Nelson and Colne College is preparing students for top professions
Many young people dream of a career in medicine, teaching, law or journalism, but due to stringent entry criteria, only the very best will be accepted. Nelson and Colne College is helping young people from Pendle and the surrounding areas achieve their ambitions by offering specialist pre-professional programmes, designed to give students a head start into these careers.
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. The 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 recent months, students hoping to gain places on medical courses have been visited by the medical admissions officer for Manchester University Medical School. They have also visited Pendleside Hospice, attended a lecture in Preston Hospital and had the opportunity to attend a veterinary science course and medical conference. In coming months students will be visited by a radiographer, a GP, a genetics counsellor and a final-year medical student and will attend 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.
Along with the extensive programme of events the students are given assistance with applying for the correct schools and are prepared for interview by highly experienced staff dedicated to seeing them progress to medical, veterinary and dentistry courses.
From September , students at Nelson and Colne College will also be able to take part in pre-professional programmes which will help them prepare applications 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. 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.”
A-level students Sarah Longworth and Iram Akram – pursing their medical career aspirations at Nelson and Colne College.
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