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.

alreadytaken, number of applications have actually gone up this year, although it would seem overall balanced with the few extra places but certainly not the decline that everyone had predicted, not even with EU applicants.

In regards to what to wear for interview, the best thing to do is read what the specific school says as it would seem each have slightly different expectation. Manchester seem very cool about it and say that style of dress should reflects confidence and encourage communication. They say that the only thing they recommend should be avoided are T-shirt with slogans, revealing clothing, trainers, strong odours, perfume/aftershave and nothing that covers most of the face. It would seem that anything else that makes you feel confident and communicative is fine!

DD has decided that it was time to focus on her studies so spend all day on it yesterday and I'm glad because it did make her panic a bit realising that she'd fallen behind and for the first time ever, there is a Maths theory she just can't grasp. Finding the right balance between preparing for interviews and keeping with their studies is not easy.

DD's got her 18th birthday coming up on Sunday but she still doesn't know what to do as it will be too expensive to go anywhere and it would seem that most of her friends' parents have now learned that letting their kids have a party at home is not a good idea!

Here's the link to the UCAS for 2018 entries:
www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/number-applicants-october-deadline-university-courses-reaches-highest-recorded-ucas-figures-reveal

Preeti I would stay your DD needs to feel smart but comfortable. Like herself, but well turned out. We went to Next. Reasonably priced but modern office wear. Smart knee length dress with jacket, plus invested in the tailored trousers & a smart sweater top to get more use from the jacket in the long run. DD wore dress with thick tights to Hull & trousers to Leicester. DD felt "appropriately dressed" for both. Fairly plain. Grey with a bit of a slub stripe.
DD has a nose piercing - tiny diamond stud - am hoping it won't put anyone off! No ear piercings or other.
Good luck.
Can't contemplate organising international travel on top of interview prep!

"Enjoy Christmas with your children because once they qualify they may be working at Christmas and unable to get home at all."

DS just finished his first rotation out of three in FY1 and was lucky to get 23rd to 26th December off. He returned to the hospital late last night to begin a new rotation in theatre where all the gruesome stuff awaits him. I suspect all the nice relaxing moments with family during Christmastime will soon be dreams of the past from now on.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions😊 Will have a look at the medical school website as well. Yes traveling 14 hrs and then dealing with jet lag will be challenge 😓😓

Will be a challenge*

Enjoy Christmas with your children because once they qualify they may be working at Christmas and unable to get home at all.
It could have happened this year as DD was told last year when she started working at the residential home that she might be asked to do Xmas day shift. She was fine with it. As it is, her shift fell on Christmas eve. Personally, I can't wait to go away for the festive period to somewhere very hot!!

I was thinking of you Preeti with my moaning of having to travel 5 hours to Manchester. I really admire your and your DC dedication to studying in the UK and really really hope it pays off. Hopefully adrenalin will take over jetlag. Which date is the interview?

It’s on the 2nd of Feb. Yes UK has always been her first choice ‘cause she has cousins there. Hope she gets in...🤞🏻🤞🏻 DD is busy preparing for her ISAT tomorrow. It’s the entrance exam for Australian med schools. Then has her mocks from the 15th of January until the 25th. Will catch a flight on the 27th,for the UK😓😓

Preeti74 - I'm glad to hear that your DD is studying hard, I'm enjoying a little glass of Bailey's, just to warm me up, whilst DD studies Biology. These DC are already so committed, working over the festive break, we should all be v. proud of them. Swing - I second your thoughts re Christmas in a warm place! Sounds like a plan. Not long left of 2017, not sure if I'm looking forward to 2018 ......I suppose time will tell.

Happy New Year everyone. It's going to be a year full of challenges, for all is us. Wishing you all peace, happiness, success and (most importantly) good health. May 2018 be good to all of us x

Happy New Year to everyone on this thread. Good luck to all our children and hope that 2018 brings the offer(s) they want and the A levels grades they need.

Happy New Year everyone 🎉🎊

Happy New Year all, lets hope 2018 brings us all what we need.

Now sitting with a large glass of , as I'm back at work tomorrow.

Happy New Year all and may 2018 bring lots of luck 😊🎉

Sorry for the delay. Forgot my password!
Wishing you all health & happiness in 2018 & May our DCs get what they all deserve for their hard work, determination & perseverance.. Think it might be a roller-coaster ride but hoping for a safe landing for all.

Happy New Year to all and echo all your sentiments and wishes. Exhausted by Jury Service and having to think about very different issues - DD back at school tomorrow and busy revising for more tests - I am sure this thread will begin to get lively again soon. Found out friends DD also chose Manchester as a last minute change and has an interview too, it will be her first interview as she is waiting to hear from her others, so still many DCs waiting to hear from a number of their choices. All the best for 2018

Thread going quiet, everyone still recovering from the festive season or illnesses! Any news for anyone?

DD had her 2nd interview at BSMS today, but she came down with that nasty virus yesterday, fever, coughing, sneezing and head in fog, but they made it clear in their invitation email that they wouldn't offer any other slots, so she had to go on a full dose of paracetamol. They were sympathetic and at least was interviewed shortly after getting there, so only two hours there all together. She is so lucky to have had an offer already, releasing a lot of the pressure and frustration. She's now in bed and finally asleep!

Any interviews coming up in the next couple of weeks? Still waiting to hear? Still nothing at all from Bristol, no rejection, no invite, no still considering!

Hi Swingofthings. Nothing for my DD from Bristol either - we are together in that same boat! Next interview for us is Cardiff on 22nd Jan, DD is studying hard for mocks, she has really bad migraine and the pain specialist has said that she needs to handle stress better (easier said than done eh?) DD is very much a perfectionist and is very hard on herself, this has been an issue since she was small, I try to be laid back, but really struggle to get her to chill a little. Any ideas??

Mommy it’s really hard with a daughter who won’t chill - mine is exactly the same and I am not sure the stresses of a medicine degree are helping but I honestly think she likes to work like that. I tried to tempt her out of the library (Kingston uni) with lunch at Byrons and she refused. I genuinely thjnk she has loads of work as she has exams next week but chilling a bit might help her. Not that she will listen to me! Good luck with the mocks and with the Cardiff iv.

Mommi, Pixel, Swing - think things will begin warming up next week. Awful to have heard nothing from Bristol, at least we knew Liverpool would be quiet until next week.
Still no offers, but no rejections either.

Chilling - my DD was persuaded to take up yoga (its fitness yoga, no chanting) as she struggled with weight bearing exercise pre surgery & has really learned to enjoy it. She's no gym bunny but does find a bit of light exercise is the best way to calm her brain & stretch her muscles. Helped her to learn to breathe & concentrate on relaxing. Not my bag at all but v glad she found it. Anything that gets them to switch off brain-churning & relax is good news.

Thank you for advice ladies. Might look for a yoga class, I think that might help with headaches. She would like to try Purnells, in Brum - might try and book it, she deserves a treat, they are all working so hard and it's difficult to support them, at times, I feel that I am the only one she can "vent" at, but I suppose some of you might recognise that scenario?

Mommy, I've never experienced stress related-anxiety (and related headaches), at least to that extent until recently. I suddenly know what your DD is going through. I've been told that they are no miracles, just learning coping mechanisms to relax both physically and mentally. CBT and meditation for the mental side of it, yoga, deep breathing for the physical.

I have started the breathing part and I have to say that when done with proper commitment, it does really help. I'm going to try the rest, but I get the feeling that it does indeed come down to letting go of all those things we think we have sole control of and responsibility to do perfectly. Not easy especially at a young age.

Thanks Swing. I wonder if there are any books on breathing techniques? I will try Amazon. Really bad day yesterday. A teacher died of a heart attack in front of a class of students at DD's school. He was 48. DD was not in class, but it is a very small school and it has clearly affected all very badly. All were sent home early. This has added to stress at the moment, feeling so sad for his friends and family. It does put things into perspective. As long as we have health, we are blessed.

Mommy, Pixel, Swing - Friends DD still waiting on Bristol too - if I hear otherwise I will let you know. A couple of friends with older DC had to support them through stress that escalated to panic attacks (other issues that meant they got to that stage) professional advice (other than medication) was exercise and pets. A non judgemental friend to cuddle does wonders! Royal Holloway fills a room with puppies before exam period for the students to visit!. Our DC are aiming high and are bright and high achievers, seems to go with the territory that stress will feature and may be a question that comes up at MMI? Pixelchick10, you must live quite close to me, I was at Kingston Crown Court for my jury service. Swing sorry to hear your DD has that horrid bug, and for her interview. Hope your DD gets better quickly. Somerset fingers crossed for interviews for Liverpool, it was the first one we visited so DD has a soft spot for it - plus the new hospital being built in Liverpool looks amazing.

OMG Mommy, what a horrible traumatic situation for everyone :(

Re. breathing, I think there is quite a bit on the internet, but in summary, it involves laying down (preferably), closing your mouth, and taking a large breath of air, but through your stomach (they advise you put your hand on your tummy to see it go up) rather than your lungs. You hold it for a couple of seconds, and then you release the air through your mouth very slowly. Repeat a few times. I find that this exercise release tension around my shoulders and when I do it at night, it does send me to sleep somehow! It seems like an easy exercise, but it actually demands quite some concentration and effort especially as it goes against what your body wants to do, that is keeping it all in!

Thanks 2B1mum about keeping in touch re. Bristol. I think they said that they hadn't gone through all the applications yet and would continue to do so in the new year. I might be wrong but it sounds like they have so far given less offers at this time of the year than they had last year at the same time, but that might be hearsay.

How was Jury service? Was it only one day? We had one member of our team called about a year ago and that went on for about 2 months, and now we have another one who's been called so putting quite some stress on the team.

Suspect DD might have caught that Aussie Flu thing that seems to be on the news as suffering from the usual flu symptoms with fever, but was also sick all through the night. She is totally wiped out this morning.