Graduate Entry Help and Suggestions

**JamesM** · 26-08-2007, 12:21 AM

Hi Guys!
I'm in the process of reviewing which Uni's I will be applying for and thought it would be good if all us graduate applicants for 2008 entry could share views and thoughts.

I was initially swaying towards making my applications to London universities, but i may not do so now, as i think its very competitive. What do you guys think about this? Im also not sure about applying to London uni's until i know my UKCAT score (which I will have in a months time).

After spending today looking through many university websites, I now think it might be good to apply to five year courses also, as I have quite good A'level grades, and may increase my chances (compared to applying to a place which doesnt look at A'levels and only a degree; putting me on the same par as applicants with lower a'level results but a similar degree class.

Share your views guys, and anything you think may help me, and others.

I'm open to any suggestions/guidance from current graduate entry medical students, as to which university i should apply to.

My grades are AABa in Biology, Religion, Eng Lit and Chemistry respectively. My second year average in medical biology bsc (hons) is 75%.

Thanks! J

**shalene** · 26-08-2007, 04:14 PM

Hi James,
To be honest, if I'd spent more time looking at statistics and chances etc. before applying, I'd probably have been too scared to try at all. I only applied to two unis - Kings College London, and Barts (for various reasons), with a BSc(Hons) in Nursing, both GEP applications.
Kings especially I thought was a good try as they also automatically consider you for the 5-yr course.
End result was that I got offers from both, GEP from Barts and 5-yr from Kings, and while I realise this doesn't mean its the smartest way to do things, I just wanted to put my two pence in that it is possible.
General consensus seems to be that its wiser to apply for a mixture of GEP and 5-yr to maximise your chances. As a rough guide for competitiveness of unis, theres an applicants per place chart at http://www.medschoolsonline.co.uk/index.php?pageid=11
However, just personally, I would find the unis that you really *want* to go to (for whatever reason), and apply to those. They'll likely ask you why you want to attend their particular university at interview, and a little genuine enthusiasm goes a long way. :-)
Best of luck.

**JamesM** · 26-08-2007, 04:48 PM

Hi Shalene.
Wow, well done for getting offers from both your choices.
What was your interviews like, as they must have went well? Did you answer anything that sticks out in your mind? (Any tips would be good, even if I dont know yet if ill actually get any; im trying to be optimistic)
Did you do any preperation for the interviews?
Also what was your UKCAT score, I'v not done mine yet, and have a date of September 28th. I'v been doing a lot of prep, so hopefully I shall do ok. I think London Uni's place more importance on these, from what I have read so far.

Finally, with regards to your personal statement. I'v been doing some research and its seems that there are two routes. Make it very personal, regarding life experiences, or make it very academic. I think stricking a balance would be good, but difficult. Any tips would be excellent.

Thanks

James

**shalene** · 26-08-2007, 08:19 PM

Hey,

The sections that I thought really stuck out in the interviews were things like understanding what its really like to be a doctor. I had an advantage (being a nurse already and working side by side with docs), but as long as you can point out good points/bad points, and explain why you're happy to put up with the down sides, I think thats all they really want to see.

The only revising I did was to write a list of points.. such as why I want to be a doctor, what I'm looking forward to, what I know will be difficult, how I'll deal with the stress, etc etc. More just to get it all clear in my own mind. I also did a little revising about the structure of the NHS and the pathway a doctor takes through their career (they did ask me about this). I also found (after much prompting), that when they ask you to give an example of something, they really mean to pick one specific occasion and describe it in detail *as well* as what you learned from it.

I didn't do UKCAT, but sat MSAT (99th percentile), they never discussed the exam in the interview however, everyone above a certain cut-off just automatically received an interview.

As far as the personal statement, I related childhood experience of caring for others and how this made me realise I enjoyed it, then ran very briefly through my education, then I described how nursing had been a very fulfilling job for me (gave a specific brief experience), but that I felt held back clinically and wanted to be learning the things I observed the new doctors learning (inserting tracheostomies, arterial lines etc.). I also mentioned that I knew these things came along much further down the line, but just knowing the potential was there was what made it more exciting and challenging for me. I said briefly how I thought I would carry over certain skills into medicine and become a better doctor for it.

I then finished up with a brief couple of sentences on me as a person, how I perceive my own personality, as well as what I do in my spare time and to relax.

**JamesM** · 26-08-2007, 08:42 PM

Hi again. Thanks for all the info, you have been very helpful. Have you got any websites or books you recommend which discuss the structure of the NHS and the career pathway of a doctor? What did you use to brush up on this?

Thanks

James

**JamesM** · 26-08-2007, 08:46 PM

Can i also ask, when you say you applied to only two universities, did you apply to both the GEP and five year courses at each, or just make two applicators in total (for only GEP courses at each)?

**shalene** · 26-08-2007, 10:10 PM

Heya,
I only put in two applications, both for GEP (Kings automatically considers you for 5-yr as well).
As far as what I used to brush up on NHS/career knowledge, I mostly just used the internet, especially the official sites:
British Medical Association - http://www.bma.org.uk/
NHS - http://www.nhs.uk/
NHS Careers - http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/

I also used Wikipedia, although obviously you have to take everything it tells you with a pinch (or two) of salt.

I personally just went over the basics as far as the NHS goes, spent more time clarifying my reasons and motives for applying, as well as Why that uni? Why now? Why not stay in my current career? etc etc.

**JamesM** · 26-08-2007, 10:32 PM

Thanks! I hope you don't mind me picking your brain like this.
Could you tell me what they asked you about the strcuture of the NHS and the career path of a doctor, as i only know the basics. Im going to read up on this, but would be nice to know what they expected you to know. J