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?

Thanks Oyster! DS's next interview day has been declared an inset day by the school, so glad he won't be missing anything :)

Agree they have lots of distractions/missed days. Dd's mock results are not as good as they need to be. Really hope she won't be that pupil who doesn't make her predicted grades & doesn't get her place...

Apparently Birmingham are giving out offers today to pre-Xmas interviewees. Anyone heard - no news here yet.

Nothing here Oyster.

Mindgone, it must be hard with the long wait but if it's any consolation, when dd was at Cardiff this week & chatting to others there, hardly any had even one offer. So definitely early days yet.

Thanks Decorhate, at least we were expecting a long wait!
Mocks a little mixed here too, but hopefully recoverable from!

Rejection fromBristol today without interview. Seems so random, birmingham offer, leeds interview, and rejection from Bristol and Sheffield without interview.

I think the numbers of extremely good candidates relative to the number of places does mean there is a element of lottery about it... they do only need one offer though! But I think it's very hard to be caught up in a process that feels unfair when you're young, hardworking and ambitious. And hard for us in the wings too. Keep calm and carry on - what else can you do?

At least one of my child's year got in with a missed grade (no guarantee of that but some do) and nationally a few offers get made in August to those rejected earlier. Very few medical schools do that but it can happen.

Parents can have some ideas ready for gap years if needed or even other EU medcal schools if you can afford it. Ireland has low fees and Malta teaches in English but requires an AS language (English counts). Reapplicants with a good gap year often get a place second time round.

If my dd hadn't got any offers her plan was to reapply next year providing her A2s were good enough. If she doesn't meet her Oxford requirements & hasn't had any other offer I suppose the same will apply.

Carrie :( rejections are always tough! But as Queenie says, they only need one! :)
Decorhate, that's DS's plan too, but no offers yet.

It's very quiet in here... What news fellow would-be-medics parents? How were Leeds interviews or are they still awaited? Hope everyone is (quietly) well....

Leeds interview on Monday for my dd. That's the last one. Only one offer still but you only need one! (As long as you get the grades)

All interviews done here. One offer at the moment and waiting on the others but no rejections yet so generally still in a good place. Relieved dd no longer has to think about interviews though!

Last of 3 interviews next Friday, and one rejection from Sheffield pre interview no offers (yet), but no post interview rejections either! :)
It's tedious isn't it?!
Poor DS, he was a bit fed up today, feeling that his life at the moment is studying and waiting!

Offer from Leicester! So happy and excited for DS! Such a good feeling for them!

Fantastic news Mindgone! It's such a relief isn't it. #youonlyneedone

Thanks Decorhate! :) How did it go in Leeds? And how much does your DD like it?

Hard to tell she feels. She thought she did ok at Birmingham & then didn't get an offer (yet)

She loved Leeds when she went to Open Day. So definitely an insurance choice if she's lucky enough to get an offer

So that's an offer for everyone on the thread? Great news mindgone

Thanks Carrie! :)
Decorhate, it sounds promising! :)
It's funny to think that some of our DCs might well end up studying or working together!

In response to mention of Hep B upthread....

Our GP wouldn't do the Hep B vaccination at all, fee or no fee. The reason I was given, which seemed to me to be entirely spurious, was that the practice manager had been on a course where she was advised that there were health and safety implications!

A practice nearby was willing to do it and charged £80. In fact DD could have arrived at med school unvaccinated and had it all done there free but you daren't take the risk beforehand. By this stage in the process I expect you're all conditioned to jumping through the hoops.......

It seems to be in the gift of practice managers so shop around and avoid the jobs-worths.

Yes I think everyone's dc has had an offer. Which is pretty good considering the odds!

DH wrote to our GP practice asking them to clarify and got a fulsome apology and have instructed Thierry nurses and reception that hep b is free to prospective medics in this practice. in fact DS got a personal apology from the principal GP

That's good news for you Carrie, it's so expensive! I think it must be down to the individual practice to decide whether to charge or not.

Does anyone know if there are any possible side effects? Better to get it done before exam season?