Graduate Entry Programs (A101)

[zhangyuzhi]

hi. I am international too. to my understanding your case will be the "non-conventional applications" (just like if I apply to JHU or Stanford lol), and often you need to send your transcripts to the school when you submit UCAS (at least true for Imperial College). The only reason local students dont need to do this is because the medical school is capable of communicating with UK unis for the transcripts. GPA conversion is another stupid thing as different schools do it differently, so again emailing will be your friend, or simply call them (quicker).

Graduate entry programmes here depends on individual uni, can be very competitive so they are more than happy to use UKCAT scores to screen out people (which is rediculous but efficient). People in my course (biochem@Imperial) usually applied to both undergrad and grad entry programmes as the former requires lower UKCAT scores, and the fact that there are more places

usually the schools know the American/Canadian system so I suppose there is no need of specifying the qualifications in the PS...

hope this helps. and good luck to all of us.

[krazyfish]

hi. I am international too. to my understanding your case will be the "non-conventional applications" (just like if I apply to JHU or Stanford lol), and often you need to send your transcripts to the school when you submit UCAS (at least true for Imperial College). The only reason local students dont need to do this is because the medical school is capable of communicating with UK unis for the transcripts. GPA conversion is another stupid thing as different schools do it differently, so again emailing will be your friend, or simply call them (quicker).

Graduate entry programmes here depends on individual uni, can be very competitive so they are more than happy to use UKCAT scores to screen out people (which is rediculous but efficient). People in my course (biochem@Imperial) usually applied to both undergrad and grad entry programmes as the former requires lower UKCAT scores, and the fact that there are more places

usually the schools know the American/Canadian system so I suppose there is no need of specifying the qualifications in the PS...

hope this helps. and good luck to all of us.

Hey, thanks for the info.

When you said I have to send in my transcripts, I'm assuming this has to be the official document sent by my university and high school? Or can it be an unofficial, electronic version? I'm waiting to hear back from UK NARIC, I hope their letter of comparability will clarify most things.

I've had my share of troubles calling UK medical school admissions haha. Some schools refuse to do any sort of interpretation over the phone!

[FLmedicine20]

I feel your pain, Krazyfish. I've talked to most schools through email, they say they will request your official transcript once they receive your UCAS application. Some want it through post, others want it emailed (I think your uni. should be able to email an official, but I would also mail it to them, just in case) - whats NARIC? What schools are you thinking of applying to?

[krazyfish]

I've sent my transcripts to some schools already, for a "pre-application" review, to see if I'm eligible to apply or not. This means that they already have my transcript..I wonder if I can just tell them to check their e-mails again and pull up my records haha

I guess its good to hear that they will request a transcript once they receive my UCAS. Will they notify us through e-mail?

UK NARIC is an agency in the UK, which you can obtain a letter of comparability by sending in all your qualifications (high school, university transcripts, resume, CVs, etc). You tell them why you need the letter (so for me, I told them I want to know my eligibility). The reason why I did this is because I was so tired of all the mixed response I received from the schools. Some don't even read your e-mails carefully! The UK schools themselves have the resources to compare and interpret non-UK qualifications obviously, but again, I was tired and I felt like this final letter thing would clarify stuff. But I did it too late so...I don't know.

I'm thinking of Liverpool and maybe Bristol, which I just learned do not need the UKCAT for lol...

KCL, Southampton, Newcastle are among my choices. What is the difference between GEP and the regular 5 year medicine courses?

[FLmedicine20]

GEP's are 4 yrs. long, while the other is, obviously, 5 yrs...but each end with the exact same degree. Some 5 yr courses (undergraduate) include a second degree other than the doctoral...

Just make sure the schools you apply to you are qualified...schools that don't require the UKCAT require ridiculous stats: Manchester want a 3.7 GPA from an university...I'm pretty sure Liverpool is the same...I know Bristol is just a 3.4 - but they want A level scores I believe (and we American's don't take those!) - schools like Keele & UEA want a 3.0 and Hull/York & Imperial want a 3.4 as well...but Imperials cut off is high on the UKCAT...hope this helps...if you have any questions let me know...I'm calling Southampton tuesday to see if I can apply to the 5 yr, even though I qualify for the GEP...

[krazyfish]

GEP's are 4 yrs. long, while the other is, obviously, 5 yrs...but each end with the exact same degree. Some 5 yr courses (undergraduate) include a second degree other than the doctoral...

Just make sure the schools you apply to you are qualified...schools that don't require the UKCAT require ridiculous stats: Manchester want a 3.7 GPA from an university...I'm pretty sure Liverpool is the same...I know Bristol is just a 3.4 - but they want A level scores I believe (and we American's don't take those!) - schools like Keele & UEA want a 3.0 and Hull/York & Imperial want a 3.4 as well...but Imperials cut off is high on the UKCAT...hope this helps...if you have any questions let me know...I'm calling Southampton tuesday to see if I can apply to the 5 yr, even though I qualify for the GEP...

Hmm I did not know about the 2nd degree other than doctoral for the undergrad 5 year programs. Where could I find this out? On the information? So GEP = graduate entry?

I did not know Manchester accepts international applicants, they told me they didn't! I e-mailed them and they said they do not accept non-EU students...weird.

But thanks for the GPA info. I've got the OK from KCL, Newcastle (3.5 required) and Southampton so far..do you know if any of these have that 2nd degree included or something?

Oxford said I can apply to their graduate program, but my "chances of success are on the low side" Hahaha..why did I even bother...they only have 7 spots for international applicants apparently

Bristol, has been a pain. Back and forth emails with no definite answer about my eligibility. They said they will determine upon receiving my UCAS, but why would I risk wasting 1 course choice, right?

[FLmedicine20]

Yea, I wouldn't waste a spot on Oxford...and honestly, from what I've been told from other students, friends, and doctors, the most important thing is to get into a school and do well...since medicine is under the NHS, they are required to meet certain standards - so the education is good where ever you go...it seems they do their ranking on student satisfaction...which doesn't depict accurately the education received.

I'm not sure a/b Soton and the 2nd degree...I'll ask them when I call - last time I talked to them, there were over 250 international students for both the GEP (grad. entry program) and 5 yr. Make sure your P.S. is strong, and hopefully you have work/volunteer experience. If you need me to read over your P.S. just email it to me & I'll try and get it back as soon as possible!

KCL is good choice, just remember: what are your chances? does the UKCAT matter? How many applicants per slot? etc.

jlangle@jacksonville.edu

[krazyfish]

Yes I hope I have enough volunteer experience. I also have a few research experience and I was a TA. But I don't have enough space to talk about all that in my PS, so I had to be selective.

250 int'l spots for both GEP and 5 year really? That is very comforting to know. I will definitely apply there then

[FLmedicine20]

Sorry if I wrote it wrong: there were 250+ applicants for 14-20 spots for each entry...

as for the PS, you've got to make it fit! Other people really helped me reduce it down so I could add in other things...every word counts...LITERALLY!

[krazyfish]

Lol 14-20 spots...that sounds more like what it is supposed to be...damn
Yeah, I've been cutting and cutting my PS down. It sucks though. 4000 characters? Cmon man... how lazy can the admissions get? AMCAS allows 5500+ I think