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Original poster

Medicine 2018 part 2

999 replies

LoniceraJaponica · 12/01/2018 20:39

New thread here

OP posts:
adrinkofwater · 01/02/2018 20:13

muddlethro thanks for the restaurant tip. We went there on Tuesday night and really enjoyed it!

muddlethro · 01/02/2018 20:38

adrinkofwater, I’m so glad you enjoyed the restaurant that my sister recommended! How did your DD feel the interview went...🤔

adrinkofwater · 01/02/2018 22:00

She thinks it was "similar to the others". But as she's not heard back from anywhere yet who knows if that's good or she's messing them up but is blissfully unaware! She doesn't like to talk about it really. Hopefully she'll get an offer from somewhere. She likes all 4 of her choices. Hopefully we'll all hear back from at least 1 soon!Smile

muddlethro · 02/02/2018 10:10

The waiting is so hard isn’t it, especially waiting for that first offer! It baffles me how Oxbridge manage to get all their offers out on the same day, but that all the other medical schools seem to have such a random approach to sending out offers/rejections!
I hope that your DD gets an offer very soon adrinkofwater...Smile

2B1Gmum · 02/02/2018 10:32

Sending positive vibes to all those waiting and also those with more interviews.

DD had some good news last night, about an hour after my post, she has an offer from HYMS, she could barely speak and had tears streaming down her face, shows how emotional this whole process is (as if we didn't know!). She doesn't know which campus but is just thrilled and relieved and a little surprised - although she did seem happy after the interview the weeks of waiting started to sew seeds of doubt.
I believe she is the first at school to get an offer, others still waiting and still more interviews (including for DD too).
I don't know how the medical schools work out their numbers for over offering, I presume Oxbridge are pretty confident of near 100% take up on theirs which must help them.

Minikew · 02/02/2018 10:38

muddlethro - I agree. From our experience so far Sheffield Uni are the most efficient and publish their timescales very early on so applicants know where they stand. A crystal ball is needed for Nottingham and Birmingham and the selection process appears to be random and does not match what applicants are told at open days. To make it worse I have heard that it is difficult to get honest feedback apart from "it's a competitive course". I feel that some of their decisions on who to interview are flaky and we have clear examples of this at DD's school. We are still waiting on a decision from Birmingham and we expect it to be a rejection. Just wish they would get on with it. Rant over ;)

JulyAphrodite · 02/02/2018 11:04

Hi all haven't updated for a while as finding the whole process much too stressful!
Have had 4 interviews but no sign of an offer as yet :(
Interviews at Southampton, Exeter, BSMS and UEA. Some went better than others. Main hope is UEA as they have a 50 percent weighting with UKCAT which helps DS and it was best interview (fingers crossed) . We have to wait until Mid March for them though. Everyday feels 48 hours long at the moment....

2B1Gmum · 02/02/2018 11:34

JulyAphrodite, I know some are still to be interviewed at Southampton and as you say UEA don't let us know until late, considering their offer holders is around that time too, it feels like a long wait.

Your DS must have great stats to be interviewed by Exeter and his high UKCAT is a good sign. I am a fan of UEA, partly because I grew up a mile down the road, but also the course and student satisfaction. DD got the impression that of those in her group, none had received offers at that point and a few had more interviews still.

I won't relax until September! DD has applied for deferred entry so is having a gap year and I think she will need it to recoup (and learn to drive and earn some money etc.), and I will start worrying about DS2 and his final year at Uni.......

muddlethro · 02/02/2018 11:47

Fantastic news 2B1Gmum, so thrilled for your DD (and you!). My DS had HYMS as one of his choices, mainly because we were living in Hull at the time. Lots going on in Hull for students and the medical school has such a good reputation too.
Think you might be right about Oxbridge and their 100% take-up rate. My DS friend is there in his first year though, and is not enjoying the course, sadly! Apparently he is working most nights until midnight...very heavy going! 😔
I completely understand your rant Minikew! Last year Birmingham’s selection/offer/rejection process appeared quite random too, with some early offers and some quite late. Don’t give up hope, you too JulyAphrodite Smile

innertiger · 02/02/2018 12:03

2B1Gmum - brilliant news about HYMS!! Well done to your DD :)

Movingmountains · 02/02/2018 12:14

Brilliant news 2B1Mum! I wish I'd known some of this information before - we didn't even look at UEA (location) but sounds like this would have been good for my DS due to his UKCAT. You can add Bristol to the list of random selection / offers as well - they just seem to drip feed them. Lots of disgruntled kids on TSR.

JulyAphrodite · 02/02/2018 12:48

UEA for us was a last minute switch from Bristol tbh I had never heard of it went last minute on a campus tour really liked it and requirements suited. We are geographically the same distance from each. Fourth choice is at the moment looking like number one choice but really not choosy at all!

innertiger · 02/02/2018 12:53

With you on Bristol movingmountains ;) I know they all have their different ways but the long wait to hearing whether you have an interview or not, let alone an offer, is very disheartening.
All our DC's must have huge amounts of resilience just to go through this process.

muddlethro · 02/02/2018 13:46

I agree innertiger, and it tests our resilience as parents too!!
I just wish the system/process was fairer. I’d like to see all med schools doing all the interviews, say between the end of October and middle of December, then spending maybe all of Jan and part of Feb processing these, then on a given day at the end of February, send out the offers/rejections at the same time. Maybe I’m being unrealistic, but I just think the current system is tortuous for our DC , especially when some have had an early offer and others are still waiting for their first! It’s such an emotional rollercoaster 😔

SomersetS · 02/02/2018 14:45

As an all-or-nothing, catastrophising over-analysing Mum I think this year will make me ill. Trying to protect my more sensible, philosophical DD from my stress. Confused. And Breathe........

muddlethro · 02/02/2018 15:14

SomersetS...you could be describing me and how I felt last year, but I muddled through somehow...sure you will too! There is light at the end of the tunnel...🙂

sunflower1209 · 02/02/2018 15:46

adrinkofwater We really liked it too! Not her first choice but certainly a contender for an insurance (if they make her an offer!). Her interview was at 2pm so its unlikely we crossed paths, but the best of luck to your DD, it always goes better than they think it did!

swingofthings · 02/02/2018 15:59

Fantastic news 2B1GMum Flowers

If only this thread can help the mums of those who will be applying next year because I think we've all been through a journey of tortuous learning.

There was the time in Aug/Sept when we were all spending hours doing research to weight which school our DC would have a best chance of an interview whilst managing trips to open days. We were all focused on statistics based on previous years etc... but I don't think it came to our mind to consider when your DCs were most likely to be interviewed/given offers. We only considered the end result not so much the process in between.

I think it has also come a bit as a surprise for a few of us to see how what we thought were best and favoured choices at the time of application turn out to go down the list whilst choices that were just put down because a 4th choice has to be selected can become a favourite.

Then there is the selection based on A levels requirement. As it is, all DD's choices are AAA but I am starting to realise how important this is too because I hadn't appreciated how much time and energy would be given to preparing/attending/worrying about interviews, and that is all time taken away from studying. It's easy to assume that getting the grades is a piece of cake compared to going through the application process for Medicine, but it remains that getting AAA, let alone A*AA or more is not that easy.

This thread is proving such a great support as we realise that all what we are feeling and experiencing is normal and really takes a toll on us dedicated mums. I think in August, we should start the last part of the thread discussing how we are going to reward ourselves, be it a spa day, a far away holiday, or even just a shopping trip because we will have earned it!

SomersetS · 02/02/2018 16:14

Agreed Swing. My friends just don't get it! So happy this thread is here - it is so helpful.
I have offered to share my new found knowledge with the Year 12s & parents at DDs school. They never had a student get 4 interviews before.

specialted · 02/02/2018 17:07

DD just had offer from Nottingham. So very relieved, is her top choice. Feel we can relax a tiny weeny bit now. Hope Hyms offers came to those waiting for them.

muddlethro · 02/02/2018 17:24

Huge congratulations to your DD specialted, hopefully you’ll sleep more soundly tonight! Smile

specialted · 02/02/2018 17:27

Thank you muddlethro! Just feel like a weight has been lifted. I didn't realise how stressful the whole process was going to be. Here's hoping everyone gets some good news in the coming weeks

SomersetS · 02/02/2018 17:35

Fantastic news Specialted. Nottingham is lovely.

SomersetS · 02/02/2018 18:21

Goodness I actually thought I might be sick with anxiety today.

DD just rang from work to ask me to log into her track at 6pm. Gosh the pressure. She's only gone & done it - offer from HYMS!!! Her favourite.

Oh my goodness. I don't like rollercoasters. That's it now. Liverpool interview on Monday but the pressure is off.

She will be the smily-est waitress tonight! (Sorry no idea how to spell that - all look wrong).

2B1G thx so much for your message last night. That was lovely.

Well done everyone this week. Stay safe & sane.

2B1Gmum · 02/02/2018 18:32

Specialted and SomersetS, so pleased for you and your DDs. I waited before post congrats to you and yours Specialted because I was sure SomersetS DD would get some good news today! Fab news. I think campus allocations will be next week.

My DD has started asking after everyone when she realised where I was getting my extra info. from!

Specialted DS1 was at Nottingham for 4 years Engineering, lovely campus, even better now they have trams into the centre of Nottingham. If you want to know anything about accommodation at any stage, let me know.