Event gives local young people a taste of Medicine
By: News Archive
An event organised by University of East Anglia (UEA) has given young people from local schools and colleges who are interested in studying Medicine at university the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a student and live on campus.
Thirty students from Norfolk and North Suffolk took part in a three-day residential event, which finished today (15 February), where they were given guidance on applying, taster lectures and met current students and staff.
Students stayed in university accommodation to get a taste of living on a campus and took part in evening activities to share experiences and build a support network with other people thinking about applying to university.
The event is part of the UEA’s Medical Aspirations Scheme, which helps students who are expected to gain the grades needed to study Medicine but who may need extra support because they have little family experience of higher education, have been in local authority care and/or have a low household income.
The scheme is funded by David Tibble, who graduated from UEA in 1970 and wanted to help aspiring medics from backgrounds under-represented in the profession, and who are local to UEA.
The students also had the chance to take a guided tour around a number of departments at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), where they could have placements if they were to study at UEA.
In addition to the residential event, UEA organises a number of follow-up activities every year, including a GP placement and interview preparation workshops.
All students who attend the event are guaranteed an interview for Medicine at UEA, subject to achieving the minimum entry requirements. If they are successful, entrants will have an opportunity to be awarded one of three full scholarships worth more than £37,000 for 2018 and 2019 entry.
The Medical Aspirations Scheme began in 2011, and scholarships have supported 20 students to date.
Katie Francis, UEA’s Schools Partnership Manager, said: “If you don’t know anyone who has successfully applied for Medicine, applying can be daunting. The application process is intense and different from other courses.
“We hope the students leave feeling inspired and that studying Medicine is exciting and achievable.”
Laura-Jane Quantrill, from Lowestoft Sixth Form College, who attended the event, said: “I’ve really enjoyed learning lots of new facts about Medicine and gaining lots of new knowledge. I’ve also learned some great tips about what I can do to prepare myself for applying to Medicine.
“Before, I was really uncertain whether university was for me, but now I am certain that it is.”
Chloe Milton, from Sir John Leman Sixth Form, added: “It’s given me insight into what university life is like at UEA - there is only so much you can get on a campus tour, but staying on campus really gives you a chance to see what university is really like.”
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