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The process of applying for Dentistry courses is extremely competitive. Part of the challenge of applying to Dentistry is knowing the application process itself. It is important to realise that you need to begin your application way before the final deadline. So, follow these five top tips to boost your chances of getting those offers!
So if you’re thinking about applying to Dentistry Courses next year, now is the time to do vital dentistry related work experience. Not only is this usually required for most Dentistry courses, but it will also give you a personal idea as to whether dentistry is the career for you. The best way to go about this is by making a list of local dental practices, dental technicians and dental hospitals.
Write a formal letter to these establishments specifying when you want to complete your work experience, a bit about yourself and why you want to do work experience with that establishment specifically. Whilst you will not be able to any hands-on dentistry during your work experience, it will give you an idea about the day in the life of a dentist.
Importantly, remember to keep notes or a diary on your work experience. This will allow you to reflect on your experiences in your personal statement and potential interviews, and also to research some of the procedures that you see.
After completing your work experience, it is useful to research which universities to apply to. This will be individual to everyone but it is important to play to your strengths. Some universities will favour the UKCAT. Others might focus on your personal statement or A level grades. Research what assets the university is looking for in their students, and make a note of these qualities as they could be asked about in an interview.
If the university you’re interested in requires the UCAT, it is necessary to sit the test the summer before your application is due. The Medic Portal has got great UCAT practice questions and UCAT courses. The official UCAT website also has practice tests online. Also you should try looking at UKCAT books (The Medic Portal’s Mastering The UCAT book can be found on Amazon). It is definitely a good strategy to start UCAT preparation early and do a little bit each day. This will help you to get used to the style and you will quickly get up to speed.
A requirement of dentistry courses application processes is submitting a personal statement through UCAS. A good way to approach this is by creating a mind map of your personal qualities, understanding of dentistry and your experiences. Then try to put these statements into categories. For example, communication or leadership. When this stage is complete you can start writing up your personal statement. It is a good idea to write it in a word document first rather than straight onto UCAS as this will check for spelling mistakes and allow you to save your work easily. Be sure to avoid any clichés in your writing. Admissions staff read hundreds of applications and they are looking for something that stands out. The opening paragraph should be enticing. Try to write about your personal understanding of what dentistry courses involve, perhaps with an anecdote. Make sure that you back up your statements about qualities you possess with examples from your life experiences.
Following the submission of your UCAS application, your chosen academic will write a reference for you. It is often worth meeting with your nominated member of staff before they write your reference. This is to let them know what is required of them, some of the extracurricular activities you have done and also to ask their permission to use them as a reference!
Once this is done your UCAS application will be sent to your selected universities. Your UKCAT score will also be sent automatically to the relevant universities. After this, it’s a bit of waiting game. Different universities go through applications at different rates. So don’t panic if other people have heard back before you! It is useful to spend this time looking into interview preparation and recapping why you a place on your chose dentistry courses!
Good luck and get started!
Uploaded by Alessandra on 26th November 2015
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