Oxbridge Medicine with 6A*& 4A-For GCSEs, Is it still possible?

I'm afraid Peggy is a little out of date about extra curriculars. They don't count at all. At Oxford she will get an interview on the basis purely of GCSE's combined with the BMAT score. That's according to the Admissions Tutor for Medicine at Brasenose a few weeks ago, who should know what he's about. Mumsnet is almost bound to tell you different. Cambridge uses the BMAT too but is much more focussed on stellar AS module results than on GCSE's.

DD2 says that from her own empirical observation, the standard of medical applicants is so uniformly high that there's a point (after the interview selection process) that an element of luck or randomness is introduced. She's not a medic herself, she's just trying to help DS1, who's applying for 2012. FWIW DS1 got 12 A*'s in Y10 and 100% in 9 out of 10 papers at AS and we are all telling him the same: don't count on it, you may well not get in.

Amongst DD3's friends this year, it's staggering who didn't get in.

I don't think you have anything to worry about whatsoever. SPeaking from experience, the Oxbridge offers are based on A-level results and interview - only a very poor set of GCSEs would cause any kind of problem. It's most important that she gets high grades in A-level (or Highers, or Bac or whatever) subjects relevant for medicine.

Although it's nice to play instruments etc, and most successful applicants do manage plenty of extra-curricular activities to a high standard, what Oxford and Cambridge want is people who have a high aptitude for their subject and who are committed to it. The sports thing is not relevant.

I would second Peggy's advice to find some work experience in a medical environment - could be anything from summer job as a GP receptionist, helping in an old people's home, St John's ambulance/first aid, even dentistry etc. Not only can she decide if medicine is what she wants to do but these things will differentiate her from other candidates who can't demonstrate a commitment to medicine.

Congratulations to your daughter on her excellent results!

In part it will depend on what school she has come from, and how these results compare with what would be expected at that school. But no, I don't think that she has ruled it out at all. Why on earth are you advising her against Oxbridge? Yes it is very competitive, but GCSE grades are not the only criteria, especially for medicine.

What does she want to do after uni? Has she looked into medicine as a career as the way in which medicine is taught at Oxbridge is distinctive from some of the other universities.

I assume that she will be starting her Alevels shortly. I suspect that over the next few months her ideas will focus. Is she at a school or 6th form college for A levels?

In my days (90s) straight A's from A-levels / GCSE wasn't enough to get you into Oxbridge or even other popular university, especially for Medicine. You need other interests and achievement, for example, play an instrument, or play for sports team at school and show that you are a high achiever all round. From what I know she should also do work experience in a hospital or caring environment, show that she can work with the general public etc. After that she will need to perform well at the interview. I suggest you and your DD look at the UCAS websites and other university website to find out what the college tutors are looking for, use the school holidays to get some experience in the area and then see if she really does want to do medicine. There is a high drop out rate. One of my best friends studied medicine at oxford but she changed her mind after the 1st year and went on to do pharmacy at another university.