Why do so many people want to study medicine?

It's highly stimulating for intellectuals.

Stimulating? It's a load of memorisation. Try doing a maths degree, love.

Keep saying that to yourself. What people find stimulating is subjective to different people. Plus, there's only so much you can do by memorising. Medicine IS applied biology with some chemistry content. If it's just memorising, anybody can do the course yet only the best few meet the demands.

Woah that's harsh... so do they talk to you now?

If it's just memorising, anybody can do the course yet only the best few meet the demands.

The grade requirements are partly the result of rising demand; not too long ago, it wasn't all that difficult to get in, grade-wise.

And considering that the competition is such that universities use criteria like empathy and ability to discuss ethics as part of the procedure (and people with high grades do get rejected every year), you might be using 'the best few' in the wrong sense there.

This may not be entirely relevant to OP, but I just find it funny how it appears to be extremely competitive to enter any Medical School in the UK yet there's always a shortage of doctors and NHS are forced to employ overseas doctors. I suppose one could argue how UK universities want only the best candidates from the applicant pool in their medical schools so that's why it is so competitive to get in, but would you not rather open up more spaces in medical schools and teach them the best way you know than have doctors from overseas with qualifications which you as an employer are not familiar with and have to overcome language obstacles (language level was also brought up as a problem recently)? Or at least not complain about having to call for doctors from overseas? Because that's a rather common headline in various newspapers.

The job security and respect that comes with it is very attractive.

For yourself or your husband-to-be?