by joanna tait and stewart rodney. hurdles for applying to medicine grades at higher ukcat ...
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APPLICATION TO MEDICINE
By Joanna Tait and Stewart Rodney
Hurdles for Applying to Medicine Grades at Higher UKCAT Personal Statement Which Universities Interview
1. Grades at Higher
Grades at Higher: Scottish Uni’s St. Andrew’s: Credit 1 at Standard Grade in Maths and Sciences a minimum of AAAAB at Higher at least 2 A grade predictions for S6 study in either new
Highers or Advanced Highers.
Edinburgh: 2 at S.Grade at Bio, Chem, Maths and English AAAAB at Higher (Chem + 2 from Bio/Physics/Maths) Advanced Higher- advice 2 (chem + bio most relevant)
Grades at Higher: Scottish Uni’s Aberdeen: AAAAB, Chemistry required + 2 from Biology, Maths &
Physics + 2 others
Glasgow: Minimum of AAAAB at one sitting including Chemistry and
Biology and either Mathematics or Physics. Pass in SG English at Grade 2 or an Intermediate 2 pass in
English or above is required. Can do Chemistry or Biology as a crash Higher in S6 if
Grades AAAAB are obtained in S5. (Minimum Grade B required in Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics or Physics Higher in S6.)
Candidates are not considered for entry to Medicine from S5.
Grades at Higher: Scottish Uni’s Dundee: AAABB grades at SQA Higher The subjects must include Chemistry and another Science
subject, all to be obtained in 5th year. We also require Biology at least to Standard Grade. Applications supported by AAAAC grades from 5th year will
also be considered, provided the C grade is not in Higher Chemistry. (Approx. 6% of candidates sitting 5 Highers attain these grades).
Achievement at standard grade will also be taken into account.
We have no requirements at Advanced Higher but studies must be completed.
Grades at Higher:English Uni’s Oxford: AA in Advanced Highers (taken in one academic year) AAAAA in Highers (taken in one academic year) Applicants are required to offer:
Chemistry (compulsory) at Advanced Higher AND
At least one from Biology, Physics and Mathematics at Higher.
UCL Highers alone do not fulfil the entry requirements. 3 Advanced Highers- Grades AAA must include Chemistry and Biology.
2. UKCAT
UKCAT TEST
UK Clinical Aptitude Test All UK medical applicants must sit Suggest you sit end of summer –
September (15th October deadline for UCAS)
UKCAT TEST
Quantitative Reasoning Verbal Reasoning Abstract Reasoning Decision Analysis
QUANTITATIVE EXAMPLE
Height in
Metres
2-2.9 3-3.9 4-4.9 5-5.9 6-6.9 7-7.9
Number of Shop Buildings
3 6 12 15 7 2
How many shop buildings are less than 5 metres high?
A. 6B. 9C. 12D. 15E. 21
QUANTITATIVE EXAMPLE
Height in
Metres
2-2.9 3-3.9 4-4.9 5-5.9 6-6.9 7-7.9
Number of Shop Buildings
3 6 12 15 7 2
How many shop buildings are less than 5 metres high?
A. 6B. 9C. 12D. 15E. 21
VERBAL EXAMPLE
The museum in Bradford, where Shakespeare was born, holds artefacts...
Shakespeare was born in a museum in Bradford.
True False Can’t Tell
ABSTRACT EXAMPLE
DECISION EXAMPLE
3. Personal Statement
PERSONAL STATEMENTShow you: Want to study medicine You have taken measures to understand
what a career in medicine involves
- work experiences
- medic insight days/talking to doctors Committed, dedicated to pursuing a
career in medicine
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Some pointers to include:Work experience (GP or Hospital Medicine)Volunteer Work (Old Folk’s Home, DDCA)Positions of Responsibility (Head Boy,
Leader at Scouts, JNCO)Academic strength in scienceCaring, empathyCo-Curricular activities
WORK EXPERIENCEWork Experience
Hospital MedicineGeneral Practice
-Contact a practice (email/phone/write letter)-Arrange some time to shadow GP
-Contact Ashludie-Assigned a supervisor-Observe Hospital Medicine-Medic Insight programme-Medic Week through school
WORK EXPERIENCEWork Experience
Hospital MedicineGeneral Practice
Asked a family friend (GP)-Shadowed for 1 day-Went on reception-Observe consultations and -Home visits
Contacted someoneDay in A+E
WORK EXPERIENCEWork Experience
Hospital MedicineGeneral Practice
-Wrote to Muirhead Practice-Spent three days in GP-Minor surgery, consultations, home visits-Sense of community
-Contact Ashludie-Assigned a supervisor (Iain Tait)-Endoscopy, Liver Clinic, Radiology, MDT meeting, Pathology, Paediatric Clinic, Paediatric Theatre, A+E
2 week research project into GISTs
WORK EXPERIENCE
Experience + What you learned
Don’t list various complicated procedures lacking insight
Be prepared to be tested on everything you include
4. Which Universities
Ranking procedure Influencial factors e.g. Your UKCAT
score or Highers Type of course – integrated, PBL
FUTURE MEETINGS
Personal Statement Help UKCAT Help Interview Workshop