Getting into Medicine & Dentistry - University of Sheffield/file/Getting_into... · Getting into Medicine & Dentistry Tuesday 1 May, 2012 . Today’s session •Issues to consider

01/05/2012 www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers Alison Clay, Careers Adviser

Getting into Medicine & Dentistry

Tuesday 1 May, 2012

Today’s session

• Issues to consider BEFORE applying

• How to apply

• Personal statement

• Tips & hints on work experience and meeting other essential criteria

• Interview stage

• Funding

• Sources of advice and information

Issues to consider BEFORE applying

• Why do I want to be a …?

• Skills and qualities?

• Entry requirements inc. first degree and A-levels, entrance exams, international students

• Academic potential?

• Shadowing and work experience? Reflections are key

• Choice of HE institution inc. type of course & length

• Training / career development

• Costs and funding availability for courses

Course options

• 4-year accelerated course for graduates

• UG course (typically 5-years; few 6 years inc BSc)

• 6-year course inc. foundation year ‘0’

• How it’s taught varies! PBL based on real life clinical experience Vs clearer split between theoretical studies and clinical practice.

• More details on UCAS website: www.ucas.com and individual medical / dental school websites

Applying for Medicine & Dentistry (1)

• Online via UCAS: www.ucas.com

• Closing date for 2013 entry: 15 Oct 2012.

• Apply as ‘individual’

• 4 choices max. (NB: show focus)

• 2012 fee = £22 (£11 if only apply to one)

• Online FAQs / Tel helpline: 0871 468 0 468

• Admissions tests? UKCAT, GAMSAT, BMAT. Date may be before UCAS deadline! Talk: 11.00am Thurs 3rd May BLT1

Applying for Medicine & Dentistry (2)

• Research course content and teaching

• Talk to the admissions team, visit the School eg Open Day

• Strong personal statement vital

• Strong academic reference can really help

• Relevant supporting materials sent later – don’t overwhelm

• Additional application form or CV – eg, for mature applicants

A bit more detail……

• Applications (personal statement)

• Interviews

NB: Using Medicine at Sheffield as an example – similar principles apply to other Schools and for dentistry courses, too.

UCAS form: personal statement • Academic achievements: knowledge & skills

• Motivation - why medicine and why now as a mature / graduate applicant?

• Commitment to medicine - evidence of understanding work of doctor & what’s happening in the profession

• Work experience & achievements in extra- curricular activities – how do these demonstrate your personal qualities (core qualities of a doctor) – REFLECTION IS KEY

• Clear and logical – good written communication. Show personality – first impressions last.

Personal qualities (1)

Show you have core qualities of a good doctor

Provide evidence of your: • Good communication skills

• Concern for welfare of others

• Personal qualities of honesty, integrity and ability to recognise own limitations, self-motivation, working under pressure, etc

• Work in a team and leadership skills

Highlight endeavour in non-academic areas

Personal qualities (2)

Indicate your patient-focus:

• Show you understand (and agree) that patient care is the primary duty of a doctor

Demonstrate enthusiasm & commitment:

• Demonstrate personal research into what a career in medicine entails

• Evidence of attempts to experience the work of a doctor

• Read around the subject, know what’s happening in the profession and have an opinion about it!

Tips on work experience

• Start by talking to your GP & other healthcare workers

• Obtain work (or shadowing) in hospitals or GP surgery, to talk to healthcare workers

• Talk to medical students & junior doctors as well as consultants ( eg try Med Soc)

• Voluntary work in the community eg STH, www.vas.org.uk, www.sheffieldhelpyourself.org.uk, www.do-it.org.uk

• (un)paid work in residential homes or other caring environments like hospices: MyVacancies, local newspapers, plus own research (www.yell.com)

• Relate other work experience to profession

Care networking event

Monday 14th May

12.00 -1.30pm

Gallery Room 2, Students Union

Advice & information from:

• Sheffield City Council ; NHS Volunteering

• CareWatch; Broomcroft Nursing Home

• Good Neighbours Scheme; Skills for Care

• Plus others…….

Participation

is better than

Observation

Interviews – the basics

• Check format – eg, panel interview (Sheffield), Multiple Mini Interviews (UEA), assessment days (Warwick)

• Be prepared – spend time researching and practising

• Dress the part - professional

• Create a good first impression

• Body language as well as articulation

• Try to relax and let your personality shine!

• UCAS personal statement may form basis for questions

Panel interview – likely topics (1)

• Reason for wanting to be a doctor (motivation, enthusiasm, realism)

• Understanding of course and reasons for choosing this institution

• Degree studies and relevance

• Explore other qualities relevant to being a doctor (esp. Via CBQs) inc. capacity to deal with stress

• Ability to communicate, express ideas clearly and follow a reasoned argument

• Ability to interact with/relate to others

Panel interview – likely topics (2)

• Outside interests, sometimes in depth

• Previous work experience (hands-on caring plus other types)

• Matters of “medical interest”: – History of medicine and medical breakthroughs

– Topical controversies and ethical issues

– NHS politics

• And ability to express an intelligent view on the above

MMIs

• Several ‘stations’

• 1:1 discussions with an assessor (CBQs; why medicine; current affairs, medical knowledge, etc)

• Role play activities eg, actor plays role of a neighbour to whom you need to break some bad news

• Individual puzzles eg, prioritise 30 items to take on holiday when only allowed 15

• Moral dilemmas, eg, you are given the scenario of a family dispute and must describe how you would mediate

Assessment days

• Group work activity

• Written exercise

• Your observations / comments on a health-professional-patient consultation role play performed by actors

Have you got the X-Factor?

Convincing

Articulate self-marketing

Enthusiastic

Funding

• Dept of Health / NHS may give UK domiciled students: Tuition fee assistance and means-tested maintenance bursary s.t course type, year of study and your situation. Student loans available via Student Finance England – see next slides

• International students – try sources in home-country

• Institution’s own bursary system

• Charities and trusts (ask at Careers Service; see Prospects PG)

• Part-time work (if you have time!!!)

• Loans from banks, family or friends?

• Talk to the Student Advice Centre: www.shef.ac.uk/union/advice

• See if admissions teams can offer any suggestions

Medicine & Dentistry 5/6-Year UG courses funding 2012 entry • In Years 1 to 4 of training, English domiciled students

responsible for own tuition fees (up to £9,000) and living costs, although may be able to apply for SFE loan for maintenance.

• English domiciled students eligible for means-tested NHS bursary and help with tuition fees from 5th year of study. Also entitled to apply for reduced rate SFE student loan from year 5.

• Students domiciled in other UK areas should contact the appropriate national authority for details.

• For more info: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/816.aspx

Medicine & Dentistry 4-Year ‘Fast-track’ funding 2012 entry • In Year One, English domiciled students responsible for

first £3.375 of tuition fees but can apply to SFE for loan to cover rest . Can apply to SFE for maintenance loan.

• In years two, three and four NHS bursary pays first £3,375 of tuition fees with SFE loans a possibility to cover the rest. NHS maintenance bursary available plus reduced rate SFE loan to meet the balance of living costs.

• Students domiciled in other UK areas should contact the appropriate national authority for details.

• Further information: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/816.aspx

Finding out more….. (1)

About the profession: • Prospects website: www.prospects.ac.uk ‘Jobs &

work experience’ / ‘Types of jobs’ • Professional bodies like BMA & BDA (links from

above website) • Careers Service: occupations files, books, info

sheets • Talk to those in the profession, work shadow &

obtain hands-on work experience • Research into professional training

Finding out more….. (1)

About your ‘suitability’: – Talk to a Careers Adviser, your tutor,

family and friends, a practising professional, etc

About the course: – Talk to admissions tutors – Talk to current students

www.careers.dept.shef.ac.uk/presentations/gettingmedicine/player.html

Access Information sheets on:

- Getting into Medicine as a Graduate: Key points - Getting into Dentistry as a Graduate: Key points

- UCAS Personal Statements for Medicine or Dentistry - Preparing for Interviews at Medical or Dental School

Admissions tests for Medicine & Dentistry

11.00am – 11.50am, Thursday 3 May

Biology Lecture Theatre 1

Inc. UKCAT, GAMSAT & BMAT

An alternative? Physician Assistant

• Work in general practice, emergency medicine, out-of-hours clinics, walk-in centres, cardiology, general surgery and orthopaedic surgery

• Assistant role inc. diagnosis and referral; analysis of test results; not prescribing

• Supervised by doctor; possibly increasing responsibility with experience

• 2 year PG course at St George’s, University of Aberdeen & Birmingham (s.t. sufficient recruitment)

• £24,000 - £45,000 salary

• www.ukapa.co.uk

01/05/2012 © The University of

Sheffield Careers

www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers

Careers Service - 388 Glossop Road (behind SU building) Open 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri (11am – 5pm Tues)

Student Jobshop - Students’ Union Building Open 10am – 3pm Mon to Fri (11am – 3pm Tues)

www.shef.ac.uk/careers

Where to find us…..