Can anyone explain the complete basics of applying for medicine/vet med at Uni

@probstimeforanewname the professor of surgery at KCL write a rather interesting article about dexterity and surgical skills. He encouraged prospective students to take up crafting in particular crafts that involve handling thread as it improves surgical skills.
Many of the best surgeons I know knit, crochet or sew.

I often wonder whether the academics are emphasised at the cost of other skills doctors need

You wouldn't be the only one...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/education-46019429

Is your dd quite dexterous? I often wonder whether the academics are emphasised at the cost of other skills doctors need: people skills - both with patients and colleagues - and if you want to be a surgeon, being very practical and good with your hands. And pretty major problem solving skills.

Sorry to hear 281's dd didn't get the grades. Sort of makes my point really, although you say she might not have had the stamina.

Just looking here as my nephew is now going through the process, my own DD as some will know applied last year, was in the amazing position of three offers out of three interviews attended (cancelled the fourth interview as she had an offer from her first choice by then) - however, long story results day didn't go her way. She has choices but decided to go into clearing at the very Uni she had chosen for medicine and is happy with her choice, her student life and will likely now go into drug research rather than medicine. In many ways it is a shame she has the personality for medicine and this clearly came across at interview, but if I am honest she has a couple of health issues herself which i think would have affected her stamina and therefore ability to cope with the long shifts and odd hours. Her work ex was not extensive but it was varied, a week in a dementia day care centre, some regular help in a class of children on autistic spectrum and was lucky to get a whole week working in intensive care at a hectic london hospital (which she loved) and commuted to daily, two trains a bus and a tube. She gained some great insight into the real world and grew up a lot. She thinks she is in the right place now. BUT if I had my time again I would have pushed her more and made up for the issues I realised there were with teaching at school, (loss of a biology teacher, new chemistry teacher, head off ill etc.) and not applied for medicine until she had results and therefore take a gap year with more time to be sure of her choice and look at alternatives. Not having to sit UCAT /BMAT at the same time as taking new A levels, and not having to attend visit days and interviews at the same time as submitting coursework for deadlines etc. would I am sure have helped to gain the results she needed. But no regrets, she is happy. Just waiting to see how my nephew gets on now! He had the UCAT yesterday...

AAB is the contextual offer Blinkom, normally AAA.

AAB for medicine seems low. The usual is AAA.

Thanks TapasForTwo - there is no mention of this on the current Hull York website - not at:
www.hyms.ac.uk/medicine/applying-to-study-medicine/entry-requirements#alevels

Or anywhere else I could see. Just seemed to require a minimum AAB (unless contextual), and scores via GCSEs and various parts of the UCAT

@Bimkom it was at the subject talk at York in June 2017.

@TapasForTwo which medical schoools prefer the third A Level to be an arts or humanities subject? Haven't seen that on my current travels through various websites, but might have missed it?

My last DBS (my volunteering role at DS2's school involves being with students without staff supervision) took less than a week to come through, iirc

Some medical schools prefer the third A level to be an arts or humanities subject to show a greater breadth of education.

Yes - sorry! DBS check now, CRB in my time. DS1's volunteering stints all required enhanced version.

DBS check nowadays, not CRB. DD may apply for a basic one, this week, awaiting confirmation what care home wants her to get. I believe care home would have to apply for the enhanced one (we can't do it).

Thank you for being gracious. Apology accepted.

Time between GCSEs and A levels pass in a blink of an eye. Like whistl has said, if your DD decides on Medicine, she has a year to prep her application (early deadline - 15 Oct). Arranging work experience will take time and then getting CRB checked (takes 4-6 weeks) means she will be taking on an awful lot just as she is starting 6th Form. I was trying to answer your questions as best I could and also giving your DD a pep talk/kick up the bum in the way that I would my own DS1. She needs to quickly decide and take action if necessary.

Aren't the BMAT and the other admissions tests coming up for those who have just finished year 12? So, if the OP's DD seriously wanted to apply for medicine, she would be doing the entrance exams this time next year and submitting an UCAS application at the start of October 2020 that would need to be packed with supra-curricular things she'd done to support the application, including work experience.

242Mummy is right and deserves an apology!

I remember from other threads that 242Mummy has current knowledge of the application process and has always been helpful in her posts and comments.

I remember you from the GCSE threads, 242Mummy, and you have always been extremely helpful and supportive.

I think your advice this time is spot on! Year 12 goes so quickly and before you know it, your DC is writing their personal statement.

YvonneMyBelle - ah! Didn't mean to be patronising at all. You said in your post that your DD was "vague" and approaching Medicine in a "it will all sort itself out teenage way". Thought she might like a wake-up call.

Main thing now is to choose appropriate A-levels. The safest combo is Chemistry, Biology + one other rigorous one. Then work her socks off to get excellent predicted grades.

It is very useful if they can get some appropriate work experience before end of yr12 just to get some of that out of the way. Examples typical for applicants to medschool where I work would be 1-3 days shadowing someone clinical, plus 4 full days or 12 sessions in another suitable environment. Interacting with vulnerable people (disabled children, carer for family member(s), regular care home visits) is good. A shadowing placement in clinical envt would be ideal, but these can be hard to get, just keep looking & asking around. 6th form may have contacts to help.

Ideally keep a diary during the work experience to help her reflect upon it later, it's a common interview topic.

Reading medical-theme non-fiction in her summer hols is good. I recommend This is going to hurt (very funny), When Breath Becomes Air (sad & poignant) and Do No Harm (all 3).

I had a contact to help DD get 2 WE days shadowing GP & nurses at end of yr11. I sent DD to a Royal Society "So you want to study medicine?" event in London in yr12 (I think that's February time roughly); was free & DD said it was good overview.

Otherwise, DD didn't do any organising until June of yr12. Other than offering ONE talk, I can't say her 6th form did much either. By end of July yr12 she attended UCAS fair, went to 4 open days, signed up for UCAT & BMAT, organised a care home volunteer role. It will come together if is what they want.

If you are showing your DD this, she needs to know that Medicine is a long slog, even before she starts the course. It requires utter commitment and determination. Competition is stiff - approx 10 applicants per place - and she will be up against others who have put in 100%.

And just a quick one of admissions for medicine. For some Unis having higher predictions and a good PS will make no difference at all ! Lots no longer read the PS as they know some schools 'help' more than others (some still do though).
Take Sheffield. If you have 7 As and 3 A prediction then you pass the first stage. Could have 240 A*s and it would make no difference. They just then rank everyone who passes the threshold by UCAT to chose who to interview. Many others do the same or a variety of this.

Every Uni decides who to interview differently so you need to find where you fit. Around other things like campus/non campus, dissection/prosecution, intercalated or not etc. Oh and it changes every year so take all advice with a pinch of salt.
Most want Chemistry but more wanting biology than a few years ago. Don't need maths - they are just as happy with history, drama or PE (all combinations of my DDs medic friends).

For vet med she's going to need to get her skates on for work experience, but still time. Liverpool want 5 weeks, 3 husbandry (2 out of the main 3 areas of equine, farm, small animal) and 2 vet practice. Most need at least 2/3 weeks but at interview you need to show more realistically.

Medicine requires less but needs some to show commitment. And the dreaded UCAT/BMAT is a factor. And volunteering.
They are very different careers so would need to maybe try out both and see what she likes best. Can you tell I have one of both 😂