UKCAT, BMAT, Personal Statement & Interview Preparation Course

Entry into medical and dental schools today more than ever is extremely competitive. So much so, that by the 15 October 2009 deadline, UCAS had received approximately 15,500 applications from UK students and another 3,500 from EU and other overseas students. In total there are fewer than 8,000 places available at medical institutions, so more than 50% of applicants are going to be disappointed. It stands to reason then that any preparation and assistance that you can give the application process will be of great benefit and will give you an advantage towards achieving your goals and dreams of becoming a doctor or dentist.

UKCAT

You may have an excellent personal statement and you may be a person who is confident in interview situations but without a good UKCAT score these will amount to zero and your application will be rejected. You will not be invited in for an interview! Therefore it is essential that you get the UKCAT test right. To gain an interview you will need to achieve a good score.

Today twenty six UK Medical and Dental schools require a UKCAT score for entry to their courses. Competition for places is as fierce as ever and so getting the edge with a good UKCAT score is indispensable. In fact, some medical and dental schools will only interview applicants who have a certain score on UKCAT, even if they have been predicted to achieve excellent A-level grades and have very good medical work experience.

Our UKCAT Course

Our students will receive both the test strategies and the practice necessary to take the UKCAT test with confidence. We'll guide you step-by-step towards achieving your best UKCAT score. This UKCAT course provides:

  • Lessons taught by expert and dynamic teachers
  • Test-taking skills
  • Score-raising strategies
  • Full length practice tests - one paper based test and simulated online tests to familiarise you with the format of the UKCAT test and help you perform better on test day.
  • Course materials that detail the strategies and techniques taught and additional practice questions

As the UKCAT does not test academic knowledge based on a curriculum, it is often very difficult to prepare for. It is therefore essential to understand how to optimise the subtest scores by becoming acquainted as you best can with the various techniques that are required to answer questions in each section. Practice does make perfect and familiarising yourself with the structure as much as possible has to be of benefit. We focus on the practice of as many questions as is possible and what we have found is that this frequently results in an enhanced UKCAT score.

The UKCAT is run as a 1-day course and is separate from the Personal Statement and Interview Training as this is conducted via booked day seminars. Usually these courses will be run at weekends in London.

BMAT Preparation

BMAT- For admission to Medicine, Dentistry: This is a subject specific admission test compulsory for applications to five Universities. These are:

  • University of Cambridge
  • University of Oxford
  • Imperial College London
  • University College London
  • Royal Veterinary College

For more information about the BMAT Preparation, please contact us by phone or email.

Fees:
Fees for next years course are TBC.



Personal Statement

Your UCAS application will be among many. Typically universities may receive over 2000 UCAS applications and it is then the selectors’ task to sift through these by weeding out weaker applications based on personal statements. If your application is badly worded, uninteresting or lacking the things that the selector feels are important, it will be put on the ‘reject – no interview’ pile.

We have come across many fine students who did not acquire an interview slot simply because they did not give enough time and thought to their application. Undoubtedly this is a great disappointment. Sloppy and/or ill thought clichés are usually a ‘turn off’ to selectors who read thousands of statements.

Your chances of selection can be improved. The key point is that the personal statement that you present is your opportunity to demonstrate to the university selectors three essential themes that will hopefully place you in a good light and improve your chances of being selected.

  • Why you aspire to become a doctor or dentist? Here you must have a very thought through, clear and genuine motive as to why you are attracted to the study of dentistry/medicine.
  • To demonstrate this, what have you done? Have you explored the vocation? Are you aware of the pros and cons? This will show your enthusiasm, pro-activity and motivation.
  • Will you fit into their medical school? Do you possess the qualities that make you a good student and eventually doctor/dentist? Are you considerate and empathetic? Can you work as part of a team?

Thus the personal statement is your chance to express to the selectors that you have not only researched dentistry/medicine fully, but also have the right makeup to succeed and indeed be an excellent doctor/dentist.

What we offer

Our students will receive individual support from our very experienced team of facilitators. The team is led by the author of the highly popular book: 'Getting into Medical School series', who has had many years of experience working with dental and medical students to be. Suggestions and advice are tailored to be particular to the student’s individuality and reflect the motives and experience of the student applying. The students will then confidently be able to write an engaging personal statement. The process may take several drafts until the end product is refined to the point where it will reflect favourably on the candidates strengths and passion for their chosen vocation and in doing so bring them to the fore in the eyes of the selectors.

Interview practice

If the universities like the look of you, that is usually because:

  • you have impressed them with your personal statement and have caught the attention of the selectors
  • you are being predicted excellent grades and your school reference points to someone with the required qualities and
  • your UKCAT scores are high then the chances are that you will be highly likely to be invited in for an interview.

You are now through the door, so to speak. An interview is the occasion where the selectors get a chance to meet you personally and assess you. However, and more importantly, it also offers you an excellent opportunity to impress the very people who will select you by your assured, confident and knowledgeable disposition.

Our experience

We provide a skilled team that has years of experience with interviews and personal presentation for university entrance. With rigorous feedback you will get detailed advice on poise, presentation, voice modulation and demeanour, answering difficult questions such as on ethics and help in developing your confidence and so that you come across as a mature, enthusiastic potential future doctor/dentist.

To register your interest in taking part in one of the courses mentioned, please contact us by telephone or email.

You can send in your application and supporting documents through our Apply for Medicine website by clicking here

As competition for places at Medical and Dental schools increase, more and more universities are considering the UKCAT as the first-line short-listing criteria, so it is important that students perform their best on this examination. The M&D group are running UKCAT preparation days in early September to support those candidates who are applying to a UK Medical or Dental school this year.