Medicine 2018 part 2

[LoniceraJaponica]

New thread here

[SomersetS]

I'm going to get DD to double check she's done her Admin!
Sheffield Wed. Week break. Liverpool. I'll be glad when this is over.
Work in a school that is dropping like flies with sickness bug - I'm getting paranoid - got my own antibacterial hand gel to try keep it out of our home!

[muddlethro]

Yes, I imagine you do...I felt for you there 😔

[muddlethro]

Sorry, that message was for you LoniceraJaponica 😔

[Skiiltan]

Sorry LoniceraJaponica. It wasn't meant to sound like chastisement. It's just that it's worth students' appreciating how things are going to be, and parents need to be a part of that. Sixth-formers tend to get used to how they're handled at school/college, where they are given a bit of latitude because the staff know them. University staff don't know them while they're applying, and when they say something has to be done to move to the next stage of the admissions process they expect it to be done.
I don't know whether it still happens, but one medical school I know (not one I've worked at) used to reject about 20 students each year who had met the academic conditions of their offer but hadn't returned their occupational health or CRB/DBS forms by the deadline. There really is a lot riding on students' ability to understand and act on instructions. And the closing comment any senior medical school person will say after a line like that is... Would you want a doctor who can't fill in forms properly and submit them on time?
Sorry again. I know I sound like I'm ranting. I spend a large proprotion of my life telling this stuff to sixth-formers and teachers. It's rare to get a chance to tell it to parents.

[watfordmummy]

To be fair, it is a sobering thought. At the moment we probably check and chase our DC, next year we're not going to be there, so they do have to them used to it. Their lives are moving away from being anything we can influence or get involved with to solve.

[LoniceraJaponica]

You aren't wrong Skiiltan. DD is one of the youngest in her year and younger emotionally as well. She had a rough week last week with having a problem with one of her eyes, which required emergency optician/hospital treatment. This resulted in everything else taking second place.

Luckily, as the deadline was Friday, and I rang first thing this morning they hadn't allocated the interview timings yet. (DD had emailed them yesterday as well as she had a full day at school today and wasn't able to ring them herself)

[2B1Gmum]

Lonicera, glad it is sorted and the eye problem too, and best of luck. And to all with interviews in the next week or two.

It did prompt me to check DD had sorted all paperwork etc. as she has a form to complete for Liverpool. Doing everything electronically should make life easier but sometimes it is easy to put something off and then forget. I still like a physical reminder so I tend to print off important emails.

Skiiltan I understand all you are saying, deadlines exist for a reason and it is good to get in the habit of being prompt.. I find myself chanting another of my mothers favourites - 'never put off 'til tomorrow something you can do today'... I have failed myself and nearly had to give up on a holiday as a result, long story, but lesson learned.

[LoniceraJaponica]

Thank you for all your support folks

[swingofthings]

As you say Skiiltan, being in 6th form, they are still in most cases at that stage of learning about these things, so errors will be made by some.

I expect that's one of the reasons many schools expect applicants to have work/volunteering experience because that will be part of the parcel. DD wrote her first official letter to give notice to her week-end job two weeks ago (to focus on A levels), it was very new to her. Some applicants won't have that experience.

And even with that experience, just like us adults, errors are made even with important matters, appointments missed, passports left behind before going on holidays...

As you say, applicants can end up being penalised for it, thankfully in the case here, Lonicera's DD realised just on time fort he problem to be fixed.

I think we've all had the worry that our DC received an invitation to interview that has gone to their junk mail and got lost as a result!

Good luck Somerset with Sheffield tomorrow.

[muddlethro]

I can so relate to the paranoia SomersetS! My DD had a nasty virus when my DS was going through a couple of interviews before Christmas last year, I practically isolated her in her bedroom to try and reduce the likelihood of my DS getting it, poor girl....i think she forgives me!
Hoping your DD has a great interview at Sheffield on Wednesday 😊

[2B1Gmum]

SomersetS, I hope it goes well tomorrow and for Liverpool next week. Be interesting to see if favourites change post interview.

Horrid time with bugs everywhere, had my sister coughing hers in our kitchen at the weekend. The schools are better at reminding people with bugs to stay home but I do wish people everywhere would use tissues and cover their mouths when they cough!

[innertiger]

For those waiting to hear from Birmingham about interview results, I just found this on TSR:

"I called up Admissions just now and asks them if they had a set date. They said that the medical admissions tutor had been off sick lask week so it had been put on hold. He is back in this week and we will hopefully hear back this week or next, but they cant give a set date!"

This was posted yesterday.
My DS was interviewed in mid December and told he would hear mid-January.

[swingofthings]

How did it go yesterday Somerset?

[swingofthings]

And have any of the Liverpool interviews taken place already too?

[2B1Gmum]

anyone know any good books or websites for organic chemistry (OCR board), I am not sure where to look. DDs school will be doing revision classes but sensible teacher said just learning organic chemistry seems to be hardest area and until they know it, revision is pointless. Luckily she is going to help, as organic has been 'taught' by the teacher the class struggles with - but any tips welcome.

[LoniceraJaponica]

I have just bought DD a CGP revision guide (AQA). They were excellent for GCSEs, and explain things rather better than the book DD was given at school.

[muddlethro]

Just asked my DS about what he found helpful for the new A levels. He said the CGP revision guides are very helpful for understanding concepts, but for the detail, he found the main course text books, and class notes to be most helpful for exam prep. He also says to encourage your DC to practice with the hardest materials they can find, especially for Physics & Biology. Of the three sciences, he found that Chemistry was more like the old A level (all were AQA).

[2B1Gmum]

Thank you Lonicera and muddlethru, I think DD's teachers said CGP fine but not in enough detail for a top grade, finding hardest material for practise is a good idea, useful to know that chemistry is more like the old A level from that perspective. I feel for the teachers who are still trying to find good resources too, Geography dept really struggling as it is first year of the new spec., they have a coursework/project that is 20% of marks but no guidelines on how many words are expected - they are saying 5000 but DDs friends school is saying 10000?! Luckily DD's latest chemistry test was a very high score, but the whole class did very badly in the previous one with the other teacher, which continues to make me a little anxious. My third and final to go through this, my last ever parent's evening - phew...

[muddlethro]

Sounds like you’re passing a series of milestones 2B1Gmum! I think you’re right, it’s really hard for the teachers grappling with sourcing new teaching/revision resources etc. One of the issues last year was that they didn’t really know what to expect, as there were no past papers to practice. My DS (& all those sitting the physics) were a bit shell-shocked after sitting two out of the three physics papers - they just hadn’t expected the level of difficulty of the questions. My DS tackled a 10 mark question on ‘moments’ and really struggled with the maths in it. His friends (who had done maths A level) said it was an unfair question for those who hadn’t done maths at A level, as it was really a further maths question. I remember my DS telling me he might have picked up 2 out of the 10 marks, you might imagine how nervous I was on results day, as it wasn’t the only question that he felt he’d lost marks on! But all was well, and it showed me that it is possible for them to walk out of an exam, knowing they’ve messed up a few questions, and still pass with a good grade! 😀

[SomersetS]

Thanks for the positive thoughts folks.
DD found Sheffield Interview quote, "dull". She said all stations were too similar in format albeit different topics. She thought Leicester & Hull much more friendly & interested in her as a person & felt Sheffield were not interested in any personality - bearing in mind they don't use the PS either in selection I was surprised to hear that. Whoops. Didn't do anything to improve their position in her rankings. Still firmly bottom. Having said all that, they might not like her either!

[specialted]

SomersetS, I guess at least if DD gets more than one offer it'll be an easy choice for her! Interesting to hear people's different opinions on the interviews, it sounds like the med schools are all very varied in what they are looking for and asking. DD certainly found all hers to be totally different, I just hope she fits the bill for one of them!

[specialted]

I see that the lovely julian from Sheffield is back on TSR informing us of how many offers are going to be made etc. He is so good at picking up student's questions on that forum and answering them accurately to save the chinese whispers and false info the students seem to come up with sometimes!

[SomersetS]

Shame Julian didn't do DDs interviews himself

[swingofthings]

As specialted said, at least it will be an easy decision if your DD gets more than one offer!

I didn't realise the interview was at Sheffield I happened to be speaking with a colleague yesterday whose DD failed to get a place when she applied at 18, so opted to do a degree and then applied as a graduate. I thought she was at Southampton, but she is at Sheffield and loving it!

It does confirm that each school has its own personality and some will be a perfect match with your DC and others not at all. Saying that, I still have never read or heard a medical student unhappy with the choice they made (or didn't make!) and where they've ended up.

[Movingmountains]

Now have mocks stress to add to the interview offer stress. DS got a D in his physics mock but this was the third highest mark and hes in a grammar school. Ive emailed the head of sixth form to find out whats going on. Think I need to look into private tuition or has anyone come across any good online or revision help?