GETTING INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL

Transcription

1 GETTING INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL Brenda Stephenson HE and Careers Adviser Higher Education For Me Stella Barnes HE and Careers Adviser Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College

2 GETTING INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL HORSES FOR COURSES. To be or not to be Choosing the right Medical School THE ART OF PERSUASION. Developing your application strategy PLAN B There are alternatives MAXIMISING YOUR STRATEGY. FURTHER INFO.

3 Possible reasons for not becoming a Doctor. Medicine requires good social and communication skills it will not suit those who do not enjoy being with people Medicine is very hard work Medicine is stressful and demanding Students should not simply follow in family footsteps if not personally fully committed to the career Political interference can be frustrating

4 MEDICS Motivation Empathy Dependability Intelligence Career - understanding Stamina

5 Choosing the Right Course Factors to consider Not all Medical courses Are the same 1. Most 5 year, but some 6 years with foundation year (and 4 year graduate programmes) 2. Varying Entry Qualifications 3. Different Subject requirements 4. Style of Teaching/Learning (PBL/traditional etc)

6 Where Can You do A Medical Degree? Aberdeen Belfast (Queens) Birmingham Brighton and Sussex Bristol Buckingham ** Cambridge Cardiff Dundee East Anglia Edinburgh Exeter Glasgow Hull York Keele Lancaster Leeds Leicester Liverpool London Imperial London Kings London - Queen Mary London UCL London St Georges Manchester Newcastle (inc Durham) Nottingham Oxford Plymouth (Peninsula) Sheffield Southampton St Andrews (first 3 years only) Swansea * Warwick * * = graduate schools only

7 GCSE Grades Some Medical Schools require a minimum number of GCSE s at specific grades eg Birmingham 5-8 A * Bristol 5 A Cardiff 5 A* East Anglia 6 A Lancaster 9 B Liverpool 7-8A*/A Notts,Sheffield 6 A St Georges 6-8 A*/A Southampton 7 A

8 A Level Entry grades A*A*A Cambridge A*AA Birmingham, Oxford, UCL A*AA/AAA Exeter, Imperial, Keele Plymouth AAAa Queens Belfast AAAb East Anglia, Edinburgh, Kings, Lancaster, Liverpool, Queen Mary AAA/AABc Bristol* AAA Aberdeen, Brighton and Sussex, Cardiff, Dundee, Glasgow, HYMS, Kings, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Newcastle (inc Durham), Nottingham, Sheffield, St Andrews, Southampton AAB Buckingham Others: St Georges AAAb /BBCb.

9 A Level Subjects Required -overview All require at least one Science 30 out of 32 require 2 Sciences (Newcastle and Leeds only require 1) No University requires 3 Sciences The third subject can be in a Contrasting subject e.g. English, History, a Language (UCL esp. like the third subject to be contrasting) Human Biology is acceptable instead of Biology

10 Subjects Required -1 Chemistry Required Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton and Sussex, Buckingham, Cambridge, Dundee, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Hull York,, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Sheffield, Southampton, St Andrew s, UCL Chemistry OR Biology Required Cardiff, Keele, Kings, Newcastle/Durham, St Georges

11 Subjects Required -2 Chemistry and Biology required Birmingham, Brighton and Sussex, East Anglia, Imperial, Hull/York, Kings Lancaster, Leicester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Southampton, UCL. Chemistry and another Science required Aberdeen, Bristol, Buckingham, Cambridge, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, Queens Belfast, Sheffield. 2 Sciences (1 must be Chem or Biol) : Keele, Queen Mary,

12 Subjects required - 3 Biology NOT required: Aberdeen, Bristol, Buckingham, Dundee, Leeds, St Georges, Manchester, Oxford, Sheffield. nb must usually offer Chemistry. Maths and Physics NOT required but can be second Science A Level

13 Style of Teaching/Learning 1 Traditional Courses 1. Oxford and Cambridge 6 year courses, first 3 years traditional Science degree with no clinical experience till year Imperial and UCL/Royal Free 6 year courses with BSc Year integrated. Slightly later clinical experience 3. St Andrews 3 Year course with final 3 years Manchester, Queen Mary or any Scottish Medical School.

14 Example of Intercalated BSc at Imperial: Medical Sciences with one of(compulsory ) Cardiovascular Science Endocrinology Gastroenterology and Hepatology Haematology Immunity and Infection Management Neurosciences and Mental Health Reproductive and Developmental Science Respiratory Science Surgery and Anaesthesia degree BMSc at Dundee (optional) with one of : Applied Orthopaedic Technology Cardiovascular and Diabetes Medicine Clinical Research Human Genetics and Experimental Medicine Human Reproduction, Assisted Conception and Embryonic Stem Cell International Health Teaching in Medicine

15 Style of Teaching/Learning 2 PBL approach e.g. UEA, Manchester, Keele, Glasgow, HYMS,Lancaster, Brighton and Sussex, Exeter. Plymouth, Liverpool Integrated (Systems Based) Courses e.g. Edinburgh, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham,Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham (incorporate some elements of PBL)

16 How does Problem based learning work? Structure of a typical two-week PBL module at LIVERPOOL Students are assigned in small groups of seven or eight. The group and their tutor meet at the beginning of the first week to consider the clinical scenario, the problem, on which the Module is based. The group explores the problem by bringing their prior knowledge to bear and by asking questions (as outlined above). In these ways, students identify areas and topics about which they need to know more. Students leave the tutorial with their unanswered questions (learning objectives), which each student in the group will use as a framework for further research and study.

17 Other factors to take into account What are the local hospitals like? Feedback from current students (eg national student survey) Atmosphere (open days and visits) Does it offer the sort of accommodation you want at the right price? Does it cater for your particular interest/hobby Could you live there for 5 to 6 Years? Size Matters

18 THE ART OF PERSUASION Developing your application strategy Be sure its the right thing for you Timing could be CRUCIAL Getting Your Hands Dirty - Learning by Experience The PERSONAL statement your Sales Pitch! Make sure you are TEST fit!

19 Aptitude Tests For Undergraduate Medicine Courses BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test) (Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton & Sussex, Lancaster, Leeds, Imperial College, University College London) UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test) All other medical schools *Remember that Medical Schools use these tests in different ways Routes into Medicine 19

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21 STRUCTURE OF BMAT Section Content Time What does it test Aptitude and Skills Scientific Knowledge and Application Writing Task 35 multiple 60 minutes This section tests generic Section choice or short Content Time skills in problem solving, Aptitude answer understanding argument and data analysis and and Skills multiple minutes inference choice or 27 multiple short 30 minutes This section tests a choice or short answer candidate s ability to apply Scientific answer scientific knowledge Knowledg multiple minutesnormally encountered in e and choice or non-specialist school Applicatio short science and maths courses, n answer up to and including National Curriculum Key Stage 4. Writing 1 essay 30 Task question minutes 1 essay 30 minutes This section tests ability to from a question from select, develop and choice of a choice of 4 organise ideas and 4 communicate them in writing in a concise and effective way

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23 UKCAT help Download the UKCAT App from either the Android or the I Phone Apps Store YOUTUBE - search for UKCAT & short tutorials are available on each of the test sections ACE Medicine & KAPLAN offer familiarisation courses at a cost & there are a number of books available ONLINE - UKCAT site has practice tests PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE There are several discussion forums where students can chat to fellow applicants e.g. The Student Room including Stalking Pages

24 PLAN B There are alternatives The 5th Choice 6 year Courses Supported entry routes Graduate Courses Study Abroad

25 The 5th Choice? 1. Should you make a fifth choice? 2. The Good, The Bad and the Ok? 3. UCAS Extra??? Physiotherapy? Dentistry? Nursing? Radiography? Biomedical sciences? Anatomy/physiology? Biological Sciences? Chemistry? Pharmacy? Pharmacology?

26 EXAMPLE-Medical Sciences, Medical Science explores the science of the human body and the causes of diseases that affect humans. Our programme explores the major body systems right down to the cellular and molecular level. You ll find out how research translates into advances in clinical practice and you ll have the opportunity to undertake research projects with our internationally recognised research groups in state-ofthe-art laboratories. Birmingham

27 Supported Entry Some Examples Alternative Entry Routes PARTNERS (Newcastle ) Gateway to Medicine (Durham) Foundation Year WP(Bristol, UEA, Kings,Lancaster Nottingham, Southampton) Foundation Year non Science A Levels (Cardiff, Dundee, Keele *,Lancaster, Manchester**, Sheffield ) Foundation Year for Mature students (Durham, Liverpool) Medical Sciences and Medical Sciences with Foundation Year (University of South Wales) Clinical Sciences /Medical Foundation at Bradford Interdisciplinary Science Foundation Year (Leeds University) Supportive Programmes/Events Pathways to Medicine at Imperial and HYMS(Sutton Trust) Realising Opportunities (Brightside) Social Mobility Foundation Help Me I m a Medic My Big Career Access Professions Medic Mentor

28 Clinical Sciences/Medicine Foundation (Year 0), Bradford A unique opportunity to study science and health studies which can lead to a career in medicine, the healthcare sciences and other healthcare professions. This collaborative course offers transfer routes to Leeds Medical School (subject to achievement) with many Clinical Sciences graduates progressing to other UK Medical Schools. Foundation year includes: an exploration of opportunities in the healthcare professions, chemistry and biology for clinical sciences. BBB INC CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY

29 Graduate Courses Birmingham Bristol Cambridge Imperial Keele Kings College, London Newcastle Leicester Liverpool Nottingham Oxford Queen Mary London Southampton St Georges, London Swansea Warwick

30 Medicine Abroad 50 + Medicine Programmes taught in English and recognised by Professional Bodies Includes Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Bulgaria,Romania, Malta, Cyprus More flexible entry requirements and application timescales Things to CONSIDER Costs vary greatly and are not necessarily cheaper than in UK Some courses are not taught in English throughout Your patients might not speak English Check acceptability with the GMC

31 STRATEGIES TO MAXIMISE CHANCES OF ACCEPTANCE Qualifications: check these as many misconceptions persist Timing of application pre/post results? First degree/graduate entry? Mature/Access course? Hospital/GP Practice /Caring/other - work experience is ESSENTIAL Personal Statements must be reflective & hook the reader from the start Interviews no excuse for being unprepared

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34 Offers and Rejections Elation and Dejection? Early application early replies? Offers range and responses Rejections strategies to help Clearing - any chance? Reapplication if so, where?

35 Some useful reading Insiders guide to medical schools BMJ books Getting into Medical School Trotmans Learning Medicine BMJ books Passing the UK Clinical Aptitude Test Law Matters Publishing OU VSI book series on Medical Ethics, Drugs, Psychiatry, HIV/Aids Schizophrenia etc

36 Some Useful Websites (especially becoming a doctor) (esp. tomorrows doctors) - good resource for reading up on current issues British Medical Journal, read up on current issues (Medicine Wiki)

37 AND FINALLY THANKS FOR LISTENING! Brenda mail.com Stella