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Medical Programme
UCAS run live sessions in the UCAS Hub to help those researching their next steps, and record them all so they can be watched back at any time.
Universities also give scholarships and bursaries for things such as Music and Drama - have a look at specific university pages for more information.
The Armed Forces also award bursaries and scholarships for those intending to pursue a career in the Military - visit the respective Service websites.
Jane Marshall's Personal Statement Talk
To access this talk, go to www.optimisingfutures.co.uk. DO NOT SIGN UP or the log in won't work - select LOG IN, then 'Videos to rent' at the top, then 'How to write a personal statement' from the drop-down menu.
Log in using: kverney@churcherscollege.com Password: Success4u
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Higher Education Applications
Due to Covid, work experience is very limited at the moment. The University of Glasgow's advice below is very useful.
Advice from the University of Glasgow
As with other vet schools we have reviewed the normal expectations for work experience and due to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, we are going to REDUCE our requirement for at least 6 weeks work experience.
Details of the changes for this year can be found on the university website, as well as the Vet Schools Council guide to admissions.
Work experience serves a useful purpose for you, as it allows you to see what working as a veterinary surgeon is like (contrary to public opinion the veterinary profession is not always glamorous). We would, therefore, strongly encourage applicants to try and get work experience and to have at least a few days with a veterinary surgeon, if that is possible. Those hands-on experiences can be supplemented with online research into areas where you have been unable to gain practical experience.
To help with this, the UK vet schools which require work experience have agreed to accept completion of a Virtual Work Experience MOOC in place of some or all in-person work experience. All vet schools have collaborated on this MOOC and all agree it is valuable preparation for entry into the world of veterinary medicine.
Do what you can, but remember to reflect on any activity you use in your personal statement.
1. Watch Videos of Animals Being Treated
In any video you watch, focus on the vet's technique and communication, as you are trying to learn about being a vet. How were the client and the patient addressed? What is the diagnosis or treatment?
The British Veterinary Association has lots of videos that might be helpful.
2. Take On a Research Project at Home
Causeway has collated lots of useful resources for reading around your subject, with a question sheet to help you focus on the right aspects for your personal statement. Done well, you can really wow admissions tutors. Scroll down to the healthcare section to find veterinary medicine.
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) offers animal science lectures and practical demonstrations, with research projects you can work on independently. They recommend signing up to their Teen Vet Club to keep up to date.
You can also take some time to research current issues in the veterinary world. Make sure you take a critical approach to your reading.
3. Volunteer
There is a need to support vulnerable or isolated neighbours with their pets, for example dog walking or picking up medication from the vets (only where it is safe and legal to do so). Check local media, social media or your local vets.
4. Arrange a Phone or Video Call with a Vet
See if you can arrange a call with a vet to ask them about their role. Try a video call to make it as real as possible. Plan all your questions in advance, preferably after you have done some work on steps 1 and 2, so you have better subject knowledge and can make full use of the time.
5. Take Care of Your Own Pet
Use your own trip to the vet with a pet as a chance to observe and ask questions. Use the questions on the Causeway wider reading sheet (the medicine sheet works well).
A good guide from the British Veterinary Association.
Online courses and talks.
Lots of good information can be found in the Student Loans Company's supporting materials, and at the sites below.
All of these build various employability skills.
Broaden your subject knowledge and show further learning and interest in your chosen subject or course. Supra-curricular activities are also referred to as super-curricular activities.
Start with Unifrog
Unifrog has excellent suggestions in the Subject Library. Go to your subject page and scroll down to the Geek Out tab.
Ways to Explore Your Subject
Look for lectures through national societies, universities, institutions and professional bodies. Subject Spotlights from The University Experience Hub are mini lecture series by top university academics, giving you the chance to try a degree before you apply. They can be the cherry on top of a personal statement.
A huge range of free academic lectures and university subject talks, live online.
A massive library of recorded talks across a broad range of subjects.
Search for talks and lectures in your subject.
A series of talks across a huge range of subjects.
Podcast series.
For STEM, look at the university section.
Oxplore is the University of Oxford's site of big questions for curious minds.
Oxford advises students to explore educational activities beyond the school curriculum. This can be anything from podcasts, documentaries and museum trips to books, magazines and online programmes. These activities will be particularly helpful when writing your personal statement and preparing for interviews, and give you a broader insight into possible degree choices.
Oxford's Digital Resource Hub is a collection of thought-provoking articles, videos, blog posts and event recordings which map onto the undergraduate degrees offered at Oxford, with links to the University's current research.
You don't need to be applying to Cambridge to use these!
Suggested activities and reading for every subject Cambridge offers.
Cambridge's subject resources for sixth formers.
A great list of resources, many under subject headings.
Live-streamed and recorded plays.
Start with the Unifrog MOOC Search Tool
Unifrog's MOOC search tool searches across multiple providers, so it is a great place to start. In the Subject Library, the Geek Out option for your subject also gives MOOC and other supracurricular suggestions.
Unifrog searches across the sites below but does not host the MOOCs itself. FutureLearn hosts lots of UK university MOOCs, and edX is recommended by Cambridge.
Lots of UK university MOOCs.
Recommended by Cambridge.
Reflect on Your Activities
Make sure you reflect on your activities and write down what you have done. Your reflection may include:
Make notes and add reflection about all the activities you do for future reference. A useful place to do this is the Activities and Competencies tools on Unifrog.
Gibbs' Reflective Cycle can help you reflect on your supracurricular activities, and on your extra-curricular activities too.
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Subject-Specific Supracurricular
EA Ski and Snowboard - Educating Adventures Ltd
Working a ski or snowboard season as an instructor is a popular gap year option: you travel to spectacular resorts, learn new skills, and meet like-minded people, while building CV-worthy skills in teaching and coaching, interpersonal communication, leadership, time management, adaptability and customer service.
EA Ski and Snowboard offers internships and training courses in skiing and snowboarding at resorts in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Japan and Switzerland - taking care of training and logistics for those with some existing experience. Open to students over 18 by November 2023.
Contact: sstraining@educatingadventures.com
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Travel and Gap Year Guidebook - by Ski le Gap and Culsans-compressed
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THE GAP YEAR OPTION FOR SIXTH FORM LEAVERS
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January 2022 - Single Sheet
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Trailfinders Travel Safety Guide
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Conservation - Culsans Gap Travel - Your conservation and volunteering gap year booklet-min
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Conservation - Turtle Conservation General-Information-2021
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General Travel and Opportunities - Brochure The Life Changing Year Gap Program
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Languages - Gap Year Guide for UK Students
