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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Medicine 2018 part 2

999 replies

LoniceraJaponica · 12/01/2018 20:39

New thread here

OP posts:
muddlethro · 02/03/2018 18:39

Not sure if it’s relevant to anyone on this thread, but apparently St. Andrews are beginning to send out offers...! Smile

SomersetS · 03/03/2018 15:29

Part of our application strategy was to "not" apply if possible to those Uni's who's offer is traditionally AAA. Thankfully none of our preferred options were, though Keele made our short-list. 3xA is stressful enough without asking for an A too. Have they not jumped through enough hoops to prove themselves?

SomersetS · 03/03/2018 15:43

2 snow days and still effectively snowed in over the weekend was just what DD (& I) needed. We've had fun, exercise & loads of fresh air. Rural communities are at their best when stranded!
Last week she was just about burned out after 4 nights of band, accompanying the school production on top of school work. Looks like we are beginning to thaw out so will be back to school etc on Monday. It's been fun!

SomersetS · 03/03/2018 16:08

Can't get the hang of stars. Meant Astar, AA but my message went bold. Sorry!

movednorth · 04/03/2018 13:43

Sadly after a 2 year cycle of volunteering, work experience, UKCAT and BMAT my daughter has been rejected on all fronts. Heartbreaking. Best wishes to all of you still waiting. x

goodbyestranger · 04/03/2018 14:30

Really sorry for your daughter movednorth.

Abra1de · 04/03/2018 14:35

moved it’s not over yet, it’s really not! Lots can happen before/after results day as far as offers are concerned. Of course you must all feel despondent and exhausted, but take heart.

Movingmountains · 04/03/2018 14:39

That is devastating movednorth. Tell your DD not lose hope - concentrate on A levels. Many students got offers last year after all the firm/insurance decisions in and also on results day as well. If that doesn't work out she will be in great position next year, having results in the bag. Plus she can have a year off studying. I had an enforced gap year and it was the best thing that could have happened to me as I had another year to grow in maturity and I flourished at uni (not sure I would have done had I gone at just 18). I really hope she is ok.

Stevie3 · 04/03/2018 15:46

So sorry movednorth, it's such a hard, hard process- very best wishes to you and your daughter in whatever her next steps are x

watfordmummy · 04/03/2018 16:07

@movednorth I'm so sorry, it really is pants!!!

Sending a huge MN hug xxx

muddlethro · 04/03/2018 16:23

Movednorth, I am so so sorry for your DD, but I hope and pray she can now just concentrate on ‘smashing’ her A levels! You just don’t know what might happen on results day through clearing! 💕

adrinkofwater · 04/03/2018 16:50

So sorry to hear this movednorth. It is just so tough and discouraging, but I really hope that she is still motivated to work for her A levels and she knows she is no less valuable than those who get offers. Flowers

Baytreemum · 04/03/2018 16:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

specialted · 04/03/2018 17:08

Bay tree and moved north, so so sorry to hear this. But hang in there, however discouraged they are now, there is always hope for clearing. It is such a tough process.

swingofthings · 04/03/2018 18:01

Baytree and movednirth I'm so sorry for this hearbreaking news. Very hard for mums who have to remain strong for their children but feel the pain just as much. Big hug to both of you.

flatcoatfan · 04/03/2018 18:12

Baytree and moved north I've been following this thread for a while now with my fingers crossed for you all. I've been in your shoes and it is devastating. It's so hard to pick them up when they're so upset, just when they need to focus on A levels. My DD was there, 5 rejections and broken hearted. She decided to take a gap year and apply with grades in hand but then got a B in maths so that was it. The end of her dream, or so I thought but she had other plans. She took a gap year, traveled, worked, volunteered, and grew up. She knew she wanted to work with people, she knew she wanted to be clinical so applied to do an adult nursing degree. She had 5 unconditional offers, is in her 3rd year and has absolutely loved every minute. Last summer she decided to have another go at applying for medicine. She needed to get it out of her system. So the roller coaster started again. This time graduate entry and ten times more competitive. She aced the UKCAT, had a fantastic PS and the maturity to take it on. She now has 2 offers for graduate entry medicine and we can't quite believe it. So please don't give up hope sometimes you have to play the long game but if it really is their dream they will find their way. I know it's little comfort now. But resilience it a big part of the process. Don't give up.

ProfessorLayton1 · 04/03/2018 18:12

So sorry Movednorth and Baytreemum 💐💐

The selection seems a bit random and what else can a child do!

Tell them to concentrate on their A levels now, you never know what will happen on the results day!

Gap year is not such a bad thing and the experience and the maturity gained will come through. One of our friends son with 12A in GCSE, 5 As in AS and predicted 4 As in A levels with fantastic work experience and other extra curricular activities was rejected by all 4 universities!!!
He reapplied successfully to Oxbridge next year! It was a tough year for him as he is such a high flying student and had to see others get various offers. Please ask your kids not to get disheartened with this...

sometimes I feel that medicine should be a graduate degree as in USA..,

movednorth · 04/03/2018 18:40

Gosh! I am genuinely moved by the messages of support and encouragement. So many of them, and they are clearly heartfelt. It has been a help throughout the process (so far) to know that other families out there are living it too. As a dear friend keeps reminding me, nobody has died and nobody is dying. We are all healthy and strong and DD will get through it. In some ways, she's coping better than I am, but perhaps we are hiding it from each other. I feel sad and angry, but no idea at all who to feel angry towards. Yes, there are glimmers of hope - we have to try not to focus on those, I think. DD will not be taking a gap year - she has been preparing herself to leave home for two years. She's an autumn baby, so will already be turning 19 by the time the new academic year starts and it would be too hard for her to stay at home while her friends head off to exciting new things. Realistically, if she decided to have another go next year she would have to start on UKCAT and BMAT again even before exam results, and wouldn't really be able to travel until the interview season is finished all over again. So she apply now to join a BioMed course, but no less committed to becoming a doctor along the way. It's just going to be a longer process. Thanks everyone. If one of those waiting lists comes up trumps you will hear me screaming with delight!

Abra1de · 04/03/2018 18:45

Baytree just going to repeat everything I said before—offers DO pop up just before, on and after results day. I know one lad who was packing his rucksack for a gap year when he got the call.

It ain’t over yet. 🍀

muddlethro · 04/03/2018 18:49

Baytreemum, it’s just so hard to fathom how a candidate like your daughter can get five rejections, and it just feels so unfair. I’m so sorry for her and for you too. Hopefully, like movednorth’s DD, your daughter can now just fully concentrate on getting a great set of A levels.
And what a great story about the persistence and resilience of flatcoatfan’s DD....there is definitely hope for those DC currently broken-hearted....💕

Woodenhillmum · 04/03/2018 18:56

Comisserations movednorth and baytreemum , others stories are proof indeed that it can all work out.So sorry that it has been so tough and drawn out , there is a definite element of luck to the whole process .

biscuit2000 · 04/03/2018 19:30

@Baytree @Movednorth what a load of old cr*p this process is. You must be so angry.

I hope your DD's absolutely smash their A levels and can achieve their dreams whether this year or next. So many amazing students dont make it first time round - your DDs ARE good enough - just unlucky.
There are upsides - you may get to 'keep' them for another year, they may be able to do things they might never get the chance to do, they would get the chance to recharge and they've nothing to lose. Whilst 'preparing' my DD for a possible gap year after her 2nd rejection I asked her what could be worse than no offer - she said having an offer but then not getting the grades to get in and having to resit Y13.
Your DDs are lucky to have you on their side.
Stay strong x Bear

flatcoatfan · 04/03/2018 19:49

Movednorth just a gentle warning to your DD about rushing to go to uni regardless this year, tempting though it is. My DD had to wave her friends off to uni, a couple to do medicine, whilst she stayed at home watching them on SM having the time of their lives at freshers. It was incredibly hard for her but the right thing to do. She didn't resist her B grade A level. No point as medicine don't accept resits. She had some tough decisions to make. They only get one student loan so they need to spend it wisely, something they know they will be happy to make a career out of if medicine never works out. A year to stop and think can be invaluable. It soon passes.

Needmoresleep · 04/03/2018 21:31

DD believes her gap year and her additional years maturity has helped her a lot. Tgere are grad students and mature students on her course so she is far from being the eldest.

Her ski season employer allowed people to return for interviews as long as they paid their own way.

swingofthings · 05/03/2018 07:21

movednorth, I think having a goal is the best way to move forward. Her plans are very sensible and indeed, although it is harder to get a graduate place, many do so. I have two colleagues whose kids fail to get a place after A levels despite excellent results, went on to do biomedical and got in as graduates. The one I'm closest to has a daughter who is now in her 2nd year at Sheffield and loving it. She said that although she was totally heartbroken at the time, it turned out to be best outcome as she had a fantastic time doing her degree, and it only made her more determined to do Medicine but with a more mature approach to it.

flatcoatfan, thank you for posting and giving such encouraging feedback. Your DD journey is very inspiring.