Applying for Dentistry STARTING SEPT 2014

Contents  What do I need in S5?  What will I require from S6?  What subjects should I take?  How many dental schools can I apply to?  Application procedure in ROI  Widening Access  UKCAT  Volunteering and Shadowing  Extracurricular Activities  Personal Statement Tips and Hints  Interview  I can’t get in through UCAS, what are my options

What Do I need in S5?  The minimum grade requirements vary from school to school. The following schools require 5 A’s at higher level: Cardiff, Manchester, Newcastle  The following schools require 4 A’s and a B at higher level: Bristol, Dundee, King’s College London, Sheffield, Liverpool  The following schools require 3 A’s and 2 B’s: Birmingham, Queen’s University Belfast  The following schools require 3 A’s: Queen Mary,  The following schools require 2 A’s and 2 B’s: Glasgow, Please note that Leeds and Plymouth do not base offers on qualifications achieved at higher level

What will I require by the end of S6?  The following schools require 3 A’s at Advanced Higher level: Birmingham, Queen’s University Belfast (if not AAAAA at higher), Liverpool, Plymouth  The following schools require AAB at Advanced Higher level: Leeds  The following schools require AA at Advanced Higher level: Bristol, Cardiff, King’s College London, Manchester, Queen Mary, Queen’s University Belfast  The Following schools require AB at Advanced Higher level: Newcastle  The following schools require A at Advanced Higher level: Sheffield  The following schools require AAAAB at Higher Level: Glasgow  Please not that Dundee have no further academic expectation beyond that achieved in S5. They do however encourage further study.

What subjects should I take?  Chemistry and Biology are the two most asked for subjects by dental schools and taking these to advanced higher is advisable. Sometimes only chemistry is asked for at this level.  Birmingham ask for ask for English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics to be completed at higher level. If you have not done this in S5 but have met the academic grades they have asked for you can do this in S6 or even do it in a gap year when you have no other subjects.  Several schools ask for Biology and Chemistry with one from Physics and Maths at higher level. If these subjects have not been completed in S5 but the academic requirements have been met for the schools you are interested in you are able to do them in S6 or in a gap year.  If you have not done any sciences (or only one science) some universities offer dentistry with a foundation year. The academic requirements for these courses are the same as their requirements for Dentistry but the subjects you have done are irrelevant. You cannot apply for this if you have done 2 or more sciences.

How many schools can I apply to?  In the UK, you are allowed to apply to 4 separate dental schools in any one application cycle.  Do note that the student loans company will cover your tuition costs and also give you money to live with if you want to study in ROI.  Applications to the 2 ROI schools are not regulated by UCAS, they are regulated by CAO and therefore you can apply to 6 separate schools in the UK and ROI.

Application procedure in ROI  ROI dental schools use only academic achievements to choose who they enrol. For this reason academic requirements are very high but there is flexibility with regards to subject choices.  Applications are open until February but it is cheaper if you submit your application by mid-January.  There are no personal statements or interviews required so your application to these schools will not increase your workload or consequently hinder your application to UK schools.  Applications are made on the following website:

Widening Access  Reach Scotland is a program run by the University of Glasgow  From S4 through to S6.  In S5 pupils are invited to a 7-day summer school (mid June) which involves coaching sessions for pupils with current undergraduate students and staff regarding UCAS applications, personal statements, UKCAT and interview preparation etc. They will also help in getting work experience  Successful participation will mean that you will only require 10% below the interview UKCAT cut-off to be invited to interview.

UKCAT  This is an aptitude test which most medical and dental schools require you do prior to submission of your application.  Contrary to what universities say, preparation helps drastically.  You should firstly prepare by buying a book containing UKCAT questions and getting used to the format of each section  Go to the Medify website and also utilise their services  Book the KAPLAN UKCAT course which will give you many useful hints, tips and practice.  Complete the KAPLAN online 5 tests given by KAPLAN over the course of the next 2 weeks and book the UKCAT test at the end of these 2 weeks. (Money back if you score less than 620)  There are also 2 free tests on the UKCAT website worth doing a couple of days before your exam.

Volunteering and Shadowing  Both shadowing and volunteering are essential  You are best to volunteer in places which you can show require and develop skills which are transferrable to dentistry (Care home shows caring nature, dealing with vulnerable adults. Special needs schools require communication skills and educating those who can be more difficult to reach)  Shadow in as many different environments as you can, as often as you can. Ideas include general practice, endodontics, maxfax, orthodontics, dental laboratories.

Extracurricular Activities  Dental schools like to see what you can offer to the university non- academically.  It is best also to show how your extra-curricular activites relate to dentistry.  They like to see exceptional achievement in atleast one thing you have done to emphasize your determined character.

Personal Statement Tips and Hints  Things to talk about: Passion for science Shadowing Importance of team work in dentistry Prevention before intervention Transferrable skills (to dentistry) you developed volunteering Tug heart strings here and speak about caring nature Extra-curricular activities and how they relate to dentistry What you offered to your school and how this relates to dentistry A brief conclusion  Other tips: Have an English teacher look over it if possible to make it more coherent and even A LITTLE more flowery.

Personal Statement Tips and Hints  Things NOT to talk about: Private practices! (Refer to practices as NHS and General) Reasons you didn’t want to do a different career Any weaknesses you may have (instead talk about how you have improved these whilst volunteering) Money and job security There is not much point in starting with a quote

Interview  There are many sample questions online, this does not mean make up sample answers.  Prepare a little for very obvious ones (Why dentistry, Why this uni, how NHS operates)  Don’t say too many points on 1 question (instead stick to 3 points then elaborate on them, psychologyical studies show this appears much more interesting)  If asked you instead of other candidates, do not compare yourself to other candidates! Talk about the skills you offer, say you appreciate that other candidates are also there (at interview) on merit and say that you hope the skill set you can offer matches the type of candidate they are looking for

Interview  If asked opinion on NHS, talk about how good the system is. Be VERY careful if you wish to suggest an improvement, remember you will most likely be being interviewed by a dentist and do not want to offend them.  If asked an ethical question, even if asked to give an opinion, try and not to. Sit on the fence and weigh up both sides of any argument. If further prompted to give YOUR opinion, tread carefully. (e.g. Although I have no problem with gift giving in dentistry, as long as the patients motifs are pure, I appreciated this can be hard to detect and respect why others may not agree with me)

I can’t get in through UCAS, what are my options  If you have the grades you can re-apply  If you do not have the necessary grades, you can either: Apply as post-grad (from a degree such as biomedical sciences, anatomy or physiology) This will require a first in the degree you are doing Study abroad EU protection laws ensure that as long as the country you complete your degree in recognises your degree, all other EU member states must also recognise it. However, you will probably have to finance this yourself with tuition fees ranging from 5k-20k. Some countries offer the course in English!!

THANK YOU