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.

Gosh I hadn’t realised they didn’t already have the UKCat scores. DS is chilled, has now done his EPQ so now can concentrate solely on revision!!

Good to find this thread, my DD has applied for her four choices, usual last minute confusion re decision on fourth, looking for courses with good amount of PBL and not going for any BMAT. Getting the UKCAT score before applying is a huge help in sifting out those that might be tough etc. Having the score helped inform her final choice - Manchester, she hasn't visited but the course style suits her and she likes the idea of a city base for the first year or two. Tbh when she first mentioned medicine, a couple of years ago, my heart sank, it is a tough course with a tough job at the end, getting even to interview stage is exhausting and I know two exceptionally bright students a few years older, both of whom got four interviews and no offers. One on paper everyone thought was a dead cert., great p.s., work experience, extra curricular, the lot. Luckily they got a place in clearing, the other even with perfect results (and I mean A* in every exam ever taken) got nothing, took a year off and is doing something science based instead. But I am now trying to be positive, DD has been a patient and had recent work shadowing in an ICU that didn't put her off - without going into details, she saw some things that I would have found very hard to cope with. We have had the 'what if no offers/interviews talk', she has applied for deferred entry so that takes some of the pressure off making an alternative decision. My role now is to support her through the next stages, with or without interviews (but hopefully one), and to get the grades. DD is my third child to apply for Uni, each one for different courses and different experiences, medicine is a minefield and her schools sixth form is only in its third year - so far no medics, hence my involvement has been key. Lots of myths exist about the process than even some of her A Level teachers seem to believe. One said 'why are you talking about how to helped dementia patients, you aren't applying to be a nurse, you should be talking about academics!'. Thanks to the open days we attended, she chose to ignore that piece of advice! Good luck to all.

About interview outfits - my daughter is a very causal dresser and was determined that she would NOT be smartly dressed. Her plan was to go in trousers ( not jeans ) and a top. She insisted that her teachers at school had told them to “ just be themselves “.

The week before her interview she caved to pressure from me and last minute nerves and we bought a Inexpensive navy knee length dress and matching jacket, which she wore with flat shoes and opaque tights.

She was very VERY glad that she did as 98% of applicants she saw at her MMIs were similarly dressed. Ive no reason to think it made any difference to the outcome but it did to her confidence.

One tedious and no doubt middle aged point . Teenage girls are so used to wearing teeny tiny short skirts, they don’t have any understanding of what they look like when you are sitting down with your legs crossed.

Of the few candidates my daughter saw who were not formally dressed, one was a girl who looked like she was going clubbing in a very short skirt, heels and lost of fake tan on her legs, thick makeup and jewellery. Poor girl had misjudged it badly and must have felt awful.

Welcome 2B1Gmum. The thread feels a bit like the quiet before the storm at the moment, which I think we're all making the most of!

Like yo r DD, mine went to a new 6th form who marketed themselves as having the best arrangement in place to support applications to Oxbridge and Medicine. The reality is that they knew very little about the intricacies of applying to medical schools and when only a handful of pupils showed even a remote chance of getting into medicine, they decided to focus resources on their budget recovery instead! Like you and most posters here, I spent hours doing research to support her application and would have found it hard without it.

DD has also applied to Manchester..... and is still to finish her additional information form with the deadline being Friday! Since we've been on holiday, she's struggled to get back into the swing of things (ha ha!). Thank God she is back at school. At least one thing the school does well is treating them like kids and putting them under pressure to perform!

Kristina, I can't believe that after all those months of hard work to get to the point of getting an interview, a pupil would risk messing it all up by dressing totally inappropriately. What did her parents think, although I accept some parents wouldn't have a clue. Then again, maybe that's how she felt comfortable and confident and if that showed at her interview, maybe it wouldn't have prejudiced her.

Hello swingofthings, my DD was on a compulsory school trip all last week so NAI not submitted yet either. Did you visit Manchester? If so I would love to hear about it. I got an email from the school today saying they were trying to get in touch with my daughter about medicine interview practice (funny that, the reason she couldn't be found was that she was on a school trip), but at least they are doing some practice - unfortunately they are not attempting MMI style :(. Kristina, your comment about short skirts made me smile, IF my DD is lucky enough to get an interview it will be trousers, all of her skirts look too short to me! Swingofthings, your situation sounds so familiar I am wondering if it is the same school or in the same borough? LBofR for me.

Makes me feel a bit better that DD is not the only one filling it in at the last minute! Unfortunately we didn't visit either. We didn't visit any, no time and it was just a case of applying to the ones she was more likely to get an interview but I heard very positive feedback about it, the latest being one GP I work with whose one colleague has links with school.

No interview practice with her school. We're in the South, the school did its first A levels this year and supposedly results were below average, but because it's a new school, it's not listed yet amongst those that would trigger special consideration. To be fair, her teachers are very good and I feel she is getting the right academic support but they are not one iota close to competing with independent schools as they like to pretend!

DD hasn't had to fill in any additional information forms. I just asked her and she said that none of the medical schools she has applied to have requested one. In a way it's a shame because she has finally found somewhere where she can get some work experience.

She has been rejected from her 5th choice.

Oh no! What/where was it if you don't mind me asking?

Leeds. Diagnostic radiography.

Sorry to hear that, I'm sure she'll have better luck with medicine!

Kristina, I can't believe that after all those months of hard work to get to the point of getting an interview, a pupil would risk messing it all up by dressing totally inappropriately. What did her parents think, although I accept some parents wouldn't have a clue. Then again, maybe that's how she felt comfortable and confident and if that showed at her interview, maybe it wouldn't have prejudiced her

I fear it was just a misjudgememt and suspect her parents didn’t know any better. I’m giessing she thought “ smart “ meant “ dressed up in your best going out clothes “ rather than what we understand means “office appropriate “.

Poor girl must have felt very out of place surrounded by other kids in more traditional interview outfits. You need a lot of confidence to stand out from the crowd for that reason in that setting.

I suspect some schools don’t help with all this “ just be yourself “ lark. They are 17 or 18, half of them don’t have any sense at all. They don’t know that “ be yourself” means “ look like a potential medical student “ not “ show your knickers to the interviewers every time you cross your legs “.

Most of the kids I saw going for interview wore smart / causal office wear. Boys had smart trousers , open neck shirt with neat jumper or smart trousers with collar and tie and casual jacket or a suit and tie.

Girls had smart dress and cardigan or jacket, or smart trousers with office type blouse . I didnt see any girls in skirt suits, I don’t think they are in fashion right now .

Of course in theory it doesn’t matter what they wear. But DD would have felt even more nervous in the “ wrong “ clothes. She may be a scruff bag but she’s a conventional scruff bag.

My DS is determined if he gets any interviews he will not be wearing a suit!! It must be much more complicated for the girls, he is just going to wear the smart shirt, smart trousers combo.

Is everyone lurching between visions of succes and zero interviews?
Like 2B1G mum I am reminded of my DS's cousin, two rounds of applications, v high UKCAT score and no interviews, now doing a pure science degree. My DS's former head said a third who apply aren't' god enought, a third are good enough and the other third are just unlucky!

Have not mentioned anything UCAS related for a whole week now so this thread is a good release.

PS TSR thread saying first batch of Birmingham interviews will go out next week.

Oh no, so sorry to read this Lonicera. Did they say why? How did your DD take it? I hope it is not affecting her confidence too much and she is even more motivated to get into Medicine.

It's only Manchester that requires another form. It's just a more extended version of the PS.

I guess I am surprised about the outfit for interviews because I assumed most applicants would have had to go for some sort of interview in their life before, even if to their local college, or the places they work/volunteer at. DD had a 'pretend' interview with the Headteacher in Year 11, which all kids had to do and hated, but at least they knew what to expect and wear. They would have been told then that school uniform was the style, but indeed, a few kids come from different backgrounds and she might have been extremely bright but had no support along the way.

Proudwhatever, totally lurching between the two extremes but DD is very much a 'what will be will be' type of person and I'm the nervous wreck, asking her to check her junk emails! I think Bristol have also send some few invites to interview.

DD has never been for a proper interview. She had one for applying to 6th for at school so was in school uniform.

My daughters school was the same LoniceraJaponica , no interview offered .Dd asked for one and they obliged .She found it useful and they asked a teacher she wasn’t familiar with so it felt more real .I think it is well worth having some sort of practice especially as many get sent on medic portal interview courses , weekends etc .A few in her year were applying to medicine and it was gratifying to see how they supported each other discussing current medical issues etc pre interview .

Mines had interviews for jobs but think these MMIs will be very different. One of her friends has an interview at Bristol - he’s a bit of a genius (& also v v nice). I’m veering between being calm and so worried about her being disappointed. They work so hard just to get to this point. Why couldn’t she want to be a plumber 😳

DD had a mock MMI during her Summer placement with the outreach scheme she was part of. She said it was full on but also quite fun, that of course when there wasn't an offer of a place at task!

There are so many current issues it's hard to know what to focus on. Also the usual ethic questions which require to think quite quickly.

Taking DD to an interview still feels surreal!

On the positive side I do know four current medical students through my middle child, all got offers first time round. Common link is that were very personable, bright not arrogant and chose wisely. One got four interviews and four offers, probably an except but a genuine all rounder, music, drama, sport and has been a patient most of their life so keen to work in paediatrics, one got only one interview but got the offer. All happy with their choices, Bristol (2), Birmingham and Newcastle. The super academic student who got four interviews and no offers is introverted, not a team player, a little over confident and I suspect medicine was parents choice not theirs and this must have come across at interview.

There are so many parts of the application process, and some will suit some more than others. UKCAT was not DDs high point, but MMIs were. She likes talking to adults and enjoyed the ones she went to. So no need to worry. If your DC is not an interview natural it might be worth considering practicing. Paid courses, perhaps, or even looking at likely elements on the internet (eg interpreting medical statistics) and practising with less familiar adults.

Medical ethics are covered in a book called Medical Ethics: A Very Short Introduction by Tony Hope.

Though short it is apparently totally boring so I had to pay DD to read it (desperation had set in), though in her case quite a lot of content was familiar from plot lines in Grey's Anatomy.

It is also useful to have reasons why you are applying to a particular medical school, not just that they are most likely to accept you. Book mark or print off as many pages as possible to read the night before (teaching approach, medical societies etc). Not least it can help create some enthusiasm. Looking at intercalation options seemed to give a sense of where the research interest of a school lay.

And DD's tip, now she has started, is make sure you nail the A in chemistry. It may not be true everywhere but it appears that the odd missed grade was forgiven as long as it was not chemistry.

Uh oh ladies TSR is reporting interviews being sent out from Leicester today. My computer keeps pinging from the threads. The fun starts again (I was enjoying the peace & quiet).

Lonicera sorry to hear about your 5th option. We haven’t heard from ours yet (Applied Medical Science at Swansea).

I’ve promised myself not to peek at DDs emails - if it’s bad news I don’t want to know before her. Must keep positive!!!!

I know a few of us have offspring applying to Brighton just got a very quick reply back about volume of applicants as just curious as last year they had a 25% jump in applications anyone know if this is up, down or same as last year?

1683 applications.

Best wishes

Jamie Saunders
Admissions Officer
Admissions
Academic Services
STUDENT INFORMATION CENTRE
University of Brighton
Rooms E349/E350
Checkland Building
Village Way
Falmer
BN1 9PH

I got into serious trouble with dd1 last year for looking at her emails!!

She dresses in blsck trousers and a blouse and got 2 offers for dentistry. On her Cardiff feedback it did mention that she was smart but not weari g a suit like most of the others!

Leicester was one of DD's choices. She says she hasn't heard anything. The girl who posted on TSR goes to her school, is 20 (Yes that's right), has loads of work experience, got an extremely high UKCAT score and is predicted 3 A*s. She is also very self confident and will probably get interviews and offers from everywhere.

Lonicera that girl also applied HYMS I think. My DD Applied both of those. I did clock her stats on TSR. Guess they start at the top & work their way down. We are borderline I think for Leics.

Dress with Jacket for interview. Just trying to persuade very petite daughter to buy some flats rather than wear her heels but she feels she will look too “small” (insignificant). I’m 5’10” so probably don’t appreciate what she feels - I’m the opposite - flats or I feel like a giant!

Hi RedHelen, I couldn't find the exact number but the medicportal reports a number of applications of 1650. It doesn't state which year it applies to though, but further down gives detail of the cut off score for 2016 entry, so maybe we can infer that this relates to that same year, in which case, maybe we can hope that if it increased by 25% last year, it means it went down again this year....

I think I am reading what I want to see :)