DD decided she wants to be a psychiatrist

[wangle99]

DD is currently in year 10 and has decided she'd like to be a psychiatrist. We've looked at how it all works grades etc and she's really excited.

However, all I read is how incredibly hard it is to get into med school and how many 1000s of people apply for a few places. Is it really that hard?

The thing about the independent vs state school thing is that a child who gets 10 A-stars at GCSE in a school where the average pupil gets 5 Es an F and 2 Us is obviously something really special.

A child who gets all A-stars at an independent school where half the school gets all top grades may be something special or may be a reasonably bright child who has been well taught by teachers in a class where the lessons where based on "how to get the A star" (as opposed to "how to get a C" as the other school may focus on).

University is more interested in the intelligence of the child than in how good their geography teacher was.

Bugger kind of wish DD was still in state! She does have an academic scholarship and her school isnt selective I hope that counts for something!

DD is very determined all of a sudden and cannot wait till next week when in science they are dissecting a pigs lung! She is doing work experience at a school for children with quite severe health or special learning needs.

Thank you for explaining the state v independent it makes sense really.

It is indeed really that hard to get into med school. We are talking anything from 10 to 20 applicants vying for one place which is quite usual. Having said that, there are successful applicants at the end of the tunnel and why not your DD?

It pays to do your homework right. Forget about the minimum grades required e.g. x number of A*s or 7 GCSE?s at grade ?C? etc. mentioned by the various med schools. These are minimum grades. In reality, the tens of thousands of aspiring medical students almost inevitably all have much, much more superior grades than the minimum. Your DD will be competing against these applicants - not against the medical school(s).

It?s good to be able to set her heart in psychiatry at this young tender age but that?s a long way away. Do not look too far away at the horizon just to stumble at the first hurdle. I would suggest your DD cross each bridge as it comes. For now, please concentrate and revise like mad all her GCSE subjects. The aim is to get as many A*s as possible. It?s OK and indeed very advisable to do some work experience in any caring environment. No need for any high calibre shadowing of doctors in hospital stuff (unlikely at her age) but weekends spent at your local Age Concern entertaining the old folks are just as valuable.

The medical aptitude test(s) such as the UKCAT and the BMAT (depending on which school) as required by at least 90% of UK medical schools are vital. Many aspiring medical students fail to appreciate the importance of these tests by only looking at it in the last few months or even last few weeks before they sit the test just to do badly. And yet, most medical schools use these tests as their first filter to sieve through the thousands of applicants. Needless to say, it?s curtains and goodbye to medical school (at least for the cycle in question) if one does badly in these tests! Your DD should be looking at these things first instead of looking too far ahead to be a psychiatrist.

My DH teaches undergraduate medics at a RG university. Informally, IB science is not considered as rigorous as A Level -- your DC really should take A Level Chemistry. Also, a demonstrable interest in health and patients is a must, shown through volunteering and work experience. That's all on top of good BMAT score and three predicted A's (at the very least).