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Advice for the Foundation programme application
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  • The Application Process
    • The application process
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  • Educational achievements
    • Educational achievements
    • Getting a publication as a medical student
    • Presenting as a medical student
    • Winning a national prize as a medical student
  • The Situational Judgement Test
    • The Situational Judgement Test
    • Breaking down how the SJT works
    • Ranking question answer
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  • Home
  • The Application Process
    • The application process
    • Timeline to success
  • Educational achievements
    • Educational achievements
    • Getting a publication as a medical student
    • Presenting as a medical student
    • Winning a national prize as a medical student
  • The Situational Judgement Test
    • The Situational Judgement Test
    • Breaking down how the SJT works
    • Ranking question answer
    • Multiple choice answer
    • Register for SJT questions
  • Contact us
  • About Us

Winning prizes as a medical student

This is probably the hardest of all the educational achievements to score points for. The prize has to be a national one, not one organised by other students, and you have to come 1st.

Throughout your medical career, having national prizes will distinguish you from your peers, making the effort worthwhile. We surveyed a group of doctors who had all scored above 90 on their FPAS in recent years, and collated a range of prizes that scored. 

There are several ways to win a national prize as an undergraduate. The commonest is an essay prize, offered by most of the colleges (i.e. physcians, surgeons, anaesthetsts etc.) and by many charities. It is worth looking through the list of essay prizes available and writing an essay in a subject that interests you. You will, at the very least, learn a lot about the subject and you never know, may just end up winning. A little known fact is that for some prizes surprisingly few applications are received. 

Conferences often give a prize for best poster or oral presentation by a medical student. If you are presenting at a conference, why not go that extra mile and aim for the prize? It will help you throughout your career, not just in the foundation application. Again, as there are often only a few entries by medical students, and the reduced competition ratio can't hurt, can it?

There is a list of essay prizes that can be found on the RSM website and on the Student BMJ essay prize board.

Other prizes:

The Professor Harold Ellis Medical Student Prize For Surgery

National Dystonia society prize 

Royal College of Psychiatry essay prize

Intensive care foundation essay prize
 
Obstetric and Gynaecology history prize

Many more can be found by scrolling through the pages of google. Remember to pick a subject that interests you. Find a mentor who can recommend a slant that you can take on the subject, and support you through the essay writing process.

Remember, don't despair if you haven’t got anything for this section. The marks on offer are easily made up in the Situational Judgement Test.

SJT Question Bank
Advice: www.foundationprogrammeguru.co.uk
SJT Question Bank: www.foundationprogramme.net