Selection of Applicants

This information leaflet is designed to help Medicine applicants understand the admissions process in Aberdeen.

UCAS Applications - information for 2012 entry

As you know, all students wanting to go to universities in the UK must complete an online application through the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).  This application form is a means of informing your chosen universities about you as an individual.  The UCAS form has areas for informing us of your:

  • Academic achievements, i.e. results of past examinations (e.g. Standard Grades, GCSEs) as well as estimates of future exams (e.g. Highers, Advanced Highers, A-Levels).
  • Personal statement (written by you).
  • School Reference
  • UK CAT results (sent to universities separately).

When medical schools make offers to applicants, they are looking for candidates who not only achieve their academic requirements, but who also possess certain qualities, which will lead to them becoming successful doctors (non-academic requirements).  Most applications are very good, but some applications stand out more than others.

At Aberdeen upon receipt of UCAS forms in October, all UCAS applications undergo an initial review to determine the suitability of academic qualifications offered and subsequent achievements. Applications, which clearly do not fulfil our basic minimum academic requirements, are not processed further.

Thereafter, our first task is to score your Academic grades:

Academic Score

An objective score is given for the attained or predicted qualifications. This includes qualifications obtained in school in S5 & predicted in S6 (Scotland) and A2 or final year academic predictions elsewhere.

Contributes up to 25% of total score

Then all UCAS forms are assessed and scored by our Admission Selectors in the following three categories:

Commitment to Medicine

The Selectors want to satisfy themselves that Applicants are highly committed, well informed and have adequately researched their future career (and medical school courses). This will include:

  • Demonstration of attempts to experience the work of a doctor (the day to day involvement).
  • Demonstration of attempts to research the training involved for a career in medicine (both at university and after qualifying).
  • Demonstration of understanding of the level of commitment required (the 'highs' and 'lows' of being a doctor).
This can be achieved by:
  • Job shadowing (observing GPs and/or Hospital doctors at work).
  • Talking with doctors (and medical students) about their lives, careers, future plans etc.
  • Attending Open Days and Medical conferences/lectures.
  • Consulting Medical School websites/prospectuses.
  • Reading literature regarding recent medical breakthroughs, newspaper headlines etc. 

Core Qualities of Doctors

Selectors want to see evidence of Applicants' understanding of the core qualities of a doctor and thus their suitability for this career e.g. demonstration of:

  • Good communication skills.
  • Evidence of concern for the welfare of others.
  • Demonstration of being trustworthy and honest.
Applicants can strengthen an application by:
  • Undertaking work of a caring nature.
  • Undertaking work which benefits school colleagues.
  • Personal experience of using "people skills" in social/work situations.

Teamwork

Selectors need to know that applicants understand teamwork and strive to utilise their time in a constructive way e.g. demonstrated by:

  • Activities at school.
  • Activities outwith school.
  • Attitude to colleagues.
  • Ability to participate fully in school life and help others to do so.
  • School honours and prizes.

UCAS Form Score

Each UCAS form is thus reviewed by two Selectors
Each Selector carefully considers all aspects of the remaining application and scores the form objectively, based upon the above three categories.

Contributes up to 22% of total score

The individual results of applicants’ UK CAT are then allocated a score:

UK CAT Score

The score allocated is based upon an applicant’s overall performance in the UK CAT compared with the performance of all other applicants to Aberdeen. Achievements are ranked in octiles and allocated the appropriate score.

Contributes up to 8% of total score

The sum of the three scores (above) then allows us to allocate one of the places for interview:

Interview Score

Only the top 600 applicants based on the above scoring system are likely to be asked to attend for an interview when the attributes mentioned above will be further explored.

Once more, an objective scoring system will cover the same categories scored previously, but in greater depth.  Other qualities will be assessed which otherwise would not be apparent from a written statement e.g. understanding of issues, problem-solving and analytical skills, enthusiasm interest and motivation to study Medicine and and communication and interpersonal skills.

For 2013 entry the interview process will change to the Multiple Mini Interview format.  Five candidates will rotate around five questioning stations in turn.  A Selector will explore one questioning area or domain at each station for 7 minutes and score the candidate's performance against pre-determined criteria.  Communication and interpersonal skills will also be scored at each station.  The whole of the MMI experience will last about 40 minutes for each candidate

For help regarding different aspects of the interview process, see Interview Advice

Contributes up to 45% of total score

Making of Offers

Of the candidates who are invited for interview, offers will be made to those candidates who achieve the highest total scores that are above a designated cut-off, based upon their application and interview performance.

Offers are made when the interview cycle is complete, by the beginning of April. The Medical School will then notify UCAS of each decision. Candidates should keep up to date with the progress of their application by logging into UCAS Track using their usernames and passwords.