UKCAT and BMAT. If one does averagely at them...

[duchesse]

...how likely is it that the results will have improved in a year's time?

I'm trying to work out how best to counsel DD who has received a hit by being turned down flat by Cambridge. She is now convinced that all the other universities will turn her down as well. I don't know whether to suggest that she switches her application to another subject on the strength of her average ukcat and bmat results. She is very able (and hard-working) but may not have the skill set required for medicine if these tests are to be believed. We just don't know how best to discuss it with her. She (I think) will want to reapply next year if she's turned down by all of her medical schools. Does anyone have any success stories re applying for the second time for medicine?

[DontEvenThinkAboutIt]

650 is slightly above average, not a great score but not bad either. However, the fact that your DC has already had two interviews shows that she must have a very strong application in other respects. It also shows that she chose the right Uni's to apply to. Two interviews is great.
My eldest DD is in her 2nd year doing medicine and is absolutely loving it but I must say the application process is extremely stressful. Neither of us are stress'y people but the waiting is agonising. My second DC is not applying for medicine and it is a breeze in comparison.
Hope your DD gets the offers she wants.

[pipsqueak]

Ah thx for that , I can't believe I feel stressed about this . I think it's that she has no plan b!!

[DontEvenThinkAboutIt]

My DC didn't have a plan B either. My DD left her fifth UCAS choice blank.

I dare any parent not to get stressed about it.

pip. Are the Uni's where your DD has had interviews ones which have a decent interview to offer rate?

[pipsqueak]

not too sure about offer rate as not really too sure to find that out for this year has had interviews from Hull/york and liverpool and waiting to hear from leeds and brighton /sussex who seem only just have started dishing out interviews ....

[alreadytaken]

for places that pride themselves on their organisational skills the whole process is unnecessarily stressful. Perhaps they do it deliberately to see who can cope with stress! This year some medical schools have been really annoying candidates by sending out e-mails to say their application is still being considered.

Since 60% of candidates get no offers first time round there should always be a plan B. It doesn't need to be well developed until august. It can be I'll take a gap year and reapply or could be take a fifth choice and try for graduate medicine. Places in clearing are likely to be available for candidates getting the sort of grades medical applicants have and wanting to do biomedical science courses or some other courses. There are medical schools like Dublin, Malta and several other european schools keen to attract uk candidates but loans are not usually available in the same way. If the student takes a gap year they can try to get a relevant job through NHS jobs www.jobs.nhs.uk/ or in a nursing home but any job involving contact with the public can create things to talk about at interview. If it looks like this will be an option it's probably best to start looking before results day as the NHS application process can be long-winded.

Reapplicants often do very well as they are more mature and have shown the sort of commitment medical schools like. If they are doing something productive in their gap year they'll probably get interviews and many will get offers. They do need to be available for interviews so going travelling all year is not usually a good plan. Someone usually starts a student room thread for reapplicants and there are students on TSR who will offer help with personal statements.

A few medical schools will accept applications from people who have already started a university course so it is possible to take a fifth choice and still reapply.

[pipsqueak]

Thanks I think it will be clearing plus grad entry if unsuccessful this time round , hay ho!

[pipsqueak]

Sorry should have said thx for posting such a helpful post

[alreadytaken]

hopefully none of our children need the back up plans, pipsqueak. She may get asked what she'll do if she doesn't get a place this year, it's a common medical school interview question. It's important to look and sound confident at interview but they don't like like anything that may look like arrogance or lack of preparation.

Competition ratios from last year are here www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medical_School_Competition_Ratios

and you'll see that Hull/York made 3 offers for 2 places last year. So your daughter has a good chance of an offer there, not quite as good at Liverpool and if she's offered an interview at Leeds about the same as Hull/York. Then the next hurdle is getting the grades.

The waiting is tough for everyone and unfortunately her combination of places doesn't include any giving early offers so you have a longer wait than most. It's a great relief when they get the first offer.

[pipsqueak]

Interview at Leeds now - this is her favourite so will start some hard vote prep . It's mmi which I think may suit her but who knows ? ! Leeds was one which sent out an e mail about 2 weeks ago saying they had only read half the applications ! Bearing in mind there were 2000 or so applications that was a bit of a worry .. Anyway another hurdle out of the way