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.

To depress us all :

www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/number-applicants-october-deadline-university-courses-reaches-highest-recorded-ucas-figures-reveal

Not telling my DD

There are 500 more places though and if they offer more spaces to account for the 4 choices hopefully it will balance out :/

My DS UEA application receipt said they were expecting 1300 applicants so that is quite a big jump oh dear!

Yes keeping quiet about this too! I'm not really sure how my DS views his chances, he won't entertain discussions about gap years as that is 'being negative'!

July Aphrodite

Maybe I misheard him and he said 1300! I will check ..

Just to show how we can never predict outcomes however it could have been worse at least ukcat average has not increased accordingly.

We're on holiday currently and it's amazing what it does to the spirit. Feel much more relaxed and happy with the 'what will be will be' attitude. DD actually said that a gap year might be nice as it will be her only opportunity for fun for a long time. She has a point!

There's a thread on the no. Of medic applications in 2017 and it's relevance on the Student Room which puts it all into context for this year. I can't find any information on veterinary numbers though.
I am quite keen for Dd to do vet. Med. in Europe as it's much less expensive than the Uk. Several Vets she's worked with have trained overseas.They now reckon that most Vets will never pay back their student loans in the Uk as the salaries ( and incremental increases) are much lower than that of Medicine.
Dd has submitted her Surrey questionnaire and is waiting to hear whether she will be called for interview.We are still waiting for the Bristol questionnaire .Bristol are not interviewing this year but are grading the applications along with the Medical ones for Gcse & A level estimates and then will send out a questionnaire.I think the exam results are 50% v 50% questionnaire importance. All change from last year when Dd got an offer after the worst interview of her life .

Hi Teta could you post the link possibly please to TSR

So going on the basis of ratio it would seem the percentage increase in places is proportionate to increase in applicants so ratio of applicant per place remains vaguely the same overall. It might be different looking at individual school though as the increase places were not proportionate and I think only went to a selected few. I can't remember which!

Added to that are changes year on year that are not explained like last year Brighton saw an increase of 20% despite an overall reduction.

I think it's better not to focus on it as in the end it's too late to impact on choice and preparation for interview remains the same.

Thanks notty for the tip on preparation for interviews.

Proud UEA always has a ridiculous amount of applicants for all medicine/ nursing/ midwifery/ allied health degrees. Also one of the unis who will interview for almost every single place of the above degrees (save nursing).

I sit on some of their panels and believe me we interview hundreds of applicants. Also re: clothing. So long as their hair & nails are clean and smart clothing is not such a big deal. It's lovely if they look smart but we don't expect suits. What really really goes a long way (apart from the obvious of giving a great interview) is good eye contact, speaking clearly and good manners. Honestly.

my apologies it was 1300 not 1500

AgathaMystery
any truth to the myth UEA likes East Anglian applicants, my DS did wexp in one of their teaching hospital (I know I am clinging to any glimmers of hope!)

Proud - I'd say there's no truth in it. Let's face it, Norwich is gorgeous and I almost feel sorry for Norwich kids as they want to leave home but have an awesome uni/city on their doorstep!

What work exp did your DC do?

DD has been offered a place for biomedical at Sussex Uni with AAB today. It offers a guaranteed interview into Medicine in 2nd year so a good option if she gets no offers or doesn't get AAA or higher. It was a very nice surprise on our day back from holiday.

Swing congratulations to your daughter.

Good to hear those 5th offers are coming in my DS has been invited to attend a visitors day at Leeds for Pharmacology which will include any interview he is not sure what to do, an interview would be greatpractice but a lot of money for the premier inn (they let 17 years olds stay on their own) and the train fare if it turns out to be less formal. He is please to have a response and it least it makes them feel like someone likes the look of 'em!

Agatha he did a stint in two hospital depts, not knowing any doctors he wrote 17 letters to the secretaries of the senior consultants using a template he found on line and got about six offers back and did it in August (he is summer baby and you could only do it 17 years plus) really impressed with the hospital. Interestingly all the docs tried to put him off medicine, harangued him with anecdotes, he spent time in theatre and held a tiny baby in SCBU and had very long days with two 7am starts. Nothing but nothing seems to put him off though and he loved every second.

Hi everyone, just popped in to wish good luck to your children and chill pills for you. I was here this time last year and I remember how stressful it is. My child is now in first year medicine and loving it.

My main advice is to try to dissuade your children from being entirely consumed by their application from now on. There’s nothing they can do now , so they need to change focus from UCAS and really concentrate on their studies.

Some univeristties will still be interviewing in late March and often don’t give out invitations until a few weeks before. That’s five months away , they can’t keep up this intersity of worry and stress or it will affect their grades or even their health.

And they risk getting really REALLY upset when they have no interviews and others do. Or when they have one interview and their friend has four.

So encourage them to get their heads down and study now and do their MMI / interview practice later this term / over Christmas .

Just our experience . I wish them every success.

Hi Kr1st1na
Thank you for those very kind and understanding words. DD is now re focusing on A levels, it's going to be a long time before summer 😉

That’s good mommy, it’s such a stressful year or two for them. Parents of kids who are applying for normal courses ( get good grades, get in ) just don’t understand how tough it is on the kids and the parents. It’s great to have MN threads like this to vent.

I think it’s me who needs to calm down, DS has already told me not to expect anything at all until after Christmas at the earliest!! Doesn’t stop me checking the email account twice (she lies!!! lots more) times a day!!

Oh, I can see why you guys are confused about UEA numbers.
In 2016, they say that they invited 600 to interview; but you have to expect that at least another 600 applied but didn't get an interview offer.
Then of those who went to interview, about 1/3 got an offer.

Numbers of MBBS applicants are on long-term trend of going down even as no. of spaces is very slightly creeping up.

Thanks for that Medschoolrat hopefully DS will be in top 50 percent of applicants. We have visited all 4 choices and my DS would be so happy with an offer from any Southampton, UEA, BSMS and Exeter.
He has the BMAT tomorrow for BSMS so another hurdle to get through :)

Hope that everyone's DC that are taking the BMAT today are feeling calm and positive! Hope all goes well for them.

Good luck to all taking BMAT today. Don’t forget it’s not just medics but also dentists and others as well. Tell all DC to stay calm and organised.

Good luck to all the bmaters today! Last hurdle before getting ready for interviews.

Being positive so interview outfit purchased over half term. DD is petite size so always a bit trickier. After trying on the whole range of Next Petite we chose a grey knee length dress with a matching jacket. Smart. Comfortable. Machine washable! I did persuade her to have the matching trousers too as thought it would give the outfit some longevity for work experience etc in future. Plenty of tops in the wardrobe. Dress very similar to the blue one above!

No news from any of our choices yet. We’ve put it to the back of our minds for now though I note today is the day UKCAT scores go to Unis.

Good luck everyone.