Click to edit Master title style Applying for Medicine

Click to edit Master title style Contents 1.Do you want to be a doctor? 2.Some facts and statistics about applying in the UK for Medicine 3.The Application Process 4.How you can prepare 5.Practice Interview Questions

Click to edit Master title style BUT FIRST…….

Click to edit Master title style

Click to edit Master title style

Pleased to meet you. Adrian Spottiswoode Head of A-Level, Bellerbys Brighton BA English Literature, MA American Studies, BSc Economics and Mathematics 10 years at Bellerbys Before that university teacher in Taiwan, China and Chicago

Click to edit Master title style 1. Do you want to be a doctor? Really? Why?

Click to edit Master title styleQuestions: 1.Why do you want to be a doctor? 2.How long have you wanted to be a doctor? 3.What do you want to be instead of a doctor? I have wanted to be a doctor ever since I remember. It is all I want to do with my life. So, prove it….. 4. What have done so far to advance you towards your goal of being a doctor?

Click to edit Master title styleWhat it means to be a doctor….. Could you: Tell someone they had only six months to live?

Click to edit Master title style Therefore universities want students for medicine who have…. Academic Ability Confident Personality Thinking / decision making skills

Click to edit Master title style What it means to be a student of science or medicine….. A Levels + University: 5 years A Levels + University: 8 years

Click to edit Master title style 2. Some facts and statistics about applying in the UK for Medicine

Click to edit Master title style2013 entry Number of applications for Medicine Number of interviews (29%) Number of places 6577 (9%) BUT…..

Click to edit Master title style Success rate for UK students: 11% Success rate for International Students: 6% (Success rate for Brighton Bellerbys Students ( ): 12%) BUT….

Click to edit Master title style Anyone want to do Medicine at Oxford and Cambridge? Don’t. Oxford 2014: 271 applications from International students 5 places (2%) (Cardiff and Nottingham 25 places each).

Click to edit Master title style3. The Application Process

Click to edit Master title styleTo get in, you will need: 1.Best possible AS grades 2.IELTS 7 at least 3.Show evidence of medical experience on UCAS application 4.Get high marks on BMAT or UKCAT test 5.Do well on interview 6.Offer will be between *AAA to ABB depending on university

Click to edit Master title style Sept May OctNovAprilDecMay Aug Year 1 (AS Year) Year 2 (A2 Year) Finalise choosing the 4 AS subjects. 2.First year (AS) exams. 3.AS Results come out. 4.Start doing university application (UCAS ) 5.Closing date for Medicine (October 15) 6.Closing date for all other applications 7.University interviews 8.Deadline for universities to give offers; students choose 2 universities 9.A2 exams 10.A2 results come out Go to UNI!!!

Click to edit Master title style Key Parts of UCAS Application 1.Previous education before Bellerbys 2.AS results 3.Student’s personal statement 4.College’s reference 5.Predicted grades

Click to edit Master title styleOther chances….. 1.Apply to other countries 2.Start doing a Biomedical Sciences degree, switch to Medicine 3.Do a Science degree, then go Postgraduate Medicine after

Click to edit Master title style4. How You Can Prepare

Click to edit Master title styleA-Level Choice Must do: 1.Chemistry 2.Maths 3.Biology But then a “free choice” – many do Physics or Psychology.

Click to edit Master title style Work / voluntary experience Very limited opportunities to get experience in UK hospitals More chance in care homes, charities Must have experience in both home country and UK

Click to edit Master title style Extra Study Choose 1 area of Medicine you are very interested in Find out as much as you can about the science behind this area Find news stories related to it Begin your A-Level studies early! (Google “A- Level Chemistry materials”

Click to edit Master title style

The Medics’ Preparation Programme at Bellerbys Brighton A Four-Term Programme of Preparation Term 1 (AS) – Medics’ “club” Term 2 (AS) – Assessment of students’ suitability Term 3 (AS) – Start of specialised tutor groups Term 4 (A2) – Complete applications with tutor / prepare for interviews and tests Plus, connection with academic enrichment programme

Click to edit Master title style Term 4 3 hours a week of tutor period Pre October 15 th – complete UCAS application After October 15 th – prepare for interview and tests: Daily morning sessions Outside visitors Test instruction classes Mock interviews with senior staff Mock interviews with staff subject specialists

Click to edit Master title style Connection with Academic Enrichment Programme Students highly encouraged to participate in activities such as: Medics’ club Physics society Robotics club Thinking skills preparation Science enrichment lectures Academic support classes Trips / visits

Click to edit Master title style 5. Some interview practice

Click to edit Master title styleQuestion 1 What personal qualities do you have that you think would help you to be a good doctor?

Click to edit Master title styleQuestion 2 Tell me about the most interesting piece of Science you have learnt at school this year.

Click to edit Master title styleQuestion 3 Research has shown that “Integrity” is an important quality in a doctor. What do you think is meant by this and can you give an example of a situation in which acting with integrity might be important? Integrity = the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. For more questions, see:

Click to edit Master title stylePractice interview with 3 similar questions 1.Tell me about your work / voluntary experience and what that has taught you about Medicine. 2.Tell me about a recent news story about Medicine which you have read. 3.Doctors often have to make difficult decisions. What is the best way to do this?

Click to edit Master title styleThings to do Get more work/voluntary experience. Choose one area of medicine and study it. Start your A-Level studies now. Come to Bellerbys Brighton!

Click to edit Master title style Any questions?