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
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