A competitive UCAS application Sophie Tuhey, Education Partnerships Manager
Choosing a university Location City or campus uni? Russell Group? Teaching and assessment methods Career prospects Choose the course before choosing the university
UK Medical Schools
English English vs. English English
League Tables Be critical and inquisitive. Do you trust someone else s opinion?
Applying Choose up to five courses Number of choices allowed depends upon your chosen course 4 courses in any one of medicine/dentistry/veterinary medicine/veterinary science One course at either Oxford University or University of Cambridge Universities will only know about their course or courses for which you have applied
UCAS What happens to your application? Apply online: www.ucas.com Sent to universities Admissions Tutors make decisions: Interview invitation Conditional offer Unconditional offer Unsuccessful Decisions tracked online
Decisions A B C D E Get offers from universities individually No offers? UCAS Extra Results Day! 1 2 Choose Firm and Insurance universities Got the grades? You ve got your place! Don t panic UCAS Clearing/ Adjustment
UCAS: General Dos & Don ts DO Research course Be realistic do you meet the subject and entry requirements? Use the full space for personal statements Be aware of additional requirements BMAT/ LNAT Use the UCAS How to Apply Guide to help you
UCAS: General Dos & Don'ts DON T Apply for widely differing courses Apply to the same institution 5 times Forget the application deadlines! 15 th October for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Sciences 15 th January for all other programmes
What do admissions tutors use to decide? Your UCAS form Personal statement, predicted grades, AS results, GCSE results & reference. Interviews Not all unis / departments interview some give tasks to do at home Structure of interviews vary across departments/ unis. Admissions tests BMAT for Medicine LNAT for Laws Portfolios for Fine Art & Architecture
University activities
Work experience and volunteering
Old Operating Theatre Museum One of the most unusual museums in London. A museum of surgical history and the oldest surviving operating theatre in Europe. Medicine Pharmacy Biomedical Sciences Biology
The Supreme Court The Supreme Court is highest court in the United Kingdom. Take a tour of the building, visit the exhibition space or hear a talk from a senior official of the court. Law Politics History International Relations
Current affairs
Personal Statement
Personal Statement 1 statement for all 5 choices 47 lines or 4000 characters Roughly 75% academic, 25% extra curricular Discuss why you want to study your chosen course Plagiarism check in place must be your own work Don t mention any particular university by name Avoid listing your experiences. Say what you learnt from them. End your personal statement on a positive, enthusiastic note, e.g. say what you are looking forward to about university
I m having trouble including everything in my personal statement. Currently I have 6,000 characters. Would it be possible for me to write it without spaces? Yesthatisnotaproblematallpleasedose nditinjustlikethatasweonlyreceivetheod dpersonalstatementandsocanspendall dayreadingthroughit... Difficult no?
What not to do in a personal statement: Name any specific university unless only applying for one course. Try to be too smart or too funny (remember who you are writing for). Mention that you did something because your Mum/Dad/Uncle/ 3 rd Cousin does it. Shopping lists/box-ticking and then I did this and this and this and this.. Lie.
Ever since I accidentally burnt holes in my pyjamas after experimenting with a chemistry set on my eighth birthday, I have always had a passion for science. 234
A good example: In preparation for applying to medical school, I have researched the duties of a doctor as outlined by the General Medical Council (GMC) and have sought academic and extracurricular opportunities to help me prepare personally and professionally for this vocation.
Summary: preparing for university Visit universities Apply for outreach activities (e.g. summer schools) Work experience and/or volunteering Use London as your classroom Read around the subject Keep up with current affairs Use the summer Start Y13 fully prepared
Thank you for listening. For more information about UCL, visit www.ucl.ac.uk/study If you have any questions about applying, email: study@ucl.ac.uk Good luck!