How to do it - Select medical students

[elliottsimpson]

Found this on the BMJ web-site - thought it might interest some of you.

http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/317/7166/1149?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=selection+for+medical+school&searchid=1008853321029_5179&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0

[Damien]

That was very interesting. I'm glad to see that someone is actually looking into medical interviews and how they pick their candidates. They do have biased views most of the time and do not look at the bigger picture. I knew which medical schools wouldn't take me before I even filled out my form - applicants shouldn't even have to think about that - I bet they made their decision on one thing: grades.

People have dropped out up here - they had the grades. They should definitely put more into finding out about the applicant as a person - who cares how much it costs? After all, something like picking med students is very important. I know some great people who got turned down in places without a chance because they were obviously looking at other aspects that Aberdeen clearly weren't looking for, or not concentrating as much on.

[Adam]

i dont see how u could know who would take u b4 u filled out ur form. I was under the impression that most people who applied had the grades, but only a small number of thede were taken. i thought once u have an interview, u r all on an equal playing field. i have never thought that my 5A's will give me an advantage over some1 with 4A's and B.. in fact, Im scared stiff that I wont get in anywhere bcos there are so many people per place!! I think u r 2 cocky to be able 2 say u knw who would take u b4 u filled in ur form. I heard every1 is treated the same at interviews and their place isnt based on grades at all.

adam

[Damien]

I didn't say that I knew what places *would* take me but I did know what places *wouldn't* take me. Edinburgh for example wouldn't have given my application a glance plus the fact that they don't interview which is shocking to say the least.

[Adam]

why wouldnt they have even looked at ur application form???/

adam

[andrewbaillie]

I dont think the grades are as important as they were before. They do say that even if you have 5 'A' grades you are not guaranteed a place as around 80% of all the school leaving applicants have 5 A's.
More important is the kind of thing they seem to look for at interviews like your general attitude and your knowledge of the medical profession and last but definately not least, your all important work experience!

[nicolacurrie]

Now now kiddies, enough bickering. We are only trying to help each other.

luv nic xx

ps. That was my notes Elliott got that frm :D

pps. Senior next gen blether? cool!

[andrewbaillie]

Not me miss, I wasnt bickering!

[relliott]

out of interst Damien, why do you think that Edinburgh would not have taken you? I know one person with AAABB who got a conditional offer to study there, and they technically didn't meet the requirements

I was at Edinburgh's open day for those who got offers and they explained that they base their decision on

1. meeting requirements
2. personality - AS DETERMINED by how you fill out the personal statement
3. presentation of the application - you can tell a lot about a person beofre you even meet them

for example, I have never met you. I have only read what you have written. I can tell that you are an enthusiastic, intelligent pesron with a lot of drive, that sometimes gets away with you. You strive to present yourself well and have no problems with putting your point across...... I'm sure the university committee can tell things like this too - it's all patterns and psychological slips that sneak out in your writing

[Damien]

Thanks for the compliments, Ruth.

I knew Edinburgh wouldn't consider me because I didn't have the entrance requirements and they certainly take a lot on that alone - they even told me that over the phone. That one person you knew may be the only person in the whole of Edinburgh university with those grades - If I'd know that then I would have applied there to (but really, what chance would I have?).

Glasgow definitely place a lot on entrance qualifications. They seemed very interested in me until the appeals came out. I feel that all the medical schools should have the same entrance qualifications as, after all, it is the same degree - ie Can this person cope with the course - yes or no? Like in the article Elliott brought to our attention above, the interviewers should also be put in a room with you and only you. They certainly shouldn't have your entrance qualifications and UCAS form in front of them -they immediately can get biased views. It's the only thing that can explain one preson having a nice conversing interview as opposed to another person getting a grilling - why don't they do the same with everyone? They should see you as you are and treat you like any other candidate. How somewhere like Edinburgh can tell that someone will make a good doctor from simply an application form is beyond me. Someone could write the biggest lot of rubbish and get in without blinking an eye, whereas someone could be the most enthusiastic person in the world but not get in.

It's a touchy subject but nevertheless something that should be thought about in more detail. My predictions of what universities wouldn't take me were correct, and I knew why. The truth is that shouldn't be the case. I was as good as any other candidate. I wanted to be a doctor, and still do. But some places never even gave me the chance.

In a way, though, it is good that every university has a different criteria for selecting applicants. The chances are that if you don't meet that criteria in three of your four choices, you stand a good chance of getting into the other. It just seems strange that one university will turn you down within a couple of months whereas another will give you an offer.

I don't know. You can't confidently say anything about the matter. Anyway, must go. I'm totally shattered with this studying.

Damien :evil

[Adam]

cyberscribe!!


adam

[Devlinator]

Just read this, and thought how i would mention how supportive we all seem to be!

Oh how the tides have turned!

[phlangepal]

Edinburgh University has one of the best medical schools in Britain.In a recent poll it was ranked above Glasgow and Dundee. Because of this the ratio of applications to places is obscene. You also have to remember that a lot of English students apply to Edinburgh due it's fine reputation.

It might not seem fair that they will not even consider people with anything less than say 5A's but thats just the way the cookie crumbles. They select their students by the following strategy:

One team ranks all aplicants depending on their grades

Another on their school statement

Another on their personal statment

They then put all three lists together and select the top 200 people.This is what I was told when I was applying alol those years ago. Wherever you all end up you'll love it.

I live away from home and it's brill!!! So that would be my advice, move away. When yopu get to uni you'll find that English, Welsh and Irish people find it amusing that most people from Glasgow hate the thought of moving away from home. I recommend it, you get an education in life aswell.

*Angela*

PS. Who wants to go to Edinburgh, they have the hioghest student suicide rate in Scotland!!!!

[elliottsimpson]

Angela is at St Andrews

[Adam]

K. ill remember 2 pack my thick strong rope, some pills and a coupla razor blades then!

adam

[andrewbaillie]

Sytronmg rope and ills?

Am i missing something?