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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Medicine Applications 2017

539 replies

adski · 08/08/2016 14:11

As UKCAT season is in full swing and I can't find a thread anywhere else I thought I'd start this off. This is for parents of children looking to apply for Medicine at University with courses starting in 2017. UCAS application is only a couple of months away. It is hard to watch our kids put themselves through so much to work in the hardest profession imaginable and I thought it might be useful to start some sort of discussion here.

OP posts:
Powergower · 25/02/2017 16:24

Another interview for my mentee but no offers yet. He's really fatigued with the whole process but battling on. I think getting an offer would give him a massive boost for revision. My worst is that not getting a place anywhere will affect his confidence and motivation for his final exams.

S1966 · 25/02/2017 16:43

Tell your mentee not to give up and don't lose hope, he can always take a Gap year and apply again.My DS had unsuccessful year last year but he put his effect into studies stayed focused and did extremely well in A levels turned all into A yet he wasn't your standard medical student if you look at his GCSEs only mixes of 6 As and A and rest all Bs.So it can be done Next year government is raising the numbers of medical students universites can take.

Kr1stina · 26/02/2017 09:55

H Power - that's great he's got another interview, some applicants have none. He should be encouraged.

He just needs to get his head down and revise. Some universities have made no offers yet and won't do so for another month. His situation is tough but normal I'm afraid.

As PP said, if he gets the grades he can reapply, many successful applicants have two attempts.

If he does get a place, there will be tougher times ahead on the course and in the jobs and he just needs to deal with it I'm afraid. If he doesn't study now because he doesn't have an offer to motivate him, then it's probably not the right career for him and he's better off finding that out now.

He needs to be able to focus on the lon term goal without immediate reward.

Sorry but you need to be encouraging but firm with him. It's not the right time for self pity .

Rochelle1964 · 26/02/2017 10:59

I spoke briefly to my DD who is super stressed at the moment with exams and she didn't know much about the new course but seemed to think it's gone down very well. She is very happy generally with Leicester . Everywhere has its advantages and disadvantages . I suggest he goes to the offer holders day if he can. That way he can see the accommodation and ask all the questions.

Needmoresleep · 26/02/2017 11:09

Power, I agree with Krist1na. As I said at the beginning, he should treat it as a two year process. He has done very well to get two interviews, and if he does not get a place, he can do much better next year. He will:

  • know to practice the UKCAT, thereby broadening his choice of Universities
  • have actual A level results - which need to be good
  • more work experience/volunteering and an additional year's maturity
  • a better understanding of the process, a better PS, previous interview experience etc.

Its tough but they all have to get through it.

S1966 · 26/02/2017 12:06

Hi Rochelle 1964 thank you for your help he is definitely going to offers holders day just waiting for email to be sent so he can book it,it on 8 th April but you can't book it until they send you a invitation to book it.

S1966 · 26/02/2017 12:14

Hi power I agree with needmoresleep ,just need to stay focused and majority of medics usually get in after couple attempts.most universites don't send out offers until March ,Leicester keeps giving offers until May in small batches.Which universites has he applied to,always remember to apply to universites to your strength.My DD this time applied to his strengths and got three interviews one he applied to foundation medicine which was a waste of application even though he satisfied their criteria.

Powergower · 28/02/2017 23:11

I agree with you all. And tbh he is doing fantastic. However, for kids from deprived background with a real lack of parental involvement/support it can be tough to get through the process alone. Often they have grown up without self esteem, confidence and self belief. Luckily my mentees are incredibly resilient having emerged stronger as a result of their traumatic childhoods. Often though it's difficult to teach them skills they should have learnt as children such as self belief, positivity that good things will happen to them and to keep ploughing on.

I am always trying to strike a balance between being firm but supportive. It's difficult. Especially when all they have known from adults in their lives is negativity.

RedHelenB · 01/03/2017 09:41

Power - is he able to take another year to apply>?

My dd is wanting dentistry and we[re waiting on two interview decisions. I have told her she can apply again next year if necessary but money wise it will be tight so she will need to be earning to cover her living costs etc

She is planning to ring round on results day if she doesn't get in on the offchance that they have room to admit more, given that the new A level spec might result in some weird results. I know Sheffield for example had some medicine places last year after results day.

A level results will always be with you , not just as a ticket to get on the course you want so definitely look to encourage to your mentee not to slacken off.

Powergower · 01/03/2017 14:13

Yes red he can. In fact he's ashtrays planned for allowing 2 years to get into med. He's lined up some work for next sept in case he doesn't get a place. Like your dd he is also waiting for offers/ rejections and planning to ring the unis on results day.

Haffdonga · 01/03/2017 23:29

Ds has an offer from Sheffield!!!!

Massive relief as I was quite concerned that ds had hit the doldrums and all motivation had gone for good

Now just the small matter of getting the grades...

Needmoresleep · 02/03/2017 07:45

Congratulations.

I hope after the roller-coaster he is able to pick himself up and focus on A levels. Its not easy.

And good luck to everyone else waiting. Last year DD did not hear till April.

Kr1stina · 02/03/2017 14:23

Well done haffdonga's DS.

Powergower · 02/03/2017 15:15

Hurrah for haffs dd. Lovely to hear good news.

Haffdonga · 02/03/2017 18:32

Thanks friends Smile . i know you'll understand how much work he put into getting that offer and how much taxiing, ethical debating and keeping up to date with the latest health news I did alongside Wink

Wishing all your charges loads of luck and for those who haven't heard anything yet I'm crossing my fingers. I'm very invested in how all this thread's dcs get on! They all deserve to get the places they want with the work they've put in.

Abraiid2 · 03/03/2017 15:14

Huge congrats to your son, Haff!

We still have two post-interview decisions to wait for. One pre- and one post-interview rejection.

Want it to be over...

RedHelenB · 03/03/2017 16:53

No need for a gap year yay! Offer for dentistry for dd!

Abraiid2 · 03/03/2017 16:58

Yay, Red!

Kr1stina · 03/03/2017 18:18

Great news !

Haffdonga · 03/03/2017 18:55

Well done dd Red! Smile

Powergower · 04/03/2017 09:48

Brilliant news red!

S1966 · 04/03/2017 10:17

Congratulations dd red!

RedHelenB · 04/03/2017 12:26

The wait is awful isnt ABraid!

Abraiid2 · 05/03/2017 11:28

It sure is, Red!

starshipenterprise5 · 07/03/2017 10:55

She's got offers from Leicester and Leeds so far, still waiting for Edinburgh. And missed the Ncle UKCAT cut off by one point!!!!!
Leeds favourite for firm so far.

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