medlink

[wheredidyoulastseeit]

I am just about to book the Medlink course at Nottingham for DD1, could anyone let me know whether the premium package is worth paying for . thanks for you help.

Erm, don't think we booked the premium package. We booked the regular package, plus the two days' pathology extra. But haven't signed up for the "How to Do Well In Interview" session that they do recommend.

Not entirely sure it's going to be worth it, but it will be a confidence-builder.

My DS1 Did Medlink last year and is currently applying for Medschool entry.

He did the extra day and the interview/Oxbridge lectures and practice.

His opinion was that the whole thing was very, very valuable, including from a social point of view (and it's all very well run, great lectures and tips on how to apply). He came back extremely enthusiastic about it all, so money well spent I think.

I would recommend the interview session as being very important.

If you DC is doing Duke of Edinburgh, you may not be aware that Medlink (if you do the extra day) qualifies as DofE Gold 5 day residential course (there is one tiny line of text about that somewhere in the paperwork we got through after we'd signed up). DC needs to take their DofE book and hand it in during the registration process, and they hand it back all filled in when they check out on the last day. At least we felt we were getting "value for money" as it got the Gold residential done too for the same cost.

No answers on the "interview tips session" - folk here who did Medlink last year said that session was a waste of time. They ended up at Russell group unis doing medicine. Maybe it depends on whether people are really keen to do Oxbridge or not, and how much support and advice they have received from other sources re the interviews/applications.

DandyDan - Interview session well worth it IMO - as I said in my previous post - especially if your DC school will not be doing mock interview sessions (this is the case with DS1's school, no help or advice AT ALL). Less value to doing it if your DC is in private school I'd imagine.

Interviews are a real stumbling block for many, and the medlink Oxbridge sessions are giving out info applicable to any Med school interview, even if the slant is towards Oxbridge. Also, some other elite/Russell group Med schools use the same entrance exam as Oxford and Cambridge(Bmat), and there is "insider" info given about that as well.

Thank you for the feedback.
DS1 goes to state comprehensive and says that her careers dept is 'rubbish' so we have decided to go for the add on package.
a friend goes to private school and is'nt bothering with the add on as she says her careers dept is good. so I think that reflects the opinions here.

One of the sixth formers I mentored in the past did do the Medlink course and got into Oxbridge. However, she was a also fiercely good at science, an ardent reader and an articulate, hard-working girl who instantly took up any suggestions I made. Students with the same qualities who could not afford Medlink also got into medical courses. So, Medlink might act as a useful top-up but, as a parent, I'd first want to feel sure that my DD or DS will be able to handle the demands faced by students entering medicine.