Introduction
Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine are popular courses and for very good reasons. Therefore the competition for places is severe and it is a major commitment. The process is lengthy, demanding and though the potential gain is certainly worth the journey, the possibility of rejection is high.
The application must be a priority from the outset and energy and enthusiasm has to be sustained right through to those final interviews in amongst the melee of your wider Canford life. Therefore, it is vital that you understand what you’re entering into and what support you will get from the school at each stage.
Ed Johnson Academic Head of Lower School
Our programme
We offer a comprehensive programme of support for pupils interested in studying Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Sciences. Pupils in the current Fifth Form who are interested are given advice about what to do in the summer holidays.
In the Lower Sixth in the Christmas term we have a visiting surgical skills team from St George’s Hospital who run a workshop for us. The programme continues in the Easter term with preliminary meetings setting out the requirements of the different university courses and offering advice on work experience and voluntary work.
After the important Lower Sixth end of year exams we offer an onsite UCAT course run by The Medic Portal as well as guidance about how to decide where to apply.
In the Upper Sixth the pace is stepped up as pupils are given help with personal statements and more focused guidance about which institutions are most suitable for them based on their academic profile, interests and test scores. We offer a weekly course of talks about key medical, veterinary and dental issues, often from current Doctors, Vets or Dentists. This also covers interview techniques and the best ways to answer particular types of question.
All the candidates attend an ethics seminar where they present and discuss a topic in front of their peers and some Doctors. This discussion gives them a real insight into a range of different ethical issues as well as interview and presentation practice.
We also offer a great deal of specialised mock interviews. Pupils can get practice with our external interview specialists but also with teachers who are themselves interviewers for the Plymouth Medical School. We run a mock MMI (multiple mini interview) session with OCs and parents in the medical profession, which is a key part of many application processes. We also offer bespoke Oxbridge interview practice.
Pupils have set up a “Medics’ Union” which they have organised themselves to discuss articles and other topical issues.
Canford pupils taking part in a mock MM1 session
What a good application needs
Excellent academic grades at GCSE and A Level.
Canford offers exceptional science teaching and has a strong track record of examination success.
Excellent scores in the admissions tests (UCAT).
Work experience and voluntary work.
We offer onsite courses and well as personalised advice to help with this.
Excellent interview skills.
We can help obtain this and Canford’s CCF and Community Service programme gives our pupils the opportunity to show sustained commitment to caring for others as well as massively helping to develop key skills such as communication, teamwork, empathy and reflection.
As we interview for Plymouth Medical School, we have real insight into what universities are looking for. We offer a range of activities and mock interviews to prepare candidates for all types of interview. The large numbers of applicants we have each year helps pupils to work collaboratively when preparing their applications.
Success
The key factor determining success at gaining places on these very competitive and oversubscribed courses is the effort and determination of the pupils themselves but this does need to be focused.
We are very confident that what we offer is highly effective as seen by our impressive results over a sustained period of time. At Canford we have a long history of application success.
For further information please contact the Careers and Higher Education Department wmd@canford.com
Over the past 10 years, 88 applicants have been offered places for Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry, Medicine being the most popular.
This represents an overall 80% applicant success rate, compared with a national estimate of a 1 in 3 success rate for applications for Medicine (BMA), 1 in 2 for Veterinary Science (BVA) and 1 in 15 for Dentistry (Medify).
Class of 2024 - among the successful applicants for Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry (including Oxbridge)
Dr Donald Dean Medical Award
As part of the legacy of the late Dr Donald Dean, Canford is able to offer funding each year to support up to two OCs embarking on their medical elective.
Dr Dean was born in Manchester in 1927. After the early death of his parents, he was raised by his aunt. With her help he was able to attend grammar school and university, graduating in 1953. Dr Dean’s career took him all over the world. He was a medical doctor for the British Petroleum Company, helping to create hospitals and medical services in Aden, Nigeria, Trinidad, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait. After retiring as the Senior Medical Officer for BP he became the Chief Medical Officer at the Chamber of Shipping. He was later awarded a Fellowship of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FFOM) to recognise his significant contribution to the practice of occupational medicine in tropical countries.
Old Canfordians may apply for the Dr Donald Dean Medical Award which carries an honorarium of up to £1,500. The successful applicant will be asked to write a 500 word report/article at the conclusion of their elective and also return to Canford within one year of completing the elective to talk to Canfordians about their experience.
