Graduate Entry to Medicine Part 2: Applications Interviews June 12th 2008

1. Graduate Entry to MedicinePart 2: Applications & Interviews June 12th 2008 Andrew Bennett, Careers Servicewww.southampton.ac.uk/careers This session aims to build on the session I ran on Monday� If anyone missed that session I have a small supply of handouts that you can collect at the end of the sessionIf you want to be added to my email list of students interested in graduate entry to medicine please sign up on the list that I am circulatingCheck if students are all looking to apply in 2008 or later � have any already applied? This session aims to build on the session I ran on Monday�

2. Issues Application Procedure What Admissions Tutors Want Personal Statement Entry Tests Selection Interviews Further Sources of Information

3. Application Procedure Apply through UCAS � Max of 4 choices Final Deadline: October 15 - year prior to entry Need to apply for most entry tests separately UCAS personal statement and reference are critical For further details on UCAS go to:www.ucas.ac.uk there are two ways of applying to UCAS � one is through a school or college centre � you need to supply a buzzword and the school or college will submit the final application on your behalf � when you applied here most of you will have applied this way. The other route is to apply as an individual applicant and this is the route I suggest you follow for your application for medicine � you will need to liaise with your referee and add this to your form before submitting the completed application to UCAS there are two ways of applying to UCAS � one is through a school or college centre � you need to supply a buzzword and the school or college will submit the final application on your behalf � when you applied here most of you will have applied this way. The other route is to apply as an individual applicant and this is the route I suggest you follow for your application for medicine � you will need to liaise with your referee and add this to your form before submitting the completed application to UCAS

4. What Admissions Tutor�s want Academic Requirement and Entry TestsWhat Else? Most Medical Schools expect to see evidence of:Commitment to Medicine, Work ShadowingCare Work Experience, Communication Skills, Empathy, Initiative, Self Motivation etc. Research Individual Medical Schools Look out for Admissions / Selection Policy Documents on Medical School Websites

5. Southampton: Non-Academic Criteria These are that applicants: � are self motivated and have initiative are literate and articulate � are able to interact successfully with others � have learnt from their experiences of interacting with people in health or social care settings. (This may draw on what they have learnt from their own life experience e.g. friends or family, or some more formalised activity e.g. paid or voluntary work or work shadowing). Taken from the: �Selection Procedure and Policy for the School of Medicine�www.som.soton.ac.uk/undergraduates/selection-policy/selection-procedure-policy.pdf

6. Personal Statement Your opportunity to sell yourself and show how you match what the medical schools want! Consider how your experiences relate to what they want! Needs to be concise max. 4,000 characters including spaces Cannot cover everything!Avoid making it a list of everything you have ever done! Be selective � quality not quantity Identify a range of key activities / achievements and explain:what each involved (skills demonstrated)what you learnt about yourself Find out what the medical schools that you are applying to want � attend open days, search their websites for detailed selection policy and procedure Ensure your statement provides evidence of the skills your chosen medical schools requireFind out what the medical schools that you are applying to want � attend open days, search their websites for detailed selection policy and procedure

7. Personal Statement (2) Possible Structure Introduction / Why Medicine? How degree studies have prepared you for Medical School Relevant experienceUse this to demonstrate commitment to medicine. Emphasise what you have learnt about yourself, the demands of the profession, the realities of working in the NHS Other Work Experience / Voluntary WorkSkills gained, lessons learned � not just a list! Interests / AchievementsIs there more to you than work and study? Do you.. volunteer for things? Get involved? Take the lead? Conclusion

8. Personal Statement (3) Start Early! � it will take several drafts Your statement must be your own work � UCAS are using software to identify plagiarism! Make sure your statement is:Well Written, Concise, Original and Truthful Don�t forget you will be questioned on your statement at any interview you attend! Get feedback from the Careers Service � we are open throughout the summer vacation DON�T LEAVE IT TOO LATE Must be all your own work. UCAS are using software to check for phrases �borrowed� from the internet They may experienced a similar sense of d�j� vu when they read all 370 applications from would-be doctors who opened their personal statements with �a fascination for how the human body works . . .� and the 175 who referred to their �elderly or infirm grandfather�. Must be all your own work. UCAS are using software to check for phrases �borrowed� from the internet They may experienced a similar sense of d�j� vu when they read all 370 applications from would-be doctors who opened their personal statements with �a fascination for how the human body works . . .� and the 175 who referred to their �elderly or infirm grandfather�.

9. Referee For current students likely to require an academic referee from your current course of study Speak to your referee at an early stage and give your referee a copy of your personal statement! Manchester University provide some useful guidelines for referees which are available at:www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/medicine/applying/reference

10. Entry Tests � GAMSAT Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test GAMSAT currently used by GEM Courses at St George�s, Keele, Nottingham (at Derby), Swansea. Also - Peninsular (5 yr course) Applicants applying for Medicine in 2008 for 2009 entry will take GAMSAT on 19 September 2008 Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences Written Communication Reasoning in Biological & Physical Sciences Register online for GAMSAT from June 2008 Entry deadline: 17 /08/08 (Late registration (extra fee) : 31/08/08 Further details including how to prepare: www.gamsatuk.org/ GAMSAT preparation materials available for reference at the Careers Service Full details will be available on the GAMSAT website closer to June 2008 Gamsat is the most expensive entry test for2007 entry the cost was �195.05 (incl VAT)You can keep your GAMSAT score for two years Can be viewed as the most demanding in that you will need to do significant preparation for the testIt is suggested that you need to have knowledge of Biology and Chemistry that is equivalent to first year University level and knowledge of Physics equivalent to A level.� St George�s cannot advise students about preparation for GAMSAT nor do we recommend any courses. Candidates who do not have a science background may wish to work through first year degree level Chemistry and Biology textbooks and an A Level Physics textbook. You could also explore foundation level science courses such as the Open University Discovering Science module. As you will have gathered, the course relies heavily on students who are able to evaluate their learning objectives, set these and work independently. Your preparation and consequent performance in the exam is an assessment of these qualities. You may like to look at our website where some of our current students have written about how they prepared for the exam.�The Careers Service has some material available for reference � you can purchase your own copies of these guides from the UCAS website Full details will be available on the GAMSAT website closer to June 2008 Gamsat is the most expensive entry test for2007 entry the cost was �195.05 (incl VAT)

11. Entry Tests � BMAT Biomedical Admissions Test For students applying in 2008 for 2009 entry: Cambridge was the only GEM course that used this testCandidates asked to establish from an admissions tutor whether they needed to sit this test Also used by four Universities for entry to their five year programmes Standard entry closing date: 30th September 2008 Test Date: 5th November 2008 Standard Fee: �27.30 Further Details including practice questions: www.bmat.org.uk Also refer to the publication:Passing the UK Clinical Aptitude Test and BMAT (Careers Service) 'The test is used to assess scientific aptitude and focuses on scientific abilities relevant to the study of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge� ALSO USED BY THE FOLLOWING FIVE YEAR PROGRAMMES OXFORD, CAMBRIDGE, UCL, IMPERIAL Three sections 1. APTITUDES AND SKILLS (60 minutes) Problem Solving Understanding Argument Data Analysis & Inference 2. Scientific Knowledge and Applications (30 minutes) This element tests whether candidates have the core knowledge and the capacity to apply it - Biology , Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 3: Writing Task A selection of three tasks will be available, from which one must be chosen. These will include brief questions based on topics of general, medical or scientific interest. Questions will provide a short proposition and may require candidates to: � explain or discuss the proposition's implications; � suggest a counter proposition or argument; � suggest a (method for) resolution. The Writing Task provides an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate the capacity to consider different aspects of a proposition, and to communicate them effectively in writing. 'The test is used to assess scientific aptitude and focuses on scientific abilities relevant to the study of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge� ALSO USED BY THE FOLLOWING FIVE YEAR PROGRAMMES OXFORD, CAMBRIDGE, UCL, IMPERIAL Three sections 1. APTITUDES AND SKILLS (60 minutes) Problem Solving Understanding Argument Data Analysis & Inference 2. Scientific Knowledge and Applications (30 minutes) This element tests whether candidates have the core knowledge and the capacity to apply it - Biology , Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 3: Writing Task A selection of three tasks will be available, from which one must be chosen. These will include brief questions based on topics of general, medical or scientific interest. Questions will provide a short proposition and may require candidates to: � explain or discuss the proposition's implications; � suggest a counter proposition or argument; � suggest a (method for) resolution. The Writing Task provides an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate the capacity to consider different aspects of a proposition, and to communicate them effectively in writing.

12. Entry Test � UKCATUK Clinical Aptitude test Used by eight 4 year GEM courses: Imperial (London), Kings (London), Leicester, Newcastle, Oxford, Queen Mary (London), Southampton and Warwick UKCAT is also used by many 5 & 6 year Medicine Degrees including Southampton Five subtests : Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Problem Solving and Non�Cognitive analysis To prepare for UKCAT go to: www.ukcat.ac.uk refer to the publication:Passing the UK Clinical Aptitude Test and BMAT (Careers Service) Covers five subtests : Verbal reasoning� assesses candidates� ability to think logically about written information and to arrive at a reasoned conclusion. Quantitative reasoning� assesses candidates� ability to solve numerical problems. Abstract reasoning� assesses candidates� ability to infer relationships from information by convergent and divergent thinking. Decision analysis�� assesses candidates� ability to deal with various forms of information, to infer relationships, to make informed judgements, and to decide on an appropriate response, in situations of complexity and ambiguity. Non-cognitive analysis - identifies the attributes and characteristics of robustness, empathy and integrity that contribute to successful health professional practice. The test is designed to be a test of aptitude and behavioural attributes rather than academic achievement, therefore the test does not draw on any particular body of knowledge nor curriculum, which acandidate can learn in advance. However, candidates should practise answering the types of questions that will be presented in the UKCAT, to familiarise themselves with the question styles, multiple choice format and varying requirements of each subtest. UKCAT 2006 � Oxford only interviewed students with a score of 2600For Southampton BM5 the cut off for consideration of candidates is 2200 Queen Marys (2006) This year, candidates with total scores above 2,350 were shortlisted for further assessment by our panel of trained selectors. Candidates with scores below this were not considered Covers five subtests : Verbal reasoning� assesses candidates� ability to think logically about written information and to arrive at a reasoned conclusion. Quantitative reasoning� assesses candidates� ability to solve numerical problems. Abstract reasoning� assesses candidates� ability to infer relationships from information by convergent and divergent thinking. Decision analysis�� assesses candidates� ability to deal with various forms of information, to infer relationships, to make informed judgements, and to decide on an appropriate response, in situations of complexity and ambiguity. Non-cognitive analysis - identifies the attributes and characteristics of robustness, empathy and integrity that contribute to successful health professional practice.

13. UKCAT (2) Key Dates UKCAT registration opens: 1 May 2008 UKCAT Test dates: 7 July 2008 - 10 October 2008 UKCAT Registration deadline: 26 September 2008 Costs: before 31/08/08  �60 to sit test in the EU (�95 for other candidates) 1/09/08 � 10/10/08  �75 to sit test in the EU Check the UKCAT Website for full details

14. Interviews Most Medical Schools will interview successful applicants � think ahead, be prepared! Look the part � plan your dress: smart / formal / professional Plan your journey allow plenty of time Treat all staff / students you meet as selectors Re-read your statement and be ready to provide further detail Remind yourself of what this medical school wants! Interviewers may be Academics, Doctors, Other Medical Professionals etc

15. Interviews (2) Try to relax, smile and be yourself. Think positive! Consider obvious questionsWhy Medicine?Why THIS course?What makes a good doctor?What are your strengths?�..and weaknesses? Don�t try to learn scripted answers! Looking for evidence of skills such as teamwork / leadership / empathy / ability to learn independently

16. Interviews (3) Other possible lines of questioning � a few examples: Questions on areas of interest mentioned in your statement Major Causes of Death in the UK � Circulatory Diseases, Cancer contributory factors / strategies for prevention Current Medical Issues � MRSA, Gene Therapy, AIDS etc Keep up to date with medical stories in the press Guardian Independent New Scientist www.studentbmj.com/

17. Interviews (4) Questioning about the NHSWhat are the principles of the NHS?Who is the Secretary of State for Health?What would you do if you had to take over this role?How would you fund health care in the UK?Ethical IssuesShould smokers be offered the same rights to treatment as non-smokers?Interviewers will be looking for articulate students that are not afraid to express an opinion but are prepared to consider alternative viewpoints Do you have any questions?

18. Further Help with Interviews Excellent Section on Medical School Interviews in: Getting Into Medical School (Trotman) Medical School Interviews (Lee and Picard) (ISC Medical) Attend Careers Service Workshops and talks on Interview Skills Arrange a mock interview with a Careers Adviser May find message boards useful but treat with caution � try: www.newmediamedicine.com/forum www.admissionsforum.net

19. Next Steps Research Courses / Attend Open Days/ Discussion with Careers Adviser Gain Relevant Experience:Volunteering, Work Experience Placements etc Plan your summer! Check out entry tests prepare and register to sit tests Draft Your Personal Statement / get feedback Discuss your application with your referee Submit your UCAS Application by October 15, 2008 Prepare for Interviews / tests

20. Other Options Graduate Entry to Medicine is highly competitive and you need to work hard to gain experience and be very determined in order to succeed  There are many other health professions that will accept graduate applicants �some students can find they are better suited to other health professions  Check www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/career.shtml for details  Science students may also wish to consider nhs clinical scientist posts (www.nhsclinicalscientists.info) and a wide range of alternative scientific career options Talk about possible options with a Careers Adviser

21. Careers Service Building 3, Highfield Tel: 023 8059 3501 www.southampton.ac.uk/careers Careers Service