‘Aspiring to Medicine, Dentistry or VeterinaryScience’

Dr Rachel Hogg

In pairs share what you already know about?

• Personal Qualities• Career Options• Qualifications needed

For the course you’re aspiring to ……..

Qualities• Intellectual Aptitude• Motivation• Dedication• Stamina• Compassion• Manual Dexterity

Career Options

• Postgraduate vocational training• Registration with professional bodies:

GMC, GDC, RCVS• Speciality training• Continuing Professional Development

Now in pairs consider

• Different courses• Work experience• Personal statement• Interview

What you might know about……

RESEARCH

The ‘Complete University Guide’

UNISTATS webiste

Open Days

Talking to students and lecturers

Events and activitiesadvertised on RO website

Which course?

• Look for teaching methods you think suit you e.g. for medicine - Predominately PBL (problem based learning) - Traditional lecture/seminar based teaching - Integrated PBL and traditional teaching

• Facilities• Research• Opportunities to intercalate

How is teaching delivered?• First 2 years predominately science-based, with some

clinical experience: communication skills and clinical skills teaching

• Teaching mainly lab work, seminars/tutorials, dissection, computer-based.

Clinical environment

• Years 3-5 increased clinical teaching, through attachments to different specialities in hospital and community

• More self-directed learning

10 Also consider the general student experience and facilities

Application & Admissions Tests

• There is an earlier deadline 15 October for all Medicine/Dental and Veterinary courses (same as Oxford and Cambridge)

• You can apply for a maximum of four Med/Vet/Dent courses plus one other subject.

• UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test) • Many medical and dental schools require - check website http://

www.ukcat.ac.uk/ • 2 hour test in 5 parts: verbal, quantitative, abstract, decision, judgement • Registration opens 1st May 2015 and closes 22nd Sept 2015• Testing is from 1st July to 6th Oct 2015• For e.g. cost £65 (July/Aug) if taken earlier or £80 if later, there is a bursary.

BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test)

• Fewer medical, vet schools and biomedical science courses • 2 hour test – 3 sections, on skills and knowledge already have:

MCQs, short answers and an essay• http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/our-services/medicine-and-h

ealthcare/bmat/about-bmat/

• 2015 registration from 1st Sept to 1st October (standard fees)– then exam taken on one date 4th Nov 2015 and results 25th Nov.

• £44 ( Additional late fees up to 15th Oct) bursary available

YOU NEED TO CHECK DATES AND ORGANISE

What are Universities looking for?

• Academic standard• Insight into the career options and long postgraduate

training • Breadth of experience and interest• Realism• Balanced temperament• Altruistic nature• Maturity

Personal statements• A realistic interest • Informed about the career• Demonstrated commitment to helping others/work

experience• Demonstrated a wide range of interests• Contributed to school/college/community activities• A range of personal achievements

CHECK INDIVIDUAL ADMISSION STATEMENTS

Non Academic Personal Achievement ‘I am really proud that I…….’

Could be:

• Musical, dramatic, sporting• Challenge • Organisational• Learning something new• Charity• Job related

Responsibilities/ contributions‘I lead/ care for/ coach/ train/teach……..’

Relevant Experience • Show informed and committed

• Ideally gained over a year before application.

• Quality of experience – e.g. demonstrate what you’ve learnt

and gained from it (not just the quantity)

• For Medicine and Dentistry e.g. sitting-in during a GP surgery

or Dental surgery, observations in hospital, can be a challenge

• So, also consider: meetings with professionals and related

caring experience e.g. work experience in an old people's

home, community & voluntary work, or other work in a hospital

setting.

How much? Specified by Vet School for e.g. at Bristol (other Vet schools will be different)

Vet• 4 or more weeks at more

than 1 practice

Animal• 4 or more weeks at a

good mix of places• E.g. horse, dairy, cat,

dog, beef, sheep, wildlife, zoo, laboratory, abattoir

Interviews

• Check if traditional interview or Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) or both• How informed you are about the course and career• What have you learnt form work experience• Reasons for wanting to study Medicine/Dentistry/Vet Science• Awareness of current developments• Ability to communicate• Self-confidence, enthusiasm and determination• Ability to cope with stress• Understanding of ethical issues• Practical tasks e.g. manual dexterity for Dentistry

Top Tips for Interviews

• Thoroughly research the course• Dress smartly • Focus on your communication skills• Enthusiasm as well as knowledge • If one MMI station or part of interview doesn’t go so well, don’t

dwell keep going!• Prepare and practice answering the kinds of questions you might

expect, and ask for feedback on your answers

Good luck!

Any questions?