Applying to Medicine and 1st year

Amy Watson

Highers are just the key to the door

What do we need to open the door?

Application involves ….

Open days, visit Universities, research and decide which course style suites you best, can only pick four to apply to.

Work experience Voluntary work UKCAT UCAS CV Interviews

Deciding on Universities

Go to open days of Universities you are interested in

Research the way course is taught.Interviewers- prefer you to have personal

experience of the open dayIf the open day clashes, with other

arrangements, try to arrange another date.

Work Experience

Vital! As much and as varied as possible. (1 week minimum) How to get it? Need permission Site Manager at Ashludie Hospital- Isobel Rennick Number is 01382 527 821 Sign forms regarding confidentiality ‘Clinical Work Placement Division of Medicine and Therapeutics.’ -week in Ninewells shadowing different areas -End of week -presentation on ‘Why you want to be a doctor.’ -Examples of things done on my week- corotid endarterectomy,

clinical investigations unit, research centre, renal unit, tour round hospital and generally told things about medical school, morning in Ninewells library to study specific topic in a group, and then present it to Dr Sumantra-Ray

Voluntary work

Occupational health form Shows commitment Gives insight and experience My experience- Roxburghe House serving teas,

chatting to patients and relatives. My understanding of the patients situation and

the impact on their life and the families was very important

This experience was invaluable for interviews

UKCAT

UK Clinical Aptitude TestMandatoryUsed in selection of medical studentsGo online, for booking and for practice.Books to helpPractice!

How to apply?-UCAS and CV UCAS – correct dates and grades of exams! CV – Why you want to do Medicine? -Subjects you’ve studied - Was it work experience that inspired you? - Any specific experience? - Speak about work experience, What did you get from it? - Achievements and hobbies - school and other co curricular,

leadership, team work, well rounded and experienced Show you are able to do more than just study, -Can you bring something to the University, more than

studies? Why are you right for Medicine?

Interviews

Prepare for easy and difficult questions Why Medicine? (and not other professions, don’t say

want to help people!) Be able to talk about everything in CV Know all about the course at that University and why

that would be your preference. Keep up to date with current hot topics in news-shows

interest. Choose a few newspapers to read regularly and follow. Develop opinions, know what's going on 2- 3 main stories that you can talk about in detail. Medical ethics

Application

Writing CV, UCAS, InterviewsBusy time of yearCan be stressfulDo yourself justice- send the best possible

application away and be ready for interviews.

Good book- ‘Getting into Medical School.’ (James Burnett & Joe Ruston)

Life as a 1st year Medic

IS GREAT!Hard workRewardingInterestingChallengingExciting

In Dundee…

Course split into 3 phases Phase 1- September to December of first year -

introduction to the 12 curriculum outcomes for a doctor (course revolves around this), Key principles (anatomical, biomedical, disease mechanisms, psychosocial and safe medical practice), Anatomy in the dissecting room. Basic clinical and communication skills are developed in general practice and the clinical skills centre.

Phase 2-rest of 1st year up to 3rd year. Systems based, time in wards

Phase 3- Application of the skills and knowledge acquired in the earlier phases in a variety of clinical settings in hospital (e.g. medical, surgical, obstetric, child health, and psychiatric services) and in general practice. Elective between years 4 and 5.

1st Semester for me…

September-DecemberLectures from 9.00-11.00 – Basic ScienceDissection from 11.00-13.00 – Anatomy

(dissection)Ninewells 14.00-16.00- Clinical skills,

tutorials, ITA, DPAC GP placementEvery Wednesday afternoon off, for sports

or music, studies or chilling!

2nd Semester

In Ninewells- 9.00-11.00 lecturesTutorials, ITA, Clinical Skills, wards, or

home for private study.Systems based

Social side of University

Fresher's week-week of parties to meet people, try out new things- societies, (sports, music, other social clubs)

DUMS-Dundee University Medic Society, social events, e.g. nights out, balls, Battle of Bands….

‘Medical family’ Groups- Allocated into groups of about 10, for studies and

tutorials. Shoved with new people all the time, so constantly getting to know

different people. Lots of support if needed

More free time than at school, but, more work than school.

Thank you for listening