Succeeding in your medical school application : how to prepare the perfect UCAS personal statement PDF
Preview Succeeding in your medical school application : how to prepare the perfect UCAS personal statement
Contents Testimonials Acknowledgments About the Author Preface Chapter 1 Applying to a medical school in the United Kingdom: The process Chapter 2 What kind of students do medical schools want? Chapter 3 The essentials of the Personal Statement Chapter 4 Medical school applications: The Myths Chapter 5 Preparing your Personal Statement Chapter 6 From ‘Draft’ to ‘Refned’; enhancing your Personal Statement Chapter 7 Personal Statement Examples for Applying to Medical School Chapter 8 Proofreading your Personal Statement Chapter 9 Medical School Personal Statement: Things to avoid Chapter 10 Closing Thoughts Appendix: Useful websites Succeeding in your Medical School Application: How to prepare the perfect UCAS Personal Statement Second Edition Matt Green UCAS statement.indd 1 5/3/09 14:05:14 Publisher Information First published 2007 by Developmedica Castle Court Duke Street New Basford, Nottingham, NG7 7JN 0115 720 0025 www.developmedica.com Second edition 2009 Digital Edition converted and distributed in 2011 by Andrews UK Limited www.andrewsuk.com © 2009 Developmedica All rights reserved. Purchasers of this book are instructed that they can only use this guide for the sole purpose of their Medical School application and are prohibited from redistributing this book or any part thereof. Tis book cannot be reproduced in full or in part without the express written consent of Developmedica. Developmedica recommend that you consult the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and Medical School websites for information relating to guidance on how to apply to a university in the UK. Developmedica are neither endorsed by or afliated with any Medical Schools or UCAS. Te contents of this book are intended as a guide only and although every efort has been made to ensure that the contents of this book are correct, damage that arises through the use of this guide. Readers are advised to seek independent advice regarding their Medical School application together with consulting institutions the reader intends to apply to. Every efort has been made to contact the copyright holders of any material reproduced within this publication. If any have been inadvertently overlooked, the publishers will be pleased to make restitution at the earliest opportunity. Typeset by Regent Typesetting, London Testimonials from previous prospective medical students The medicine examples Developmedica provided me with were cellent. Together with the writing guide I was able to write a UexCAS Personal Statement which was far better than I could have hoped JK, London I would like to thank you again for your help … I am really happy that I have chosen your service. I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciated all the help you’ve provided me with on my med school statement ... I feel very lucky to have found your organisa- tion. Thanks again and take care! PV, Bournemouth Thank you very much for this. I have been really impressed with your responsiveness and professionalism and WILL recommend you to others! SG, Devon Thanks a lot for providing such wonderful and prompt support. Without your help, I would not have been able to prepare my state- ment in such an amazing way. Thanks a lot again. DI, Stevenage UCAS statement.indd 3 5/3/09 14:05:14 Acknowledgements I would like to thank all of the prospective medical students we have supported over the last fve years; they have enabled the writing of this book to become a reality. I would also like to say a big thank you to my beautiful wife Nicola for her ever-present support and providing me with my inspiration to succeed. UCAS statement.indd 4 5/3/09 14:05:14 About the author Matt Green, BSc (Hons), MPhil Matt Green, a former clinical scientist and founder of Developmedica, has spent the last five years helping over 5,000 individuals successfully apply to medical school. It is with this extensive experience in mind that Matt has written this book to help prospective medical students prepare a high quality and successful personal statement as part of their application to medi- cal school. Together with this title Matt has written books on becoming a doctor and succeeding in the BMAT, UKCAT and Medical School Interview. Matt is keen to share his experiences in supporting applicants to medical school. Working alongside other professional colleagues in Developmedica, he provides advice, up-to-date guidance, and support with regard to the preparation of candidates’ Personal Statements, selection interviews and entrance examinations. If after reading this book you are keen to obtain further guidance or assistance, please visit our website www.developmedica.com where we will be happy to help you. UCAS statement.indd 7 5/3/09 14:05:14 Preface ‘What makes a good Doctor? Clearly someone who communicates well, empathises with p atients and exercises sound clinical judgement. But a doctor should also understand the basic mechanisms of disease, be able to test hypotheses and show curiosity and a capacity for self- d irected learning. Teaching reinforces these scientifc principles and an Oxford doctor is trained to be a good scientist as well as a good clinician and a clear thinker.’ Oxford University website This informative guide is intended to help applicants to medical schools in the United Kingdom submit an effective, compelling Personal Statement. It will assist school leavers, graduates and mature applicants alike, as well as parents and teachers. Please use this guide alongside advice provided by your school or college, from the Universities and College Admissions Service, and assist- ance offered by the medical schools themselves. This guide includes examples of ‘Personal Statements’ in order to illustrate certain key principles. It is vitally important that you see them as they are – illustrative examples. The most important aspect of your Personal Statement is that it is written by, and is about, you! UCAS statement.indd 9 5/3/09 14:05:14 Chapter 1 Applying to a medical school in the United Kingdom: The process In 2005 there were over 22,000 applications to study Medicine and Dentistry in the United Kingdom. Across the country, there are on average around fve applications for each medical school place on offer. There are three steps in this application process: ● Sitting the appropriate entrance examination (UKCAT, BMAT or GAMSAT) where applicable (Examinations take place b etween June and October in the year before successful candi- dates begin their medical studies.) ● Submitting a university application which includes the Personal Statement (Mid-October deadline) ● Attending a selection interview when applicable (Interviews take place between October and the following June depending upon the medical school) Medical school entrance examinations An increasing number of medical schools require candidates to complete an entrance examination before submitting their a ctual application. It is therefore important to determine as soon as possible whether or not the medical schools to which you intend to apply require you to sit an entrance examination. UCAS statement.indd 1 5/3/09 14:05:15 2 How to prepare the perfect UCAS Personal Statement Those in current use are based upon an aptitude format assess- ing a number of different criteria. The aim of these tests is to aid the application process by ensuring that appropriate attitude, mental competence and professional qualities are specifcally considered. Presently there are three examination formats in use in the UK: ● United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) ● Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) ● Graduate Medical Schools Admissions Test (GAMSAT) The closing dates for these tests differ and we advise you to con- sult the relevant websites listed in the following sections for more information. UKCAT The UKCAT aptitude test was formally adopted in 2006 by 23 of the medical schools in the UK. The test is designed to assist admissions tutors towards selecting candidates who possess the desired mental abilities, approaches and attributes of successful medical students and practising doctors. The test sets out to examine the following fve qualities: ● Verbal reasoning ● Quantitative reasoning ● Abstract reasoning ● Decision analysis ● Non-cognitive analysis For more information visit: www.ukcat.ac.uk UCAS statement.indd 2 5/3/09 14:05:15
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