Medical Entry

We emphasise that it is necessary to obtain very high first-time grades. This is essential as, in practice, very few Medical Schools accept many retake students. Students who come to us intending to apply as retake students will be part of an open and frank discussion about the realistic feasibility of their applications. We are determined to offer the best possible advice in a highly competitive area.

Our advice and help covers:

1. Choice of Course:

'GCSE' requirements:

The requirements of individual Medical Schools vary. Most require a wide range of subjects with grade A*s, As or Bs. Some Medical Schools want at least five or six subjects to be of grade A standard. Some specify grade As in Maths and English, some require a language. Many Medical Schools insist on students having grade As in any science subject not being studied at 'A' level. The requirements are variable from School to School.

'A' Level requirements:

This year most Medical Schools are likely to want grades ABB or AAB at the first sitting. All Medical Schools insist on A level Chemistry and normally two other Science 'A' levels chosen from Maths, Physics or Biology. Typically Biology is a preferred subject for most Medical Schools, so that in practice the best subject combination is Chemistry, Biology and either Maths or Physics. According to Professor Lord McColl, one of our Visitors, who is also admissions tutor at Guy's, a third A level in a non-Science subject is often preferable to three Science A levels.

Since exact requirements vary from one Medical School to another, Collingham conducts an annual survey of all Medical Schools to ascertain their current requirements.

In addition to helping with the right choice of 'A' level subjects, we also offer teaching options which may not have been available at a candidate's previous school, such as the Human Health and Fitness option for the Unit 4 of the Edexcel Biology syllabus or the Medical Physics option for Unit 3 of the Edexcel Physics. Either of these would be an excellent preparation for Medical applicants.

We are able to arrange guest speakers from the medical professions to talk about Medicine as a career and about the application procedure.

2. UCAS advice:

A carefully planned UCAS strategy is particularly essential for Medical applicants.

The statistics show quite clearly that applicants who apply early are more likely to be called for interview. Applications for Medicine are dealt with as they are received and the process at any Medical School starts as soon as the first applications are received. Each Medical School also has only a very limited number of places to offer and in addition Medical Schools take the view, very sensibly, that early applicants tend to be of better quality, since they tend to be better motivated, better organised and more determined than those who apply late.

Collingham begins Medical applications as soon as the September term starts. Great care is taken in helping each student with his or her personal statement. It is particularly important to demonstrate a genuine interest and enthusiasm for Medicine and to demonstrate the range of relevant personal experience that the student has undertaken, or is planning to undertake.

We advise students on the work experience placements available to sixth form students at hospitals and GP surgeries. Relevant voluntary work experience is absolutely essential for any prospective candidate.

Students who are hoping to gain entry to Medical School as retake candidates are given a realistic appraisal of their chances. We make it absolutely clear that many Medical Schools will not consider retake candidates at all. Those that do, have very few places available for retake candidates and these places are often dependent on there being very special non-academic extenuating circumstances for the previous low grades, such as family illness, personal illness, or bereavement. Where this is the case, we will help potential candidates assemble all the necessary documentary evidence, such as Doctors' certificates.

3. Interviews:

Many students are understandably alarmed by the prospect of an interview for Medicine. We prepare students carefully for interview by keeping a database of questions that have been asked of previous Collingham Medical applicants and by giving mock interviews. These mock interviews are carefully evaluated and students helped to see how improvements can be made. In our experience, students then rapidly gain in self-confidence after one or two mock interviews.

4. Contacts:

The Collingham annual survey ensures that individual Medical Schools are aware of our students. Our Head of Science talks to admission tutors and is able to help students choose the most viable combination of Schools. We also have particular connections with St George's Medical School.

Recently, UK Medical Schools have expanded, for the first time since the 1970's. For example, the Peninsula Medical School (a joint venture between Exeter and Plymouth Universities) and the University of East Anglia Medical School both opened in 2002. There are now also the Brighton and Sussex and the Hull York Medical Schools. Medical Schools are also keen to recruit from a wider social and ethnic background and many are increasingly interested in the greater commitment and self-confidence of mature students.

In recent years Collingham has had several students with previous degrees coming to study for Science 'A' levels and then successfully gaining entry to Medicine. We have had mature students coming both from abroad and from this country to study for 'A' levels, often on very short courses ranging from 3 months to 9 months, who have successfully gained the grades necessary for Medical entry.

St George's Hospital, in common with some other hospitals, has recently introduced a new 4-year Graduate Entry Programme, and it should be noted that a Science degree is not a prerequisite for entry, although all applicants have to sit a special written test GAMSAT (Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test). This is designed to evaluate the nature and extent of the abilities and skills that a candidate has gained through their prior experience and learning.

This year any students applying for entry in 2008 to the Royal Free and University College London Medical School, or to Oxford or Cambridge Universities, will have to sit in November the  2 hour BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test).

Collingham College provides Easter AS Level & A2 Level Revision Courses in London (which run in the Easter holidays) and Christmas AS Level & A2 Level Revision Courses in London (which run in the Christmas holidays). Subjects covered by the Easter AS Level & A2 Level Revision Courses include: Biology AS Level & A2 Level, English AS Level & A2 Level and Maths AS Level & A2 Level. To find out more about our Revision Courses follow the links on the left navigation bar.