Thinking about Medicine or Dentistry

Why study medicine or dentistry Where to study Skills, attributes and qualifications

needed How to apply Work experience tests Other ways of helping your application

Do you have the right academic profile? Do you know what it entails? Why do you want to be a

doctor/dentist? Do you have the right personal

attributes? Are you prepared to work hard?3

Click on the column titles to view definitionssubject choices accepts % total accepts my centre nationally

V1 - History by Period 51 11 6.1% 21.6% 17.9%

A1 - Pre-clinical Medicine 41 8 4.4% 19.5% 9.6%

C8 - Psychology 39 7 3.9% 17.9% 17.8%

M1 - Law by Area 38 7 3.9% 18.4% 18.3%

B7 - Nursing 36 6 3.3% 16.7% 11.2%

C1 - Biology 36 6 3.3% 16.7% 17.7%

F1 - Chemistry 36 7 3.9% 19.4% 17.9%

Z Combs of 3 subjects, or other general courses 33 9 5.0% 27.3% 22.6%

L7 - Human and Social Geography 32 5 2.8% 15.6% 18.7%

Y Combs of languages with arts/humanities 30 4 2.2% 13.3% 18.8%

DUTIES of a DOCTOR (GMC)

‘Patients must be able to trust doctors with their lives & health’

Choosing a medical school

Traditional or Lecture-based learning (LBL) or

Problem based Learning (PBL)

28 medical schools offering courses for school leavers (5 or 6 years)

16 medical schools offering courses for graduates (4 year courses)

6 medical schools in London

Check with individual schools GCSEs- may stipulate number of A*s A levels- Chemistry nearly always,

Biology sometimes 3rd A level? A*AAb - AAB Other tests

AAAb Two sciences at A2 - one must be Biology or

Chemistry (if one of these is dropped before A2, a B grade must be attained in that subject). Third A2 can be science or non-science. AS can be in any academic subject

General Studies, Critical Thinking, Further Maths (not considered as a separate A2 but acceptable as an additional AS level only).

A*AA A2 Chem and one of Biol/ Phys/Maths A in Biology at AS if not taken at A2.

Zoology or Human Biology are acceptable substitutes for Biology. "Preference will be given to those applicants who offer AAAA, achieved by the end of the first year of A level study"

1606 applications 260 places 778 rejected before interview 805 interviewed 281 rejected after interview 516 places offered 6 applicants per place Each applies to 4- 1.5 applicants per

place

595 applications 55 places 323 rejected before interview 265 interviewed 121 rejected after interview 135 places offered 10 applicants per place Each applies to 4- 2.5 applicants per

place

Statistics from the 2011 admissions round (for 2012 entry) 1,465 applications (1,431 in 2010). Overall, approximately 28% of applicants were short-listed (30% in

2010). Initial short-listing was based heavily on available GCSE and BMAT data ‘it is possible that the chance of being short-listed can be

increased/reduced if an applicant has a higher/lower proportion of A* grades than would be predicted for the average student from their GCSE school.’

425 interviewed 160 offers mean adjusted BMAT score was 68%.

evidence of work experience enhanced criminal records check Health assessment Vaccination against a range of infections to

protect you

Deadline for registering is before UCAS deadline

UKCAT - Aberdeen; Brighton and Sussex ; Cardiff ; Dundee ; Durham; East Anglia ; Edinburgh; Glasgow ; Hull York ; Keele ; KCL ;Leeds; Leicester ; Manchester ; Newcastle ; Nottingham ; Peninsula Medical School ; Barts and The London ; Queen's University Belfast ; Sheffield; Southampton ; St George’s.

Taken on line Driving test centres Required by the majority of Medical

Schools

MCQ 2 h test in 5 sections, each section timed separately Verbal reasoning – drawing logical conclusions from

written information Quantitative reasoning – solving numerical problems Abstract reasoning - inferring relationships from the

information provided Decision analysis – pulling all the above together. Non-cognitive analysis - identifies personal characteristics

including robustness, empathy and integrity (not used in selection)

No set curriculum Not testing factual knowledge Can find practice questions on the

UKCAT website Make sure you familiarise yourself with

the instructions of each section – once you start the test, you can’t go back

Register on line Select test, test centre and date and time of

test Present yourself to the test centre Must take test by early October of the year in

which you plan to apply to medical school Cost You results will also be communicated directly

to your chosen universities, but no one else

Pen and paper test Number of centres – can often take the

test at school Required by: Oxford Cambridge Imperial College University College

2 h test 3 sections Aptitude and Skills – generic problem solving

skills Scientific Knowledge and Application –

application of scientific and mathematical knowledge (up to Key stage 4)

Writing Task – one from 3 - requires you to make a argument, effectively and concisely

Practice tests on BMAT website Brush up on GCSE knowledge of

biology, chemistry, physics and maths if you are not taking these at A level

BMAT test centres (schools) register candidates Test is taken in early November on a pre-determined

day and time Cost

You get your results in early December Results are communicated directly to

those of your chosen medical schools who require BMAT as part of their entrance requirement

You get your results in early December Results are communicated directly to

those of your chosen medical schools who require BMAT as part of their entrance requirement

No set method of using the results Need to check with each individual

medical school Should find details on website When in doubt about entry

requirements – check the relevant medical school official website

NOT a chat room – lot of misinformation!

Your application won’t be considered without it

It will help you decide if medicine is for you

It will allow you to understand the profession and develop relevant skills

A range- both medical and caring, primary and secondary care

Shadow a GP/ Dentist/ Consultant Work with nursing team GP reception Care home/ nursing home/ hospice pharmacy

Mentor younger students FACT/ SHARE St John’s Ambulance First Aid volunteering in hospital café, WRVS Working with disabled Help with elderly relatives Duke of Edinburgh, World Challenge

Allied professions eg occupational therapy, radiography, midwives

www.gapmedics.com - for experience abroad

Work in charity shops

Contact lots of places and apply early Consider writing to people directly Use contacts Use hospital websites Contact HR departments; follow up

with a phone call Talk to Mrs Sutton

Ask questions Keep a reflective diary Make more contacts Ask advice Listen Get some written proof of having done

the work experience

Through UCAS by 15th October 2015 4 choices and 1 non medicine Advise you not to apply to more than

one BMAT course

Crucial Reasons for choosing medicine Work Experience How you have researched into a career

in medicine Reading and wider appreciation of

course and profession Interests and hobbies

Most medical schools interview Preparation Mock interview scenarios