Do they even read the personal statements ?

[mamatomany]

Am gutted I've already been rejected from what would be my 2nd choice already and am convinced it must be on my GCSE results taken 15 years ago :(

[LondonMother]

Sorry to hear that. Aren't they obliged to give you some idea of why they said no? Might be worth following up with an email to admissions tutor if you can find the email address and asking if mature students are considered separately - could be that an admin person is doing first sift and didn't spot that you are a mature entrant. I'm very much hoping that the process is a bit more sophisticated than that as otherwise my daughter doesn't stand a chance of getting any offers! (A level grades lower than all her chosen courses give as their typical offers, but there are mitigating circumstances.)

Good luck with the other applications!

[alltheyearsnoidea]

Much depends on what course you've applied for, and how the admissions team sort applicants...for example, some have a'minimum' for GCSE and will crop all who fall below that. Competition has become so great for many degree courses that the unis seem to have carte blacnhe on what they require - esp for over-subscribed course ie medicine, law, english, history etc.

That not with-standing, there may be separate streaming for mature applicants; there's nothing to be lost by asking.

[mamatomany]

I will call up and ask because I do meet the criteria for GCSE but probably don't set their pants on fire with my Arts degree and science access course :(

[senua]

There is no guarantee of a place: 200,000 applicants were not accepted on courses last year and it is expected to be higher this year, with this being the last year of the current fee structure. DD has friends who were straight-A students who didn't get offers.

Just googled it:
"The figures, from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), revealed that 209,253 people, one in three who applied, did not get a place at university. In total 688,310 people applied and 479,057 (69.6%) were accepted. In the previous year 633,592 people applied and 477,277 (75.3%) were accepted."

[mamatomany]

Well yes obviously

[madwomanintheattic]

what are you trying to get onto?

as a mature student i've always called the department, visited, had informal interviews and discussed admission strategies etc.

maybe you've been culled early because they don't realise you're a mature student?

[littleducks]

I didnt get in last year and was devastated. I had only applied to one uni and had my heart set on it.

Then a few months later i looked on 'ucas extra' and found a different uni offering the same course. This time i approached it differently, phoned the admissions tutor who saiod to email my personal statement to him. i then had an interview and an unconditional place.

i had to put it through ucas at 'clearing' and whereas my uni had no places available and had to list the course purely for my application the original uni had loads of spaces

So i strongly recommend calling them

[mamatomany]

I think I put something on my personally statement about being a mother of 4 and 20 years practical experience but you are right if they haven't realised from the dates i'm a mature mature.
I might call up my first choice Uni to make sure the same thing doesn't happen there.

[mole1]

I got an alumni brochure from Bristol Uni recently explaining all about the admissions process. Apparently the vast majority of the applicants all have at least 3 As at A level. Therefore, the personal statement is absolutely crucial to the decision making process.

[madwomanintheattic]

have you not spoken to the uni and visited? talked to the department?

it's unusual for mature students to apply straight through the system with no direct contact tbh.

presumably you aren't expecting to get in on your grades (too long ago to be anything other than a soft marker of ability) and you are expecting your personal statement to be the real entry criteria? for mature students, grades from forever ago aren't usually relevant to current intentions.

[mamatomany]

No i haven't visited the 2nd choice Uni because it's 200 miles away and i simply don't have the funds or the time to do so.
And it's in my home town where my parents still live, hence that's why it would have been a good runner up to the one in my current location.
First choice Uni admissions tutor was interrogated about the proceedure, introduced to baby DS on the open day and practically hugged

[madwomanintheattic]

aw - might be worth giving them a call and asking. with mature students they normally just tell you what paperwork you need to complete if they are happy though - bit odd that they've asked you to apply formally and wait to find out if you've got a place/ offer...

if you just went and asked questions on the open day, did you sit down more formally for interview etc? they are usually ok about out of synch stuff...

[mamatomany]

The course i've applied for the applications had to be in by 15th October which gives you a clue as to which it is
They don't hand out conditional offers to anybody at all from what I've read and heard.

[madwomanintheattic]

oh, ok. i'd definitely give them a ring... how frustrating. it's so huge when you are potentially talking about moving an entire family, rather than packing a box and getting on a train!

[vinvinoveritas]

Depends where you have applied mama2many. Also if you have applied for grad entry or standard route, the applications to places ratio is very very depressing for applicants chances of acceptance are very slim. Even as a mature student GCSE results are still looked at.
Also are you sure you sat the requisite tests, because you didn't mention it (UKCAT, for example, GAMSAT and so on) and if so how was your score?

[vinvinoveritas]

And lastly what's your degree classification and do you know if the places you are applying to:
a. grad entry: accept arts degrees? what classification
b. standard entry: accept graduate applicants? Certain unis won't accept applications from graduates for the 5yr course
you have to really target your strengths and do your homework to the individual universities whose boxes you tick, they all have peculiar different requirements

[vinvinoveritas]

PS I applied too but only to one university this year (young baby and other commitments) am expecting a rejection and aim to reapply next year with a post grad qualification and possibly some OU courses in addition to a higher score on entrance tests

[vinvinoveritas]

Am happy to help, OP, if you want to message me with any details you may not want here- good luck for 1st choice

[mamatomany]

vinvinoveritas - thank you.

The admissions tutor I spoke to contradicted everything in the prospectus which was frustrating.
There's a 6 year foundation course which would suit me best but it is aimed at people with only GCSE's grade B and above. She recommended that ??????
Now those I don't have but I do have a 2.1 degree, BBC A Levels and am taking an access science course to try and convince them to take me.
I also want a problem based learning course which is limiting my options too

[vinvinoveritas]

6 year foundation courses don't usually accept people with degrees.
Capitalise on your degree, a 2.1 is very good.
Let's say you're aiming now for 2012 entry, if this year's application doesn't go well (which it may do!)
I don't know your geographical preferences but I'd recommend you sit the UKCAT in summer 2011 (did you sit it this year?) and if your science knowledge is good sit the GAMSAT exam.
Then apply for 4 year courses, as an example (my area)
St Georges (you can only apply to 4 year grad entry but they have a lot of places and you sound very suitable)
Kings (take your application for the 4 year and consider you for the 5 year as well)
and 2 others..

If you'd like to say where in the country you'd prefer I can tell you where you'd be a good applicant for. Some universities should be avoided unless you have a string of A*s because they still place so much emphasis on GCSEs (eg Birmingham, Oxford)

Also have you started the access course already? Are you happy dong it? Is it convenient for you? There are only a couple of 'recognised' ie approved access courses for medicine unfortunately. Also some universties will accept open university courses in lieu of access or A levels but each university reuires dfferent OU courses ! Hopefully the access though (f you want to stick with it) will show commitment and enhance your science knowledge for tests

[vinvinoveritas]

Sorry you probably know all of that already!
St Georges is mainly PBL
You can apply as an affilated student to some universities and cut a year off a 6 year course by not intercalating. You still need a strong science profile to get in (UCL, Cambridge) and not PBL either

I really think a 2.1 is very good and you say you have a lot of experience so I take it you have worked in a clincal setting or similar, you do sound like a very strong applicant as long as you target the right places
and make sure you've sat the UKCAT, GAMSAT, whichever is applicable

[vinvinoveritas]

Anyway am off but OP am happy to help if you let me know the best locations (or thereabouts) for you

Good luck!

[vinvinoveritas]

Also you might want to look at this site and this one and here for advice
Also, it's only October! Don't fret!

[mamatomany]

Birmingham is the one i've been rejected for and Manchester is my first choice.
It's such a minefield isn't it ?
I seem to have done fairly well on the UKCAT much to my surprise and as i say 20 years working with the medical profession, obviously not in it but you'd hope that would count for something.
I think St Georges would be a very good choice if it's not to be this year.
Thanks for the tips :)

[vinvinoveritas]

Well done on the UKCAT!

Well hopefully Manchester will pull through- I am wrong about foundation years as Manchester seems to be the only one which accepts graduate applicants as well, and accepts grads to the 5 year from any discipline so you stand a realy good chance. Is it too late to apply for foundation year as well? Most will accept applicants until January, may be worth adding it on your UCAS.


But just in case, for next year:

Leicester graduate entry- you are perfect for (UKCAT)
Newcastle graduate entry- you are perfect for (UKCAT)
Keele graduate entry- you're perfect for this ( with GAMSAT)
Nottingham graduate entry- you're perfect for this (GAMSAT)
Swansea- GAMSAT, you are perfect for
St Georges- GAMSAT, you are perfect for

and quite a few others, of course.

You just need to avoid places where they are very irrationally fixated on GCSEs (Birmingham) and avoid places where they only accept science grads. I would personally wing it and apply to 4 grad entry places because many will then consider you for the 5 year as well, but if Manchester's the best place and if it doesn't work this year then don't hesitate in re-applying to the same place, many people do so successfully