Be prepared

With university courses being highly competitive, Concord College’s Medicine Support programme is an invaluable resource, says DR ROB PUGH

Arecord 23,710 people applied to study medicine at UK universities for 2020 – with only approximately 9,500 places available, and the unfortunate news is that this trend is set to continue. A new brie ng paper published by the Medical Schools Council shows that undergraduate medicine courses have attracted a record number of applications in 2021: 28,690.

At Concord, we’re proud to highlight students’ academic excellence and successful career paths. 78 per cent of Concord’s 2020 leavers are now attending the UK’s top 10 universities. Medicine is a particularly competitive course: In 2020, 41 students gained places at medical, dental, or veterinary schools.

With more than 50 students applying for courses in medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry each year, current and prospective students and parents can rest assured that Concord aims to provide a world-class programme of support and preparation – e

Medicine Support programme. e programme bene ts from ve medicine university coordinators who are able to provide one-to-one support in crucial times during the application process. And what better place to undergo this competitive process than in our £11m state-of-the-art Science Hub?

STEM subjects, which are essential to any medicine application, are taught by a highly experienced team of 30 subject specialists (10 per academic discipline), further supported by ve lab technicians. Students and parents can be further encouraged by the college’s commitment to STEM – as in 2017, Concord was in the top three schools in the whole of the UK for STEM support. In fact, while most medicine applicants need a minimum of two science-based A-levels at A grade or above, Concordians o en apply with three sciences and maths, with a string of realistic predicted A*s.

With a growing focus on research projects to supplement A-levels, Concord is also a valued member of IRIS – the Institute of Research in Schools, and a number of students on Concord’s Medicine Support programme opt to take part in Extended Project Quali cations.

Complementing the curriculum, the college also boasts a vibrant Medical Society with more than 100 members, as well as a network of support for our Medical Outreach programme – which includes an annual three-day medical residential trip to London, and has previously involved three-week ‘medicamps’ in Kenya, supporting clinics who work in slums and schools, providing essential health checks for the community. e Medical Society not only supports students academically with curricular and supercurricular activities, but also develops life skills; each year the society holds elections for highly contested positions of responsibility, providing signi cant opportunity to develop leadership skills, teamwork, communication and more.

e committee members work closely with the university medics coordinator to plan and deliver university medics coordinator to plan and deliver a rich and diverse programme of events, such as a rich and diverse programme of events, such as Twilight ursdays, Medic Monthly events, Medic Twilight ursdays, Medic Monthly events, Medic Mentorship, TED-Med talks, discussion forums Mentorship, TED-Med talks, discussion forums and the management of a dedicated Medical Society VLE platform.

Key activities of the Medicine Support programme include: • Admissions test training for UKCAT, BMAT • Admissions test training for UKCAT, BMAT and formal mock examinations • Interview training and practice • One-on-one personal statement and UCAS application support • Work experience • Day trips to top UK medical schools • Pre-U Week – UCAS prep and assessments • Two-week medicine (and biomedicine) university preparation summer course.

Dr Rob Pugh is Assisitant Principal (Careers & University Admissions) Concord College, Shropshire

THE PROGRAMME BENEFITS FROM fi ve medicine university coordinators who are able to provide one-to-one support DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS. AND WHAT BETTER PLACE TO UNDERGO THIS COMPETITIVE PROCESS THAN IN OUR £11M SCIENCE HUB?