University of Sunderland A100 2023 Entry

Hi I’m hoping to apply I was wondering if I would have a chance. My stats are (btw I’m from sctoland) National 5-AAAAABHigher- AAAAAAdvanced higher- AAB (equivalent to A*A*A at A-levels)Ucat- 2520 band 2

what is sunderland selection process like. I cannot seem to find anything relating to it on their website?

https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/help/school-of-medicine/mbchb-medicine/entry-requirements/
But they only use academics and UCAT as minimum requirements and shortlist using the R&R form

As linked in the post by @Backseatdriving it looks like they have abandonned the R&R form and are using CASPER and UCAT instead. This is from Appendix G, pG7 in the document linked. I think the "online interview selection tool" is CASPER. Looks like it is more risky than it was for applicants with low UCAT.

----
The Admissions Process
The admissions process involves three phases – academic screen, UCAT/shortlisting and interviews.

Phase 1 – Academic Screen
All applicants who fulfil the Academic requirements will be sent an online interview selection tool to be completed before the given deadline.

Phase 2 – UCAT/CASPER
Applicants with UCAT total scores in the bottom 2 deciles and/or with a UCAT Situational Judgement Test (SJT) score in band 4 are excluded from further consideration. All remaining applicants whose UCAT score meets our criteria and have fulfilled the requirements detailed in phase 1 will be invited for interview. Shortlisting for interview is based mainly on UCAT score and the interview selection tool. Applicants are encouraged to write about and reflect on an experience they have had which they believe allowed them to develop the skills and attributes they may need for a future career in medicine.
Admissions Tutors assess the interview selection tool results using the following criteria:
• Evidence of extensive engagement in activities involving care, support and/or service
• The nature of the experience(s) undertaken and the level of the responsibility undertaken
• Open ended responses in an SJT assessment
• Personality assessment covering the five top level traits of openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism

www.sunderland.ac.uk/images/external-websites/www/help-and-advice/applying/related-downloads/Admissions-Policy-and-Procedure-2023-24-Final_compressed.pdf

Yes, I saw this, but I am not sure it is just UCAT and CASPer, as that would not cover the "Applicants are encouraged to write about and reflect on an experience they have had which they believe allowed them to develop the skills and attributes they may need for a future career in medicine" bit, as CASPer is an online SJT-style test

So CASPer would hit the
"Open ended responses in an SJT assessment"
and
"Personality assessment covering the five top level traits of openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism"

but would not cover the
"Evidence of extensive engagement in activities involving care, support and/or service"
and
"The nature of the experience(s) undertaken and the level of the responsibility undertaken"

So I think it is something at least similar to the R&R and CASPer, as per last year

Did they do casper last year?

How does this change how they use ucat? Should people with relatively low ucat scores still apply?

Yes, I saw this, but I am not sure it is just UCAT and CASPer, as that would not cover the "Applicants are encouraged to write about and reflect on an experience they have had which they believe allowed them to develop the skills and attributes they may need for a future career in medicine" bit, as CASPer is an online SJT-style test

So CASPer would hit the
"Open ended responses in an SJT assessment"
and
"Personality assessment covering the five top level traits of openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism"

but would not cover the
"Evidence of extensive engagement in activities involving care, support and/or service"
and
"The nature of the experience(s) undertaken and the level of the responsibility undertaken"

So I think it is something at least similar to the R&R and CASPer, as per last year

Would CASPER be done before the interview then/ done at home? Sorry I can't find much about it and I've not heard of it before. Is it online written with questions similar to SJT? But more personal rather than answers that are either right/wrong like in UCAT? And then maybe we would have the R+R form too, if they don't get rid of it.
Thank you

https://takealtus.com/casper/

It would be done before shortlisting, I suspect and the scores used in shortlisting

It doesn’t, the UCAT part does not seem to have changed

Yes, I saw this, but I am not sure it is just UCAT and CASPer, as that would not cover the "Applicants are encouraged to write about and reflect on an experience they have had which they believe allowed them to develop the skills and attributes they may need for a future career in medicine" bit, as CASPer is an online SJT-style test

So CASPer would hit the
"Open ended responses in an SJT assessment"
and
"Personality assessment covering the five top level traits of openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism"

but would not cover the
"Evidence of extensive engagement in activities involving care, support and/or service"
and
"The nature of the experience(s) undertaken and the level of the responsibility undertaken"

So I think it is something at least similar to the R&R and CASPer, as per last year

Went to the open day on Saturday. They have confirmed they are not using R&R but instead you will be asked to fill out another form (online with a dropdown menu). Didn’t call it CASPer but basically it’s to limit word count and make it easier for them to mark. In short if you are over the threshold for UCAT and have the right academics they don’t really use them again. They will select for interview using the new form - so on work experience/volunteering.

do you just name experiences or is a form where you have to reflect upon each experience ?