Advice for applicants to medical school Becoming a Doctor Advice for applicants to medical school Jo-Anne Ireland, Recruitment & QA Manager 19 May 2010

Agenda Becoming a doctor Medical programmes What medical schools are looking for The UKCAT Programmes at Southampton Why choose Southampton? Agenda for today

Why become a doctor? Positive Stimulating and Rewarding Helping sick people & their families Variety Element of job security Good level of pay Wide range of career opportunities Negative Long hours Hard work Stress Dealing with sick people Under public scrutiny and criticism Useful for applicants to have a balanced approach to applying to medical school and not to be too idealistic – this would be questioned at interview Job security – Not as secure as it was 10 years ago due to changes in NHS Level of pay – about £28-30k straight after university up to c. 70k for a consultant – pay off student debt quickly plus NHS funding on clinical part of degrees

The steps to becoming a doctor Work and life experience Undergraduate education to achieve BM, MBBS or MBChB After graduation - Foundation programme (F1/F2) Postgraduate training Before even making an application students need to get work or voluntary experience to support their application All students must complete an undergraduate degree even if they come in as a graduate All medicine degrees in the UK (BM, MBBS, MBCHB will qualify applicants to become pre-registered with General Medical Council after graduation – there is no advantage to someone who wants to be a surgeon completing an MBBS After graduation students complete a Foundation programme divided into F1 and F2 years (this used to be known as PRHO training) After completing this they begin specialist training which, depending upon their specialism, can be between 5 and 7 years

How much will it cost? Standard fees for home students £3,290 per year Can be deferred DfES maintenance grants Student loans SoM £1000 bursaries for BM6 students Scholarships to reward Distinctions Further information www.southampton.ac.uk/medicine Students may also be eligible for NHS grants for their clinical years (Years 3 – 5 on BM5) or from Year 2 on BM4

A competitive field – 2010 Nationally Over 20,000 applications 7,000 places Number of places restricted Southampton Over 5000 applications for 246 places Many would be good doctors Most applicants meet academic entry requirements Students should: Be aware of the competition Research universities As you are aware competition for medical school is fierce Picture of applications for 2010 entry Applicants MUST be well prepared

Improving chances Students should find out about selection procedure; UCAS form, interview the academic entry requirements; can the students meet them are they predicted to so? the non-academic requirements; present them effectively on UCAS form/ interview Gain as much relevant experience as possible!

Which medicine programme should your students choose? Things to consider: Type of teaching PBL or Systems Based and Integrated Patient contact Facilities – Local Authorities / Trusts Research reputation Employment area Location Size There are over 30 accredited medical schools in the UK – it is important that students make an informed choice about which one is right for them Some of the things they should think about: Type of teaching – will explain on next slide How early will they be getting contact with patients? Some courses don’t have this until year 3 What sort of teaching and clinical facilities are available? How big is the teaching hospital? What areas of research does that medical school specialise in? How easy is it to find an F1 post after graduation – most students stay in the area in which they have studied for their F1 and F2 years. Southampton currently has more places than students in the area so is a good option Given the length of time students will be in the area they must be comfortable living there Medical schools vary in size with cohorts between 100 and 400 per year – Southampton is medium sized

Type of teaching Problem Based Learning (PBL) Small group working together to understand and explain the central issues of a problem Effective teamwork – essential. Independent research, self- motivation, initiative Systems Based Subject disciplines (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry etc) presented in an integrated way within a body system Practical classes, lectures, tutorials, self-directed study Two main types of teaching in medical schools Southampton uses System Based for first two years but integrates this with early patient contact Traditional courses will divide programmes into pre-clinical/clinical years whilst more modern ones (like Southampton) will integrate the academic and practical aspects of medicine very early

How do applicants apply? Through UCAS Deadline 15th October for Medicine Personal statement and reference Interviews Testing – BMAT, GAMSAT or UKCAT All medical schools with assess the UCAS form in great detail Most will interview Tests – Southampton uses UKCAT (more later). The GAMSAT is only used for graduate applicants to medical school

Non-academic criteria What is it? Everything other than the academic grades or predictions on a UCAS form – however doesn’t include personal data. personal statement, reference, job history etc. Medical schools will assess academic and non academic criteria Non academic criteria - Why is it important? Academic qualifications alone no longer sufficient when comparing applicants to university due to increase in academic grades, e.g. Medicine – 95% have what we need academically. Plus other skills expected on medical students and doctors Personal Statements - one of the most significant ways to ascertain non academic criteria is through the Personal Statement. Many subject areas will have specific non academic criteria they expect applicants to address and substantiate through evidence. Reflection is key - applicants must be able to reflect on their experiences rather than just state them. Addressing all of the non academic criteria for each course is part of the discipline of writing a good personal statement

Skills / qualifications needed Non Academic Skills GMC publication ‘Tomorrow’s Doctors’ High level academic qualification Communication skills Work experience / outside activities Ability to manage own time Negative Ability to prioritise tasks effectively Numerate and literate Reflective and self- critical Research skills Problem-solving ability This list of non academic skills is taken from the GMC publication ‘Tomorrow’s Doctors’ which lays out all of the skills doctors of the future must have Advise your students to read it as it will form the basis for the non academic criteria for most medical schools – available at the GMC website

The UK Clinical Aptitude Test - UKCAT One of several tests for medical school, others are BMAT and GAMSAT Being used by 26 medical schools The UKCAT focuses on exploring applicant’s cognitive powers as well as other attributes considered to be valuable for health care professionals – four sections The test does not contain any science content, nor can it be revised for Applicants will be able to register to take the test from 1 June in the year of making their application – 2 practice tests available Registration available online at www.ukcat.ac.uk UKCAT results considered alongside the other academic and non academic criteria Further details are available on the UKCAT website There is a fee of £60 for the test but bursaries are available – info on website Applicants must take the UKCAT in EACH YEAR they apply, ie if applying for October 2011 entry, UCAS application deadline is 15th October 2010 and UKCAT should be sat from June-Sept 2010 Medical schools will use the test results in different ways but most will use results alongside other academic and non academic criteria – some will use it to help them shortlist for interview

The UK Clinical Aptitude Test - UKCAT Verbal reasoning The ability to think logically about written data and arrive at a reasoned conclusion. Abstract reasoning The ability to infer relationships from information by convergent and divergent thinking. Quantitative reasoning The ability to solve numerical problems. Decision Analysis The ability to deal with various forms of information, infer relationships, make informed judgements to decide on an appropriate response. More definition of the four sections of the UKCAT

Medicine programmes available BM5 : 5 year programme BM4 : 4 year graduate entry programme BM6 : 6 year widening access programme Bachelor of Medicine: A university degree course A vocational training course The start of a lifelong career Equivalent to MBChB, MBBS etc Students undertaking BM5/6 also obtain BMedSc Three medicine programmes at Southampton Will concentrate on ones for school leaver applicants

Entry Criteria – BM5 Academic GCSEs - 7 A*, A or B to include English, Maths & Double Science A levels – AAA to include Chemistry (or AS Level Chemistry and Biology at grade A in addition to AAA) UKCAT Non-academic Self motivated and have initiative Literate and articulate Able to successfully interact with others Have learnt from experiences of interacting with people in health or social care settings Non academic criteria – we advertise these and directly assess UCAS applications against them

Entry Criteria – BM6 Academic A levels – BCC to include Chemistry and Biology GCSEs – 5 at grade C or above, incl. English, Maths and Double Science Will accept a range of alternative qualifications UKCAT Non-academic Have motivation and initiative Literate and articulate Have the ability to demonstrate commitment to becoming a doctor MUST fulfil ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (please see brochure & website) Eligibility criteria – applicants must satisfy two of the eligibility criteria and will be expected to provide documentary proof – full details in the brochure too:- First generation applicant to higher education Parents, guardian or self in receipt of a means-tested benefit Looked after young people living in supported accommodation In receipt of an EMA (education maintenance award) or similar grant Living in an area with a postcode which falls within the lower 20 per cent of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (authenticated by the University), or a member of a travelling family Graduate and international applicants are not eligible to apply for BM6

Why choose Southampton? Friendly atmosphere Support for students GMC approval 24 points in QAE 1999 (reflected in 2003) Well established curriculum – School of Medicine est. 1971 Type of teaching - Systems based and integrated - spiral Diverse group of students Early patient contact from Year 1 Diverse students – mix of ages, ethnicity, international students, some are grads, some have worked for several years Patient contact – from week 3 of year one

Student Support Personal tutor School office team Foundation course tutor Subject tutor Pastoral tutor Student families University Student Services, SUAIC Because of nature of subject lots of support for students Here are some examples…

BM5/BMed Sc curriculum outline Years 1 & 2 - body in balance and effects of disease Medicine in Practice Year 3 clinical attachments Year 4 clinical elective Year 4 BMedSc research project, taught modules & clinical attachments Final Year clinical attachments To give you an idea of the types of subjects studied in each year: First 4 semesters body in balance and effects of disease, assessed during each semester. Revisit yr1 material in year 2 and build up. MiP – years 1 & 2 small group visits to GP and hospital with a tutor, meeting patients, learning clinical skills, communication skills Third year clinical attachments – small groups rotate through Med, Surg, O&G, CH, mental health, Palliative care, GP plus weekly SBOM – integration of basic sciences into clinical context as a whole year group using symposia, staff from a variety of disciplines and health professions. Southampton, Winchester & Portsmouth 4th year clinical elective – 8 weeks, organised by you, can stay in UK or overseas 4th year BMedSc research project, Research Methods and Scientific Basis of Clinical Practice. Plus clinical attachments in dermatology, GU medicine, Ophthalmology, neurology, orthopaedics/rheum, head and neck, GP. All students BMedScience (Hons) in addition to BM Final year clinical attachments – 1:1 teaching MiP3 6 weeks in medicine, acute care/emergency & GP followed by attachments across medicine, child health, mental health, O&G, surgery, GP and choice SSU Accommodation across variety of centres in Hampshire, IOW, Dorset and Surrey, Sussex

BM5/BMedSc - specific features Student selected units- community engagement ;the humanities; teaching; critical appraisal. Case based approach supported by e-learning Interprofessional – Common Learning Programme Research study Student centred’ - choice, flexible teaching and assessment methods, student involvement Option of an Intercalated Masters degree SSUs – students undertake elements of choice based SSUs in each year of the programme Case based approach as discussed earlier with supporting materials online Interprofessional - SoM based in Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences. At various points in the curriculum medics work alongside student health and social care professional groups including nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, social work, radiography, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry. Research study leading to BMedSc – chance to investigate an interesting topic and present findings at 4th year Conference Student Centred – choice in SSUs and research study, a variety of teaching and assessment methods. Strong student support and pastoral care plus student representatives on committees to input to the School Intercalated degree – Subject to academic performance some students can opt for an additional year following successful completion of yrs 1-3 by undertaking an Intercalated Masters in Medical Science. 22 22

What next? What happens afterwards? Look online Request information Attend Open Days Gain as much relevant experience as possible Research universities Plan for UKCAT Pass exams! Prepare application in advance Learn from application experience Competition – Even with fees Medicine gone up whilst others have gone down Southampton – 4600 applications for 246 places for 2010 entry Attend open days Gain as much relevant experience as possible Do your research about where you would like to go Plan for UKCAT Try not to be disappointed if you don’t get in – Lots of well-qualified people don’t due to the competition Get more work experience, apply again, do UKCAT again and use the time in between well What happens afterwards?

Any questions?