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.

[SomersetS]

Cardiff open day - they basically said that unless you have all A*s at GCSE don't apply. For them it's all about GCSE scores. Off our list as we only have 4 (the rest are plain old A but apparently won't make Interview). So it was worth attending only to know not to apply unless you meet that criteria.

Plymouth I know have minimum in each UKCAT section to meet & though we got a good score balanced by high result in VR our Abstract score won't meet the cutoff. So that's off the list too.

Newcastle is all about UKCAT - needs to be in the 700's apparently.

Some others we have seen are more of a mixed bag thank goodness. Booked a few more for Sept.

We have a spreadsheet which is ever-growing!

Anybody else gleaned any useful data from specific Uni's?

[adrinkofwater]

Swing, UKCAT went better than in the mocks, so we are both feeling relieved! Also good AS results today, so all happy here! (Except DD is out with friends - not here!) Glad your DD's also went well, but sorry about the SJ. It does seem a bit of a lottery as to what questions come up, but glad she has still got good options.

Somerset, we also went to Cardiff and got the same info that you really need at least 8 A*'s to get an interview.

Exeter seem to base it on predicted (or achieved) A levels, so if you have 3 A*s predicted you have a great chance of interview whereas 3 As its less likely.

Bristol is 15% GCSE, 15% A level, 20% UKCAT and 50% PS from this year, so harder to gauge, but my DDs favourite!

We are planning on going to Nottingham and Leicester in September and possibly UEA, so will hopefully find out more. We have some info from websites, but somehow you find out more when you're there.

DD is keen to go somewhere she likes (green spaces, early clinical and not London) rather than applying to her strengths! Also probably wont do BMAT.

Where is anyone else planning to visit?

[mags2024]

Speaking as the mother of a Junior doctor who is about to head to Australia, via Zambia to see how a "Gates foundation" scheme he and his wife worked on one summer is fairing, for a couple of years travelling then coming back, l think medicine should be post graduate. Its a long story how he got to deciding on medicine. It included mediocre GCSE's , reasonable A levels and having the courage to say he didn't know what he wanted to do at Uni so he carried on his voluntary work with Mind and the same when he went to Germany for his gap year ( girl friend who came to his school, returned to finish her education there ) Mean time he had to decide what to do so he got a good degree from a good uni in a subject he enjoyed. Half way through that he decided to do medicine. He hit the books in the summer holidays and sat BMAT and the other one. He scored highly and got offers from all his choices. He wanted Swansea because of the course - that was his last interview. He held Imperial as his "insurance" which was his first interview. His girlfriend went to Cardiff and they qualified together. On taking up their F1 posts both had an F1 member that quit in the first 2 weeks leaving the team to take up the slack. Bit of a baptism of fire however neither would moan to us because we let them know in uncertain terms what they were letting themselves in for. We also said after foundation if it is still not for you fine. They have thrived on it - hate Mr H with a passion, cannot understand why we do not do private work , but respect us. Now they have choices that very few people have. Friends whose children are in Law or multinationals are just as pressurised. Having seen both ways of qualifying l think post grad is the way to go as your degree that matters ( 1st or 2:1 in related science ) and that you are a mature well rounded person. Those who find it hard to organise themselves on leaving home or need to mature have time to work that out. l must admit when he decided what to do l didn't know whether to laugh or cry that he had made a decision or 4 more bl*y years of penury. So if you young person does not dazzle at first all is not lost as there are other roads to Rome providing they have the innate ability and drive.

[swingofthings]

Anybody else gleaned any useful data from specific Uni's?
Ha ha, getting blinded with it! Exeter Exeter, must have a look at that one :) Then will forget all I've read! In the meantime, DD is acting much more level headed and just taking each step at a time!!

DD also very happy with AS Maths and FM's results this morning. That will give her 2As* and 1 A prediction (dropping FM), so much better than what she was predicted at the start of the year (between As and Bs).

Having seen both ways of qualifying l think post grad is the way to go as your degree that matters ( 1st or 2:1 in related science ) and that you are a mature well rounded person.
Thanks for telling about your son's pathway to Med school. The problem with choosing to go for Med school as a graduate is that competition is even fiercer than straight out of school so it makes sense for the majority to try it first time. DD has known she wanted to go into Medicine since Year 7 and had already looked into what it meant, so for her, it certainly isn't something she suddenly decided upon. We've already discussed what she would do if not accepted in 2018 and after thinking about it, she's already decided she would rather take a gap year and try again then go for a Degree.

I don't think there is any right or wrong, what matters is that they follow what they think is right for them.

[LoniceraJaponica]

"The problem with choosing to go for Med school as a graduate is that competition is even fiercer than straight out of school so it makes sense for the majority to try it first time."

That's what we were told at the couple of medicine talks we attended.

DD has only been practising UCAT, so will only be looking at universities that look for UKCAT. Because of her late decision to do medicine we need to look at more unversities in September. She has ruled out Oxford because doesn't like the course.

She achieved AABB at AS level, so what are her chances of being predicted AAA at A level? She has already dropped one of the subjects she achieved an A in.

[adrinkofwater]

Lonicera, my DD thinks that at her school they will predict 1 grade above your AS result, if that's what they were thinking( presumably because you can get 1 grade higher for A level) so hopefully she'll be ok.

Which 2 medical schools have you seen and what others are you planning on visiting?

[swingofthings]

At my DD school, they were told that their predicted grades would be their AS results or mock exams, however, if they achieved below their performance throughout the year, they would take it into consideration.

[LoniceraJaponica]

adrinkofwater we looked at Hull/York and Newcastle. DD's UKCAT test is on Thursday so we will look at universities based on the results. It's going to be a bit of a squeeze, and it will also depend on what predictions she gets for A level. At the beginning of year 12 DD was working at a C in chemistry and has managed to improve to a B, so I am hoping she can improve again to an A.

She does have a plan B if she doesn't get into medicine.

[Saltedcaramelbrownie]

I know this thread is for 2018 entry, but I am hoping to be on the 2019 thread!!

My DD has always wanted to do Medicine, and has already done some volunteering and work experience. She has just had her GCSE results and has all A*s, As and Level 7s, but has a level 5 (C) in Eng Lang. All the courses ask for a minimum grade B, and we will be getting her GCSE remarked. However, if it remains a C, can anyone recommend the best way forward. Apparently medical schools do not accept resits, so I don't think this would be an option?

[swingofthings]

How frustrating for your DD SCB! Well done on her amazing results bare this one. Did it come as a shock? If so cross all fingers that it was a marking error.

If not my understanding was that schools not accepting remarks applied to A levels rather then GCSEs. My suggestion would be to contact a few of them and see what they say.

[Saltedcaramelbrownie]

Thanks Swing - Yes it is frustrating! I think GCSE remarks are fine, but almost all of the courses say they don't like GCSE resits. I guess I'm just wondering if it's worth going down the route of a resit, when she'll be at such a disadvantage and up against students who got all As first time. She only (!) has 3 As and 6 As.

User - I've looked at the Medicportal website and unfortunately it looks like they are requiring Level 6 as a B......

[Hummingbird21]

Hoping I can join in with this thread! My DS is also applying for medicine this October & I'm already feeling anxious at the thought of all that he needs to decide/do/succeed at this year! Anyone else waking in the early hours fretting because their DC hasn't written their PS yet/can't decide where to apply/might or might not take the BMAT? Or is it just me?!

[SomersetS]

Yes I am tying myself up in knots trying to work out where we stand a chance of an interview based on UKCAT scores & GCSE's. Haven't even factored in predicted grades - if it's not straight A's then it's game over anyhow! I will be a nervous wreck by next August. Apparently there is a first draught PS but I haven't seen it. BMAT - DD gave up & we cancelled on the last day to get a refund for September sitting. Couldn't face more weeks of revision. I was relieved tbh.

[swingofthings]

It's a tough process for us mums too. I got very emotionally invested before DD did the UKCAT but am now trying to take a bit of a step back, reminding myself that it is DD's life, not mine and that in the end, as long as she's happy, so will I, whether she ends up in Medical School next year, the year after, or doing something else that makes her happy too.

All good intentions though, not so easy to apply when deadlines are getting closer and closer!

DD is now revising for the BMAT on the 9th. I was expecting her to start with it a couple of days after the UKCAT, but understandably, she needed a bit of a break, so it's been a slow take up. She's now full on into it though. I think she initially assumed it would be easier than the UKCAT as more her kind of exam, but having done a few mock tests, she's realised that it isn't the case. She's now got her GCSE science books out and going through them in addition to practicing online. Her biggest challenge is the Physics questions as she's not taking it at A levels.

Somerset, yep, gone though the same process, but really waiting for the 15/09 to get the first published UKCAT percentile results. Based on previous years, DD would be in the 7/8th percentile, which would be good, but I can't help wonder whether average results will be higher this year. This will impact on her choice as well as whether to apply to three UKCAT or two of each depending on how she's done on the BMAT.

She decided to go for the BMAT as her first choice of school is a BMAT and also because of her result at the SJT and GCSEs (mainly As).

She's decided to wait for after that date to consider her PS, especially as she will adapt it depending on her final choice of schools. Thankfully, we've booked a very nice trip during the Oct break, I think we will all need it!

[SomersetS]

Swingofthings we too look like being in the 7th decile and I have to say I think it's the trickiest place to be! Roll on 15th September - wonder if the new DM will affect results. AR was our nemisis. My DD won't consider some of the further away (but suit her score) Uni's unless we go and look at them - will be spending Sept weekends travelling the north of England! Anybody seen any nice "leafy green campus" Uni's besides Nottingham? - save me a trip??!?

[sluj]

We were doing this last year and DS ended up with 3 offers - Hull/York, Southampton and East Anglia. He would have taken any offer but chose UEA which he is really enjoying. If you want green and leafy with great satisfaction levels , don't discount it.
Choose accordingly to where you are most likely to get an interview as any other choices are wasted. The student roon had a handy table for applying to your strengths and we found that invaluable.
Best of luck to you all, it's going to be a long year 😁

[LoniceraJaponica]

We have booked a raft of open days for September: Bristol, Nottingham, Leicester and Manchester. We discounted the unis asking for A*s and BMAT, so this is what we are left with. Does anyone have any thoughts about these?

[adrinkofwater]

My DD also wants green and leafy! And she really doesn't like the idea of applying to her strengths, which is a shame as she has good GCSE's and a good UKCAT.

We have booked September open days for Leicester and Nottingham. I would like to go to UEA too, but its a bit too far from us so any info about it slju would be much appreciated.

LoniceraJaponica we went to Bristol's last open day and DD really liked it, especially the fact that it was fully integrated into the University. There was also a nice green and leafy park, Sommerset which made her like it from the start! They are starting a reformed course from this September, which sounds similar to Cardiff's. They weigh the PS at 50% for deciding who gets an interview which means it is quite subjective and hard to tell if you are likely to get an interview, but despite this my DD will probably apply.

She started on her PS today. Apparently it was a lot harder than she expected and had written the introduction .

Has anyone been to Newcastle? It is too far for us to go, but I think could be a good fit for DD, so it would be interesting to hear what others think.

[LoniceraJaponica]

Yes. DD really liked it, but they want a really high UKCAT score. They only take the top 20% and DD thinks her score might not be good enough.

Bristol is a long way for us so a visit means an overnight stay, but there is a plan B course that DD might be interested in.

Newcastle is in the middle of the city, so not that green and eafy.

[SomersetS]

Bristol is home for us - 15mins away so DD is discounting it. It's also not really campus & the way they choose students is risky. Having said that it's a great city & the hospitals are brilliant (we've tried them all!). Newcastle is a flight for us but our UKCAT not quite high enough for safe bet anyhow. Liverpool strategically good for us, also B'ham & Manchester so going to take a look. Anybody been Liverpool or Sheffield?

UEA looks fab but it's a 5 hour drive from here - may have to visit via YouTube.

We liked Southampton, HYMS & Exeter.

[Needmoresleep]

When we were doing this DD just went to a couple of local open days to get a sense of what she liked and didnt like. They usually offer a tour after the interview so a chance then to see what is on offer. Her friends also told her about Universities they had visited. With all the other things would be medics have to do, going to open days sort of fell off the list. Plus in the end the places she applied to, sort of chose themselves as being the ones most likely to interview her.

[LoniceraJaponica]

Sheffield want at least 6 grade A GCSEs in one sitting so we can't look there as her school had a policy of "short, fat" GCSEs when she did hers. Unfortunately the 2 Bs she got were among the year 11 June exams, so although she has mostly A and A*, they weren't all achieved at the same time.

[SomersetS]

Fortunately DDs school changed their policy on sitting GCSEs early before we sat as I wouldn't have realised the implications for Uni applications. Take note would-be Medics!
It seems harsh to lose out because of decisions beyond your control but the whole Medicine thing is a minefield.

[swingofthings]

Hi Lornicera, I thought when they said 'one setting', they meant not taken a second time, rather than taken a year early?

Not that applies to us, but it seems very unfair to discount GCSEs taken early, if anything, it should count more!