Fresh new 'mum of a medicine applicant' thread.

[Mindgone]

I thought I would start a new one, as the last one went a bit 'off topic'! How's everyone getting on? Am so excited, and a bit nervous, as DS has two interviews coming up! How is everyone else's DCs preparing? Also, any tips from anyone who's been there?

And congrats to your DTs btw! You must have nerves of steel by now!

Yes, he has had DBS forms etc, he is on holiday so I hope nothing too urgent. He got his accommodation offer on Sunday.
Am so relieved the DTs are happy and he is off to leeds , it's been a fraught year. All worthwhile when DS2 , the dyslexic lively twin, gave me a squeeze after reading his results and said 'thanks mum'

Great news Carrie! Well done to you all!
DS got a pack today with all sorts of exciting info, including all the plans for the intro week, the medics start a week earlier than everyone else. It all sounded really exciting, but he is also getting an idea of how much work will be involved!

”Game over for my DS, as expected, Pre U grades similar to A*AB at Alevel.”

Not so quick HMW9793, and please don’t despair. Sorry I didn’t respond to your post immediately last week as there was a family bereavement (mother-in-law).

”We are leaning towards starting from scratch with A levels that everyone understands, perhaps applying to the US or the fee paying medical school. Any ideas?”

No need to do that as the Pre U’s are allegedly harder than A-levels and medical schools worth their salt should know that although a young telephone receptionist manning the telephones at Barts might not have a clue.

Your son’s Pre U grades similar to A-level A*AB are excellent! This is more than enough for him to attend a private medical school abroad which you also enquired. This afternoon I posted on another medical thread about the [[www.imu.edu.my/imu/images/stories/download/Int.StudentGuide.pdf
International Medical University (IMU)]] in Kuala Lumpur that you/DS may like to look at which can ultimately see your son qualifying as a doctor from a US or UK medical school eventually. I know of someone who’s done that already and currently another friend’s son is finishing his Third Year there.

Decorate I'm sorry your child was disappointed but time to point out to them the advantage of having clinical contact from the start, a slightly less intense course and perhaps extra points when applying for jobs later if they are in a higher percentile of their medical school.

They are all likely to need a record from their current gp showing what vaccinations they have had and you need to check what the medical school offers and if you have to pay. Some gps may ask for a charge for vaccinations although many will do them free for medical students. Some may be arranged by the medical school for those who dont have a full set.

Alreadytaken Yes these are the sort of things dd is thinking of (plus better nightlife and not having to write so many essays!)

We have already sorted out the vaccinations.

Thank you for your kindness Peteneras. I am sorry to hear of your bereavement. Upon delving our DSs UCAS points were actually higher than 3xAs at A level due to the breadth of the Cambridge Pre-U syllabus. We noted 10 UK schools accepting B grades this year, although some offers may have been lower to begin with. On the plus side our DS has an interview with the UKs only private medical school next month. He has emailed the Heads of Admissions in the 5 or so UK universities who consider a re-sit applicant without MC. One professor emailed back saying she was personally looking forward to his 2016 application, others just direct you to their web site. He has registered for UKCAT and begun practice again - I have resumed the role of MedMother. He had an interview with a school willing to teach him A levels in a year. IMU in KL looks promising, thank you, as does McGill Canada. He has tremendous work ethic and great resilience but he will need to get interviews again, then an offer and then pass A levels. Best of luck to all starting in September and with any luck our DS just may be in with a second chance.

HM would he look at RCSI in Ireland ? Great med school , lots of international students

Thanks Carriemac! I have not heard of this one & shall take a look.

How's everyone doing? Getting excited? DS is '70% excited and 30% nervous'! We are off on holiday on Wed for a week, then he's off on the Sunday. It's coming round so quickly now!

Carrie, My understanding is that Irish universities are able to demand higher grades than UK ones. So probably at least 2x A + 2x A. Trinity and UCD are probably 3xA plus A. They also need the Irish equivalent of UKCAT.

When looking at the Aberdeen website I noted that they take clinical students from IMU from the third year on, but I now see other Universities do. This would presumably get round the problem of learning Bahasa, as you would be taught in English, but would not do clinical there. The Malaysian bit is reasonably cheap because the currency is low. However are they really expecting UK/EU students completing three years clinical in the UK to pay international, rather than UK fees? If so, Buckingham would be both cheaper and quicker.

Good luck to HMW9793's son. My DD will be applying through UCAS this year, and part of the way of alieviating the pressure is to have both a Plan B and a Plan C.

Dd doesn't seem to excited yet. She will miss her friends & BF. I am trying not to think too much about the fact that my pfb will be at the other end of the country for the foreseeable future.

DD is getting excited! All her friends are starting around now too, so she's constantly seeing Freshers Week photos on FB etc... and it's starting to seem close. She flies to NI on Sunday 20th and starts on the 21st. I really hope it all goes well! Good luck to all the others starting too, all over the UK!

DD is both excited and nervous but just feels it's a little too soon as she is the first of all her friends to go. She goes this Saturday and I must admit I don't feel ready yet either. Like you Decorhate I don't want to think about her being so far away most of the time but also very pleased for her. Good luck to everyone!

DS goes off on 17th. Both excited and grumpy . Lots of admin to do , all the shopping done for now. Prize giving at school Thursday, then he has a big 'last night out with school friends' afterwards.

Carrie, DS1 started at Leeds last year (not medicine) on the 17th, and was the only one in the flat for two days! But it ended up being great because all the early arrivals found each other through FB, and he ended up with loads of different friends scattered throughout the accommodation. He was in Lupton and had a great year

Thank you for the info on the Irish way. DS has found 4 UK schools who will consider his application as a re-sitter. Still needs to ace UKCAT, get an interview, offer, etc and pass the A levels. Buckingham and IMU also options. Today he is excited to start physics A level from scratch and they say chemistry A level is a great deal easier than Cambridge Pre-U. After years of boarding school and holidays spent away I now have my DS back at home!

HMW, that all sounds fab, really positive . DS found a two day Kaplan course really helpful for the ukcat, and I have wondered whether he would have benefitted from an interview course too, he had 3 interviews, but went in totally unprepared, so was very fortunate with his one offer! I'm not sure he was competing on a level playing field at that stage. All done now with a happy outcome, but looking back, maybe a bit of a gamble! Do you think your DS's old school would help with interview practice and advice? Best of luck to him for this year, and enjoy having him home

Thank you Mindgone, courses seem the way to go. DS has MMI at Buckingham coming up and his interviews last year were the panel variety. His old school were clueless, about 45% per year get offers from Oxbridge/Ivy League but by their own admission they struggle to get anyone into medicine. I think only 2 out of the 7 applying for 2015 made it and will start now. Quite frankly I have learnt more about the process from the lovely ladies at Mumsnet, for which I am most grateful.

It does seem to have been especially hard this year - from what I've heard anecdotally. Does anyone have any hard stats on that? We know so many good candidates who didn't get in.

DS. S school got 14 out of 15 into medicine or dentistry which is usual for his private selective school. Our catchment state catholic school 11 out of 11 into med. Exceptional year though for them , none got in last year.

Our school had more wanting to do it than got offers, but 7/7 offer holders got their places.
HMW, I didn't realise you went through it all last year too, at least it's more familiar this time. I too have learnt so much more from here than anywhere!

Well the day has arrived, feeling rather emotional but also very proud. My DD is on her way to Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
She was the only girl to get a place to study medicine in her school and one boy got in to study dentistry.
Thanks to all on here for their support and helpful comments over the last few months.

Wishing her the best of luck in her first term. How are you holding up?

Thanks Carriemac. I'm not too bad, looking forward to going to visit her in a few weeks.