01/05/2012 www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers Alison Clay, Careers Adviser
Getting into Medicine & Dentistry
Tuesday 1 May, 2012
Today’s session
• Issues to consider BEFORE applying
• How to apply
• Personal statement
• Tips & hints on work experience and meeting other essential criteria
• Interview stage
• Funding
• Sources of advice and information
Issues to consider BEFORE applying
• Why do I want to be a …?
• Skills and qualities?
• Entry requirements inc. first degree and A-levels, entrance exams, international students
• Academic potential?
• Shadowing and work experience? Reflections are key
• Choice of HE institution inc. type of course & length
• Training / career development
• Costs and funding availability for courses
Course options
• 4-year accelerated course for graduates
• UG course (typically 5-years; few 6 years inc BSc)
• 6-year course inc. foundation year ‘0’
• How it’s taught varies! PBL based on real life clinical experience Vs clearer split between theoretical studies and clinical practice.
• More details on UCAS website: www.ucas.com and individual medical / dental school websites
Applying for Medicine & Dentistry (1)
• Online via UCAS: www.ucas.com
• Closing date for 2013 entry: 15 Oct 2012.
• Apply as ‘individual’
• 4 choices max. (NB: show focus)
• 2012 fee = £22 (£11 if only apply to one)
• Online FAQs / Tel helpline: 0871 468 0 468
• Admissions tests? UKCAT, GAMSAT, BMAT. Date may be before UCAS deadline! Talk: 11.00am Thurs 3rd May BLT1
Applying for Medicine & Dentistry (2)
• Research course content and teaching
• Talk to the admissions team, visit the School eg Open Day
• Strong personal statement vital
• Strong academic reference can really help
• Relevant supporting materials sent later – don’t overwhelm
• Additional application form or CV – eg, for mature applicants
A bit more detail……
• Applications (personal statement)
• Interviews
NB: Using Medicine at Sheffield as an example – similar principles apply to other Schools and for dentistry courses, too.
UCAS form: personal statement • Academic achievements: knowledge & skills
• Motivation - why medicine and why now as a mature / graduate applicant?
• Commitment to medicine - evidence of understanding work of doctor & what’s happening in the profession
• Work experience & achievements in extra- curricular activities – how do these demonstrate your personal qualities (core qualities of a doctor) – REFLECTION IS KEY
• Clear and logical – good written communication. Show personality – first impressions last.
Personal qualities (1)
Show you have core qualities of a good doctor
Provide evidence of your: • Good communication skills
• Concern for welfare of others
• Personal qualities of honesty, integrity and ability to recognise own limitations, self-motivation, working under pressure, etc
• Work in a team and leadership skills
Highlight endeavour in non-academic areas
Personal qualities (2)
Indicate your patient-focus:
• Show you understand (and agree) that patient care is the primary duty of a doctor
Demonstrate enthusiasm & commitment:
• Demonstrate personal research into what a career in medicine entails
• Evidence of attempts to experience the work of a doctor
• Read around the subject, know what’s happening in the profession and have an opinion about it!
Tips on work experience
• Start by talking to your GP & other healthcare workers
• Obtain work (or shadowing) in hospitals or GP surgery, to talk to healthcare workers
• Talk to medical students & junior doctors as well as consultants ( eg try Med Soc)
• Voluntary work in the community eg STH, www.vas.org.uk, www.sheffieldhelpyourself.org.uk, www.do-it.org.uk
• (un)paid work in residential homes or other caring environments like hospices: MyVacancies, local newspapers, plus own research (www.yell.com)
• Relate other work experience to profession
Care networking event
Monday 14th May
12.00 -1.30pm
Gallery Room 2, Students Union
Advice & information from:
• Sheffield City Council ; NHS Volunteering
• CareWatch; Broomcroft Nursing Home
• Good Neighbours Scheme; Skills for Care
• Plus others…….
Participation
is better than
Observation
Interviews – the basics
• Check format – eg, panel interview (Sheffield), Multiple Mini Interviews (UEA), assessment days (Warwick)
• Be prepared – spend time researching and practising
• Dress the part - professional
• Create a good first impression
• Body language as well as articulation
• Try to relax and let your personality shine!
• UCAS personal statement may form basis for questions
Panel interview – likely topics (1)
• Reason for wanting to be a doctor (motivation, enthusiasm, realism)
• Understanding of course and reasons for choosing this institution
• Degree studies and relevance
• Explore other qualities relevant to being a doctor (esp. Via CBQs) inc. capacity to deal with stress
• Ability to communicate, express ideas clearly and follow a reasoned argument
• Ability to interact with/relate to others
Panel interview – likely topics (2)
• Outside interests, sometimes in depth
• Previous work experience (hands-on caring plus other types)
• Matters of “medical interest”: – History of medicine and medical breakthroughs
– Topical controversies and ethical issues
– NHS politics
• And ability to express an intelligent view on the above
MMIs
• Several ‘stations’
• 1:1 discussions with an assessor (CBQs; why medicine; current affairs, medical knowledge, etc)
• Role play activities eg, actor plays role of a neighbour to whom you need to break some bad news
• Individual puzzles eg, prioritise 30 items to take on holiday when only allowed 15
• Moral dilemmas, eg, you are given the scenario of a family dispute and must describe how you would mediate
Assessment days
• Group work activity
• Written exercise
• Your observations / comments on a health-professional-patient consultation role play performed by actors
Have you got the X-Factor?
Convincing
Articulate self-marketing
Enthusiastic
Funding
• Dept of Health / NHS may give UK domiciled students: Tuition fee assistance and means-tested maintenance bursary s.t course type, year of study and your situation. Student loans available via Student Finance England – see next slides
• International students – try sources in home-country
• Institution’s own bursary system
• Charities and trusts (ask at Careers Service; see Prospects PG)
• Part-time work (if you have time!!!)
• Loans from banks, family or friends?
• Talk to the Student Advice Centre: www.shef.ac.uk/union/advice
• See if admissions teams can offer any suggestions
Medicine & Dentistry 5/6-Year UG courses funding 2012 entry • In Years 1 to 4 of training, English domiciled students
responsible for own tuition fees (up to £9,000) and living costs, although may be able to apply for SFE loan for maintenance.
• English domiciled students eligible for means-tested NHS bursary and help with tuition fees from 5th year of study. Also entitled to apply for reduced rate SFE student loan from year 5.
• Students domiciled in other UK areas should contact the appropriate national authority for details.
• For more info: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/816.aspx
Medicine & Dentistry 4-Year ‘Fast-track’ funding 2012 entry • In Year One, English domiciled students responsible for
first £3.375 of tuition fees but can apply to SFE for loan to cover rest . Can apply to SFE for maintenance loan.
• In years two, three and four NHS bursary pays first £3,375 of tuition fees with SFE loans a possibility to cover the rest. NHS maintenance bursary available plus reduced rate SFE loan to meet the balance of living costs.
• Students domiciled in other UK areas should contact the appropriate national authority for details.
• Further information: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/816.aspx
Finding out more….. (1)
About the profession: • Prospects website: www.prospects.ac.uk ‘Jobs &
work experience’ / ‘Types of jobs’ • Professional bodies like BMA & BDA (links from
above website) • Careers Service: occupations files, books, info
sheets • Talk to those in the profession, work shadow &
obtain hands-on work experience • Research into professional training
Finding out more….. (1)
About your ‘suitability’: – Talk to a Careers Adviser, your tutor,
family and friends, a practising professional, etc
About the course: – Talk to admissions tutors – Talk to current students
www.careers.dept.shef.ac.uk/presentations/gettingmedicine/player.html
Access Information sheets on:
- Getting into Medicine as a Graduate: Key points - Getting into Dentistry as a Graduate: Key points
- UCAS Personal Statements for Medicine or Dentistry - Preparing for Interviews at Medical or Dental School
Admissions tests for Medicine & Dentistry
11.00am – 11.50am, Thursday 3 May
Biology Lecture Theatre 1
Inc. UKCAT, GAMSAT & BMAT
An alternative? Physician Assistant
• Work in general practice, emergency medicine, out-of-hours clinics, walk-in centres, cardiology, general surgery and orthopaedic surgery
• Assistant role inc. diagnosis and referral; analysis of test results; not prescribing
• Supervised by doctor; possibly increasing responsibility with experience
• 2 year PG course at St George’s, University of Aberdeen & Birmingham (s.t. sufficient recruitment)
• £24,000 - £45,000 salary
• www.ukapa.co.uk
01/05/2012 © The University of
Sheffield Careers
www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers
Careers Service - 388 Glossop Road (behind SU building) Open 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri (11am – 5pm Tues)
Student Jobshop - Students’ Union Building Open 10am – 3pm Mon to Fri (11am – 3pm Tues)
www.shef.ac.uk/careers
Where to find us…..