I live in the UK and am still in high school, i want to study biochemistry or something similar at Cambridge before doing dentistry at another university, what are some good extracurriculars to do? and what should i do in university to prepare myself for applying to dentistry as i want to get into a top university for that as well.
Pretty sure i will get 10 9s at gcse and hopefully 3/4 A* at a level but not sure if that’s enough to get into a top university? (nowhere near as competitive as ivy leagues but still it’s obviously difficult to get accepted)
From what I can tell, dentistry is a 5-year degree that you can enter upon completing your A-levels, so you don't need to take a biochemistry degree first. You may be able to do a 4-year degree course for dentistry if you already have at least an upper second class degree in a relevant subject (biology, chemistry, or biomedicine), but that seems to be less common, and it means you'll have done 7 years of school for a degree you could have finished in 5.
When you apply for a dentistry course, you may be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) or BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT). They test the skills you'll need on the course, like critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis, communication and scientific knowledge.
The best dentistry programs in the UK are University of Glasgow, University of Plymouth, Queen's University Belfast, University of Dundee, and University of Liverpool. A list of other qualified schools can be found here.
For those programs, you will need at least 6 GCSE subjects at Grade A/7. This typically includes some combination of Maths, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and English Language/Literature.
You will also need A*AA – AAA grades on your A-levels. Two of those subjects should be be Biology and Chemistry. The third A-level can be in something that isn't science based.
If you do want to do a degree in Biochemistry at Cambridge, you'll apply to the Natural Sciences program.
For this program, you will need A*A*A*- A*A*A grades on your A-levels. The combination of subjects you take can vary, but should generally include some combination of Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Biology. You will also need to take the Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment (NSAA) at an authorised assessment centre. Cambridge does not have any GCSE requirements.
Unlike in the US, universities in the UK generally don't care about extracurriculars. Your A-level results are far and away the most important thing when it comes to whether or not you'll be admitted. Your personal statement is the only place where you'll have the opportunity to show the university the passion you have for the subject area you're applying to and to show that you have the skills and experiences that will enable you to succeed at university. That said, extracurriculars that are related to the field of study you want to go into may give you a bit of an edge. For example, you might work in a dentist's office or shadow a dentist/dental student if you're applying for dentistry. For biochemistry, you could look for volunteer positions in a biochem lab at a university, get involved with a course at university, or participate in biology olympiads. But your grades will be much more important, so they're the thing to focus on if you have to choose.
