Since I've told you about Medical Education in the UK it's only fair I tell you about the application process involved. All UK/EU home students apply to undergraduate degree courses via the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS). This applies equally to school leavers, mature students and those graduates who wish to pursue a second undergraduate degree. In days gone by, when I was a young lad applying for my first chemistry degree, this used to be done using a paper form but now it's all done electronically using the 'Apply' system. This has the big advantage of allowing you to fill in your details online, save them on the UCAS server and then return to adjust them later on - there's negligible chance of losing your data since it's stored at their end.
The online application form, just like the previous paper version, has three sections:
1. Personal Details
2. Personal Statement
3. Reference
The personal details section asks for you name, date of birth, address and that sort of thing. It also asks for you to provide details of all your academic qualifications (type, date, awarding body) and employment history. The personal statement is an opportunity for the applicant to write a few paragraphs of prose in an attempt to 'sell them self' to their university choices. Here you would include your reasons for applying, details of any relevant work experience, alternative qualifications and personal skills. The reference section is an 'academic type' reference provided by your school, college, employer or someone else neutral, preferably of some standing, who knows you well.
There are several books that offer solid advice to budding medical students about how to tackle the application process. Those published by BMJ Press (British Medical Journal) are obviously quite informative.
One of the downsides of the application system is that the same details go to each of your university choices. You're allowed up to 4 medical school choices and obviously if you tailor your application form to the requirements of institution X, you might not satisfy those of institution Y. In medicine you've got to take any offers you get, so best not to offend any of your choices. That's something you need to be careful of. You are also allowed 2 non-medical choices on the application, so you've got 6 choices in total. You don't need to use all 6 if you don't want to - don't apply to somewhere you're not interested in just because you need to fill a space on the form!
There is also a strict time frame that needs to be kept to for medical school applications. Applications open on 1st September each year and must be received by UCAS by 15th October each year. Since there is such fierce competition to get a place you have zero chance of being considered if you submit your application late. There may also be separate entrance exams that you need to register for and the deadlines for these will vary - check beforehand.
You can follow the progress of your application online using UCAS's 'Track' system. Some universities will interview before making an offer, others will offer without interview and some will reject you solely on the basis of your application form. When all of the universities have made a decision you have to choose which offer to accept. If you are rejected by all of your choices or choose to withdraw you will have the opportunity to enter the UCAS 'Clearing' process. Clearing is a collection of unpopular courses that are under subscribed so desperate to fill their places.
Next time I'll discuss some of the medical school entrance exams in a bit more detail.
The online application form, just like the previous paper version, has three sections:
1. Personal Details
2. Personal Statement
3. Reference
The personal details section asks for you name, date of birth, address and that sort of thing. It also asks for you to provide details of all your academic qualifications (type, date, awarding body) and employment history. The personal statement is an opportunity for the applicant to write a few paragraphs of prose in an attempt to 'sell them self' to their university choices. Here you would include your reasons for applying, details of any relevant work experience, alternative qualifications and personal skills. The reference section is an 'academic type' reference provided by your school, college, employer or someone else neutral, preferably of some standing, who knows you well.
There are several books that offer solid advice to budding medical students about how to tackle the application process. Those published by BMJ Press (British Medical Journal) are obviously quite informative.
One of the downsides of the application system is that the same details go to each of your university choices. You're allowed up to 4 medical school choices and obviously if you tailor your application form to the requirements of institution X, you might not satisfy those of institution Y. In medicine you've got to take any offers you get, so best not to offend any of your choices. That's something you need to be careful of. You are also allowed 2 non-medical choices on the application, so you've got 6 choices in total. You don't need to use all 6 if you don't want to - don't apply to somewhere you're not interested in just because you need to fill a space on the form!
There is also a strict time frame that needs to be kept to for medical school applications. Applications open on 1st September each year and must be received by UCAS by 15th October each year. Since there is such fierce competition to get a place you have zero chance of being considered if you submit your application late. There may also be separate entrance exams that you need to register for and the deadlines for these will vary - check beforehand.
You can follow the progress of your application online using UCAS's 'Track' system. Some universities will interview before making an offer, others will offer without interview and some will reject you solely on the basis of your application form. When all of the universities have made a decision you have to choose which offer to accept. If you are rejected by all of your choices or choose to withdraw you will have the opportunity to enter the UCAS 'Clearing' process. Clearing is a collection of unpopular courses that are under subscribed so desperate to fill their places.
Next time I'll discuss some of the medical school entrance exams in a bit more detail.
