helping others. 

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Do you need support during your admissions journey? 

At Medify, our mission is to democratise healthcare education, and break down barriers to entry into medicine and dentistry. See below for a number of helpful resources:

• Educational Grants and Scholarships – Schwab & Westheimer – educational support for refugees
• Guidance for international students – what you need to consider as an international student aspiring to study medicine in the UK, including the process and costs
• Hope for the Young – mentoring, advocacy, and financial support for young refugees and asylum-seekers
• RefuAid – tailored support to help people who have fled their home and are rebuilding their life in the UK
• Refugee Study – information on scholarships, grants, and free courses for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK
• Medify discounts, scholarships and bursaries – find out if you’re eligible for financial support

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