So

1
So you want to be a doctorGraduate Entry
Medicine

• Vinny Potter
• Medical Careers Adviser
• QM Careers

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What I hope to cover today

• Grad Entry positive and negatives
• Which medical school
• Entrance Exams
• The courses on offer
• UCAS Application
• Funding
• Work experience
• Interviews
• Further resources
• Dentistry
• The Personal Statement

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Five or four years?

• Approximately 30 x 5 (6) year courses
• take about 12 graduates but this is increasing
• 15 x 4 year courses
• All highly competitive
• Can be easier getting on 5(6) year course
• More 5(6) year courses open to non-UK/EU
• Differences in funding

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Schools Offering 4 yr GEM Courses

• The University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• Imperial College London
• Keele University
• University of Leicester
• The University of Liverpool
• Newcastle University
• The University of Nottingham
• Oxford University
• Queen Mary, University of London
• University of Southampton
• St George's, University of London
• Swansea University
• The University of Warwick

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Decide which Medical Schools

• Geographical location
• Structure of the course/your learning style
• Popularity / reputation
• Entry Criteria

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Geographical Location

• Cost of living
• Demographics
• Campus or scattered

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Structure of the course

• All courses will give you exposure to general
  practice, hospital and surgical experience.
• Integration with the 5 year course
• Length of academic year
• Teaching style
• Traditional Lecture-based e.g. Oxford
• Problem based learning (PBL) e.g. St Georges
• Self-directed learning
• Guided learning

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Reputation of the medical school

• Remember all courses are validated by the GMC and
  will produce doctors capable of practising
  medicine at the required level
• National recruitment system for jobs as Doctors
  no preference given for medical school.
• Large differences in popularity of schools
  varies year on year

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Entry Criteria

• Almost all require at least 21 honours degree
• Split regarding degree discipline
• Some require specific A-levels grades
• Entrance exams for majority

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Entrance Exams

• Increasing applicant numbers, age range and
  academic background
• Test skills attitudes not tested by A-levels
  UG degree
• Exams help to level playing field
• Each school has own cut off points criteria for
  interview selection
• Separate to UCAS application
• Set dates for registration testing

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GAMSAT

• Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions
  Test
• http//www.gamsat.co.uk/
• 192.00 (2009) 5.5 Hours
• 3 Sections
• Reasoning in Chemistry, Biology Physics (MCQs)
• Reasoning in Humanities Social Sciences (MCQs)
• Written communication (2 tasks)
• St Georges, University of London
• The University of Nottingham at Derby 
• The University of Wales Swansea 
• Keele University
• Or to the 5-year degree at Peninsula Medical
  School

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UKCAT

• UK Clinical Aptitude Test
• http//www.ukcat.ac.uk/home
• 60 (2009) 90 minutes
• 4 sections (MCQs)
• Verbal Reasoning
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Abstract Reasoning
• Decision Analysis

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UKCAT Practice

• UKCAT official website
• Medicas
• On examination
• UKPO
• (Some free, some charge)

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BMAT

• Usually for the 5 yr course
• Cambridge ? For 4 yr course ask them for
  advice.
• Imperial 5yr
• Oxford 5yr
• UCL 5yr

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Choosing the course

• Make sure you fit the entry criteria
• Is it in the right area?
• Find out about the teaching style
• does it fit your preferred way of learning
• Be aware of entry exam dates and your
  availability
• Many have open days e.g. Oxford, Nottingham

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Biology / Science Degrees required
School Places App. Ratio Int. Places Degree Grade Chem. A level Bio A level Entrance Exam
Barts 45 24 10 2.1 no no Ukcat
Birmingham 40 15 - 2.1 yes no No
Bristol 19 - - 2.1 yes no No
Imperial 50 - 10 2.1 yes yes Ukcat
Leicester 64 4.7 - 2.1 no no Ukcat
Liverpool 32 17 - 2.1 yes yes No
Oxford 30 8 - 2.1 yes no Ukcat
Warwick 178 5.6 14 2.1 no no ukcat
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Any degree
School Places App. Ratio Int. Places Degree Grade Chem. A level Bio A level Entrance Exam
Cambs 20 - - 2.1 yes no No
Kings 24 63 - 2.1 no no Ukcat
Newcastle 25 28 - 2.1 no no Ukcat
Nottingham 91 13 - 2.2 No no GAMSAT
Southampton 40 36 2 2.1 yes no No
St Georges 98 - - 2.2 no no GAMSAT
Swansea 70 9.6 - 2.1 no no GAMSAT

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Important Note

• The two previous slides summarising the entry
  requirements of the medical schools have been
  taken from the website medschoolsonline.co.uk
  set up and run by current medical students to
  help those thinking about medical careers
• The information was gathered from medical school
  admissions offices and from course websites.
• If you wish to apply to one of the medical
  schools described it is strongly advised that you
  contact the school's admissions office to get the
  most up to date and accurate information before
  submitting your application.

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Applying through UCAS

• All applications now online only
• Maximum of 4 courses.
• Detailed guidelines and instructions on
  www.ucas.ac.uk
• Deadline is 15th October 2009
• Check entrance exam reg. deadlines
• Referees give advance warning

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Filling in the form

• Sections Personal details, qualifications,
  employment history, personal statement, reference
• Prepare your statement well in advance
• You will need your old UCAS number !
• buzzword or course code from your department,
  or apply as independent applicant
• Find your A GCSE results in advance
• Any queries try Admissions tutors (avoid near
  deadline) or www.ucas.com

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Convince me the personal statement

• Convince the reader why you want to be a doctor
• Give evidence of you have skills for Medicine
• Give evidence you understand what medicine the
  medical degree entails
• Explain any poor performances
• Allude to your academic progress now
• Evidence your hobbies/social activities and link
  to your potential contribution to medical school
  life
• More on this later

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Provide the Evidence Work Experience

• Working with people / Working as part of a team-
  retail / hospitality work, Care assistant,
  Children with / without special needs, Old
  peoples homes, Volunteer
• Understanding the NHS, Validation of decision -
  hospital volunteer, GP receptionist, ward clerk,
  talking to junior doctors and med students

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Where can I find these jobs?

• Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk
• Vacation work booklets
• Recruitment Agencies Booklet
• Hospital websites e.g. http//www.uclh.nhs.uk/Job
  seekersvolunteers/
• Volunteering www.doit.org.uk and Provide
  volunteering
• Local Hospital http//www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk
  /workforus
• Hospices http//www.helpthehospices.org.uk
• Care Homes www.csci.org.uk/registeredservicesdirec
  tory/rsquicksearch.asp.

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References

• Choose an academic who knows you and of your
  aspirations of becoming a doctor.
• It need not be your personal tutor
• Give them time to complete the form

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Medical Interviews

• Lot of variation e.g. one person / panel, 10 min
  1 hr
• Most will probe on
• Why medicine?
• What part of course appeals?
• How found out is right for you?
• What learnt from work exp?
• Realistic view of medicine
• Other interests
• Communication interpersonal skils
• Interest in health medical stories

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FUNDING

• Will all depend on personal circumstances.
• GEM courses Pay own tuition fees 1st yr, rest
  get NHS Bursary and fees paid. Eligible for
  student loans
• 5 year Own tuition fees for 4 yrs eligible
  student loan, 5th year bursary fees paid.
• Non UK EU residents funding more limited
• Non-EU responsible for full cost of degree
• Check with the student Welfare Office or the
  Admissions at the Medical School.

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In Summary

• Start reviewing what you have to offer NOW
• Get relevant work experience
• Work hard on your statement
• Keep abreast of medical issues
• Use the Careers Service, www.careers.qmul.ac.uk
• Look at www.ucas.com and other application guides

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Dentistry

• Nine 5 year courses and four graduate schemes
  (The University of Aberdeen, The University of
  Liverpool, Peninsula College of Medicine
  Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London) List
  of all courses at www.ucas.ac.uk
• 21 , science degree, fierce competition (UK 800
  places)
• Get work experience shadowing
• Apps via UCAS. Most have entrance test
• Funding tricky. Final years, NHS bursary
  possible. Also armed forces cadet ships. More
  info contact schools.

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Further resources

• UCAS book Medicine, Dentistry Optometry
• www.medschoolsonline.co.uk
• Getting into Medical School, Burnet Ruston
• How to get into Graduate Entry medicine, Sellers
  Knight
• Passing the UKCAT, Walker-Buckton, Hutton
  Hutton
• Funding
• www.direct.gov.uk Education Learning Section
• http//www.nhspa.gov.uk/sgu/ - NHS Bursarys
• Careers Adviser appointments www.careers.qmul.ac.
  uk, 020 7882 8533
• Careers Service near Octagon in Queens Building

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Questions?
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Applications Support Statements

• Information from
• Graham Clayden
• Sub Dean for Undergraduate Medicine Admissions KCL

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• Convince us that you are
• Motivated to help people
• Informed about career demands
• Realistic about yourself
• Community orientated
• Honest

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• Also convince us that you are
• A good judge
• A natural leader
• A problem solver (goodcommon sense)
• Creative
• A rounded personality
• Resilient
• Fit to practice eventually

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• Essential evidence from
• Work experience
• Community service
• Inspiring anecdote
• Medical science link
• Achievement in arts/music/sports
• Examples of perseverance with task

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• Avoid
• Any subject that you don't want to talk about at
  interview
• Hero-worship of doctors
• Rewards of medical career
• Wrong balance of humour
• Using out of date examples or interests

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• Don't forget to mention
• Hospital volunteering or paid jobs
• Contact with vulnerable people
• Captain or director or lead roles
• Duke of Edinburgh awards
• First aid qualifications
• Key subject to initiate discussion but avoid
  learning patter

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FINAL MESSAGE

• Be honest!
• Check spelling and grammar
• Make it a legible (font size and paragraphs)
• Dont try to over-impress
• Do not use words you cannot pronounce or explain