SGUL read UCAS personal statements?

[rush919]

how does the university select interviewees? I mentioned all my work experience in my personal statement but only put down what work exp I was paid for in the employment section of the UCAS form. Is that a problem?

[Remus]

Hi,

the number of places on the MBBS4 course for 2010 has not yet been confirmed, but I can give you the 2009 entry stats: we had 919 applications, took 346 interviews and made 154 offers for 112 places. The number of places on the course may rise for 2010 entry (they've been rising for the past few years) but we're not sure yet. The number of offers made is always higher than the number of places (as with offers made for any course).

thanks for the info

[Chris_Cal]

My top tip. stop worrying about work exp, voluntry work, etc...

go in, be a normal sociable not-crazy nice person. you got an interview, youre good enough to do this course. they just want to know if youre gonna put something back into georges life and not just sit in your room reading kumar and clarke and listening to heart murmurs...

Well rounded means much more than cleaning stray kittens and playing the harp like a professional...

bon chance and hope to see you down the tram and social next year.

[Martigan]

My top tip. stop worrying about work exp, voluntry work, etc...

go in, be a normal sociable not-crazy nice person. you got an interview, youre good enough to do this course. they just want to know if youre gonna put something back into georges life and not just sit in your room reading kumar and clarke and listening to heart murmurs...

Well rounded means much more than cleaning stray kittens and playing the harp like a professional...

bon chance and hope to see you down the tram and social next year.

That’s basically what one of the Docs I’ve been volunteering with said to me. (She's an SGUL grad)

Her view was that a lot of "weird" people pass the GAMSAT and that the interview process if to remove the "weirdo’s".

I have to admit, I have had an exceptionally fun couple of days at the hospital. Rather than my normal ward support duties, I have been support in a firm of Doc’s who have treated me like their med student.

They have been firing questions like “why should we use a larger Canular?”, What’s abnormal about these blood results?”, What am I worried about the colour of these stools and what does that indicate” (the stools were black and tarry). I’m pleased to say, most of the time, I seemed to give the right answer. Only one Q seemed to stump me at first. – “Why do we prescribe Paracetamol so frequently?”

But I also actually felt useful! As it was mainly on “my” ward, I knew where everything was and what was needed. So without asking, I could quickly get what they needed fast. From charts, and kidney dishes contain what the needed for the next procedure. etc. I can’t wait for when I actually get in!

[Dr. Cool]

Her view was that a lot of "weird" people pass the GAMSAT and that the interview process if to remove the "weirdo’s".

Clearly, not to remove the "judgemental" types then :P

I’d wager ‘not being a weirdo’ is once again, all down to communication. Meaning doctors need to be able to display a presentable demeanour when it counts (e.g. at an interview). As a patient, I wouldn't want someone who ‘comes off’ as too barmy proscribing me anything, regardless of how qualified they are. Besides that though, I see no reason why a *quirky* person can't make an excellent doctor.

I say “quirky” while baring in mind that most of us have quirks, and are nutters relative to someone else’s standard. I mean, errr, yeah, keep away from them weirdo’s.

[Nurse_to_doctor]

Hi,

I can see Martigan's point about the interviews getting rid of the GAMSAT pass 'weirdo’s. I can imagine that some of the higher scores are taken by people who thrive at the GAMSAT question style but, let’s say, lack good communication skills. Or, it could be some of my frustration at the GAMSAT style of question setting coming out

N2D

[goldhawkgonk]

Heh! Well I'll be the first person to confess to being weird (in the sense of having a personality) but I'd like think that my communication skills are strong, certainly from the job I do at present. It surprises me a bit if a lot of, er, socially less adapted individuals do indeed pass the Gamsat (I'd have thought that Section II would punish anyone bad at written communication/devoid of human empathy) but I guess if you look at interviews this way, they seem a lot less threatening - you just need to go in and basically be a functioning human individual