Career s So – you want to be a doctor

So – you want to be a
doctor
Graduate Entry Medicine
Vinny Potter
Medical Careers Adviser
QM Careers
Careers
UCL CAREERS SERVICE
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Grad Entry – positive and negatives
Which medical school
Entrance Exams
The courses on offer
UCAS Application
Funding
Work experience
Interviews
Further resources
Dentistry
The Personal Statement
Careers
What I hope to cover
today
• Approximately 30 x 5 (6) year courses
– take about 12% graduates but this is increasing
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15 x 4 year courses
All highly competitive
Can be easier getting on 5(6) year course
More 5(6) year courses open to non-UK/EU
Differences in funding
Careers
Five or four years?
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The University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
University of Cambridge
Imperial College London
Keele University
University of Leicester
The University of Liverpool
Newcastle University
The University of Nottingham
Oxford University
Queen Mary, University of London
University of Southampton
St George's, University of London
Swansea University
The University of Warwick
Careers
Schools Offering 4 yr GEM Courses
• Geographical location
• Structure of the course/your learning style
• Popularity / reputation
• Entry Criteria
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Careers
Decide which
Medical Schools
• Cost of living
• Demographics
• Campus or scattered
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Careers
Geographical
Location
• All courses will give you exposure to
general practice, hospital and surgical
experience.
• Integration with the 5 year course
• Length of academic year
• Teaching style
– ‘Traditional’ Lecture-based e.g. Oxford
– Problem based learning (PBL) e.g. St
Georges
– Self-directed learning
– Guided learning
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Careers
Structure of the
course
• Remember all courses are validated
by the GMC and will produce
doctors capable of practising
medicine at the required level
• National recruitment system for
jobs as Doctors – no preference
given for medical school.
• Large differences in popularity of
schools – varies year on year
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Reputation of the
medical school
• Almost all require at least 2:1
honours degree
• Split regarding degree discipline
• Some require specific A-levels &
grades
• Entrance exams for majority
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Entry Criteria
• Increasing applicant numbers, age range and
academic background
• Test skills & attitudes not tested by A-levels & UG
degree
• Exams help to level playing field
• Each school has own cut off points & criteria for
interview selection
• Separate to UCAS application
• Set dates for registration & testing
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Careers
Entrance Exams
•
Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test
• http://www.gamsat.co.uk/
• £192.00 (2009) 5.5 Hours
• 3 Sections
– Reasoning in Chemistry, Biology & Physics (MCQs)
– Reasoning in Humanities & Social Sciences (MCQs)
– Written communication (2 tasks)
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St George’s, University of London
The University of Nottingham at Derby
The University of Wales Swansea
Keele University
Or to the 5-year degree at Peninsula Medical School
Careers
GAMSAT
• UK Clinical Aptitude Test
• http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/home
• £60 (2009) 90 minutes
• 4 sections (MCQs):
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Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning
Abstract Reasoning
Decision Analysis
Careers
UKCAT
• UKCAT official website
• Medicas
• On examination
• UKPO
• (Some free, some charge)
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Careers
UKCAT Practice
• Usually for the 5 yr course
• Cambridge – ? For 4 yr course
ask them for advice.
• Imperial 5yr
• Oxford 5yr
• UCL 5yr
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Careers
BMAT
• Make sure you fit the entry criteria
• Is it in the right area?
• Find out about the teaching style
– does it fit your preferred way of learning
• Be aware of entry exam dates and your
availability
• Many have open days e.g. Oxford,
Nottingham
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Careers
Choosing the course
School
Places
App.
Ratio
Int.
Places
Degree
Grade
Chem.
A level
Bio
A level
Entrance
Exam
Barts
45
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2.1
no
no
Ukcat
Birmingham
40
15
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2.1
yes
no
No
Bristol
19
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-
2.1
yes
no
No
Imperial
50
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10
2.1
yes
yes
Ukcat
Leicester
64
4.7
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2.1
no
no
Ukcat
Liverpool
32
17
-
2.1
yes
yes
No
Oxford
30
8
-
2.1
yes
no
Ukcat
Warwick
178
5.6
14
2.1
no
no
ukcat
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Careers
Biology / Science Degrees required
School
Places
App.
Ratio
Int.
Places
Degree
Grade
Chem.
A level
Bio
A level
Entrance
Exam
Cambs
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-
-
2.1
yes
no
No
Kings
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63
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2.1
no
no
Ukcat
Newcastle
25
28
-
2.1
no
no
Ukcat
Nottingham
91
13
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2.2
No
no
GAMSAT
Southampton
40
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2
2.1
yes
no
No
St Georges
98
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2.2
no
no
GAMSAT
Swansea
70
9.6
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2.1
no
no
GAMSAT
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Careers
Any degree
• The two previous slides summarising the entry
requirements of the medical schools have been taken
from the website medschoolsonline.co.uk – set up
and run by current medical students to help those
thinking about medical careers
• The information was gathered from medical school
admissions offices and from course websites.
• If you wish to apply to one of the medical schools
described it is strongly advised that you contact
the school's admissions office to get the most up to
date and accurate information before submitting your
application.
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Important Note:
• All applications now online only
• Maximum of 4 courses.
• Detailed guidelines and instructions on
www.ucas.ac.uk
• Deadline is 15th October 2009
• Check entrance exam reg. deadlines
• Referees – give advance warning
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Careers
Applying through UCAS
• Sections – Personal details, qualifications,
employment history, personal statement, reference
• Prepare your statement well in advance
• You will need your old UCAS number !
• ‘buzzword’ or course code – from your department,
or apply as independent applicant
• Find your A & GCSE results in advance
• Any queries – try Admissions tutors (avoid near
deadline) or www.ucas.com
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Careers
Filling in the form
• Convince the reader why you want to be a doctor
• Give evidence of you have skills for Medicine
• Give evidence you understand what medicine & the
medical degree entails
• Explain any poor performances
• Allude to your academic progress now
• Evidence your hobbies/social activities and link to
your potential contribution to medical school life
• More on this later…
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Careers
Convince me –
the personal statement
Work Experience
• Working with people / Working as part of a
team- retail / hospitality work, Care assistant,
Children with / without special needs, Old peoples
homes, Volunteer
• Understanding the NHS, Validation of decision
- hospital volunteer, GP receptionist, ward clerk,
talking to junior doctors and med students
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Careers
Provide the Evidence –
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Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk
– Vacation work booklets
– Recruitment Agencies Booklet
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Hospital websites e.g.
http://www.uclh.nhs.uk/Job+seekers+volunteers/
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Volunteering: www.doit.org.uk
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Local Hospital http://www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk/workforus
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Hospices http://www.helpthehospices.org.uk
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Care Homes
www.csci.org.uk/registeredservicesdirectory/rsquicksearch.asp.
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and ‘Provide’ volunteering
Careers
Where can I find these
jobs?
• Choose an academic who knows you and
of your aspirations of becoming a doctor.
• It need not be your personal tutor
• Give them time to complete the form
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Careers
References
• Lot of variation: e.g. one person / panel, 10 min
– 1 hr
• Most will probe on:
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Why medicine?
What part of course appeals?
How found out is right for you?
What learnt from work exp?
Realistic view of medicine
Other interests
Communication & interpersonal skils
Interest in health & medical stories
Careers
Medical Interviews
• Will all depend on personal circumstances.
– GEM courses; Pay own tuition fees 1st yr, rest get
NHS Bursary and fees paid. Eligible for student loans
– 5 year; Own tuition fees for 4 yrs & eligible student
loan, 5th year bursary & fees paid.
– Non UK EU residents – funding more limited
– Non-EU – responsible for full cost of degree
• Check with the student Welfare Office or the
Admissions at the Medical School.
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Careers
FUNDING
• Start reviewing what you have to
offer NOW
• Get relevant work experience
• Work hard on your statement
• Keep abreast of medical issues
• Use the Careers Service,
www.careers.qmul.ac.uk
• Look at www.ucas.com and other
application guides
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In Summary
• Nine 5 year courses and four graduate schemes (The
University of Aberdeen, The University of Liverpool, Peninsula
College of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London)
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List of all courses at www.ucas.ac.uk
2:1 +, science degree, fierce competition (UK 800
places)
Get work experience & shadowing
Apps via UCAS. Most have entrance test
Funding – tricky. Final years, NHS bursary possible.
Also armed forces cadet ships. More info – contact
schools.
Careers
Dentistry
• UCAS book; Medicine, Dentistry & Optometry
• www.medschoolsonline.co.uk
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Getting into Medical School, Burnet & Ruston
How to get into Graduate Entry medicine, Sellers & Knight
Passing the UKCAT, Walker-Buckton, Hutton & Hutton
Funding:
– www.direct.gov.uk – Education & Learning Section
– http://www.nhspa.gov.uk/sgu/ - NHS Bursary’s
• Careers Adviser appointments: www.careers.qmul.ac.uk,
020 7882 8533
• Careers Service – near Octagon in Queens Building
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Further resources
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Questions?
Applications &
Support Statements
Information from
Graham Clayden
Sub Dean for Undergraduate Medicine
Admissions KCL
Careers
UCL CAREERS SERVICE
• Motivated to help people
• Informed about career
demands
• Realistic about yourself
• Community orientated
• Honest
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Careers
Convince us that you are:
• A good judge
• A natural leader
• A problem solver (good
common sense)
• Creative
• A rounded personality
• Resilient
• Fit to practice eventually
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Also convince us that you are:
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Careers
Essential evidence from:
• Work experience
• Community service
• Inspiring anecdote
• Medical science link
• Achievement in
arts/music/sports
• Examples of perseverance with
task
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Avoid:
• Any subject that you don't
want to talk about at interview
• Hero-worship of doctors
• Rewards of medical career
• Wrong balance of humour
• Using out of date examples or
interests
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Don't forget to mention:
• Hospital volunteering or paid jobs
• Contact with vulnerable people
• Captain or director or lead roles
• Duke of Edinburgh awards
• First aid qualifications
• Key subject to initiate discussion
but avoid learning patter
• Be honest!
• Check spelling and grammar
• Make it a legible (font size and
paragraphs)
• Don’t try to over-impress
• Do not use words you cannot
pronounce or explain
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FINAL MESSAGE