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Barts & The London (QMUL) Medicine - ask a student

Hello Will,
do you know how they score the interview at Barts? I heard band 1 gets 2 more points band 2 gets 1 more point. and the band 3/4 get none. So, is the actual interview out of 50 or 52. I am confused???????????? do you know anyone who got into barts with band 3 in ukcat????? :smile:

thanks

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 341

Queen Mary University of London

OP

11

Original post by 11...

Hello Will,
do you know how they score the interview at Barts? I heard band 1 gets 2 more points band 2 gets 1 more point. and the band 3/4 get none. So, is the actual interview out of 50 or 52. I am confused???????????? do you know anyone who got into barts with band 3 in ukcat????? :smile:

thanks

Hi there, thanks for getting in touch.

I'm afraid I have no idea how they score the interviews! Mine was several years ago and both the UKCAT and the interviews have changed since then. Let me know if you've got any questions about the course or want some advice about the interview.

Barts love,
Will

Reply 342

11...

9

Original post by Queen Mary University of London

Hi there, thanks for getting in touch.

I'm afraid I have no idea how they score the interviews! Mine was several years ago and both the UKCAT and the interviews have changed since then. Let me know if you've got any questions about the course or want some advice about the interview.

Barts love,
Will

were you given an article prior to the interview back then to form a part of the interview? if so, how did you prepare for it and what were the general questions they asked you? thank you :smile:

Reply 343

11...

9

Hi Will,

Is it true that Barts do prosection and dissection? thanks so much

Reply 344

evapiva

Hiya Will, not sure if you've been asked before, but I was wondering if you find as a Barts student that you get to spend time with people doing courses other than your own at QMUL or do you find yourself mainly socialising with people doing medicine? Do people studying medicine generally attend events for the whole uni, or have their own? Thanks.

Reply 345

cgbwfc

I would like to study medicine at QMUL, and have been predicted 8A*s and 3As, in my GCSE examinations. Am I on course academically, if so, other than work experience what should I be doing to increase my likelihood of studying medicine?

Thanks.

Reply 346

RealLifeEducator

2

Original post by cgbwfc

I would like to study medicine at QMUL, and have been predicted 8A*s and 3As, in my GCSE examinations. Am I on course academically, if so, other than work experience what should I be doing to increase my likelihood of studying medicine?

Thanks.

If you get those grades, you're in a good position. I guess reading more medical news articles, watching the news more frequently for health related topics etc. Write notes on work experience (very important). Things like these...

Reply 347

Elisa DP

Hi!
I have a quick question, I received an invitation for an interview before Christmas, and went onto the portal to reply. Then I receive another email recently inviting me for an interview again. Is that just meant to act as a reminder? Also, is it meant to show up on Track? Nothing has changes on Track for Queen Mary, but on UCAS they say that you need to accept via Track.

I'm just a little confused, and would really appreciate if someone could clarify or confirm that it is not only me.
Thank you in advance,
Elisa

Reply 348

kayasparkles

5

Original post by Elisa DP

Hi!
I have a quick question, I received an invitation for an interview before Christmas, and went onto the portal to reply. Then I receive another email recently inviting me for an interview again. Is that just meant to act as a reminder? Also, is it meant to show up on Track? Nothing has changes on Track for Queen Mary, but on UCAS they say that you need to accept via Track.

I'm just a little confused, and would really appreciate if someone could clarify or confirm that it is not only me.
Thank you in advance,
Elisa

Hey, don't worry we all seem to have received the invitation email twice. Apparently they send it again as a sort of reminder. As for track, it hasn't updated for me either. You just need to accept the invitation on the MySis Portal :smile:

Reply 349

Queen Mary University of London

OP

11

Original post by 11...

were you given an article prior to the interview back then to form a part of the interview? if so, how did you prepare for it and what were the general questions they asked you? thank you :smile:

Hi there,

I was. My article was about opt-out organ donation. I prepared by reading articles in established medical journals rather than newspapers or online articles. It looks good if you can say "I read an article in the BMJ which stated..." or "Mr blogs, professor of Whatever at Cambridge has written..." Avoid phrases such as "I read in the Daily Mail (or any paper) that..."

I also ensured I had several points 'for' and 'against'. It is best if you have a balanced argument and don't swing either way (unless they ask your personal opinion).

I can't remember exactly what I was asked but I remember speaking about other countries which had similar systems, the efficacy of these systems, and the moral/social implications of such a system.

I hope this helps!

Barts love,
Will

Reply 350

Queen Mary University of London

OP

11

Original post by 11...

Hi Will,

Is it true that Barts do prosection and dissection? thanks so much

Hi there,

It certainly is. We use prosections for normal anatomy sessions, normally on a weekly basis. Full body dissection takes place in two week stints in each of your first two years (and more for some people) as part of Student Selected Component (SSC).

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Barts love,
Will

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 351

Queen Mary University of London

OP

11

Original post by evapiva

Hiya Will, not sure if you've been asked before, but I was wondering if you find as a Barts student that you get to spend time with people doing courses other than your own at QMUL or do you find yourself mainly socialising with people doing medicine? Do people studying medicine generally attend events for the whole uni, or have their own? Thanks.

Hi there, thanks for getting in touch.

It's a good question and one I've been asked a few times before. The answer depends on how involved you want to be with other students. If you join a QMUL or QMBL sports club or society then you will have loads of opportunities to socialise with other students. Also, once you're settled in London you'll find yourself socialising with people who aren't at University at all. There are so many social events at both QMUL and Barts student unions that are for all QMUL students. There are also lots of just Barts events.

I hope this answers your question!

Barts love,
Will

Reply 352

Queen Mary University of London

OP

11

Original post by cgbwfc

I would like to study medicine at QMUL, and have been predicted 8A*s and 3As, in my GCSE examinations. Am I on course academically, if so, other than work experience what should I be doing to increase my likelihood of studying medicine?

Thanks.

Hi there, great question.

You're certainly on course but you've got some time yet before you need to seriously start considering your options. I would recommend you start to read about some of the challenges in studying and practising medicine. It's a good idea if you start to get an idea of how health and social care is provided and the problems associated with that provision in the UK at the moment. You certainly don't need to know any medical 'science' before you come to medical school but having an appreciation for aspects of public health, professionalism and empathy will go a long way. It will also help you decide if medicine is really for you. I recommend signing up for the student BMJ, it is aimed at medical students but it will still be insightful .

By 'work experience' I assume you mean short placements in hospital and GP but I would also recommend volunteering at a residential care home or nursing home. Any other volunteering opportunities in your community that come your way will also be very useful when it comes to applying for medicine (and beyond).

I hope this all helps.

Barts love,
Will

Reply 353

Queen Mary University of London

OP

11

Original post by Elisa DP

Hi!
I have a quick question, I received an invitation for an interview before Christmas, and went onto the portal to reply. Then I receive another email recently inviting me for an interview again. Is that just meant to act as a reminder? Also, is it meant to show up on Track? Nothing has changes on Track for Queen Mary, but on UCAS they say that you need to accept via Track.

I'm just a little confused, and would really appreciate if someone could clarify or confirm that it is not only me.
Thank you in advance,
Elisa

Hi Elisa,

It seem's someone more in the know that me has already replied to your question. If you're still concerned, give admissions a call: 020 7882 8478

I hope this helps.

Barts love,
Will

Reply 354

Elisa DP

Original post by kayasparkles

Hey, don't worry we all seem to have received the invitation email twice. Apparently they send it again as a sort of reminder. As for track, it hasn't updated for me either. You just need to accept the invitation on the MySis Portal :smile:

Oh right, thank you. That's a relief hahaha.

Reply 355

11...

9

Original post by Queen Mary University of London

Hi there,

It certainly is. We use protections for normal anatomy sessions, normally on a weekly basis. Full body dissection takes place in two week stints in each of your first two years (and more for some people) as part of Student Selected Component (SSC).

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Barts love,
Will

Thank you very much :smile:

Reply 356

Elisa DP

Original post by Queen Mary University of London

Hi Elisa,

It seem's someone more in the know that me has already replied to your question. If you're still concerned, give admissions a call: 020 7882 8478

I hope this helps.

Barts love,
Will

Hi Will,

Yes, but thank you anyway :smile:

I do have another question though. Besides doing background research on the article we've been sent, what else would you recommend we do before the interview? Will we be asked any questions on medical or scientific knowledge?

Thank you,
Elisa

Reply 357

Queen Mary University of London

OP

11

Original post by Elisa DP

Hi Will,

Yes, but thank you anyway :smile:

I do have another question though. Besides doing background research on the article we've been sent, what else would you recommend we do before the interview? Will we be asked any questions on medical or scientific knowledge?

Thank you,
Elisa

Hi again,

I prepared for the interview by making about 20 revision cards, each with a question I thought was likely to be asked. I then made a mind map for each question and bullet pointed the key points on the back of the revision cards. I gave the cards to a friend who asked me each question and I had to remember all of the points. Doing this gives you a lot of confidence going into the interview that you have got a good basis to fall back on. This might not be your thing but it worked for me!

I very much doubt you will be expected to know any medical science. That said, it might be worth going away and researching a disease or two that are prevalent in the UK or East London. It would be quite easy to drop conditions like diabetes or obesity into the answer to lots of interview questions. If you do manage to talk about them, it would impress the interviewers if you knew a bit about their epidemiology or maybe public health campaigns used to combat them. But don't worry, you won't be asked to recite the Krebs cycle.

Let me know if you've got any more questions!

Barts love,
Will

Reply 358

07cdominic

8

Hi again Will,
Apologies for the list.

1) will the questions about the article be very general (e.g : tell us about the main issues to do with the topic) or more specific (relating to the specific issues individually)?

2) For the Why Barts question I have quite a lot to say but I've heard they interrupt you as you say the answer to that particular question. Which of the reasons would you say was most important and I should get in before (if) they cut me off?

3) Do they appreciate chitchat and questions at the end because I don't really have any questions to ask? Would it be better to come up with a question or two beforehand anyway?

4) Does the medical student on the panel also score the candidate?

I would be really grateful if you could answer those questions.
Thank you so much for your time!

Reply 359

Queen Mary University of London

OP

11

Original post by 07cdominic

Hi again Will,
Apologies for the list.

1) will the questions about the article be very general (e.g : tell us about the main issues to do with the topic) or more specific (relating to the specific issues individually)?

2) For the Why Barts question I have quite a lot to say but I've heard they interrupt you as you say the answer to that particular question. Which of the reasons would you say was most important and I should get in before (if) they cut me off?

3) Do they appreciate chitchat and questions at the end because I don't really have any questions to ask? Would it be better to come up with a question or two beforehand anyway?

4) Does the medical student on the panel also score the candidate?

I would be really grateful if you could answer those questions.
Thank you so much for your time!

Hi again, thanks for the great questions.

It's been a few years since my interview but I can't imagine the format has changed significantly since then. I'll do my best to answer your questions but bear in mind that different interviewers will have slightly different styles so it's best to go into the interview with an open mind.

1) I remember being surprised about how much they expected me to know about the article. I was asked about other countries using the same system (mine was about opt-out organ donation) and how successful it was there. So yes, you may be asked about specific aspects of the article. It's best to be over-prepared with regards to the article. It might be useful to have a few well-sourced statistics that you can knock out to make yourself look clever.

2) Again, different interviewers will have different styles. I wasn't interrupted at any point during my interview. That said, you should make a limited number of well thought-out points to every question. Also, think about what will make you stand out. If you have a reason for choosing Barts that no one else has said on that day, it will grab the interviewer's attention. Avoid obvious answers like 'I want to live in London' or meaningless platitudes like 'they have the best doctors in the world here' (even if those things are true). I can't tell you why you have chosen Barts, you have to think about that yourself, but think outside the box!

3) Everyone loves a bit of chitchat. Maybe you could ask about academic societies, sports clubs or which beers are on tap in the student's union (just kidding - don't do that). Use the questions at the end to show that your interests go beyond medicine. Always have questions prepared and always ask them.

4) It's my understanding that the medical student has input in scoring the candidate. Therefore, make sure you greet them in the same way as the other interviewers and address them when answering questions. It's a bit of a novelty for a student to be on an interview panel so make sure you don't accidentally ignore them because it will make them sad.

I hope I've answered your questions. Give me a holla if you need anything else.

Barts love,
Will

(edited 5 years ago)

Barts & The London (QMUL) Medicine - ask a student

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