I have been involved with mentoring a young student for a few years. He comes from a deprived background and has had a difficult childhood. He achieved good gcse grades (3a* 2 a 5 b). He obtained bbb at AS year 1. He is predicted AAA for next year although I'm not sure how this is worked out by his (failing) school.
He has his heart set on studying dentistry. He had found it very difficult to obtain any work experience but has completed a 5 day placement shadowing a gp, works on a sat doing admin for a research company, heads up a young community group and mentors other young people from his estate.
He has made some enquiries and informs he is eligible for a few access to medicine/dentistry schemes at unis including Leeds and Sheffield. My work with him has been to support him through revision, help with cv, provide emotional support and motivation and discuss higher education. He will be the very first in his family going on to uni.
He is sitting his ukcat exam next week. Again he has used his initiative and managed to obtain a bursary to cover the cost of this exam. I am looking for any parents of dentist students/ students to advise me/him about how best to apply for dentistry. He lacks confidence and worried about the way he speaks and presents himself. We have worked on confidence building but it is difficult. What kind of ukcat score will he need to be in with a shot at interview? Can he apply to more than one access scheme?
With his gcse's being what they are will he still have a shot at dentistry? Is there anyone who can advise about what to put on his PS and any other tips?
I am constantly amazed at his ability to break down barriers and aim high and don't want to discourage him as I know he is very bright and enterprising. But from initial research it seems almost impossible to get a place at uni to study dentistry.