Medicine at Aberdeen

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Medicine at Aberdeen

• Dr Kath Greaves
• Associate Dean, Admissions

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The Programme

• School of Medicine
• Degree MB ChB
• Course length 5 years
• Intercalated degree for 1 year
• taken by ? 20 of class
• UCAS Code A100
• School size ? 860
• Home, 95 Overseas
• Intake 162 home,13 overseas
• Applicants for 2007 ? 1440

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Special Features

• Early Patient Contact
• Clinical Skills Centre
• IT facilities CAL, student portal
• Humanities Block
• Travel Abroad
• Student Accommodation
• Location of Teaching

4
Getting into Medicine

• Academic Requirements (our Going Rates
• UKCAT
• Non-Academic Requirements
• then
• Interview

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Academic Going Ratesie grades normally required
for application to be considered

• Chemistry required plus 2 from Biology/ Human
  Biology, Maths Physics plus 2 others
• Chemistry required plus 1 from Biology/ Human
  Biology, Maths Physics plus 1 other

• 5 Highers _at_
• AAAAB
• 3 A Levels _at_
• AAB

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What if I dont quite get the S5 grades? ie one
grade down can be considered with S6 upgrade

• Offer 3 full courses of study be estimated to
  achieve minimum of, eg
• AA _at_ Higher plus B _at_ AH
• A _at_ Higher plus BB _at_ AH
• ABB _at_ AH

• AAABB
• or
• AAAAC
• achieved

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What if Im lower still? ie two grades down

• Ask the Medical Schools
• Extenuating circumstancesyou may be able to
  upgrade in S6
• You may be advised to undertake alternative
  degree, then apply as a Graduate (ie achieve min
  of Hons 21)
• Use of Gap years!
• Mature applications

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Completion of UCAS Form

• Important Bits
• Closing date 15 October
• Number of choices for medicine ? 4
• Undertake UKCAT that year (and each year you
  apply)
• Personal details
• Personal statement
• Reference

9
How Offers are Made
Academic Score Score 1 (25)
UCAS Form Score Score 2 (26)
UK CAT Score Score 3 (4)
Score 1 2 3 ? Shortlists for Interview
Interview Score Score 4 (45)
Total Score 1 2 3 4 above cut-off line
? Offer
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Academic Score (Score 1)

• Pre-university studies are allocated a score
  higher results achieve a higher score!
• SQA
• Results obtained in S5 ie up to 5H, PLUS
• Estimated results for S6 ie x3 full courses (min
  of 2 AH ? greater score)
• A-Level
• Estimated results for A2 (ie x3 A2 taken in one
  sitting)

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UCAS Form Score (Score 2)

• Information from PS Reference
• Commitment to medicine, knowledge of career
  training
• Core qualities of a good doctor, applicants
  personal qualities
• Team work, outside interests, professional issues

12
UK CAT Score (Score 3)

• Score allocated based upon student overall
  performance in UK CAT compared with
  performance of all other applicants to Aberdeen
• Points allocated to quartiles 4?1

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UK CAT

• Important bits
• Check website at www.ukcat.co.uk
• Register for test 1 May to 14 September
• - Book test early to ensure a place
• - Fee reimbursed if test cancelled later
• Undertake UK CAT 4 June to 10 October 2007

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Interview Score (Score 4)

• By panel of 2 Selectors
• For 20 minutes
• Personal Statement limited in information ?
  further explored
• Assess verbal communication skills, attitudes,
  motivation decision-making
• Considered within previous 3 categories
  (commitment, core qualities, teamwork /
  activities etc)
• Performance.without assistance!

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Commitment

• Medical Schools websites, prospectus, Open
  Days, other research
• Compare programmes which suits you?
• Conferences eg Medlink _at_ Nottingham, Glasgow etc
• Check Career Books

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Get realistic understanding of the career

• Talk to doctors, medical students
• Obtain work experience by shadowing or other work
  
• Hospital
• GP
• University medical teachers researchers
• Highland Schools Medical Mentor Scheme, WHAN
  project
• Read journals, use the Web learn about current
  medical issues

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Qualities of a good doctor

• Demonstrate caring
• Care-related paid or voluntary work eg with the
  elderly or disabled / Auxiliary Nurse /
  voluntary work in the community overseas
• School Helping other students eg mentoring,
  teaching, anti-bullying etc
• Personal qualities
• eg Caring respect for others, communication
  skills, capacity for difficult work,
  conscientiousness, problem-solving skills,
  honesty, patience, time management, staying cool,
  teamwork, others
• Test yourself!

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Teamwork

• Duke of Edinburgh schemes
• Youth groups
• Part time employment
• Being part of sports teams, musical bands, drama
  groups or performing in other ways
• Involvement in rural/community issues/
  meetings/social life
• Evidence of leadership skills
• Ability to multi-task
• Lots more

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Deferred Entry

• Applicants expected to have a clear plan of
  constructive use of year out
• Should involve work of a caring nature
• Not granted to applicants from S5 who are
  returning to S6
• Encouraged for those who will be young when leave
  school
• Declare at the time of application
• Take UKCAT the summer prior to application

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Its tough to get in

• Over the UK, 2.5 applicants to 1 place
• Research career prior to making application!!!
• You may feel you have done enough research, but
  this may well be less than hundreds of other
  applicants!!!

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Further Information

• Prospective Students Website
• http//www.abdn.ac.uk/medicine
• /prospective-students