1. Applying for courses in Medicine, Dentistry and Health
Julian Burton
Emma Parr
Julie Askew

2. Outline Medicine Dentistry and other programmes Widening participation
What do Medical Schools look for?
What tools do Medical Schools use to select applicants?
Our admissions selection process
Assist students seeking entry?
Dentistry and other programmes
Widening participation
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3. Introduction 500 additional places nationwide for 2018 entry
Another 1000 places for 2019 entry
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4. What do medical schools look for when selecting applicants?
Academic attainment
Aptitude test performance
Knowledge of course applied to
What do medical schools look for when selecting applicants?
Communication skills
Commitment to caring
Well-rounded individuals
Values and attitudes
Work Experience
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5.  X
UCAS FORM:
Academic attainment
Panel-based interviews 
UCAS FORM: Personal statement
What tools do medical schools use when selecting applicants?
Multiple mini-interviews (MMI) X 
UCAS FORM:
Reference 
Situational judgement tests  X
Admissions Test
Personality tests
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6. Our selection process Stage 1 Academic attainment threshold met?
UKCAT attainment threshold met?
UKCAT Ranking WP
Stage 3
Multiple Mini Interview
OFFERS
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7. Academic entry requirements
Qualification
Standard applications
Realising Opportunities applications
SOAMS applications
GCSEs
AAAAA. B or better in Maths, English and Science.
5 A*-B grades. C or better in Maths, English, Science
AS Levels
Not considered
Not Considered
A Levels
AAA (Chemistry or Biology, Another science, a 3rd subject)
ABB (Chemistry or Biology, Another science (Maths, Physics, Biology, Psychology) and a 3rd subject)
A Levels + EPQ
AAB (Chemistry or Biology, Another science, a 3rd subject) + A/A* EPQ
BBB (Chemistry or Biology, Another science, a 3rd subject) + A/A* EPQ
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8. UKCAT entry requirements
Standard applications
Realising Opportunities applications
SOAMS applications
Threshold
2470/3600
Ranked on UKCAT?
YES NO
Outcome
Applicants meeting academic threshold with highest UKCAT scores invited to MMI
Applicants meeting academic and UKCAT thresholds are invited to interview
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9. Multiple Mini-interviews
Interview approx 1150 Home/EU applicants for 2019 entry (for 288 Home places)
Eight stations, each lasts 8 minutes
UKCAT SJT acts as 9th virtual station
Communication skills
Medical work experience / EPQ
Depth and breadth of interests Evidence of commitment for caring
Motivation for Medicine
Understands nature of medicine
Knowledge of / interest in study in Sheffield
Values and attitudes
Outside interests
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10. How can you help applicants?
Academic attainment Medical schools mean what they say. Be aware of entry requirements of schools your students are considering
Medical Schools Council has summary guidance on entry requirements for all UK schools
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11. How can you help applicants?
Admissions tests Different schools use different tests, and in different ways UKCAT recommend hours of practice on the sample questions on their website
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12. How can you help applicants?
MMI Practice speaking in a formal interview setting Do not worry too much about the questions – coached candidates do not come across well Applicants should be able to talk at length about their interests, work experience, course they have applied to etc.
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13. Sheffield MBChB Admissions
Remember we:
Don’t rank applicants on academic achievement – must meet minimum threshold
Will consider disrupted studies
Require practical components of A levels, passed
Don’t use UCAS Personal/Referee statements to determine who to invite to MMI.
Make offers to applicants who have highest MMI scores (provided Referee statement acceptable).
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14. Additional useful information
Our website:
Medical Schools Council “A journey to medicine”:
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15. Dentistry and Health Dental Surgery Adult Nursing Orthoptics
Speech & Language Therapy
Dental Hygiene & Therapy, Health & Human Sciences and Speech & Language Sciences

16. What do we look for when selecting applicants?
Med
Den
Nur
Orth
Speech
Academic attainment
Knowledge of course
Commitment to caring
Values and attitudes
Aptitude test performance
Communication skills
Well-rounded individuals
Work Experience     
Orthoptics: We don't do the Aptitude Test
Speech: We look for all except aptitude
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17. What tools do we use when selecting applicants?
Med
Den
Nur
Orth
Speech
Academic attainment
Personal statement
Reference
Admissions Test
Panel-based interviews
MMIs
Situational judgement tests
Group Exercise
Presentation     
Orthoptics: we don't use Admissions Tests and Situational judgement test
Speech: We don't do MMI, situational judgement or admissions test. We do a values-based individual interview
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18. Standard applications Realising Opportunities applications
Dental Surgery
Qualification
Standard applications
Realising Opportunities applications
SOAMS applications
GCSEs
6-8 A grades, inc in Maths, English and Science.
5 A*-B grades. C or better in Maths, English, Science
A Levels
AAA (Chemistry, Biology & 3rd subject)
General studies considered
AAB (Chemistry or Biology, Another science (Maths, Physics, Biology, Psychology) and a 3rd subject)
A levels + EPQ
AAB and A
Other
Science BTECs & Access to HE diplomas considered
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19. Standard applications Realising Opportunities applications
Dental Surgery UKCAT
Standard applications
Realising Opportunities applications
SOAMS applications
Threshold
Above Average
1-3 situational judgement
Ranked on UKCAT?
YES NO
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20. Adult Nursing BBB (general studies accepted). Qualification
Standard applications
GCSEs
5 GCSEs at C/4 including English, Maths & Science
A Levels
BBB (general studies accepted).
Other
Relevant BTECs & Access to HE diplomas will also be considered

21. Orthoptics
Qualification
Standard applications
SOAMS ADOPT Realising Opportunities
GCSEs
English, Maths & Science C/4
A Levels
BBB (Must have either Biology, Maths, Physics or Chemistry + 2 other subjects).
BBC including B in one of Biology, Maths, Chemistry or Physics
Other
Science BTECs & Access to HE diplomas may also be considered
GCSE grade C/4 in Maths, English language and Science
A level grade BBB which must include one of Biology, Maths, Physics or Chemistry - we do not accept General Studies
A level resit - grade BBB
A level and extended project:  BBC including B in one of Biology, Maths, Chemistry or Physics+grade B in EPQ in a relevant subject
SOAMS and Realising Opportunities:    BBC including B in one of Biology, Maths, Chemistry or Physics
BTEC:  DDD in BTEC The Extended Diploma level 3 Applied Science
Access to HE Diploma in Science:   60 credits overall with Distinctions in 30 Level 3 credits to include units in Biology and Mathematics, and Merits in 15 Level 3 credits 

22. Speech & Language Therapy
Qualification
Standard applications
Realising Opportunities
GCSEs
C/4 in English
A Levels
AAB
ABB
A Levels + EPQ
ABB + B. The extended project should be in a relevant subject.
Other
Relevant BTECs & Access to HE diplomas will also be considered
We only require GSCE english at grade C - we don't have any other specific subject requirements, we don't accept general studies, EPQ is correct, and for Realising Opportunities etc. we offer guaranteed interview and dropping one grade (or whatever the university will allow). 
4. Interview for 2019 will be a talk by the admissions tutor, questions and answer session with current student and a 10 minute individual interview. 

23. Interviews
Dentistry: 15 min individual interview; 2 academic staff and and student. Communication station.
Nursing: Group exercise, 5min presentation & 20 min interview.
Orthoptics: 3 stations x 6min; clinician, service user and academic staff.
Speech: 10 minute individual interview.
Dentistry:
Interviews
applicants over 3 days.
Notified of interview by the end of January.
Tour the Dental School and adjoining Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, & meet students
Interview panels comprise of two members of academic staff and a senior dental student.
Interviews last up to 15 minutes and investigate:
Career Exploration
Values and Personal Qualities
Commitment to Sheffield
Communication Skills
Communication Station
15 minutes between the end of their interview and the beginning of the Communication Station.
In this station applicants will be presented with a scenario and this station aims to assess
Empathy
Compassion
Applicants will receive the outcome of their interview by the end of March.
The School makes more offers than it has places available in order to compensate for those applicants who do not select Sheffield as their first choice or who do not meet the conditions of their offer.
Nursing: Meet staff and students if available. Introductory talk and Q&A.
Group activity
Lunch
5min Presentation (topic given in invitation to interview)
20 minute panel interview
Orthoptics: MMI's: we have 3 stations last 6 minutes each. There is a station with a clinician (orthoptist working in the NHS), a service user (patient) and an academic member of staff.
At the interview day:
introductory talk about orthoptics
a tour by students of our facilities and try out clinical skills.
Speech: a talk by the admissions tutor, questions and answer session with current student and a 10 minute individual interview. 
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24. How to help students
Orthoptics: ‘observe’ Speech: The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists careers booklet:
How can teachers help the students?
Orthoptics: Work experience: ideally we would like applicants to observe the work of an orthoptist for at least 1/2 day however observing other eye care and healthcare professionals in a hospital setting is also very valuable. Applicants are recommended to contact their local hospital and ask if it is possible to observe the work of an orthoptist. Other work experience that is also considered valuable is observing the work of an optometrist/optician. We would also strongly encourage applicants to have undertaken some voluntary work/experience with children, the elderly or people with disabilities as these are some of our main patient groups.
Advise for interviews: we try and make the interviews as informal and welcoming as possible. Tell the applicant to be themselves and be honest when answering questions. We would expect the applicant to have done some research around what an orthoptist do and have some experience working with people and team work experience. We are also keen for the applicant to have thought about questions they would like to ask. 
Speech: With the work experience, we ask students to try and get some experience of interacting with people with speech, language and communication difficulties. This doesn't have to be in a speech and language therapy context, shadowing an SLT etc., we know it is hard to find these opportunities. Activities such as play groups, school volunteering, stroke association groups, care worked in nursing home etc. are all relevant experiences. Applicant should reflect on their work/voluntary experience and be prepared to discuss what they have learnt at interview. Teachers can help them by practising this i.e. asking them to talk about what they learnt about the people they volunteered with, how speech and language therapy might support people with communication difficulties etc. Applicants should also be prepared to demonstrate how they align with the NHS values. The interviews are friendly and an opportunity for applicants to get to know how we do things at Sheffield, as much as for us to get to know them. 
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, our professional body, have recently updated their careers booklet so this might be a useful

26. To
Discover
And
Understand.
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