Medicine 2018?

[Katisha]

Is there already a thread for medicine applications for 2018 entry?
If not can I start one?
Wondered if anyone knew about the Birmingham GCSE situation as DS has A stars and As at GCSE and likely to be predicted A stars at A level but is coming up on their offers calculator as unlikely to get an interview.
Is it pointless to apply to Birmingham if not all stars at GCSE? Didn't get a star in biology.

Oh blimey Lonicera. Can she spin any of the stuff she has done and look for anything she could relate to health care. DS did voluntary work in a hospice and was mostly washing up and delivering meals but was able to talk about how he had observed palliative skills and learnt some resilience. They are always looking for helpers

My daughter really didn't like her current medical school at the open day. We had a huge debate about putting it on the UCAS. But she did in the end because she thought her profile was right for it.

Then she went to her interview and did a 180 degree turn. I think she happened to bump into a friendly face from our home town and the other interviewees were very friendly and her impressions changed utterly.

Now she's there, it is the best medical school in the UK. Sometimes their reasons aren't completely logical and gentle discussion can help, though you wouldn't want them to go somewhere they genuinely dislikes.

It turned out that, on the open day, she had felt hot (it was a heatwave), had suffered a poor night's sleep because of staying up for the Brexit results, and because she went alone to the open day because of our work commitments, felt overwhelmed.

On the subject of what to wear for interviews, DS had people wishing him good luck with his medicine interview at a couple of his uni interviews. Including the woman on the cafe till at UEA. When we enquired how they had all guessed he was there for a med interview, we were told they were the only ones that ever came in suits! Certainly DS would have felt out of place if he hadn't been wearing a suit.

Lonicera - gosh - that's a bit last minute for her! It's got to be worth a shot if she's got this far. Does she have a job? I've heard/ read that customer service type contact is good too. My DD works as a waitress in a pub 2 shifts a week & it's good preparation for dealing with the public! We don't have shadowing either - don't know any Drs & rural GP can't take as everyone knows everyone!

Also DD volunteers Wed pm at a care home with the activities team - she started at 17. She emailed them & they bit her hand off. She helps with games, music, teatime, just chatting etc. She goes instead of sport at school as she's been unable to play for more than a year due to medical issues.

Also mentoring at school or similar - brownies, cubs etc. All counts at most I think.

There is a link about who wants what work experience - I will see if I can find it - Medic Portal? Can't quite remember. Sheffield said they don't read PS (though it's quite hilly!).

She has been a young leader at brownies for a year. The care home where she has applied to be a volunteer would want her to do what your daughter did Somerset. It is right up her street. And as she is under 18 she wouldn't be allowed to handle the residents (which is also right up her street)

Re the cut offs, I've has a search round TSR just now but can't seem to find anything about Nottingham scores for interview, if anyone can help?

Nottingham

There are five components to the UKCAT test which will be scored. The four cognitive components (verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning, decision making) are each scored as follows:

801 – 900 = 9 points
701 – 800 = 8 points
601 – 700 = 7 points
501 – 600 = 6 points
401 – 500 = 5 points
301 – 400 = 4 points

The weighting for each of the four components is equal.

The fifth component, SJT is scored as follows:

Band 1= 4 points
Band 2 = 2 points
Band 3 = 1 point
Band 4 = 0 point

Applicants who achieve a Band 4 are not considered further.

Example
To help you work out your score for the UKCAT test, please follow this example:

An applicant who has achieved the following scores will be awarded the following number of points:

Verbal Reasoning score of 680 = 7 points
Quantitative Reasoning score of 500 = 5 points
Abstract Reasoning score of 710 = 8 points
Decision Making score of 580 = 6 points
SJT Band 2 = 2 points

Total points awarded for UKCAT = 28 out of a maximum of 40.

www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine/study/medicine/faq/a100-selection.aspx

Prediction for Nott cut off based on historical reporting (TSR) is 45/56 using data above for first sift - then consider PS & score. Add the two together & rank for interview. That's my understanding.

Lonicera - that sounds fine (gosh I hope)) She just needs to reflect on skills she uses during these activities. Not everyone has access to hospitals etc. My DD couldn't get there even if they'd take her - no public transport here & she's only just passed her driving test. My DD loves the card home & as they get used to her she's been allowed to do a few more bits & pieces.

Thank you! So a score of 48 initially looks ok for Notts, probably

Yes. Must have great GCSEs.
Gives you a head start against others on the PS score next. Out of 16 I believe. Add together & start interviewing. .

Lornicera, that's terrible that would say that to your daughter and very unfair. It's one thing to say that it might not be easy (but then she already knows that), but to say that she wouldn't get in is such very unkind as they have absolutely no idea that this is the case.

She has done experience, certainly enough to be able to demonstrate that she has the qualities required to be a good doctor. Many schools state that they are aware that many pupils are not in a position to gain work or even volunteering experience.

DD tried since she was 16 to volunteer in a care/nursing home and got rejected time after time, and that's living in an area known for its high level of elderly residents! In the end, it's because her new school had made arrangement with a nursing home to got for one hour and she did this for a few weeks that she managed to get her job helping in the kitchen and bringing/helping food to residents and then moved from this gradually to helping with their care.

Being a Brownie leader is excellent experience and certainly demonstrate to have transferable skills to being a doctor. She shouldn't feel she has less of a chance than a large number of applicants. She should keep her head up and take it as a challenge to prove them wrong!

If like last year should be fine my child had an interview and offer at Nottingham last year with this score ..

Think mine had that score, too, for Notts and had interview and offer.

I've just been through the old WhatsApp messages and I can find a lot of angst-ridden ones from her, as interviews started to be given out from Birmingham in early November: claiming friends were receiving interview offers and she wasn't. She was really worried,

In fact she had three interviews but didn't necessarily always hear back as early as her friends. Same with offers. We didn't always get them as early as others, but all was well in the end.

It is a long game. Get in the gin.

Not meaning it to sound as though we war piling up interviews and offers, btw, just trying to reassure anyone whose child doesn't hear back as early as their peers.

Everything has gone quiet now the UCAS is submitted just waiting until the 2nd with the next hurdle the BMAT!

Can we pretend that it's last year and our DCs are therefore guaranteed interviews at all their choices :)

Abra & Trippy - Nott score of 48? Glad your young people got places.

Thanks for the reassurance ladies. Gin is in. Think I will get a sign that says "it's not over until August"!

Though I think last year decision making was a pilot only so perhaps our nottingham UKCAT scores don't work as neatly? I think we only had three sections that were actually scored, plus situational judgment.

So my daughter had 23/30 for UKCAT plus 15/16 for GCSE. So 38 out of 46 and not as strong a score as those mentioned by some of you!

Though I think last year decision making was a pilot only so perhaps our nottingham UKCAT scores don't work as neatly? I think we only had three sections that were actually scored, plus situational judgment.

So my daughter had 23/30 for UKCAT plus 15/16 for GCSE. So 38 out of 46 and not as strong a score as those mentioned by some of you!

Somersets / Abrsid Id forgotten just 3 parts + sj last year so 3x7 21 for the three tests + Sj 1 = 24 , 7 A* + 1a gcse (best 8 ) 15 . I know she checked on the Notts web page and thought it would be okay before . Be careful with those web pages though BSMS says something about their cut off for bmat but it's several years out of date and just an example ( they may have updated it since but haven't checked ) .The figures on the website site are considerably below the 17.5 actually needed last year .

Sorry sj1 = 4 , therefore 25 + GCSEs ,all seems a long time ago but do remember how stressed I was ( daughter much calmer character ) .

Watch out for Nottingham. D'S wasted a choice there as they changed the system for his year with no warning. He would have been fine the year before

I think a change from one year to another is our biggest worry but I do find that now it's done and therefore out of our control, it's easier to accept.

Somerset, has your DD made her final decision about her 4th choice?

No! Pressure is on today. Seems so tough to have to choose somewhere that you don't "love".