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.

We've booked hotels for night before in both Sheffield and Nottingham. Found hotels on campuses at both. Hubbie doing one as I'm teaching all day but managed to get day off for the other one. It's tight having them 3 days apart but at least she'll be in the interview zone. Warning for anyone applied to Notts - they need you to download all documents relating to work experience, volunteering and certs. Fortunately mine had them easily on email but know someone who is struggling to prove they did their work exp.

Well, we are here in Plymouth. DD has interview on Tuesday, but having a little mini break. Hoping to do a bit of Christmas shopping. I left DDs suit in the train - can you imagine?! Big thanks to the train cleaners at Plymouth, who found it and handed it in. Lots of other people here, ready for interview (the interviews are held at this Jurys Inn hotel) it is strange seeing the wide variety of people they all are. It will be interesting to see how they all look on interview day.

Good luck all. DD off to Gorillaz tomorrow night as birthday treat, then has to get into interview zone for Thursday. DH suddenly realised how soon it is and suggesting things that are not particularly useful this late in the day! mumsneedwine, the hotel on campus at Nottingham looks lovely, they finished building just before DS1 graduated but it was fully booked of course, so had to stay down the road. There is an art gallery/venue on lakeside that I didn't get to either, might be somewhere to wander round while you wait. Mommymootzi, interesting being in the hotel and thank goodness for helpful train cleaners, I hope you didn't have to wait too long to find it i.e. not long enough to start discussing going shopping for a new one just before the interview!

Good luck to all the interviewee's this weekand happy exploring of campuses to those going with them!

Warning for anyone applied to Notts - they need you to download all documents relating to work experience, volunteering and certs. Fortunately mine had them easily on email but know someone who is struggling to prove they did their work exp.

One of my daughter’s work experience ‘proofs’ in the form of a letter was lost at school and nobody could find it. She just gave the care home contact name and email instead so Nottingham could check if they wanted to. It was fine and she still got an offer.

But it was all a bit stressful at the time!

Abra, it's the same thing for SGUL. Thankfully, I asked DD to forward me the email so I could print the info and it turned out that was tons of info there she hadn't yet bothered to read, including the fact that not only do they want a form filled with experience listed, but actually headed letters from all the places she worked/volunteered/did placements at confirming her working hours and brief description of duties.

Reading the tsr thread, this has not been mentioned at all, and you had to click on a few links before you got to that information. I expect DD would have read it.... the day before!

Good luck everyone with interviews this week. A quick question to those who've already gone through that first interview, what do you do during that time? Do you walk in with your DC and stay with them until they are called for the interview or do they walk in the building on their own whilst you go shopping or whatever else?

DD has to be at SGUL at 1pm, but the actual interview will be at 2, 3 or 4pm, so it could be a long wait. They say to allow 4 hours. No shopping for me considering where it is, I wouldn't be able to afford even a pair of sleepers!

swing

How’s your blood pressure! So much details.

Good luck!

Hi guys thanks for the kind words about first interview just noticed Brighton have started sending out interviews, contextual and non-CD!!!

Swing...Tooting is fun. Its South London rather than London proper, which is very different. It was named by Lonely Planet as one of the world's top 10 suburbs. It will be too cold for the Lido (second largest outdoor pool in Europe or something) but there is a covered market, a big Primark and and a variety of South Asian restaurants. Also a great place to buy mangos.

londonist.com/london/features/is-tooting-really-one-of-the-coolest-places-on-earth

Two stops on the tube and you are in Balham, which is also fun, but in a more Waitrose sort of way. Great independent butcher, some nice small shops, cafes and restaurants etc. Or jump on a bus to Brixton, see the Bowie mural, and wander around Electric Avenue and the markets.

DD would only allow me drop her off at the entrance of the building. I was warned "not to be seen" till she texted me with a rendez-vous. Bristol had a lengthy post interview tour, Birmingham cancelled the one they had promised as DD was the only taker and KCL did not bother, so it was difficult to predict when they would come out. I used the time to walk round the area., look in letting agents windows, talk to people at the student accommodation etc.

Swing, I concur with needmoresleep, lots of potential ways to spend several hours in the area, and a worthwhile thing to do as part of more fact finding! DD getting a little anxious as she has a big chemistry test again on Wednesday but wants to focus on interview prep. It seems HYMS didn't ask for nearly as much info. but I suspect UEA do - plenty of time to get that organised though. No news on Manchester but I think it may be soon, we know Liverpool will be January - so focussing on 18th birthday and Christmas now.

Thank you Needmoresleep and 2B1Gmum, plenty to do then. Maybe DD will have to be the one waiting for me!

Invite received for BSMS. It's a relief as the BMAT cut-off is always a bit of a surprise. Waiting for Manchester too 2B1Gmum which I think should come out soon indeed. It would seem they have already sent a few rejections.

Well done SOT on your BSMS interview :)

Thank you JA :)

Can't believe it, DD just got an invite for Manchester 5 minutes ago. Yep, just like buses!

Amazing congrats! xx

Swing Manchester too... I was expecting to see your post with the same news, well done. DD will most likely book a late one, but I am rushing off to my choir performance with a smile on my face, and nerves because I can't remember some of my words!

DS now waiting to fly back from his interview today. Appeared to enjoy the whole process!!

Oh and congrats on BSMS too Swing, it will be interesting to see how they all differ. DD has booked a February date in half term for Manchester, pleased to see half term on offer. When do BSMS interview? I think DD's school friend heard from them this week too. watfordmummy better to have enjoyed it than have his confidence knocked, good to hear.

Yipee 2BGmum! It was a nice surprise as not expected today. I hope the choir performance went ok

DD wanted to pick a February date, but I told her I wouldn't be able to go with her if she did, so went with 12/01. BSMS interview is 5/01. They only do interviews during that week (I think!).

How did it go yesterday Mommymoomitzi?

Great news watfordmummy, I guess there was a sense of independence and what his life will be like next year and if he enjoyed the interview too, then he is clearly one step ahead to being a doctor!

Starting to sink in what a big deal 3 interviews is, from worrying about her even applying, to choosing which four, to this stage is a learning curve for all our DC as well as all of us. Whatever happens a great achievement for all getting this far. Train journey tomorrow will be spent trying to boost confidence whilst trying to second guess the questions and scenarios to be prepared for. Just watched a programme about doctors on Shetlands, enlightening - might get DD to try and watch on catch up - as always I am in awe of the NHS staff.

On our car journeys to interviews I sat with DS and got him to work out what he would use for his examples of
-Resilience
-Team work
-Stressful situations and how to prepare for them. Prepare being the key word .
-Being under pressure
-Mentoring others
-Dealing with disappointments.

It's amazing how much mileage you can get out of playing an instrument in an orchestra!

His top tips for MMIs are not to worry if you cock one up just move on.
He also said for the scenario ones you shouldn't say what you might instinctively want to do, you should stick 200% to the rules and policies. No second chances or benefits of the doubt if they present you with the kind of scenario where a colleague has made a mistake. You need to think in professional terms and not friend terms.
Good luck to all of you

Good luck to the interviewees so surreal our babies being interviewed as potential doctors! DS has interview number 2 at BSMS 9.00 am!!!! Well spaced out from the next one. He is very excited, funny though after all his sweat and tears that they don’t even read the PS.

Good luck all, I think from what DS said linking is key.

Now just waiting, one of his choices don't interview, and one of the others have said you won't hear until January, so he's just hitting the books now.

Completely agree there seems to be so much that they have done and sweated over which on the surface doesn't get considered, (EPQ in our case) but as DS said it was worth doing for what he learnt doing it, and he also referred to it.

Wow what great news for everyone, particularly Swing's double whammy! DD just arrived York with DH (he always calmer than me) for HYMS interview tomorrow. Staying in city. They've just found an NHS carol service at Minster so going there to keep busy & calm!
Hull is her favourite so bit worried it's the first one - and a bit different to others MMI's.
Good luck 2B1 - ours is 11am so think different time to you.
Here we go.......

Hi Somerset, yes we have an afternoon slot, so DD even gets a small lie in, journey from home starts at 10.00 am, but a late night. Looking forward to a wander round, the carol service sounds perfect. DD also saying how much she liked HYMS and that being the first is worrying, but we said her enthusiasm should come across! As you say different format, intense in a different way to standard MMI - all the best to your DD too. Met lovely admissions people on the open day, I am sure our DDs will be looked after before and after...

Yippee...DD just got an interview invite from Birmingham😅😅
Congratulations to all the others who hit their invites in the past few days🎉🎊