The Admissions procedure at Aberdeen involves the detailed assessment and scoring academic attainment/predictions (60%) and UKCAT (40%). The highest scoring candidates are subsequently invited to interview and all subsequent offers are made on interview performance alone.
An objective scoring system will be used to assess qualities such as those detailed below:
- work experience
- understanding of dentistry issues
- problem-solving and analytical skills
- enthusiasm, interest and motivation to study dentistry
- communication and interpersonal skills
- manual dexterity skills
What is an MMI?
MMI stands for Multiple Mini Interview where candidates rotate around a number of question stations in turn. Each station lasts for 7 minutes. A Selector will explore one question area/domain and score the candidate's performance against a pre-determined criteria. Communication and interpersonal skills are also scored at each station.
The whole MMI experience will last approximately 90 minutes for each candidate.
Invitations to Interview
Candidates will be invited for interview by email and asked to confirm their intention to attend at the appointed time and date. (Candidates should check their spam folders regularly during this time period). Should candidates have any specific requirements in relation to the MMI, please let us know at the time of confirming your intention to attend.
Interviewees will be offered a tour of the Dental School, on the day of the interview. The dental student guide will be very pleased to answer any questions and discuss the Aberdeen BDS experience.
Interviewees should make every effort to attend on the allocated time as we can not guarantee that we will be able to reschedule.
A health questionnaire will be issued to all interviewees, which should be returned to Occupational Health in the envelope provided.
Preparing for Interview
You may find the following information useful to help you understand what Selectors are looking for and how candidates might prepare for their interview.
What types of questions will be asked?
Many questions that will be covered in the MMI stations are available in the public domain. Although the exact wording may vary, candidates may find it a useful exercise to be familiar with some questions and to consider their own responses that are based upon their own thoughts and experiences, rather than quoting existing text and the opinion of others.
There are many ways that Selectors may explore the ten questioning domains that form part of an MMI. candidates may be asked to:
- Discuss their preparation for entry to Dentistry, eg
- Research into undergraduate curricula and postgraduate training
- Research then understanding of the implications of a dental career
- Experience of caring or other environments
- Consider a new situation and discuss their thoughts
- Outline any learning points from previous experiences
- Reflect upon their own and others' skills and abilities
- Consider their potential contribution to the care of others
candidates should be aware that for some questions there will not be a 'correct' answer - simply that the candidate's ability to reflect upon and discuss diverse aspects of the problem may be under scrutiny
Given that the pre-interview scoring system selects candidates who appear to have sufficient academic potential, the interview is not intended to:
- Test academic knowledge
- Include questions directly related to the school curriculum
Are all candidates asked the same questions?
The same categories of questions will be used on each of the days that the MMI is run.
How will answers be scored?
The candidate will be scored in several areas including:
- Ability to express ideas freely and coherently
- How well they use their existing knowledge to formulate answers to unknown areas
- Their ability to follow a reasoned argument and to formulate an opinion
- The degree to which they are prepared for questions
- Their ability to discuss different aspects (advantages & disadvantages) of a problem / situation
- The degree of motivation, commitment, reflection and sensitivity demonstrated
- Their insight into working with others
Each station will also independently score communication and interpersonal skills.
How can candidates ensure that they answer questions well?
The more research undertaken into a dental career using many resources, the better the candidate will be prepared to answer questions confidently and to cope with the unexpected.
Undertaking interview practice with different 'interviewers' will help build confidence in their ability to perform in unfamiliar circumstances, as will frequently practising answering different interview questions.