Successful Medical Applications - CHARTERHOUSE HIGHER EDUCATION

CHARTERHOUSE
    HIGHER EDUCATION

Successful Medical Applications

CHARTERHOUSE
      HIGHER EDUCATION

Application Timeline and Deadlines
•   CQ: Research medical schools
•   June 2019: Draft UCAS grades
•   July 2019: Take UKCAT exam
•   Summer: Work experience and personal statement
•   30st September 2019: Deadline for submitting UCAS
    application form

CHARTERHOUSE
       HIGHER EDUCATION

Application Timeline and Deadlines
• 30 October 2019: BMAT exam if appropriate
    (BMAT August option)
•   November 2019: Interview practice in school
•   January – April 2020 : Interviews and decisions
•   August 2020: Exam Results
•   September 2020: Begin university course!

The UCAS Application Form

Four Medicine Courses
One Non-Medicine Course
• Biomedical science
• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Chemistry
• Natural Sciences

Higher Education
     Support at Charterhouse

• Personal statement advice and support
• General interview training & medical interview
  training
• Assistance with completing the UCAS form
• Registration for BMAT
• Important that applicants are aware of deadlines and
  take responsibility

BMAT
Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
• Brighton & Sussex, Imperial, Lancaster, UCL,
   Cambridge, Leeds, Oxford, Overseas only – Keele &
   Manchester
• 2 hour paper, including essay section
• 30 October 2019 (at Charterhouse)
• BMAT August option (not accepted by all) pros and
   cons
• Results published 22 November 2019
http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/for-test-
takers/bmat/about-bmat/

UKCAT

UK Clinical Aptitude Tests (UKCAT)
• Most medical schools that do not use BMAT
• Different sections include verbal and
  quantitative reasoning and situational
  judgement
• Taken at test centres (not Charterhouse)
  during July. Overseas centres are available.
• UKCAT score assists in choosing universities

CHARTERHOUSE
    HIGHER EDUCATION

Successful Medical Applications

Reasons to apply to medicine

§ It allows me to pursue my passion for Biology.
§ It offers good remuneration and job security.
§ I am one of the best Scientists / Biologists in my year
  and it is the most prestigious course to apply for.
§ My mum / dad / mum & dad are doctors and think it
  would be a really good idea.
§ You have to admit that “Dr Jones” does sound good.
§ I don’t like rowing / cricket / parties so need
  something that will keep me fully occupied at uni

Reasons to apply to medicine
§ I am motivated by helping with people’s
  problems
§ I want to use my strong people skills and
  excellent scientific skills to diagnose and lead the
  medical care of patients
§ I am prepared to work very hard over a long
  training; move to work; put up with politics etc.
§ I will thrive in a career with very real highs and
  lows that has the satisfaction of making a
  tangible difference to people’s lives.

A job application at 17

Key success factors

Agenda:
1. The need for medical students to be
  proactive in driving their applications
2. Blah
3. Blah
4. Blah

Key success factors

1. Why me? Why medicine?
 •   An experience / experiences have affected me
     kindling a passion to help people through medicine
 •   I can demonstrate this passion by serious actions I
     have taken

Key success factors

1. Why me? Why medicine?
2. Work experience
“I don’t quite know how to put this but they need to show they are
      able to deal with the general public.”
“If you haven't had to clear up sick then you probably have not had
      the right kind of work experience.”
It is what you have done, not what you are thinking of doing.
How to find experience.
Overseas work experience

Key success factors

1. Why me? Why medicine?
2. Work experience
3. Matching skills / competencies with medical
   school requirements
   •   Entry requirements
   •   Interview types
   •   Course teaching styles PBL / traditional. Patients first or
       theory first.

Key success factors
1.       Why me? Why medicine?
2.       Work experience
3.       Matching skills / competencies with school
4.       BMAT / UKCAT preparation
     •     These are aptitude tests – you can’t learn if from a book / course
     •     Practice questions do help
     •     BMAT essay

Key success factors

1.    Why me? Why medicine?
2.    Work experience
3.    Matching skills / competencies with school
4.    BMAT / UKCAT preparation
5.    Interview preparation
     “I always know who will get offers. They have been outside my office
           debating medical issues from the papers / student BMJs for the past
           two years.”

Key success factors

1.   Why me? Why medicine?
2.   Work experience
3.   Matching skills / competencies with school
4.   BMAT / UKCAT preparation
5.   Interview preparation
     •   Start early
     •   Medical knowledge
     •   Take presentation opportunities
     •   Medical Society
     •   Practice interviews – arrange in good time

Key success factors
1.   Why me? Why medicine?
2.   Work experience
3.   Matching skills / competencies with school
4.   BMAT / UKCAT preparation
5.   Interview preparation
6.   If at first you don’t succeed….
     •   Biomedical sciences
     •   Post results application
     •   Overseas courses or courses for overseas students
     •   A word on the training / qualification times.

Charterhouse support

§ Careers department application expertise
§ Medics society
    § Knowledge of profession and issues
    § Ability to discuss and debate medical issues,
      particularly with an ethical angle
§   CAS & other support for work experience
§   UKCAT training, BMAT training
§   Nottingham interview training
§   Mock interviews – panel or MMI style

CHARTERHOUSE
     HIGHER EDUCATION
Successful Medical Applications
Questions?