Ashton Neo is a third-year medical student and Project Lead for the KCL Paediatric Surgery Society’s volunteering project, Mock MMI Interview Day. Delivered through the Society, the project offered a free interview preparation day for students from comprehensive schools, aiming to reduce barriers to entering medicine. Working closely with his team, particularly Marvey, the Society Secretary, Ashton guided the project from planning to delivery, with their collaboration playing a key role in the day’s success.
For Ashton, the motivation was deeply personal. “Even having the ambition to study medicine is increasingly becoming harder,” he says. With more applicants each year, those who can afford paid preparation often gain a clear advantage. “Some comprehensive schools just do not have the tools or funding to mentor aspiring medics, and this puts them at a grave disadvantage.”
The idea was to help close that gap by focusing on what Ashton believes is the most challenging part of the application process: interviews. “What we set out to achieve was to offer a free experience day preparing students for interviews.” Coming from a disadvantaged background himself, widening access was something he strongly connected with. “Anybody who wants to achieve something should be given the best opportunity to succeed, regardless of their personal circumstances.”
Ashton stepped into the role of Project Lead at the encouragement of the Society’s President, Samyuktha. While he had previously supported projects across different student groups, this was his first time taking on a leadership role. “I wanted to challenge myself and take on an incredibly important role that I had never done before.” Running the project through a student society was key, providing the structure, safeguarding, and volunteer base needed to deliver the work responsibly.
The project was supported through the Volunteer Project Fund, which Ashton felt aligned closely with their aims. “We were targeting a disadvantaged population and had a clear plan to support them.” Volunteers, all medical students, were well placed to conduct mock interviews and give constructive feedback. His advice to first-time applicants is simple: “Just go for it. The team are incredibly kind, receptive and helpful.”
Reaching students relied heavily on teamwork. The Society’s Secretary, Marvey, contacted local comprehensive schools to advertise the opportunity, resulting in over 300 expressions of interest. “We couldn’t take all of them,” Ashton says. “But it really cements how much students need free support to prepare for the application process.”
On the day itself, Ashton says his proudest moment was seeing the volunteers in action. “They were incredibly receptive and took their roles seriously.” Feedback from students consistently highlighted how valuable the volunteers’ guidance was and how helpful it was to experience a realistic interview environment. “I couldn’t be more thrilled with their involvement.”
The biggest challenge was logistics. “I thought I had thought of every single scenario, but I had many problems come up on the day,” he says, ranging from room changes to practical details like water and snacks. What surprised him most, however, was how much he enjoyed solving those problems. “Seeing the volunteers and students better for it was a great feeling.”
"This event gave me an opportunity to engage with the local community and help those who are in the same shoes I was only a couple of years ago." - KCL Student Volunteer
Looking back, Ashton feels the project achieved what it set out to do. “From the engagement we saw to the feedback we received, I believe we’ve given students tools to better prepare and succeed.”
"I didn't get any exposure or interview practice at my own school. Having this event made me understand what is expected of me. The medical students (volunteers) were super helpful and answered every question we have" - Sixth Form Participant
Leading the project strengthened his confidence and communication skills and showed him how willing people are to support a cause they believe in.
His advice to students with an idea but unsure where to start is refreshingly honest: “Split the big challenges into smaller steps. Just focus on the next one. Eventually everything will fall into place – and if it doesn’t, that’s fine. Roll with the punches.”
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