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.

got* their invites

Good luck to all those who have an interview today, I think they are a few and first interview for most

Just saw your message Preeti, great news :)

DD survived HYMS interview. She was so anxious before she went in DH thought she would vomit! But she survived & thinks she did as well as she could. She's not sure all stations were great but she felt she did her best with a few small wins. Who knows what they wanted to see.

How did you go 2B1G? 4.5 hours home wore her out last night!

Now the build up for Leicester before Christmas while she's in the mood.
Good luck those going in the next week.

Morning Somerset, DD said when the first bell rung her stomach felt awful, but it sounds like they were approachable and she chatted a bit to the others in her group. So hard to tell, she was exhausted too, not helped by standing in freezing cold waiting 20 mins for the bus back to meet me, poor girl thought she might just be at the wrong stop. The far side of the campus is a bit bleak on a cold grey day. She seemed OK about it - no strong feelings one way or the other. They clearly know what they are looking for but how on earth they score them is a mystery! All the best for Leicester.

swing, there are some tips on the Medic Portal about SGUL interviews, if you can't get access I will see if I can post the link. Belated congrats to your DD for Birmingham interview.

sorry that was to Preeti74 for her DD re Birmingham btw. Still a bit cold and tired from yesterday. I had to smile I got my long awaited refund from Virgin trains today, on the journey yesterday we went to our reserved seats and a lady was sitting in one of them and absolutely adamant that she had reserved the same ones, we managed to find somewhere else to sit - oh and the train was late getting in and the train home was delayed too...

I just logged a refund request for yesterday's journey too! Half hour late but at least seats were right.

How did it go? I wonder whether the Dr we know at SGUL was involved in interviews, she is very involved in education - she is lovely but can do a good serious stare too! It does add to the stress when the transport doesn't go smoothly. Did you explore locally or further afield? DD's school sent an email yesterday, her one very good and lovely Biology teacher is absent and they won't say why or for how long, the cover is pretty useless (can't spell amongst other things). Also half her class have made a complaint to the head of year about one chemistry teacher who has decided not to teach but just show a power point and then say 'get on with it as this is what Uni is like'. I am back to stressing about whether she is being taught well enough to get the grades... Nice long break before the next interview.

2B1G how worrying. It is particularly important to nail the chemistry, as Universities may be less likely to take a dropped grade there. We did not do many but had good experiences with short commercial Christmas and Easter revision courses. DD had been well taught but is quite dyslexic so learns much better aurally, and needed all the exam technique she could get (and was bound to lose SpaG marks). She was surprised how many on the Easter chemistry course had big gaps in their knowledge.

It is frustrating, and she has asked to look at some revision courses, she did say sorry I know they are expensive but..... She has a good bunch of friends all aiming for top grades so they seem to help each other out - all day today is Geography coursework which seems to involve hours of research and data gathering, second Saturday in the last couple of weeks and four days out of school before that on school trip! She has only just been told/realised that there is an essay in the Biology A level, but I think she will be fine, she doesnt like all the multiple choice where she says they try to trip you up. Remind me where your DD is now.

2B1Gmum. My daughter had a dreadful exrerience, similar to your daughter, last year. I ended up moving her to another school! I know you can't do this, but could you look at getting a really good tutor for an hour a week? I know it's another cost, but the £30 a week was gold dust to us. I used TutorHunt good luck

DD has an interview at Leicester tomorrow. Not sure if we'll be able to get there though because of the snow..... Slightly panicking. DD has no idea at the moment, we just have stormy winds and she thinks the idea of snow is exciting!

Important qualities we look for is their ability to handle stressful situations and resilience...
Most medical applicants will have stellar grades, adequate work experience etc.,
Regarding MMIs - just don’t let one station spoil your whole performance, easily said than done though.. It is how most medical exams are and you have to get certain minimum marks in each station to pass overall.
Also,good to read few issues of British Medical journal/ student BMJ - especially any article regarding the issues faced by NHS , ethics... so you can have a view about it and discuss about it if asked. Remember that there is no right or wrong answer for a lot of things.
Prepare for potential questions and write your thoughts down and link your personal statement, work experience etc - get some interview practice if possible. You would be surprised how helpful doctors are when you approach them. I have given interview practice to children of people who I barely know. If you know any doctor or medical student - ask them for interview practice.

www.medical-interviews.co.uk/topic/interview-questions-medical-school-interviews

This is just an example from the web ... but just to give a flavour of the possible questions.
Above all, it does not matter where you end up doing undergraduate medicine - you can always work in different deanery once you qualify. Most of us have worked around the country before eventually settling down in a place ..
Good luck everyone 💐

My DD and Dad are on the long trek to Sheffield through the snow. Hoping they make it tonight ! Good luck with Leicester tomorrow - can you go tonight to be sure ? Lots of time for interview practice on the drive up and give them a story of resilience !!!

ProfessorLayton1. Some good tips, thank you. Adrinkofwater - I live in Birminghsm. It is thick of snow here and the airport is closed. Side roads are not fit to drive on, they were salting motorways last night. Everyone will be in the same position, make sure you leave loads of time!!!! Not sure if trains are running, maybe you could catch a train up today? Best of luck.

good luck all those travelling to interviews with both the travel and the of course the interviews. If they ask 'how was your journey' there could be some interesting replies....

My DD is going to have a tale ! They've been going 5 hours and have gone 100 miles - still another125 to go. Have had to help dig out a lorry on motorway as it slid and then helped a mum with small kids as her car wouldn't start - they've dropped them at service station. Once they're past Birmingham it looks better so fingers crossed. So much for an afternoon Xmas shopping at Meadowhall

Gosh don't envy your journeys Mumsneedwine & Adrinkofwater. Good luck & stay safe. Will definitely give them something to talk about tomorrow. Hope interviews go well.

We have some snow here in Somerset but not settling yet. Once took us 28 hours Wells to Nottingham (in-laws golden wedding) & I said I'd never make that journey again if there was a chance of snow 😱.
Frequently glad I drive 4x4.

We have Leicester next week so hoping for a thaw. I love snow but not when I have somewhere to be!

They have arrived ! Left here at 8am for a 3 hour trip. Sounded awful with crashes everywhere and M1 like bumper cars. Anyhow DD dragging him round Meadowhall shops - sure she's supposed to be preparing 😂

So glad they have arrived safely mumsneedwine!

mumsneedwine, your DD has shown empathy, patience, strength and still has the energy for shopping, must tick a few boxes!

Phew. Hope it goes well. Meadowhall - call that sightseeing!

My DD always has the energy to shop !! Very good luck to everyone who has interviews this week. Fingers and toes crossed. 🍀🍀🍀

OMG, what a journey Mumsneedwine! Adrinkofwater, hope travelling will be ok for your DD today. It's hard to imagine as we haven't had a drop of it here in the South. There might be quite a few candidates who won't make it at all, how awfully stressful. Good luck to both of them today

2B1Gmum, I really feel for you. It was my biggest concern when we opted for the 6th form DD goes to. They have only been a 6th form for 3 years and there were rumours of funding issues and disgruntled teachers threatening to leave. DD's biology teacher was off for many months two years ago, and it really affected those doing Biology A levels that year. I was worried she might go off again or leave, but she's been there since and doing a great job. DD's Chemistry teacher left last year, but thankfully her new teacher is very good. It's been a constant worry but nothing we can do about it if it happens and indeed, best way to deal with it and trying as much as possible to do work and revision amongst themselves. Hopefully Bio teacher will be back soon.

Thank you for the tips about SGUL interview. I had a look and found it. Arranging a session with DD to 'test' her. Amazingly, she attended a seminar last Friday and found out that one of the girl there has an interview there on the same day and same time, so will be nice to wait together.

Thanks ProfessorLayton for your tips, it's really nice to have people coming to post with advice.

Anyone else has interviews this week?