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Original poster

Medicine 2018 part 2

999 replies

LoniceraJaponica · 12/01/2018 20:39

New thread here

OP posts:
Minikew · 11/02/2018 18:47

@biscuit2000 - my DD got rejected from Nottingham pre interview too and only applied there as her profile matched their requirements. She is totally confused by it all. Great upset when it happened. We will be asking for specific feedback rather than the stock reply "competitive course etc"said

adrinkofwater · 11/02/2018 19:28

We are off to Sweden tomorrow to stay with DH parents, so I just wanted to say that I hope all goes well for those with interviews this week (and those GCSE certificates Lonicera!)

We are also waiting to hear back from Cardiff, but not sure if DD will be checking as she can't do email on her phone for some strange reason. Not sure if we want to find out with parents in law around who have absolutely no idea of the UK uni system.

Still hoping for good news for everyone soon!

Original poster
LoniceraJaponica · 11/02/2018 21:40

Thank you adrinkofwater Will be ringing school first thing in the hope that someone may be in (half term here), then frantically finding a solicitor if unsuccessful.

I don't understand why a university can't accept copies if they also have the originals in front of them plus photo ID.

OP posts:
mumsneedwine · 11/02/2018 21:46

They do Lonicera. If they see originals then any copies are fine. No solicitor needed !

Mrsramsayscat · 11/02/2018 23:00

Min, my son's friend was interviewed at clearing at a university for which she had not applied. Then got a late place at her original accepted pace, despite not quite having the grades, and after initially received a post results rejection.

I think these days if I were supporting my own child again, I would relax much more.

Movingmountains · 12/02/2018 08:22

Highly recommend Reykjavik Gin (brought duty free at airport)! We're currently getting some r&r in Lake District before Wednesday's interview. Walking is cold and windy but ideal time to practice those questions.

Original poster
LoniceraJaponica · 12/02/2018 11:41

Phew! Panic over. Found a local solicitor who could see me this morning. He stamped and signed the certificates and wouldn't accept any payment!

My faith in human nature is pretty positive right now.

OP posts:
SomersetS · 12/02/2018 16:18

Lonicera that is fantastic. What a nice person.
Hope the interview goes well. Will be thinking of you.
Please be reassured my DD was adamant they were the nicest & it was almost fun. Really made her want to go there (for her it's all about the people).

movednorth · 12/02/2018 17:27

Just mulling over some Plan B options. Does anyone know the answer to this question: if there are no offers on the table, and DD decides to go down the route of UCAS Extra to apply for, say Biology (with a view to trying again for medicine as a Graduate), would she then miss out on any of those last minute waiting list opportunities? Would the waiting list unis see that she had applied for something else?

2B1Gmum · 12/02/2018 18:36

Movednorth I imagine as no other university can see what other places a student has listed on UCAS, then the same should apply to Extra. Clearing places are accessed usually by a (often frantic) phone call - no one will know if your DD phoned for Biology and Medicine - but I would advise phoning for medicine first. Other less competitive courses will have places - e.g. my DS2 got offered PPE at a Russell Group after a 10 minute phone interview - in the end he declined it. I am certain there will be Biology and Biochem available in clearing at some decent Unis, the only issue is accommodation choices.

movednorth · 12/02/2018 21:08

2B1Gmum, the whole idea of results day Clearing fills me with horror! Students can access Extra in advance, though, if they have no offers at all or have rejected offers that have been made. It sounds like a less last-minute way of finding another option. However, I've been looking at the UCAS website and it seems that if you accept an offer through Extra you are committed to it - they would have to release you if you wanted to take something else ... eg from a waiting list??

Waitingforsherlock · 12/02/2018 21:17

I think that to access Extra, ( as in prior to clearing, I think sometime around May), a student has to be holding no offers to be eligible. If I remember rightly UCAS then publish lists of any courses that have available places. At this point a student can then apply but I am not sure if you might then need a differently angled PS.

I would advise caution around withdrawing from a course- make sure that you are not withdrawing from UCAS altogether as this will cause havoc on clearing day as you will not be able to get a clearing number if you have withdrawn from that UCAS cycle. In the bun-fight that is clearing, I am sure that if a candidate is on a waiting list for medicine, having a place for something else through Extra won't affect that. I guess UCAS would be able to answer. I have found them helpful if I have ever rung them.

Waitingforsherlock · 12/02/2018 21:19

My ds managed to extricate himself from a firmed unconditional offer relatively painlessly last year.

Original poster
LoniceraJaponica · 12/02/2018 21:21

Thank you SomersetS. I couldn't believe how nice he was. DD is very nervous. She is very timid and lacks self confidence, and I know she won't interview well. She does have a plan B in place at Nottingham if she doen't get her grades, but like movednorth the thought of results day clearing fills me with horror.

OP posts:
SomersetS · 12/02/2018 21:45

Ladies, our Plan B & 5th Option is Applied Medical Science at Swansea. We have an AAB offer. It is a relatively new course but they have gone from 30 students Yr1 to 60 last year & this. There were spaces in clearing 2017. We went to Open Day & know someone now in 2nd in that course as a Plan B. If you take the right options during the course & keep grades up to 2:1 you get a guaranteed interview for GEM at Swansea (they only do GEM). Might be worth looking for courses like that where there is an advantageous feed?

SomersetS · 12/02/2018 21:47

Newer courses more likely to have spaces? There's a new paramedic course at Hull? Not Plan B route to medicine but we considered it as a slightly different Plan B.

2B1Gmum · 12/02/2018 22:16

How confusing, but being released is ringing bells - ds2 had to be released from insurance in order to accept a place in clearing. Not very familiar with extra. but did find a course at Exeter, poss bio med or similar, that may allow a top performing student from first year to transfer to medicine. See the website for more info. Worth investigating at least.

movednorth · 12/02/2018 22:26

Thanks Ladies, lots of helpful info. The longer this goes on, the more I feel we need to think about other possibilities!

Woodenhillmum · 12/02/2018 23:02

Anglia Ruskin may have places for their new medicine school this year according to their website , might work as a plan for some ?

Woodenhillmum · 12/02/2018 23:02

Plan b

Original poster
LoniceraJaponica · 12/02/2018 23:09

I have never heard of Anglia Ruskin. Is it an ex polytechnic?

OP posts:
Woodenhillmum · 12/02/2018 23:30

Yes , with a campus in Cambridge but the medical school is In Chelmsford .Totally new and awaiting registration but the website says you can apply from June ( not through UCAS.I think I read some where they were actively looking to recruit local candidates .

movednorth · 13/02/2018 20:23

Heads up for those who are waiting: Edinburgh are sending out rejections through Track.

Mommymoomitzi · 13/02/2018 22:29

Good luck to those waiting on Edinburgh 🤞