Careers Service 1 Graduate Entry to Medicine Dr Tracy Bussoli PhD Careers Service [email protected]

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Graduate Entry to Medicine

Dr Tracy Bussoli PhDCareers Service

[email protected]


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Application process

• Application to GEM through UCAS• Closing date 15th October 2008• UCAS forward application forms to medical

schools• Detailed information on www.ucas.ac.uk • Four choices of medical school• UCAS require a referee - someone who can

comment upon your academic ability• Sit relevant admissions test before completing

UCAS application form


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Personal Statements.

• What are they looking for?


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Structure

Essay style

Why you want to do the courseWork experience and skills

Extracurricular activities

But…..its up to you!


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EXPERIENCE

WHAT YOU LEARNTFROM IT

HOW THAT RELATES TO MEDICINE


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Convince admissions tutors:

• Motivated to help people

• Informed about career demands

• Realistic about yourself

• Community orientated

• Honest


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and …

• sound judgement

• natural leader

• problem solver

• creative

• rounded personality

• resilient

• fit to practice (eventually)


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Evidence from

• Work experience

• Community service

• Inspiring anecdote

• Medical science link

• Achievement in arts/music/sports

• Examples of perseverance


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Key themes to include - 1

• Why do you want to become a doctor? • Why now? • What do you understand about the role of a

doctor in a modern healthcare service?• How have you explored/confirmed that you

would be suited to this career? • How would you demonstrate that you have the

right interpersonal skills?


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Key themes to include - 2

• Is your current degree relevant to studying medicine? If so, how?

• Achievements• Role/s as leader • Positions of responsibility• Social, sports, leisure interests• What is your USP?


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Dos!

• Make it personal• Discuss with tutor and other teachers. • Put in things you can talk about at interview• Show your personal statement to as many people as

possible.. • Give convincing reasons for why you want to study

the course • Mention positions of responsibility • Talk briefly about what you do outside school. • Be reflective. • Keep paragraphs concise.


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Don’ts

• Just list what you're doing now. • Mention skills and activities without giving examples of

when they have been demonstrated or what you learnt from them.

• Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs

• Mention interests without being more specific • Exaggerate or lie!! • Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else!


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Finally

• Re-read Statement for content and structure

• Proof-read for errors

• Don’t try to over-impress

• Have it checked by a careers adviser

• Keep a copy


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The things they say

• ‘I am good at science and want to help people’- So why not become a physiotherapist?

• ‘I regularly read New Scientist’- Don’t we all!

• ‘I shadowed a cardiothoracic surgeon’- So?

• ‘I want to make a difference’- So start smiling more!


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Some useful resources - 1

• Medical Schools online. www.medschoolsonline.co.uk

• Graduate Entry to Medicine (2005)

• The Roads to Success (April 2007)

• How to get into Graduate Entry Medicine; 2nd edition; (2006)

• The Medical Student Career Handbook (October 2006)

• Tomorrow’s Doctors www.gmc-uk.org


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Some useful resources - 2

• www.bma.org.uk• www.mmc.ac.uk• www.nhscareers.nhs.uk• www.bmjcareers.com• www.gmc-uk.org• www.londondeanery.ac.uk• www.pmetb.org.uk


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How can we help?

Information

Advice

CV/Personal Statement Check

Interview coaching

Open Monday – Friday

10.30 – 5pm (4pm on Friday)

Room WG3

Queens’ Building

Mile End

020 7882 5065

Documents

Careers Service 1 Graduate Entry to Medicine Dr Tracy Bussoli PhD Careers Service [email protected]