This student applied in the 2021/22 application cycle and therefore the selection process at Keele may have changed since then. You should read all the information a University sends you about the selection process to get the most up to date details!
Remember to check out the glossary at the bottom of the page for our explanations of all the jargon we medical students like to use!
More about this student
Sometimes students share information with us about their demographics, which may help put their application experience into a bit more perspective.
This student identifies as a woman who went to a grammar or selective state school in the UK.
Our Summary
Course: Standard undergraduate entry
Online MMI interview
Admissions Tests: UCAT
Recommended resources:
ISC UCAT Book
Practice tests
Before I made my application…
Completing work experience
What types of work experience did you do?
Hospital shadowing, Care work (e.g. in residential care), Customer service role (voluntary), Customer service role (paid)
How much work experience did you do?
I had a couple of years of regular weekly work experience and roles to show leadership. It is important to show work experience/volunteering over a long time period when you have other commitments to balance. Sporting or musical commitments are also great to mention.
How did you find your work experience opportunities?
Through a formal scheme or work experience placement
During the application process…
Admissions tests
What admissions test did you sit?
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT): https://www.ucat.ac.uk/
How did you prepare for your admissions test?
Lots and lots of practise questions!!
Interviews
What type of interview did you do?
MMI: Multiple Mini Interview. This type of interview usually includes several short interviews or ‘stations’ which may involve different types of questions and scenarios. This is different compared to a panel interview, which may cover the same scenarios/types of questions but be a more ‘traditional’ sit-down interview.
How did you prepare for your interview?
I looked into the key words that were going to be explored in the interview (i.e empathy, motivation etc.) I always tried to make sure I backed my answers with work experience examples/volunteering, and most importantly what I learnt and felt before, during and after the process. I was also aware to mention how I de stress and socialise with friends and sports. I was regularly checking the news for current affairs and did lots of practise runs with my family.
What happened during your interview?
The interview ran to time and I felt comfortable after settling into it.
Glossary
Clinical work experience: Not every student will complete clinical work experience before they apply to medical school. Don’t worry, this is not required to be able to apply. You can use non-clinical work experience (e.g. a caring role, like in a care home) or even reflect on paid work you’ve done (e.g. in customer service) in a productive way.
Support networks: While not every student will have a support network to help them prepare, there are plenty of other ways to prepare for your admissions tests and interviews, such as through free online resources, like on our website.
Mock interview: Don’t worry if you didn’t have this opportunity. Interviews are designed to take into account that not everyone has the same level of preparation. See our guides and blogs on interviews to find out more about free online resources.
