IB or A Levels, tentatively thinking of medicine

[thedoofus]

Hello!

I've read through previous similar topics, but this hasn't come up for a while, so thought no harm in asking again .

DD is in Y11. Predicted 8s/9s in everything, solid all-rounder. Generally a high achiever, both academically and in other areas (head girl, lead in school play, peer mentor etc etc). She enjoys all her subjects and is self-motivated. Tentatively thinking of medicine, and hoping to do some work experience soon to explore that further. If she does A Levels, they'll be Sciences - probably Biology, Chemistry, Maths, and possibly one other.

Sixth form college also offers the IB, which I think sounds brilliant (I would have LOVED it when I did A Levels), and would mean she could keep up English and French (the French she especially enjoys and is good at). But consensus does seem to be that it's more work/pressure and I'm interested in people's experiences of that.

DD currently has a part-time job, and while we could finance her not having one, it seems like good experience to continue to work through 6th form. We haven't looked into getting into medical school very extensively, but I guess I'm concerned that the extra work with IB might leave less time to pad out her extra-curricular stuff like work/work experience etc. Also, obviously, I want her to have time to enjoy life. She manages herself and her time well at the moment, but I know how much pressure kids can put themselves under (especially high-achieving girls maybe!) and I think it's important to have time for the rest of life too.

Of course it's her decision to make, but I'd love to hear any thoughts/experiences people have for my own interest.

@W0tnow no one is too sure what's happening yet. Some might switch to UCAT, some might do their own exam. Hopefully will be one clearer soon.

Leeds has already switched to UCAT for 2024 entry. Because Worcester/Three Counties (graduate-entry, international only except 2023 entry) is already using CASPer, albeit at a later stage in the process, and Kent & Medway uses it for non-standard applicants, there's a possibility some might consider it. However, it's expensive and most medical schools would be very reluctant to impose a substantial extra cost on applicants. Switching to UCAT seems the most likely step for most medical schools, but I'm sure someone will exercise a bit of imagination and find another way.

I guess if 2025 is the first year that the BMAT universities move to a new system that will make strategic applications much more difficult that year. I wonder if it will mean those universities are seen as 'riskier' for that cohort (and if, consequently, that will make them lower risk if they get fewer applications). What a minefield it is!

My DD is now 4th year medic. She did IB. Loved it. By medicine standards, she's not stellar academically (As and A stars at GCSEs rather than straight A stars), but the breadth of IB was fab for her. She's still using the French she learned - about to do a month of work experience sewing up surfing injuries on a beach south of Bordeaux. All the debate and presentation skills in IB were helpful for interview confidence. She didn't work (for money) during 6th form, but she got fab experiences doing all the extra curriculars and volunteering she needed for med school and IB CAS.
You do have to cope well under pressure in IB - but so too in a career in the NHS. Uni offers were a little more complicated with IB compared to A levels, but also a little more flexible if you didn't quite make the offer. A levels will be fine, of course, but if your DC fancies doing the IB, aiming for medicine shouldn't be a reason to put them off, in my view.

Her (state) 6th form college gets several IBers into med school every year, usually more than the A level people at that college.

15% were accepted not 50%.

@DoggerelBank Thanks, that's really good to hear. DD has just had her interview for the IB course - course coordinator said 3-4 students get into medical school every year (of a cohort of about 50 IB students), which sounds pretty good to me. DD is increasingly leaning towards doing the IB, so it's great to hear a success story.