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.

Thank you both, we were veering to tie with suit. At the moment it's a welcome distraction to the research he's doing

I think tie too, apparently, and I have heard this many times over the years, don't wear a red tie - unless you are going for a sales job! Who knows how much colour psychology works, but nothing to loose from choosing a blue one.

Eeek. Did you hear the squeal? DD got an interview at Leicester! We knew it would be borderline but wow, delighted. Just booked it for 19/12. Got HYMS next Thurs 2B1G but ours is 11am. Sheffield 24/1. Just waiting on Liverpool now but know that will be January.
Phew. Feeling proud & very lucky.
Seems everyone is getting underway. Well done & Good luck everyone. I so like thrust site where like-minded people understand the excitement of "just an interview"!

SomersetS, well done, my friends brother in law is a well regarded heart surgeon who went to Leicester and has worked in London Hospitals ever since. DD just rang from school (helping with drama again), she has an interview at UEA - and luckily after my jury service too! End of January. She said she had begun to think she wouldn't hear from them as a bit of an unknown interview selection process. All the best for everyone else, I know Liverpool is a late one and Bristol continues to be a bit of an unknown, so fingers crossed for all.

Mine just got an interview at Nottingham !! On 11th or 14th. So has to be 14th as she has one at Sheffield on 11th. Going to be a busy week. She was so excited 😁😁

Brilliant news all those interviews coming on! Cross fingers the coming weeks will bring the first ones to those still waiting.

Great news about the interviews! Very somber mood in our house tonight. DD failed her driving theory test

Oh bless her drink water. Tell her it will make her a better driver in the end. My DD failed her practical 3 times. Did she know about the 'no cursor' ? Apparently the dangers bit just starts without much warning and they can miss s bunch of hazards before they realise they should have been clicking. And the App helped all mum with the theory - I found out what s Toucan crossing was, and a contra flow bike lane

Mine. Not mum. 😳

Oh drinkofwater! What a shame. It seems so terrible to them, when they fail anything. My DD passed her driving test on the 3rd attempt. She was wailing, saying she was hopeless and would never be able to drive, she even tried to sell her car. She laughs about it now. So tell your DD this, she will pass very soon. 😘😘😘

Oh drinkofwater, I remember my DS1 saying the hazard warning part is very odd and a lot of his friends struggled because of it. I have suggested my DD waits until the summer, after exams, to even start the process. Swingofthings, I am sure Manchester will be soonish, I think they have already rejected those with low UKCAT. I do feel for them all, some obviously bright hard working applicants, have one bad morning/afternoon of tests and they have to rethink choices or take a chance. There is an element of luck in all these things.

Interview at UEA delight and surprise from DS this was his last minute 4th risky choice! Hope this bodes well especially for the BMAT choices. Still saying he won't wear a suit...!
Feel a bit shell shocked, suddenly seems very real.
All the best to thosestill waiting fir first interview it will come...

Proudwhatever - great news about UEA! We really liked it, at the open day, so friendly. SomersetS - I agree about the interview excitement being strange to people who do not understand the process of applying for medicine - many of my friends are underwhelmed at my interview news, that's why this thread is so therapeutic - we can all be neurotic together.

great news proudwhatever, to choices and risk ones are definitely the most welcome!

Sorry adrinkofwater for the the theory test but your DD needs to remember that it is very random and down to luck as although some questions are stupidly obvious, others can only be answered if memorised. She has so much on her mind at the moment and this is definitely the least crucial one that will only delay her for a few weeks.

DD took the road on her own for the first time yesterday. I just sat there counting every second until she came back. She said that driving alone was must less stressful than driving with me, which I knew would be the case! Although I'm pleased for her and know that it is for the best that she drives, I have to say that it would have suited my nerves if she'd decided she wasn't interested!

Swingofthings, I hope your DD enjoyed the freedom, you will get used to it:) Proud great news re UEA, my DD had tears in her eyes when she got the UEA invite yesterday, end of January for us. On the dress code front, you may get a hint in the more detailed info. that comes later, but I put it to DD that this is not just a university interview, it is an interview with a job at the end of it. I have spent a lot of time with doctors (DS2 ENT issues), DD at GOSH, and every male doctor wore a suit and tie, or scrubs! DD goes to school in short skirts, chunky high shoes, thick black tights and a visible septum piercing - interview outfight, knee length dress, flat shoes and septum piercing hidden!

Proud from UEA website FAQs on medicine interview:

What should I wear?

You are expected to dress as you would for a job interview.

My daughter goes to her GP placements at medical school with a septum piercing and double earrings in one ear. They are all discreet and small. Given some of the patients they see in a very socially mixed area of a large city nobody has a problem.

Goodness, I go away to visit elderly mum in Devon and come back to all your exciting news!! Well done to 2B1G and proud to you and your DC with interviews at UEA and mumsneedwine - nottingham yay and Somerset1 for Leicester and all the best to those still waiting - they will come. DD also got interview at UEA yesterday - chuffed to bits as she didn't think she would after reading all the posts on tsr!! Spent last night looking at accommodation near the uni - 4 hour trip for us and booked b&b for January.
Sorry to hear about the driving theory a drink - best of luck for the next sitting. Totally agree about the driving swingifthings - I followed DD in her first trip 😂 she was most annoyed but also agrees driving without me is much less stressful.
We're lucky on the interview clothes front as DD has to wear 'office wear' for sixth form so no new shopping for us - also has double ear piercings and going to keep them in cos she says they're 'her'

Abra1d, my DD will be very pleased to hear that and personally I don't have a problem with it and think it is good to be true to yourself - I find it sad that where I work in retail even a tiny nose stud is considered unacceptable - one girl covered hers with a plaster, which of course looked bizarre! Stevie3, felt the same about UEA so thrilled - just booked the tickets and got really good price, so upgraded to first class going up as a treat, only an extra £9. Are you driving or train? Mumsneedwine, meant to say a well done too on Nottingham, my DS1 studied engineering but shared with a lovely medic student in halls and in a shared house for a year - I remember speaking to his mother when we dropped our DS off at halls and they both had guitars, and now he is a doctor! Nottingham is a great campus, very green and the trams are supposed to be great, if expensive, into the city centre.

My DD will be wearing a dress with jacket & some "sensible" shoes - not her choice but she was at least persuaded to listen to wisdom this time. No earrings but she does have a nose piercing - small diamond stud only. I think this will be ok - looks smart & tidy with a small air of rebelliousness she thinks. Any thoughts?
I see Drs of all shapes sizes & fashion sense - don't think it matters - makes them more human & approachable? Like teachers.

Mine has a dress, thick black tights and longish black cardie. And I'd wearing flat ankle boots. She looks smart and 18.

Many thanks to all you lovely mums for your kind words. It is so lovely to know there are others out there who understand this exciting/daunting process for our DC. I think I've convinced my DS that he does need to wear a suit & tie for his interview, now I need to convince him about a haircut! The very best of luck to all of those who have interviews coming up soon!

I do remember seeing a medic student on Uni Challenge with a fabulous mohican, one of my first BFs had a similar style - used all my hairspray to keep in place though.... . SomersetS I think keep the nose stud they are pretty. I would have preferred my DD to have one but she went for the septum ring instead, one of her mock interviewers advised her to 'hide' it just in case - but also seemed to appreciate it showed character/small rebellious streak.

If you Google MB BS student handbook UEA you will find lots of info about the course for anyone with an interview there.

Interestingly they also set out a dress code for placements and specifically say no facial piercings and just plain non dangly earrings. IMO that might be useful for guessing their definition of suitable business interview wear too.
Certainly my DS dresses smartly for all of his GP and hospital placements but general student wear the rest of the time.

Thanks sluj, I certainly get that impression with UEA, whereas HYMS, say smart, but please don't spend money on a special outfit. And thanks for the the tip, UEA is late January for my DD, but I know some are soon. Whilst is it great to have several interviews, it is also tough for those who have them so close together - good luck all over the coming weeks - and I hope the weather doesn't cause any problems!