Nottingham Med School. Do you really need at least 8 A*s at GCSE before they'll even look at you?!

[LaineyW]

My DD is 16, studying AS levels (Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Philosophy). Can anyone confirm that the entry requirements at Nottingham are actually much tougher than their website states?

I know she's only in her AS year but has had her heart set on Nottingham for a while now and was pretty shocked to be told this by a member of staff at her sixth form college...

oh....OK...how did the interview go, was the format new? what did everyone else wear, and which suit did you get, and which college did he apply to? Just being nosey as always so you dont need to answer!

Not sure about the newness of the format funny, I'm new to the Medicine game! Absolutely every single boy wore a suit, no smart casual in sight.

An Oxford interview is some way off , with the BMAT amongst other things possibly blocking the way - I wouldn't dare mention the college, that would be bound to trip a jinx!

Anyhow, DS would genuinely be thrilled with an offer from any of his choices, he's one of those who've wanted to be a doctor since about Y6 (and that's with no doctor anywhere on either side of the family, it's sprung purely from him).

Ahh yes... the BMAT......there was an interesting table last year on TSR comparing bmat scores with offers from the various universities: the highest scores were candidates with the Imperial offers which is not surprising as they use it to cut off for interviews, (and they determine the cutoff point very year) but there was quite a spread.

Anyway most bright students who have done well at AS biology and do a bit of work over the summer manage good scores on the mcq and short answer. The tie breaker is the essay question. Thus, as with all exams, timing is key. Also, as I am sure your DS school has said, planning the essay structure is useful. At my DS school the would-be medics who received oxbridge offers had a phenomenal grasp of their subject, including molecular genetics. (I help with practice interviews there: unpaid of course) I sometimes think teaching is of little consequence in these internet days: the bright ones will do well if taught by a doorpost.

No BMAT guidance from his school funnyperson, they've just signed him up for the test. But he's bought the book (on the advice of the Brasenose tutor who talked at the Open Day and happened to write the book!). DS does History as well as the three sciences, so we're hoping that helps.