Preparing students for the top professions
03/02/2010
A Level students Sarah Longworth and Iram Akram – pursing their medical career aspirations at Nelson and Colne College
Many young people dream of pursuing a career in medicine, teaching, law or journalism…but due to the stringent entry criteria, only the very best will be accepted onto these prestigious courses. Helping the young people from Pendle and the surrounding areas to achieve their ambitions, Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form is able to offer specialist Pre-Professional programmes – designed to give its students a head start into these distinguished careers.
Currently, the College offers a highly successful Pre-Medical programme, which has seen a number of students progress to the best veterinary, dentistry and medical schools each year; such as former A Level student Cathleen Rowan, who took up a place to study Medicine at Cardiff this year. This Pre-Medical programme is offered in addition to the students’ Sixth Form course of study and is aimed at helping talented young people to make informed choices about their future, whilst encouraging breadth and depth of study and research in their chosen career path
In the past months, students hoping to gain places on medical courses have been visited by the Medical Admissions Officer for Manchester University Medical School , visited Pendleside Hospice, attended a lecture in Preston Hospital and had the opportunity to attend a Veterinary Science course and Medical conference. In addition to this extensive programme, during the coming months the students will be visited by a Radiographer, a GP, a Genetics Counsellor and a final year medical student and will also attend a number of university open days, a pathology lecture and a two day training course to prepare for the UK Clinical Aptitude Test, which all medical and dental applicants have to complete. Students will also be given assistance with regards to applying for the correct schools and prepared for interview by highly experienced staff, dedicated and committed to seeing their students progress to Medical, Veterinary and Dentistry courses.
From September 2010, students at Nelson and Colne College will also be able to take part in Pre-Professional programmes which will help them to prepare their application for university courses including Journalism, Teaching and Law.
Section Leader for Science at Nelson and Colne College , Brenda Rowan said, “When students make applications to these increasingly competitive courses, the deadline is in October of their second year. Therefore, we aim to support them, particularly throughout their first year with us, by helping them with work experience, inviting guest speakers, researching specialist schools, providing one-to-one mentoring, discussing topical issues and improving interview skills. Students should then be in the best possible position to make a successful application.”
