Getting into Medicine Dr Kevin West Leicester University

Getting into Medicine Dr. Kevin West Leicester University Medical School

Overview • • • Entry requirements UCAS forms Interviews Other selection methods Widening participation Myths

Entry requirements • 4 AS – Certification issues • 3 A 2 - AAA – More A 2 more credit? • IB – Too high? • Degree – 2 i/1

UCAS form • Academic ability/attainment – GCSEs – how many? – GCSEs – how many A*? – Educational disadvantage? – AS – not declared – AS – module resits – A level predictions – how reliable? – A* A levels

UKCAT • Contribution to process – Total/mean – Individual sub-unit scores – Minimum threshold – Pre-interview or post-interview – Comparison with A levels

Personal statement • Structure – Coherent, logical • Content – Motivation, determination, commitment, extracurricular activities, reflection

Personal statement • Veracity – Plagiarism, help, commercial assistance, is it worth the paper it is written on? • Verifiability – Triangulation from personal statement – Checks by individual medical schools – Take up references?

Interviews • Almost all medical schools interview • Is it worth it? – Can interviews distinguish between candidates effectively? – Is the interview a 2 way process in recruitment terms? – How long and how complex?

Interview structure • ‘Traditional’ – 2 -5 interviewers – 20 -30 minutes • Multiple mini-interview – Multiple stations – Better reliability? • Selection centre – Complex – Multiple observations

Other tools • Supplementary questions – Questionnaire on line • Written assessment – Test of written communication at time of interview

Mitigation • Medical schools are sympathetic • Evidence essential • Educational – Poor school – Teaching problems • Personal – Personal or family health – Social/domestic issues

Disability • Specific learning difficulties – Common – Support available – Disclosure essential but concealment common – May be disclosed or identified after exam failure at medical school

Resit applicants • Resit offers higher than first time offers – Difficult when standard offer is AAA • Policies vary – No resits – Open access – In between

Widening participation • Embedded policies – Ensure that there are no inadvertent barriers – Give credit for wide range of activities • Specific schemes – Eg SOAMS – Aim Higher – Raising opportunities – 6 year courses

Myths • GCSE – Number of A* • A level subjects – Physics/Maths advantage? • Education – Private/state • Cartels – Do not exist