liverpool dentistry personal statement

Alex | Founder of Dentfully

Ultimate guide to liverpool dentistry interview (2023) | questions & tips, liverpool school of dentistry: overview.

The University of Liverpool is one of the largest universities in the UK, with over 70,000 students and a global reputation for research excellence. Moreover, the city itself is one of the best cities to live in as a student; cheap accommodation, ample nightlife and Liverpool’s beautiful streets make studying at the University of Liverpool a pleasant experience.

The School of Dentistry is based at the university's main campus in the city centre, but also offers courses at its own dedicated teaching hospital on the outskirts of Liverpool.

Innovative technology plays a large role in teaching at the University of Liverpool School of Dentistry: Dental students have the opportunity to work in state-of-the-art facilities and simulation suites, alongside some of the best teachers, dentists and researchers.

Selection For Dentistry Interviews at Liverpool University:

🔢 how does liverpool select students for interviews (a200).

GCSEs & Predicted Grades: Academic screening will be the first stage of the admissions process. You won’t be ranked or given points for your GCSE or predicted grades. Your grades will only be checked for meeting Liverpool’s minimum entry requirements .

Personal Statement: Assessed in terms of your insight into dentistry and evidence of work experience. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate that you have a caring attitude, commitment to studying dentistry, as well as other attributes outlined by the NHS Constitution . If you weren’t able to secure a work experience placement in a dental setting, this will not negatively affect your application.

UCAT: The UCAT is an important element of the selection process for dentistry. Unlike most other dental universities, Liverpool will consider your Situational Judgement score in the selection process. A Band 4 in the SJT will most likely result in an automatic rejection.

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📊 What is the UCAT cut-off score to get a dentistry interview at Liverpool?

For 2022 entry, the lowest UCAT score to get an interview at Liverpool was 2160. Meanwhile, the average score of those invited to the interview was 2611. The UCAT cut-off for dentistry at Liverpool varies from year to year and is dependent on the number of applications, as well as the average scores of the cohort.

📈 TOP Tip:  Want to improve your chances of securing a place for dentistry at Liverpool? Prepare for your interviews with Dentfully and ace your Dentistry Interviews!

📤 When does Liverpool start sending interview invitations (BDS Dentistry)?

Liverpool usually sends most invitations between December and February of the application cycle.

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Liverpool Dental School Interviews: Number of interviews

960 students applied for 2022 entry dentistry at Liverpool. The admissions team invited 390 students for an interview ( 40% of all students who applied).

💡 How To Prepare for Dentistry Interviews at Liverpool?

Preparing for dentistry interviews is no easy task. It requires gathering a lot of knowledge, consolidating it and working on your interview performance and appearance. To save you effort, time and money, we’ve created Dentfully and made the preparation process simpler than ever before:

🦷 Liverpool Dentistry Interview Questions (A200):

Motivations for Dentistry:

  • What made you apply for dentistry and not medicine?
  • What did you do to find out if dentistry is the right choice for you?
  • What appeals to you the most and the least in the work of a dentist?

Studying Dentistry at Liverpool Uni:

  • Why should we choose you?
  • Why would you like to study dentistry at Liverpool University?

Insight into Dentistry:

  • What did your work experience teach you about the typical responsibilities of a dentist?
  • In your personal statement you’ve written that you were able to work closely with the entire dental team. Who can be a part of the dental team and what are the responsibilities of each of the members?
  • Where do you see yourself in 10 years' time?
  • What would you like to achieve as a dentist?

NHS & Hot Topics:

  • How would you explain the new traffic light system to a patient who has only recently moved to the UK and doesn’t know anything about the way dentistry works here?
  • What do you know about the 2006 Dental Contract? Do you think that it’s introduction had a positive impact on dentistry in the UK?
  • How did Covid-19 impact dentistry and dental practitioners in the UK?

Personality:

  • Tell us about a situation where you showed empathy.
  • What are your greatest strength and your greatest weakness?
  • There are a number of qualities and skills that a good dentist should possess. Which of those are you planning to improve in yourself during your time at university?

Dental Ethics:

  • What do you understand by the term confidentiality? What information should be kept confidential? Do dentists have the duty to keep confidentiality in every situation or are there some cases when confidentiality should be breached?
  • A young mother comes with their 12-month-old child to your dental practice for a checkup. During the checkup, you discover that the girl’s pulp is severely damaged and infected and recommend root canal treatment. After hearing the name of the procedure the mother nervously takes the child’s hand and says “We don’t want any treatments. Ginny, let’s go home”. Both the mother and the girl are clearly anxious. However, you know that the treatment is necessary. How would you act in such a situation?

Dental Role-play:

  • Imagine you are a 3rd-year dental student. It’s April and you are studying hard for your final year exams. Your best friend Jake (the interviewer) sees that you are struggling to cover the material and offers you help. He wants to meet with you to show you a PDF with exam questions that he leaked with his Computer Science friends. You know that cheating is strictly prohibited and that anyone involved in the process of sharing exam questions can be kicked out of the university. In the following station, you will meet with Jake (the interviewer) to discuss the issue.
  • You are a dentist specialising in Oral Surgery. During a complex procedure involving extractions and applying implants, you notice a worrying lump on the inside of a patient’s cheek. After the procedure is done, you wake up the patient to discuss the need for a biopsy. The patient consents but grows very anxious. The results of a biopsy show the lump is cancerous and very advanced. Break the news to the patient (the interviewer) that they have oral cancer. You may offer them a treatment combining surgery, radio- and chemotherapy, but the chances for success are 30-40%

🚀  TOP Tip: Have a hard time answering any of the above questions? You’ll find insider tactics to tackle all of the above questions and formulate convincing and structured answers at  Dentfully - UK’s best all-in-one interview preparation platform.

Please note that these aren’t questions that have been asked at Liverpool University in past years. Publishing such information would be against Liverpool’s policy. The above questions are adjusted for the interview style at Liverpool and are meant to give you a broad sense of the questions you may face.

Liverpool Dentistry Interviews (2023 entry):

🗓️ liverpool dentistry interview dates (2022):.

This year, Liverpool will most likely conduct their dentistry interviews between late January 2023 and the beginning of March 2023 (as it was in previous years).

💬 Interview format at Liverpool Dental School?

In the past Liverpool conducted MMI interviews for dentistry. These interviews are comprised of several mini-interviews, each with a different interviewer and revolving around a different topic. At Liverpool, there were usually between 10 and 12 such stations , and the interview lasted 60-90 minutes.

Liverpool hasn’t yet announced what the dentistry interview will look like for the 2023 entry, but you can check this website regularly for the latest updates. You should also receive more detailed information about the interview format, location and time with the invitation email (which we really hope you’ll get!).

🚀  TOP Tip: Don’t forget to bring your original certificates for all the achievements you’ve listed in your UCAT form! Liverpool requires you to bring those to the interview, otherwise, your application will be penalised. If you should get more detailed information about what exactly to bring in your dentistry interview invitation, but if you are unsure, email the admissions team at Liverpool before your interviews.

🏆 Liverpool BDS Interviews: How many offers?

For the 2022 entry, Liverpool interviewed 390 students for dentistry and has given out 96 offers. This means, that last year approximately 25% of the interviewed students have received offers, making Liverpool a fairly competitive university to get into.

⏳ How long does it take to hear back from Liverpool?

You should hear back from Liverpool by the 31st of March at the latest, but the information may come earlier if you’ve been interviewed at the beginning of the interview cycle.

✅ Liverpool Dental School Interviews: 4 Tips

🛏️  Take advantage of rest stations

In the Liverpool dentistry MMI, you should get a few so-called rest stations. As the name suggests, in these stations you’ll have a few minutes to relax before the next MMI stations.

Make sure to take advantage of these stations. Don’t add unnecessary stress by thinking about what you could have said or done better. Instead, do whatever works best for you to calm yourself down - get a cup of water, do a few breathing exercises or practise affirmations.

😍  Treat the MMIs like speed dating

The Multiple Mini Interviews sound like a scary concept. But it can be fun if you make it so.

If you think of it the MMIs are a lot like speed dating - you are given a few minutes to talk to a stranger and get them to like you. The only difference is that the MMIs revolve mostly around dentistry and your achievements, skills and qualities.

Approaching the MMIs with the right mindset will help you go a long way. Treat it like speed dating or a casual conversation, rather than this scary obstacle on your way to dental school.

📆  Plan your journey ahead

If the interviews will take place in person this year and if you aren’t from Liverpool, you should plan your journey to the interview. It’s probably wiser to book a stay in Liverpool and arrive a day or two before your interview date. You don’t want a delayed train or car traffic to add to your stress or make you miss your chance for an interview! Moreover, it will give you a chance to explore the campus and the city.

🧠  Reflect on your work experience

Liverpool places a large emphasis on work experience/insight into dentistry during the selection process. Not only will the admissions team screen your personal statement for evidence of work experience, but it’s very likely that you’ll be asked about it in your dentistry interview.

If you’ve kept a reflective journal, revisit it before your interviews. Think back to the experience and recall what you saw, did and how it made you feel. Then try to really deeply reflect on it and write down your thoughts: What did it show me about dentistry? How did it make me feel (more compelled/deterred)? How was the reality different from my expectations? How could I prepare myself to handle such a situation in the future? What skills and qualities did I observe?

🤞 Fingers crossed for your Liverpool Dentistry Interview!

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Liverpool Dentistry Interview Questions

Note: This interview Q&A is based on pre-Covid in-person interviews (from 2019 and before). All university interviews changed in 2020-2021 to an online format due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This article was updated in December 2023 with the latest information, and we will continue to regularly update it! 

The University of Liverpool Dental School interviewed 390 applicants in 2020/2021 and gave out about 43 offers. This means you have a 1 in 9.1 chance of receiving an offer after your Liverpool Dentistry interview.

For more general information about the Liverpool Dental School, check out this page: Liverpool Dental School

Dentistry MMI course

The University of Liverpool Dentistry interview has an MMI set up, with 12 stations in total. In this guide we provide an expert insight into past Liverpool interview stations, the Liverpool MMI day and tips for converting your Liverpool Dentistry interview into an offer! 

LIVERPOOL DENTAL SCHOOL: Liverpool is renowned as the original ‘Red Brick’ university and has a long history of excellent teaching and research standards. The university is located in a busy city environment, which gives students the opportunity to participate in many activities outside of their course. With more museums and galleries than any UK city, besides the capital, students will have a lot of history and art to explore in Liverpool.

2023/24 Liverpool Dentistry Interview in a Nutshell

What is the liverpool interview style.

The interview format is usually an MMI held from January to March. There are 12 MMI stations, including 3 rest stations. Each station lasts for 5 minutes and there is a 2 minute break in between stations.

What are the Liverpool MMI Dates?

Late January to March. The exact dates for 2023/24 entry interviews haven’t been released.

Meet Our Liverpool Tutors!

liverpool dentistry personal statement

What are the common topics covered at the Liverpool Dentistry Interview?

  • Commitment to Dentistry
  • Suitability for the course
  • NHS values and news
  • Personal skills and qualities
  • Personal statement

At Medic Mind we’ve helped many students secure offers from Liverpool and other Dental schools. If you’re applying to Liverpool, we can do a high quality 1-1 mock with you with a Liverpool tutor and realistic stations uniquely for Liverpool. 

Book a University Specific Mock

Meet our Tutors from Liverpool

liverpool dentistry personal statement

List of Recent Liverpool Dentistry Interview Topics

If you wish to practice liverpool mmi mocks, here are some sample questions:.

  • What are the differences between Dentistry and Medicine, and why did you choose Dentistry?
  • What inspired you during your work experience and why?
  • What 3 things would you rescue if your house was destroyed and why?
  • What is the most important NHS value and why?
  • You know a friend has cheated on their final exams at Dental school. What would you do?
  • Your dental surgery is struggling financially so you need to cut down on services. What would you get rid of and why?
  • Describe how the patient in this photo may have gotten gum disease.

Check out the official Liverpool School of Dental Sciences course page here, so that you know what to expect from this course: Official Page

Insider Guide: Liverpool Dentistry Interview Day

How did the liverpool interview day work.

On the day of the interview, I reached the Dental School Building but at first, it was confusing because the door to the Dental School building wasn’t open. If this situation happens to you, go to the Dental Hospital which is located next-door (with the green doors) and politely ask the receptionist where the Dentistry interviews are taking place. 

After doing this, I was guided to a waiting area where a few students were waiting. Liverpool asks for documentation such as your GCSE Certificates and your passport, which you hand in at the beginning for them to check, and at the end of the day, they hand it back to you.

After handing in the documents, we were taken to a small lecture theatre where we waited and chatted. This was relaxing and I really liked talking to the people I met. When everyone had arrived, the head of the Dental School led a welcome presentation on what to expect and how to conduct ourselves. 

After the talk, we were split into two groups: one group would have the interview first and the tour afterwards, and the other group would have it the other way around. I got my interview first and then the tour afterwards. Some current dental students guided us to the stations and they were really friendly. After the interview was over, I had my tour and went home.

What do you have to bring for the Liverpool Dentistry Interview?

You have to bring documentation, such as your GCSE Certificates and your passport or another form of identity. There’s also an interview questionnaire to fill in, print off and bring with you on the day. This will all be detailed in an email they send to you.

The dress code is smart, so a blazer, dress, suit etc. is suitable. All the applicants wore smart clothes, so make sure you do too, to make a good impression!

What is the setting for the Liverpool MMI?

The MMI interview was laid out in two separate rooms, over two floors. In each room, there were 4-5 stations that were quite spaced out which was a good thing because even though you could hear the other students, it was spaced out enough for you to focus on what you were saying. The rest stations were located in the corridors and there were water and plastic cups there. 

In the interview stations, you have 2 minutes to read some instructions and 5 minutes to answer questions. During the rest stations, some current dental students would sit and talk to us, so it’s a good idea to ask questions and be enthusiastic to show yourself in a good light.

How do you receive information for the Liverpool MMI questions?

Before entering a station, you have 2 minutes to read some (very clear) instructions attached to a whiteboard. My top tip for making the most out of reading time is to be calm. 2 minutes is a generous amount of time and it’s the perfect amount of time to read and form a plan of points in your head before entering the station.

What were the Liverpool MMI interviewers like?

The best thing about the Liverpool interview was how nice the interviewers were! I remember that the very first station I started off with was the hardest station and the interviewer could tell I was finding it slightly difficult but she smiled at me and nodded to encourage me which I was really grateful for! This also helped me to move onto the next stations without overthinking how the previous one went. 

All the other interviewers at each station were really friendly and they listened to my ideas. At one station I finished slightly early and I had a conversation with the interviewer which is a good idea, unless you have been specifically instructed at the beginning not to make any conversation.

Did the Liverpool MMI interviewers ask a lot of follow up questions?

The examiners didn’t ask a lot of follow up questions, unless you had answered all the ones on the instructions. There wasn’t much element of surprise within a station and the instructions contained several questions anyway, so there wasn’t much time for following up.

How long is the actual Liverpool interview?

The interview itself lasted for about 1 hour and 30 minutes in total.

What do you advise for the day? (Accommodation, Travelling)

I arrived an hour early and this is something I and other people who had successful interviews would advise. Arriving early might initially seem like a bad idea because it’s thought to make you more nervous but on the contrary, I think it’s a great way to make conversation with other students and realise you are all in the same boat. It also gives you plenty of time to go to the toilet, grab some water and by the time the interview comes, the nerves have died down and you just want to get on with it! 

Also, make sure you plan your trip if you’re not staying in the city overnight. Leave plenty of time for travelling, as you’ll thank yourself on the day for being cautious! 

Bring food and water with you as well, because you will probably be exhausted after the interview.

When did you hear back after your Liverpool interview?

All offers from Liverpool are given out on a set date, usually at the end of March, regardless of when you have your interview, so I heard back on that date.

Have a look at the official application document for Dentistry at Liverpool in 2019, to get some more ideas of what to expect on interview day: Official Page

BUSY DENTAL HOSPITAL: In one of the UK’s leading Dental schools, students will be learning from highly experienced, practising professionals, in state of the art learning labs, as well as a 160 station clinic next to the dental hospital. The dental hospital has 60,000 attendances per year, which means students will observe, interact with and treat a wide diversity of patients.

Top Tips for the Liverpool Dentistry Interview 

1. Do your research and preparation. This is the most important step! I would recommend signing up to an online course so that you know what to expect. I personally found the MedicMind Dentistry interview course really useful. Also, start forming bullet point ideas to potential questions that could come up, so that you’re not put on the spot in the interview.

2. Learn about dental conditions. I did not expect this to come up at the interview because usually, interviews don’t expect prior dental knowledge. Liverpool didn’t expect you to have extensive knowledge, but the more you can talk about it, the better, as it reflects your interest in Dentistry.

3. Stay calm and alert. There are some questions that you just can’t prepare for and the best thing you can do when you’re faced with a difficult station is to stay calm. Usually, you have a better chance of thinking of ideas when you’re not stressed. Take some deep breaths and gather your thoughts before starting an answer if you need to.

4. Smile and be enthusiastic. The best way to make an impression is to be yourself and look like you want to be there. Of course, it is natural to feel nervous but you will get more comfortable as the stations go on and it’ll all be over before you realise! The interviewers at Liverpool seemed to really value how your personality came across, so keep this in mind.

5. Arrive slightly (or very) early. I was at Liverpool 1 hour and 30 minutes before the interview and although this might seem extreme, it helped me calm down and become focused. The beginning sets the precedence for the day to follow so getting there early is a great start!

liverpool dentistry personal statement

Frequently Asked Question

→what is liverpool dentistry.

Liverpool Dentistry is the dental school at the University of Liverpool, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate dental education programs.

→What are the admission requirements for undergraduate dental degree programs at Liverpool Dentistry?

To be eligible for undergraduate dental degree programs at Liverpool Dentistry, applicants must have a minimum of AAA at A-level (or equivalent), including chemistry and biology. Applicants are also required to take the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT), and to provide references and a personal statement.

→What undergraduate dental degree programs are available at Liverpool Dentistry?

Liverpool Dentistry offers a five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program.

→What is the curriculum like for undergraduate dental degree programs at Liverpool Dentistry?

The curriculum for undergraduate dental degree programs at Liverpool Dentistry is designed to be comprehensive and student-centered, with an emphasis on hands-on learning and clinical experience. The program covers all aspects of dental education, including basic science, clinical skills, and patient care.

→What is the interview process like for admission to undergraduate dental degree programs at Liverpool Dentistry?

The interview process for admission to undergraduate dental degree programs at Liverpool Dentistry involves a multiple mini interview (MMI) format, which includes a series of short, timed interviews at different stations. The purpose of the MMI is to assess applicants’ communication skills, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making, among other qualities.

→How can I prepare for the interview process at Liverpool Dentistry?

To prepare for the interview process at Liverpool Dentistry, it is recommended that applicants research the program thoroughly and practice answering common interview questions. It may also be helpful to review ethical scenarios and to prepare examples of relevant experiences or accomplishments.

→Is University of Liverpool good for dentistry?

Yes, the University of Liverpool is highly regarded for its dental education programs, including the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree program. The dental program at the University of Liverpool is recognized for its innovative and comprehensive curriculum, which includes a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on learning and clinical experience. In addition, the program is known for its world-class research and for producing graduates who are well-prepared for successful careers in dentistry. The University of Liverpool is consistently ranked among the top universities in the UK and the world for its dental education programs. Overall, the University of Liverpool is a great choice for students who are interested in pursuing a career in dentistry.

→What kind of career opportunities are available to graduates of Liverpool Dentistry?

Graduates of Liverpool Dentistry are well-prepared for a variety of career opportunities in dentistry, including roles in private practice, hospital dentistry, research, and academic dentistry. Many graduates go on to complete postgraduate training in a specialized area of dentistry, while others pursue careers in public health or healthcare management.

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Guides & Info

Personal Statement for Medical and Dental Schools

Last updated: 6/3/2023

  • Is Medicine Right for Me?
  • What do Doctors do?
  • The Daily Life of a Doctor
  • How to apply to medical school
  • Different Routes into Medicine
  • Factors to Consider
  • Medicine at Oxford and Cambridge
  • Your Fifth UCAS Choice
  • Getting Your Grades
  • Extra-curricular Activities
  • What is the UCAT?
  • Preparing for Your UCAT Test Day
  • After Your UCAT
  • BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
  • Work Experience and Dental Schools
  • NHS Work Experience

Personal Statement

  • Medicine PS Examples
  • Dentistry PS Examples
  • UCAS References
  • Medical and Dental School Interviews
  • Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs)
  • Medical School Interview Questions
  • Dental School Interview Questions
  • Graduate Entry Courses
  • Foundation and Access Courses
  • International students
  • Taking a Gap Year
  • Medicine in Australia and NZ
  • Medicine in Ireland Medicine in Eastern Europe
  • Other Roles in Healthcare
  • What Our "Plan B" Looked Like
The personal statement is changing to a series of free text questions for 2026 entry onwards, however it remains unchanged for 2025 entry. Keep an eye on our live updates page for guidance on these changes.

Your UCAS personal statement is an essay about yourself.

It’s part of your UCAS application and can be seen by all your universities. It is designed to give admissions tutors an idea of the person behind the application. 

Getting into medical school is a long road and your personal statement is written after much of the journey has already taken place. For this reason, it should be full of what you learnt and reflections.

Read on to find out about:

How is my medicine/dentistry personal statement used?

What are admissions tutors looking for, how is my personal statement marked, how long does the personal statement need to be.

  • Personal statement checklist

What shouldn’t I include in my personal statement?

Answering 'why do you want to study medicine or dentistry', when should i start writing my personal statement, how do i structure my personal statement, how do i reflect deeply on my experience in my personal statement, how should i format my personal statement, can i copy an old personal statement i found.

  • Do I have to be honest in my personal statement?

Once I’ve written my personal statement, what should I do?

Writing a personal statement for oxford or cambridge.

  • Personal statements for graduate entry medicine

Medify’s Medicine and Dentistry Personal Statement Course

  • Selection for interview

The personal statement can be used to rank students prior to being selected for interview.

  • Getting to know you

Admissions tutors want to understand your motivations for becoming a doctor and why you think they should select you. They will see applications from hundreds of people, so the personal statement is a way for you to stand out.

  • Information for interviewers

The personal statement is a resource for interviewers, giving them material for questions about your experiences and activities you’ve mentioned. Need help with reflecting on experiences mentioned in your personal statement during interviews? Check out our UK Interviews Online Course which provides in-depth tutorials and authentic example video responses from real students.

The Medical Schools Council's core values for medicine

You don’t have to get every single one of these skills down in your personal statement but you should try to mention as many as possible while still making it sound natural and creating flow.

Medical and dental schools will differ in how they mark their personal statements. However, each school’s markers will use fixed marking criteria to ensure applicants are fairly marked, and these will align closely with the core values of the Medical and Dental Schools Councils. This means the marking criteria can be predicted and will generally break down into three overall areas.

  • Commitment to the area

They will look at your motivation to study medicine/dentistry, your understanding of medicine/dentistry as a career, and your work experience.

  • Aptitude for medicine/dentistry

They will look at your community activities, leadership qualities, evidence of working in a team, and your general interests.

  • Academic ability

They will look at your GCSE results, predicted/actual grades, and academic distinctions.

Here’s an example of the marking criteria previously used by University College London for medicine:

Motivation to study medicine

Understanding of medicine as a career

Community activities

Evidence of leadership

Evidence of ability to work in a team

General interest

The limit for your personal statement is 4,000 characters, or 47 lines, whichever comes first. This limit is firm - your application simply can’t be submitted if your personal statement is too long. You really have to make every word count!

For good and bad examples of UCAS personal statements, check out ‘ Medical school personal statement examples ’ or ' Dental school personal statement examples' .

What does a good personal statement for medicine and dentistry contain?

▢ Motivation to study medicine/dentistry

You need to demonstrate why you really want to study your chosen course. This means showing passion and deep reflection, and is most powerful when tied into your personal experience.

▢ Commitment to study medicine/dentistry

You need to show that you’re committed to medicine or dentistry. 5+ years is a long time and medicine/dentistry is a lifelong career. You can show your commitment by discussing extra reading and work experience.

▢ Key personal attributes 

Get a few important attributes into your personal statement, such as communication, teamwork and empathy.

▢ Any work experience

Write about your work experience, what you did, and more importantly, what you learnt from it.

▢ Any voluntary work

Talking about voluntary work is an effective way of showing your empathetic side. 

▢ Academic achievements

Be proud of what you’ve achieved and talk about it, such as how the courses you studied at A-Level or equivalent grew your interest in medicine or dentistry.

▢ Extra reading

Write about books, articles and anything else that you’ve read that fuelled your passion for medicine/dentistry. 

▢ Extracurricular activities

Sometimes this is easy to overlook when you've got a lot of things to fit into your personal statement, but this is important to mention. 

Healthcare careers can be stressful, and admissions tutors want to see that you have stress-release mechanisms in place to help you cope. 

  • Descriptions of feelings

Compare ‘I love working with others’ with ‘I visited a care home every day for 2 months to get a feel for the difficulties the elderly face’. The latter is concrete and specific, while the former only uses empty phrases.

  • Long, waffling sentences

Long sentences dilute the impact of the message, so keep it short and avoid repetition.

  • Sentences like ‘I want to help people...’

This phrase is overused and naive. If you write it, the admissions department will assume you haven’t fully thought about why you want to become a doctor or a dentist. Show, don’t tell.

  • Family tradition as a motivation for studying medicine or dentistry

This is not good motivation to study medicine or dentistry. The fact that some members of your family are healthcare professionals will not make you a better doctor or dentist. Universities want applicants with intrinsic motivation. This means showing why medicine or dentistry is right for you and how your skills and attributes are best suited to it.

  • Any examples which show immaturity

Don’t write ‘I will be running from one hospital room to another saving lives’. Instead, write about your experience of shadowing a doctor or a dentist and having a realistic understanding of what they do.

  • Apologies for low grades/lack of experience

The personal statement is for you to build yourself up. Use your UCAS reference letter , written by someone in authority, to explain any extenuating circumstances.

  • Controversial topics

For example, abortion or religion. Your reader might have differing views, and you will put them in a difficult position by forcing them to make a decision based on your personal beliefs rather than your ability to become a doctor.

This is overused and a bit clichéd. It doesn't add anything to your personal statement so it’s best not to include it. 

  • Overuse of metaphors and poetic language

Don’t waste characters with expressions like 'My passion for studying dentistry is as boundless as the night sky.' You’re applying to study medicine or dentistry, not English literature, and taking up space with sentences like this suggests that you don’t have enough to say about what's important.

Keep your statement succinct and to the point. It’s perfectly fine to be passionate about medicine or dentistry, but try to show this through your insight and reflection rather than stating it directly.

  • Listing achievement after achievement

'I volunteered in my local care home, organised work experience in the ICU of a large hospital, completed my gold Duke of Edinburgh…' Don’t list your achievements. Schools are looking for quality over quantity, so focus on one of these experiences and explore it in more detail. For example, what did you learn about yourself? What skills did you develop? How has your perception changed as a result of this?

Withholding some of your experiences and placements entirely from your statement (if you have more than enough already) means you’ll have more space to focus on the few you choose to include. This will also give you ammunition in your interview that your assessors might not be expecting.

This question is absolutely central to writing your personal statement. Avoid using clichés and give an honest answer. For instance, many students connect this to some childhood event, so you only want to say this if it’s overwhelmingly true and convincing.

Other ideas might be:

  • Your love for practical science
  • A strong desire to help people
  • Work experience that you enjoyed
  • Wanting an empathetic career
  • An ability to problem solve
  • Opportunities for lifelong learning
  • A balance of practical and theoretical learning

But don’t just say 'I love practical science.' Prove it, then link it to your chosen career, such as:

'I am part of a science club in which we test hypotheses through experimentation. For example, we tested whether there is a correlation between time spent playing video games and eyesight. This experience taught me how to create and test hypotheses in a systematic way.

'I saw how I could apply these skills during my work experience at a local GP surgery. I witnessed the doctor making a diagnosis, interpreting the test results and adapting their response based on the evidence. I get a lot of intellectual satisfaction from this type of process and the fact that it is in aid of helping others enhances this.'

Good things don’t always come to those who wait. 

Preparing a compelling personal statement takes time and planning. With applications for medicine and dentistry due on 16 October, you should start drafting your personal statement in the summer before Year 13, just after your UCAT exam. It may take several drafts to refine your statement, and the earlier you start, the more time you will have to make improvements.

Personal statements can be hard to write. We have all experienced writer’s block, so start by listing all the things you want to mention and work from there.

How to structure your personal statement

Remember, whatever structure you use for your personal statement, make it punchy and memorable.

When reflecting on an experience, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What could I have done better?
  • What did I learn from this?
  • What skills have I developed from this and how?
  • How does this relate to the medical/dental field?
  • How did my decisions affect the people around me?
  • What if I looked at this scenario from another person's perspective, such as that of the patient or the patient’s family?
  • Did anything surprise me?

A good model for reflection is the 'What? So What? Now What?' model:

How to reflect on your experience in your personal statement

There are no formatting options on the UCAS site. All personal statements will be the same font and size. The only way you can make it different to someone else's is through writing better content, so focus on that.

Reading some example personal statements can be helpful when you’re getting started or are facing writer’s block.

However, remember that all personal statements submitted to UCAS go through a plagiarism checker. If any part of your personal statement is found to be plagiarised, this information will be passed on to the universities you’ve applied to and could result in your disqualification.

Do I have to be honest in my personal statement? 

A tiny white lie that no one will ever discover? Don’t do it. It can be tempting, but don’t. 

Your personal statement isn’t only read by admissions tutors, you may also be asked questions about it in your interview.

It doesn't take much for an interviewer to work out that you’re lying. If you’re found to have lied on your personal statement, your application will be rejected.

You wouldn't lie about your grades on your UCAS form or the school that you went to, so don’t lie in your personal statement.

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You should take care in writing and editing your personal statement as there is a lot riding on it. Show it to your teachers for their input and advice. Then rewrite it again and again until you have perfected it.

There is always room for improvement. You should give it to at least two or three people for their input. An English teacher would be helpful for checking your grammar and use of English. 

Your reference writer can be another useful person to proofread your personal statement, as they can fill in the gaps in your application with their reference.

  • Pitch and tone ‍

Make sure your pitch and tone are appropriate - your statement should be personal and specific to make you memorable while avoiding the use of abbreviations or slang.  

Imagine you’re the admissions tutor and use our sample marking criteria above to help you. Are you impressed by what you’re reading? If not, then go back and re-draft.

  • Print a copy ‍

Keep a copy of your statement close by throughout your application process, even after you have finished and submitted it. Your interviewers can base their questions on your personal statement, so you need to be able to recall what you have written quickly and effectively.

Cecilia, from the University of Liverpool, told us:

‘After writing my personal statement, I gave it to several people I trusted to read it - my parents, close friends and career advisor. 

'I received generally positive feedback. However, since they were people who knew me well, they observed my PS was too rigid and wooden, and my enthusiasm for this career path wasn’t shining through. I scrapped my initial PS, only retaining the salient points which I was confident about. 

'Then, I took a step back and reflected on my work experience more deeply and went on to produce a more heartfelt personal statement which embodied my passion leaps and bounds more than my first version. 

'Needless to say I felt more confident speaking about my experiences during my interview, which was based on the new and improved version of my PS.’

The focus of a personal statement in this case should be academics. Oxford University recommends an 80:20 split between academics and extracurricular activities. 

Don’t just list the qualifications you have, and don’t mention any qualifications you’ve mentioned elsewhere in your UCAS application, like your GCSE grades. 

Talk about:

If you’ve read any books related to medicine, talk about them. Discuss what you learnt, what interested you and your further reading on any topics mentioned in the book. 

Oxford also has a recommended reading list . It’s not compulsory, but if you have the time, read a couple of books from there that interest you.

You can also check out Medify’s top books to read before medical school.

  • Work experience

Be sure to take a reflective approach with your work experience. Discuss the personal attributes that you have developed, any specific clinical cases that interest you, as well as any further research you have done.

  • Interest beyond the classroom

Discuss how you’ve completed further reading on topics studied at school. You could reflect on how these relate to medicine.

  • The selection criteria

Oxford has specific selection criteria, which are as follows:

Oxford Selection Criteria

Addressing attributes from this list will make it clear to admissions tutors that you’re suited to study medicine. Take a look at an admissions tutor’s analysis of a personal statement for medicine .

Personal statements for graduate entry medicine 

Graduate entry medicine (GEM) is extremely competitive, even more than direct entry. You have had more time to build life experience and demonstrate your aptitude for medicine, so your personal statement needs to reflect that.

Differences between direct entry and graduate entry medicine personal statements

As well as demonstrating a motivation for medicine, you need to be able to justify why you’re deciding on medicine now. If you’re coming from an unrelated field like finance, then this becomes especially important. You need to convince tutors that your interest in medicine isn’t just a passing phase.

Having already undertaken a degree, you need to show a deeper level of reflection based on a richer repertoire of experience, as well as a firm understanding of medicine/dentistry as a career and how your personal attributes align. 

  • Writing style

The candidates you will be competing with have taken one or more degrees. This means you all have much more experience with formal writing. As a result, it is doubly important that the quality of writing is of a consistently high level with an appropriate style.

  • Previous degree and qualifications  

Reflect on your previous degree(s). Discuss what you learnt from it/them and what skills it/they helped you to develop.

Are you prepared for the 16 October UCAS application deadline? Have you perfected your personal statement yet?

Medify’s Personal Statement Course can help you to complete a ready-to-submit personal statement in just three days. You’ll be guided by admissions experts on how to frame your experiences and demonstrate your suitability for medicine or dentistry. You’ll also get access to over 100 personal statement examples.

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How do I write my personal statement if I’m an international student?

Here's some key information for international students - you should aim to mention everything discussed on this page. Additionally, you should also talk about why you want to study medicine or dentistry in the UK and how you think that will benefit you. You can also reflect on the differences in healthcare systems between your home country and in the UK.

If I’m taking a gap year, do I need to talk about it in my personal statement?

If you’re deferring your entry so that you can take a gap year, you should mention it in your personal statement. Talk about why you’re taking a gap year, what you’re going to do, and what you hope to learn from it. This will show admissions tutors that you’re an organised individual.

If you’ve already taken a gap year and are now applying, you should mention what you did during your gap year and what you learnt from it. The most important part of all that you write is how you reflect on it.

How many personal statements do I write?

You only write one personal statement, and the same one goes to all the universities you apply to, irrespective of the course. Be careful not to mention anything overly specific, like the name of the medical school you like.

I’m applying to another course as well. Should I do anything differently?

It can be hard to write a personal statement for two separate courses. If medicine or dentistry is really what you want to do then you need to give it your best shot. Focus your application entirely on medicine or dentistry. Sometimes if the rest of your application is strong, you’ll still get an offer from your fifth option.

Should I talk about my grades and qualifications?

You don’t need to mention your qualifications in your personal statement, as you’ll have already mentioned it in another part of your UCAS application. You don’t need to waste your characters repeating information your admissions tutors already know about you.

What’s more important? My personal statement or my UCAT/BMAT?

Different universities give different weights to different parts of your application. Some universities may give a greater weighting to your personal statement, but on the whole your UCAT/BMAT score tends to have a greater impact on your chance of success.

Don’t let that stop you from focusing on your personal statement though. In the case where your interview score, UCAT/ BMAT score and your academics are the same as someone else’s, it could be your personal statement that swings the decision in your favour.

I’m still stuck on how to write my personal statement. What should I do?

It’s perfectly normal to feel stuck when writing your personal statement. Summarising your motivation and life experience in 4,000 characters can be challenging.

Remember, we offer a Personal Statement Course with in-depth tutorials, guidance from admissions experts, and over 100 personal statement examples for just ÂŁ20.

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How I Stood Out At My University of Liverpool Interview

Nermine has successfully interviewed at the University of Liverpool   In this blog, they share their best tips to help you secure an offer from your Liverpool interview!

Written by Nermine Sheikh

The University of Liverpool uses MMIs which can be challenging due to their strict timings and variety of questions. This is how I prepared for them:

I Did Some Extra Reading

After researching about Liverpool’s interview process, I found that they use Value Based Recruitment, which meant they looked for future medical students whose values aligned with that of the NHS .

To get some further insight into these values they would look for I read through and made notes on the NHS constitution and GMC guidelines. Through this, I learnt of values and qualities such as compassion and commitment, which I could then reflect on to use in my answers.

I also read up on the medical hot topics , medical news stories such as the Bawa-Garba Case and the four pillars of Medical ethics . Referring back to this, I was able to answer ethical questions as well as relevant hot topics questions confidently using my knowledge to justify my answers.

I Reviewed Personal Experiences

For me, it was really important to be able to discuss my personal experiences such as volunteering and work experience . This is because these experiences and my reflections were what would make my answers stand out from the rest of the applicants.

To review them I used my Personal Statement and highlighted a few key experiences that showcased the qualities of a Doctor. By using these few experiences, I found I was able to focus more on reflecting on what I learnt and adapting my answers as I wasn’t spending time trying to learn different experiences for each quality or value.

From my research, I found more time practising reflections was very useful as the University of Liverpool looks for what you’ve learnt from your experiences, not just the experiences alone.

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I Prepared For Short Timings

Since my interview was an MMI where each station has a set time, I was cautious of time when practising answering questions.

After some research , I found that each MMI station at Liverpool would be 6 minutes long with 1 minute to prepare after being shown the topic for each station.

From this, I was able to time my answers to be around 5-6 minutes so that I could get all my points across within the time given. Having a too short answer could mean I miss out on an opportunity to showcase my skills and qualities. Similarly, having a long answer could mean that I end up being cut off without finishing, and miss out again on relaying important experiences or information.

I Practiced A Lot

For interviews, I found that it was important to practice your answers, as preparing for them on paper can be very different to actually speaking them.

The way I practised was to create bullet points of key topics or points I wanted to talk about within my answer. I would then give these bullet points to a family member or a friend and get them to ask me the questions, while I would form answers including those main topics. I was then able to get used to speaking in front of others as well as, giving answers on the spot that was more natural as they would be based on the points and not completely written out.

I Kept My Composure

During my interviews, I remember feeling quite stressed and nervous, which is completely normal!

What I tried to do was to not let the nerves overwhelm me as I answered the questions. There is always time after the interview to reflect on how you did but doing it during the stations can add to the stress of an already stressful environment.

I focused on making an effort to keep positive for each new station, and to not think about the previous station if I felt it hadn’t gone well. MMIs can be nerve-racking and you can treat each station as a fresh start because unlike a panel interview, for each station you will get a new interviewer with a new set of questions. This really helped me keep calm throughout my MMI and allowed me to continue answering questions to the best of my ability.

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  • Jun 21, 2020

Dentistry Example Personal Statement 1 - Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, QMUL

This personal statement was used by a current dental student to apply to dental school at: the University of Birmingham, the University of Bristol, University of Liverpool, and Queen Mary University of London. The applicant received interviews and then offers from all 4 dental schools!

liverpool dentistry personal statement

Remember, this personal statement is not 'perfect' - none ever will be! Each medical school is looking for something different. Be careful not to plagiarise personal statements you read online - UCAS will detect this.

There are blank lines in this statement for readability. We do not recommend leaving lines blank when you submit your personal statement on UCAS.

I have always wanted to work in a clinical and caring profession; I believe that the ability to help and heal patients is one of the greatest honours anyone can have. To discover the range and scope of dentistry, I embarked on several work experience placements during which I shadowed a variety of different dentists including practice owners, associates in an NHS high street practice and an oral surgeon in a Maxillofacial department. These experiences gave me the opportunity to watch dentists carry out procedures from simple scale and polishes, to amalgam fillings and impacted wisdom teeth extractions. In the hospital, I was given the opportunity to practise suturing skills, using a glove stretched over a plastic cup to mimic the gum, with a suture needle and thread. Performing this task in a clinical environment was an unparalleled experience and allowed me to appreciate the technical skills and dexterity required in dentistry. Through my work experience, I recognised the importance of good communication between practitioner and patient. In every practice I visited, I was impressed by the skilful way each clinician explained the treatment plan, outlining different options and enabling their patient to make an informed choice about their care. The dentists I met taught me that their vocation requires a diverse set of skills including meticulous dexterity, management and teamwork. This summer I took part in an international science research course during which I learned instrumental research and laboratory skills.

In my opinion, the art of good communication is a lifelong endeavour. Studying Theatre Studies to A level has taught me to analyse the way I interact and to consider holistically the way others communicate with me, particularly in terms of analysing both their vocal and non-verbal communication. Through the LAMDA award scheme I have learnt the invaluable skill of conversing and interacting with people of all ages, from all walks of life, which is an ability that will help me become a sensitive and empathic clinician.

Having been involved with youth leadership for 3 years, I have recently been chosen as the deputy leader of our local branch of a religious international youth movement, which is a recognition of my contribution over the last few years. This role has taught me skills and techniques that will be invaluable in the consulting room. Through this position, I have learned methods of managing and communicating with children who have challenging behaviour. My responsibilities have included team-building, motivating others, problem solving and working with parents of the children. I have also acquired the skill of dealing with sensitive situations, where discretion and confidentiality have been paramount. Earlier this year I was absolutely delighted to complete the highest level of the National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme programme. Climbing is a fascinating sport which encompasses physical strength, manual dexterity, planning and teamwork. When a climber faces a wall they need to show determination, flexibility and effective communication. My manual dexterity has been refined over the years as I have repeatedly practised the many intricate knots with which climbers must be familiar.

I am applying for a deferred place to study Dentistry as I plan to use my year off to study and work abroad. The year is comprised of several elements, starting with living in a deprived community. Here I will volunteer with families, help in soup kitchens, as well as teach English and work with the elderly. I will then undertake an internship relevant to my future dentistry career. The final component will be volunteering with the local Red Cross and becoming a certified first responder. I am excited not just at the thought of the year ahead, but of the skills I will learn that I can bring to my future profession. I am full of both eagerness and determination to meet the challenges that I know dentistry will present.

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Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – KCL (Saif)

Home Âť Application Guide Âť Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – KCL (Saif)

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Welcome to our collection of Dentistry Personal Statement Examples! We’ve searched far and wide to find personal statements from successful applicants all around the UK and asked them to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of their work for your own inspiration. Today’s subject is from Saif, who studies Dentistry at King’s College London.

Saif applied to study Dentistry back in 2021 at four amazing UK Dental Schools, including KCL, University of Bristol and University of Glasgow. He received offers from 3 out of his four choices of which he chose to study at KCL.

Let’s read the personal statement that got him a place at KCL, or skip straight to his feedback to learn what made his personal statement a success!

Please be aware that these examples are meant purely for the sake of inspiration, and should absolutely NOT be used as a model around which to base your own personal statement. UCAS have a rather strict system that detects plagiarism .

KCL Dentistry Personal Statement Example

Whole personal statement.

A smile is more than just a smile, it is a reflection of happiness, confidence and self-esteem. Dentistry is the engineering of a smile, focusing on patients’ health, comfort and wellbeing. The interaction with patients and colleagues is not only integral to the care provided, but also a very attractive aspect of this career. With constant advances in research, dentistry has been and always will be an evolving profession. This opportunity for lifelong learning excites me and has fuelled my desire to pursue this pathway.

I had the opportunity to join the dentists at my local practice where I observed check-ups; the fitting and moulding of dentures; and tooth extractions. The interaction between dentists of different specialist interests; along with the dental nurses, hygienists and supporting staff maintained the best care possible in a multidisciplinary team. It was amazing to see the wonderful impact that they had on so many patients. For example – helping a lady with periodontitis. Her gums had begun to recede causing many teeth to fall out and others to wobble. Everyday tasks we take for granted (such as talking and eating) led to constant pain and difficulty. I will never forget the look on her face once she was fitted with her personalised dentures. This inspired me to learn more about the working life of a dentist.

I came across Dr Manouchehri’s ‘Teeth and Tales” podcast which was informative and enjoyable. It was interesting to learn about the importance of dental health as an indicator for many diseases. For instance, mouth ulcers can indicate signs of some bowel diseases, and examination of the mouth can diagnosen early stages of oral cancer. This captivated me : dentistry does not only improve the quality of people’s lives; it has the potential to save it. The podcast includes a brief yet stimulating discussion about a dentist’s ‘typical work week’ – which is in fact not typical at all.

Each patient has their own needs, resulting in an immense variation of work that has intrigued me – sparking my interest in orthodontics. This focuses on unique tooth alignment in order to provide patient focused treatment, providing new, exciting challenges to overcome. A smile can be built that improves the appearance and functionality of someone’s mouth – building their confidence and protecting their teeth by correcting their bite.

Communication is the basis of the dentist-patient relationship that is built on trust and respect. I am an effective communicator – evident in my roles as Senior Prefect and Classroom Assistant. As part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award, I volunteered at my local Barnardo’s where I worked as part of a team which helped me improve my communication skills. It was a great pleasure to do something good for my community, supporting the less fortunate by gathering and sorting through donations to those in need.

Dentistry is a demanding and stressful career, so finding ways to relax is important. Music is my tool for relaxation. I am a keen piano player and have passed my grade 6 exam with distinction. Hard work and disciplined practice have greatly improved my manual dexterity and attention to detail – skills that are integral to dentistry. My commitment has allowed me to begin tutoring, where I tailor my teaching style according to a student’s age and skill level. I am able to communicate complex information in an understandable way; build relationships with otherwise shy children; and put them at ease when dealing with frustrations. By effectively managing my time, I balance my schoolwork and benefit from being part of the school choir as well as an U18’s football team within the top division of my region. Football involves communication with teammates, mirroring the teamwork required in the life of a dentist.

I recognise that dentistry is a demanding career, but it is also extremely rewarding. It would give me the opportunity to connect with and positively impact so many people. Nothing would fulfil me more.

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KCL Dentistry Personal Statement Example Analysis

Now, let’s go section by section and see what Saif has to say about what he wrote:  

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

I feel that in the introduction of my personal statement I have been able to clearly demonstrate my passion for Dentistry. From my explanation, the intent behind my desire to study Dentistry really shines through. 

I do feel that my introduction does come across as quite impersonal and I haven’t related it to myself until the final sentence. I could have expanded further on the research aspect of Dentistry as this is an area I am interested in and it would have been better to covey this to the admissions tutor to demonstrate my understanding of it. 

Paragraph 1

I have not only discussed my work experience but also reflected on it, showing what I learnt and how it made me feel. This shows my passion and experience – and also that I understand the value of doing work experience. 

I probably could have been more concise, which could have meant I would have had more characters available to me later on in my personal statement which I feel I ended up rushing through. As well, I would have liked to have spent more time discussing the life-saving aspect of Dentistry in more depth by talking about what a Max Fax surgeon is.

Paragraph 2

I have shown that I have been doing wider reading – even though it has not been in the traditional sense of the term but rather with a podcast. I have made sure to talk about what I have learnt from it, using mouth ulcers are a symptom for some bowel diseases as an example as I just found it so fascinating. 

Again, I probably could have been more concise here. What the podcast talks about is not what is important but rather what I have grasped and learnt from it. I have probably embellished my language a bit too much, e.g., “…podcast which was informative and enjoyable,” when I could have cut out the latter part of the sentence and gone straight into why it was interesting. 

Paragraph 3

Here I made the point of discussing a specialist branch of Dentistry, that being orthodontics. I have talked about what interests me in orthodontics. This also displays the knowledge I have gained through wider reading and understanding of the profession as a whole.

I should have gone into my depth about what sparked my interest in orthodontics. It would have been helpful to relate it back to what I saw during my work experience. 

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Paragraph 4

I have used my personal experiences to relate to how I have developed and enhanced my communication skills – a skill which is vital to a career in Dentistry. Though I have only mentioned it from the sense of a dentist-patient relationship, it is also a necessary skill when working with other members of a dental team. 

As briefly mentioned above it would have been better to relate my communication ability to a clinical setting and draw on what I saw and learnt during my work experience. As well, I mentioned being a Senior Prefect and Classroom Assistant but have not gone into detail of anything I actually done within these roles. 

Paragraph 5

Here I have discussed the extracurricular activities that I undertook to show off more of my personality and interests outside of school and Dentistry. The idea behind this was to show the universities I was applying to what sort of person the would-be considering aside from my academics and to showcase myself as a well rounded individual. 

I have mentioned elsewhere I could have been more concise at the start of my personal statement as I feel this section is really rushed as I ran out of characters which would have allowed me to go into more depth. Maybe if I had structured my personal statement differently, it would have allowed me to discuss my extracurriculars in more detail 

My conclusion is clear, concise and straight to the point. I have acknowledged that a Dentistry degree and career will be challenging but I feel I am well suited to face this adversity and rise above it. 

There is being concise, and then there is potentially being too short which I feel this is. Again, I used up valuable characters earlier on in my personal statement which would have been better used for my conclusion. As well, I could have related it back to what I said in my introduction to make it feel more cohesive. 

Final Thoughts

I am pleased with my reflection of my work experience, I have not just listed what I done but mentioned the value I have gained from it by relating it to patients that I came across. Additionally, the section about my wider reading and my interest in the subject through Dr Manouchehri’s podcast, I feel, conveys my passion for Dentistry and my fascination with it. 

The end is what really lets it down, I feel, I ran out of characters, and it shows. I easily could have shortened my introduction and gained characters back there. Reading it back through, it does come across as slightly rushed and that I had just crammed it all in. There are definitely some sections that could have been broken down into smaller paragraphs just for ease of reading. 

So there you have it! This personal statement helped Saif get 3/4 offers in his application.

Everyone has different experiences and abilities, so you may not be able to relate to everything that was said in this personal statement. However, the information and advice provided by Saif is universal and will help any applicant write a better personal statement!  

Be sure to check out more Medicine Personal Statement Analyses to see advice from all different kinds of applicants, including Ali Abdaal himself! Or if you want to get started on your own statement, check out 6med’s Personal Statement Bundle for all the support and resources you’ll ever need! If you want full support on every part of your application and a guaranteed place at med school, the Complete Bundle will be perfect for you.  

More Medicine Personal Statement Examples & Inspiration

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Medicine Personal Statement Inspiration – Millie (Cambridge)

Medicine Personal Statement Inspiration – Duranka (Oxford)

Medicine Personal Statement Inspiration – James (UCL)

Graduate Entry Medicine Personal Statement – Samah (Cambridge)

Medicine Personal Statement Inspiration – Ali Abdaal (Cambridge)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Cambridge (Elizabeth)

Medical Biosciences Personal Statement Example – Imperial College London

Graduate Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Warwick (Laura)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Plymouth (Abdullah)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – King’s College London (Azzra)

Graduate Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Brighton and Sussex

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Cardiff University (Faris)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Cambridge (Lucy)

Graduate Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Sunderland (Ikrah)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Cambridge (Annie)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Oxford (Alexander)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Bristol (Faraz)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Cardiff University (Jemma)

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – King’s College London (Thomas)

Graduate Medicine Personal Statement Example – Barts Medical School

Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Nottingham (Aymen)

Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – Barts (Malikha)

Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – Cardiff (Eera)

Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – KCL (Emmy)

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IMAGES

  1. How To Make Personal Statement Dentistry (With Templates)

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  2. Dentistry Personal Statement Free Essay Example

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  3. Dentistry degree personal statement sample

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  4. a letter to someone about dental hygiene

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  5. How To Make Personal Statement Dentistry (With Templates)

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  6. Learn How to Write a Good Dental Personal Statement and Get Accepted to

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VIDEO

  1. FAIRPLAY TO LIVERPOOL!! 👏👏

  2. A new smile makeover in Liverpool

  3. Write an Incredible Personal Statement: 3 Steps with Examples

  4. Don’t Do this Mistake while Writing Your Personal Statement for dental school| Caapid 2024

  5. Motivational Interviewing: 4 Simple Techniques for Hygienists

  6. The Personal Statement That Got Me Into Dental School!

COMMENTS

  1. Ultimate Guide to Liverpool Dentistry Interview (2023)

    For 2022 entry, the lowest UCAT score to get an interview at Liverpool was 2160. Meanwhile, the average score of those invited to the interview was 2611. The UCAT cut-off for dentistry at Liverpool varies from year to year and is dependent on the number of applications, as well as the average scores of the cohort.

  2. PDF A200 Bachelor of Dental Surgery 2022 Entry

    Personal Statement/Work Experience The Personal Statement is assessed to ensure that the applicant has knowledge of and insight into the profession with emphasis on work experience/observation. Evidence of a caring attitude and awareness of the values embedded within the NHS constitution is also sought.

  3. Liverpool Dentistry Interview Questions

    Personal statement. Knowledge. 💯 Liverpool MMI Interview Questions Scoring in 2024 & 2025 Entry. Liverpool receives around 700 applicants per year, of whom 330 are interviewed. ... Know your personal statement - reread any books or papers mentioned in your dental personal statement and try to follow up on any research that has been done on ...

  4. Dentistry Personal Statement Advice

    The good news is the schools themselves are pretty open about what they're looking for from a dentistry personal statement. For more advice about studying dentistry, ... Sheffield expects it to be in a general dental practice. Liverpool says it should preferably be in a dental practice or hospital 'and preferably in more than one establishment'.

  5. Dentistry Personal Statements: Examples & Analysis

    The personal statement is changing to a series of free text questions for 2026 entry onwards, however it remains unchanged for 2025 entry. Keep an eye on our live updates page for guidance on these changes.. Writing a dentistry personal statement that you're proud of is hard. Many students struggle to boil down their skills and experiences to just 4,000 characters and it is tricky to know ...

  6. Liverpool Dentistry Interview Questions

    Liverpool Dentistry Interview Questions. Note: This interview Q&A is based on pre-Covid in-person interviews (from 2019 and before).All university interviews changed in 2020-2021 to an online format due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This article was updated in December 2023 with the latest information, and we will continue to regularly update it!

  7. Dental School Personal Statement: The Ultimate Guide (Examples Included

    Part 2: How to write a dental school personal statement. According to the ADEA, "Your personal statement is a one-page essay (not to exceed 4,500 characters, including spaces, carriages, numbers, letters, etc.) that gives dental schools a clear picture of who you are and, most importantly, why you want to pursue a career in dentistry.". That doesn't quite convey the real goal of your ...

  8. Top Tips for Personal Statements

    The Basics. It is limited to 4,000 characters. You only write one personal statement, so ensure you address the requirements for all the courses you apply for. Discuss your understanding of the subject/career. Use appropriate examples and give details. Here are our top tips to help you make your application as strong as possible:

  9. Statement Reviewer

    Send in the final version of your statement using our review tool (below). You'll get an email confirming we've received it. Within 72 hours, you'll receive a document analysing the statement with 5 'interview style' questions related to your statement and an overall score. You then have an opportunity to read your reviewers feedback ...

  10. Liverpool Dentistry 2024 Entry

    Welcome to the Liverpool Dentistry 2024 Entry discussion thread. ... what would u guys like to see in a personal statement specific to dentistry (specifically work experience and enthusiasm to the course) 0 Report. Reply. Reply 3. 10 months ago. kaiaprime87. 3. what is required to get an interview? what does the uni prioritise--ps, ucat score ...

  11. Medicine & Dentistry Personal Statements

    Medify's Personal Statement Course can help you to complete a ready-to-submit personal statement in just three days. You'll be guided by admissions experts on how to frame your experiences and demonstrate your suitability for medicine or dentistry. You'll also get access to over 100 personal statement examples.

  12. DOCX The University of Liverpool

    The Personal Statement is assessed to ensure that the applicant has knowledge of and insight into the profession with emphasis on work experience/observation and evidence of a caring nature. ... [email protected]. The case will be considered by the Dental School's Extenuating Circumstances Committee. As cases are reviewed on a ...

  13. How I Stood Out At My University of Liverpool Interview

    After some research, I found that each MMI station at Liverpool would be 6 minutes long with 1 minute to prepare after being shown the topic for each station. From this, I was able to time my answers to be around 5-6 minutes so that I could get all my points across within the time given. Having a too short answer could mean I miss out on an ...

  14. Graduate Entry Dentistry

    Graduate Entry Personal Statements. As a graduate, your personal statement should cover the same points that are relevant to an undergraduate personal statement. There should also be an additional discussion of how you have used the time from completing A-levels to gain the skills necessary to develop into a young dentist and how your desire to ...

  15. Dentistry Example Personal Statement 1

    This personal statement was used by a current dental student to apply to dental school at: the University of Birmingham, the University of Bristol, University of Liverpool, and Queen Mary University of London. The applicant received interviews and then offers from all 4 dental schools! Remember, this personal statement is not 'perfect' - none ever will be! Each medical school is looking for ...

  16. How do I write a good personal statement?

    An important part of the application process for our online master's programmes is to write a short personal statement about your interest and experience in the subject you are applying for, your reasons for choosing the programme, and how you feel your studies will help you in the future. Many applicants find writing a personal statement ...

  17. Dental Surgery BDS

    Year abroad fee. ÂŁ22,275. Fees are correct for the academic year 2024/25. Please note that the Year Abroad fee also applies to the Year in China. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.

  18. The University of Liverpool Personal Statements

    All personal statements. These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to The University of Liverpool. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place. You can also view our entire collection of personal statements or view personal statements ...

  19. Dentistry Personal Statement Examples

    We've searched far and wide to find personal statements from successful applicants all around the UK and asked them to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of their work for your own inspiration. Today's subject is from Emmy, who studies Dentistry at King's College London. Emmy applied to study Dentistry back in 2021 at four amazing UK ...

  20. Dentistry Personal Statement Examples

    Welcome to our collection of Dentistry Personal Statement Examples! We've searched far and wide to find personal statements from successful applicants all around the UK and asked them to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of their work for your own inspiration. Today's subject is from Saif, who studies Dentistry at King's College London.

  21. School of Dentistry

    The home of advanced dentistry. We're one of the largest dental schools in the UK, training the next generation of dentists and dental therapists, as well as qualified dental professionals undertaking additional specialist training. About Us. Tel: +44 (0)151 794 2000 Email: [email protected].

  22. Liverpool University- Dentistry

    had mine last wednesday basically 2 ppl on panel plus a student observing usual qus: why liverpool, why dentistry justread thru your personal statement and prospectus, smile, maintain eyecontact and youll sail through. they are reallly really nice. 0 Report. Reply. Reply 2. 13 years ago. ochoa1.

  23. Dentistry MMI Interview

    I currently have 2 interviews for dentistry (at Liverpool and Plymouth) and I was wondering if Dental MMI interviews are similar to Medical MMI interviews as most of the information I could find online was regrading medical MMIs. Furthermore, I was wondering if some stations are normal interview questions. For example, the interviewer asks you questions on your personal statement or dental ...