Applying to Corpus | The Lewis Society of Medicine

The Admissions Process

Applying to Cambridge can seem like a very daunting challenge, but don’t let that put you off. Everyone now studying medicine at Corpus has had to go through the same set of challenges, and has had the same anxieties and fears. Hopefully this part of the website will give you an insight into the application procedure as seen through the eyes of one of those students.

Deciding to study Medicine

Before undergoing the admissions process it is important to be sure that the course is right for you. Studying medicine involves a substantial time and work commitment. Furthermore, the science-based preclinical course at Cambridge is fast-paced and intellectually challenging. It is worth familiarising yourself with the nature of the course early on. In addition, Corpus and the University as a whole run a number of Open Days and other Admission Events to give you a taste of what the medical course is like.

Entry requirements

If you are considering medicine or veterinary medicine, chances are that you are already studying science at AS and A level. In order to apply, you need to have already done three science subjects at AS-level and planning to do at least two science subjects at A-level, one of which must be Chemistry. Science subjects include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Further Mathematics (but NOT Psychology). If you are taking a different examination system, you should discuss your position with the Admissions Tutor– it is likely you will need to provide evidence that you have reached the equivalent standard in the corresponding science subjects you have studied.

In addition to subject requirements, you will need to be 18 years old by the 1st of January of your first year of university.

Applying to Cambridge

Before applying, you need to book yourself to take the Bio-Medical Admissions Test. The most important part of your UCAS application form is of course, your personal statement. This is the one part where you get to describe yourself, and sell yourself to the College. Take your time writing it, and do your best to show how committed you are to studying medicine. You will also be required to fill in the Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ). When filling in your application, try to be honest with your activities, interests and ambitions – you may be asked to elaborate during the interview!

Note: a lot of unnecessary effort goes into choosing a College which has been relatively undersubscribed in recent years – however, this is not as important as some make it out to be. The main objective of the BMAT and interview are to judge whether you are suitable for the course – if the answer is yes, but all the College places are filled, your application will enter the pool, and you could end up in another College instead. Conversely, if a College has places for 5 students and there are 5 applications or fewer that does NOT mean you are guaranteed a place – if candidates are deemed unsuitable for the course, then their places will be filled candidates in the pool instead. In summary, it is best to choose a College where you would like to spend the next three (or six) years studying at!

The Bio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT)

Everyone who wants to apply for medicine or veterinary medicine is required to sit the BMAT (biomedical admissions test). The test is used to assess scientific aptitude and specific abilities relevant to the study of medicine and veterinary medicine at Cambridge. It is divided into three sections:

Section 1 tests generic skills including Problem Solving, Understanding Arguments and Data Analysis and Inference abilities. This is quite a difficult section to prepare for, so a trip to the website to look at past papers is recommended.
Section 2 includes material from non-specialist school Science and Mathematics courses (i.e. up to and including National Curriculum Key Stage 4, Double Science and Higher Mathematics). The science questions in this section are basic enough, but try to have a refresher of some of the aspects of GCSE double science, or you will end up being caught out by otherwise easy questions!
Section 3 requires you to write a short-stimulus essay out of a choice of three. Arguably the part of the paper that requires the most thought. Be sure to plan your argument carefully, keeping in mind time constraints.

With regards to preparation for the test, practice papers and advice can be found on the BMAT Website. Practising the papers and problem solving questions are by far the best preparation, as the function of the BMAT is to make you think things through, rather than learn a list of facts. Of course, don’t stress yourself out so much that you don’t have time for your school or college work! As it says on the website: ‘The BMAT does not require a great amount of extra study – it has been designed not to add to the work that candidates are already doing for A levels or similar qualifications.’

The Interview

The majority of candidates will be invited to attend an interview in early December – only very weak applications are rejected before this stage. There are numerous legends surrounding the Cambridge interview, ranging from the girl who was asked to throw a brick out of window into the street below, to the hapless applicant being greeted upon opening the door by a rugby ball thrown with force in their direction. In the latter case, if the ball is caught, the applicant instantly gets an offer. Luckily, such myths are precisely that, myths. The interviews are designed to challenge you, and to make you think but not to trick you, scare you or catch you out.

Medicine and veterinary medicine, like most subjects, have two interviews. The first is designed to assess your potential and suitability. This means you will probably be asked why you applied to Cambridge over another university, and why you are interested in the course. Additionally, questions may be asked on any of the work you have presented thus far. For example, you could be asked questions on the essay you wrote for your BMAT exam, or certain aspects of your personal statement such as work experience, or about the information in the supplementary application questionnaire you will have filled in. In order to fully prepare for this interview, be sure to think over what you have written in your personal statement, BMAT and questionnaire, and be prepared to answer questions on them. This interview could also include a discussion of a new development in medicine which you may have heard of.

The second interview could be seen as taking the format of a ‘mini-supervision’ (supervisions are small group College-based teaching sessions). There are usually two interviewers who will ask you questions on a subject which you have studied at school. The questions are designed to see how you think through problems using your current knowledge. Don’t be put off if you don’t understand a question straight away, or if you’ve never heard of something. Think it through, ask for an explanation if you have to and try to enjoy yourself! It is probably a good idea to look over the aspects of your course that may need a bit of refreshment so you don’t get caught out!

A common question from applicants is ‘how much do the BMAT and interview count towards me getting an offer?’ Generally, the performance of candidates is comparable for both assessments, and each application is treated individually in this respect. Something else that usually worries applicants unnecessarily is what to wear. The honest answer to this is to just wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. If that is a suit, then wear a suit, but remember that the interviews are an opportunity for the interviewers to find out about how you think, not how you look.

Final steps

If your application is successful you will hear back in mid-January with an offer, which is typically three A’s at A-level. For typical offers on equivalent qualifications, please contact the Admissions Tutor directly. If you are placed in the pool, you may be accepted by another College in due course. When A-level results are out in mid-August and you have fulfilled the conditions of your offer, your College will then be in touch with further details.