The UCAS process starts in the Spring term of Year 12 and whilst it may appear gruelling, if you have everything in place it should not be so.

We aim to support our students during this process with a range of activities that run throughout the year. Specifically, we provide support with:

• Personal statement workshops – to identify skills that you have acquired and how to reflect on work experience
• Aptitude test preparation – this is provided for the UCAT by recommending free, and paid for, resources, running UCAT workshops in school during our MedSoc sessions – some of these are led by Mrs Shah while others are led by alumni students. We also send students on external UCAT preparation courses
• Interview practice – from individual, panel to multiple mini interviews (MMIs), a detailed programme is set out to cater for different students’ needs.
• Alumni support – support and advice from our past students with the application process
• Guest speakers – universities and existing practitioners speaking about their field, and providing advice on applying
• Medical ethical debates – to prepare for the interview stages which will often require a balanced but informed approach to medical scenarios

Aptitude Tests:

All students applying to Medicine or Dentistry will need to take the UCAT: an aptitude test including sections like verbal, quantitative and abstract reasoning, decision-making and situational judgement.

Each year the universities UCAT score requirements change, so ensure you check UCAS and the university websites to stay up-to-date.

While these tests are aimed to test students overall aptitude and ability, preparation leading up to them will help. With this, we provide support for our MedSoc students in how to get ready and study for these tests.

UCAT: This is an admissions test used by a consortium of UK Universities for their medical and dental degree programmes. The UCAT does not contain any curriculum or science content.  It helps universities to select applicants with the most appropriate mental abilities, attitudes and professional behaviours required for new doctors and dentists to be successful in their clinical careers.

This test takes place on computers, such as Pearson centres and students book the assessment themselves, getting their results straight after the assessment is complete. We recommend that students take the admissions test in the summer of Year 12 so that they have adequate time to prepare, as well as time to reflect on their results. More information can be found on the UCAT website. https://www.ucat.ac.uk/

We start preparing for this assessment in Spring of Year 12 in order that students will feel well prepared ahead of the demanding paper.

Work Experience 

As a potential doctor, dentist or veterinarian, it is vital that you show commitment to this area of work, compassion and that you are sure that this career path is right for you. This is where work experience and volunteering come in.

Work experience is important in order to get a feel for the vocational path you wish to follow. Whilst many universities understand it is difficult to obtain work experience, some work in the healthcare profession is important.

Our students have gained a range of work experience throughout the years; most have arranged themselves which demonstrates tenacity, particularly if you do not have any work experience links yourself.

Volunteering

Volunteering demonstrates long term commitment, this may be at a club, for example Rainbows or Cubs, at a care home, at a centre to support those with disabilities or a charity shop. This will develop your empathy, your communication skills and help to understand the importance of working with a team.