Medicine 2018 part 3

[SomersetS]

Hope you all find this - didn't realise I took 999! Whoops.

Medicmom was thinking exact same as muddlethru - presume your dd is going into last year at school so tests UKCAT and/bmat must be sat soon. Their scores will reflect on options available as they are part of scoring system for medicine applications. Dd only did UKCAT, it is verbal, non verbal, maths, reasoning sort of test so biology won’t be an issue. Knowledge of the NHS and current issues vital for interviews, biology came in useful for one of DDs. Can’t say more. Dd got four interviews, went to three and got all offers. She had some volunteering but nowhere near six months! Sadly didn’t get the grades, but that is another story. .. If biology is a requirement for you Ds favourite medical schools I would say concentrate on getting excellent grades this year without distraction of medicine interviews/tests -and maybe even do biology a level in a gap year whilst applying and preparing for bmat/UKCAT. Medicine schools are very happy with gap year applicants, with a few mentioning it on their websites. Eg Sheffield. Good luck.

Thanks for all your replies it means a lot.
Specialted- Nottingham med school needs biology. Agree that med schools should make it clear. It would make life easier.
Muddlethro- Haven't looked at medic portal.Thanks for that. I have subscribed to medify. Ds will be hopefully giving ukcat in October.
2b1gmum- That's good advice but we have already registered for bmat and ukcat!
Giving his bmat in 2 weeks time. He is thinking of applying to one bmat and 3 ukcat university ( for now) only because they will accept him with his subject choices.

Medicine schools are very happy with gap year applicants

I just wanted to point out that some medical schools won't accept applications from anyone who hasn't met all A-level requirements by the end of year 13. Some others won't let people apply while taking additional A-levels or resitting the original ones: they have to complete them first and then apply, i.e. take two gap years. OP's son needs to check these details carefully. There certainly are places he will be able to apply but there are others he won't.

Nottingham med school needs biology. Agree that med schools should make it clear.

All medical schools' academic entry requirements (apart from Kent & Medway and Edge Hill, which won't be taking students until 2020) are shown at www.medschools.ac.uk/media/2357/msc-entry-requirements-for-uk-medical-schools.pdf

I just wanted to point out that some medical schools won't accept applications from anyone who hasn't met all A-level requirements by the end of year 13.

Skilltan... could you elaborate on this pls?

Skiiltan what I was thinking was with the grades in hand for those that don’t insist on biology and biology as an extra during a gap year just to help. But as dd did biology I wasn’t sure which didn’t require it. Medicmom Sometimes it is good to have a narrow list to look at and focus on, narrows down visit days etc. Doing both bmat and UKCAT will keep the choices a little broader. Have you been to any open days?

for those saying graduate medicine is impossible without a rich family - it really isn't. I mentioned someone who couldnt apply for medicine because they were not predicted 3As. They were from a family that are by no means well off. So they worked during their course, they worked in the holidays and they didnt waste a penny. They are now studying graduate medicine. You have to be really determined, you have to work really hard but it's not impossible.

The Army sometimes offers financial support - its not always available but the scheme is here apply.army.mod.uk/roles/army-medical-service/doctor

should have said worked in their undergraduate course.

2b1gmum- we have been to Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds. Liked all of them especially Manchester.

@medlcmom - Sorry I missed your message earlier.

Some medical schools stipulate all their A-level requirements (subjects, grades) must be met in a single sitting, i.e. all at the same time at the end of year 13. Others state they must be completed within a two-year period of study, which in most - but not all - cases amounts to the same thing. These kinds of conditions need to be checked very carefully before applying if there's anything unusual in your academic history.

Skilltan- Do you mean to say if my ds gives his A levels next year he will not be able to take a gap year to do biology?
Apologies if I have misunderstood.

@medlcmom - Sorry, I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "gives his A levels next year". I'm saying some medical schools state that all A-level requirements must be met in a single sitting, so usually these particular schools wouldn't accept an additional science A-level that was done on its own a year later. Your son needs to contact any of these that he might be thinking of applying to to get a definitive statement now about whether they would or wouldn't accept an application from him.

Pardon my English..skiitan!
I meant he will take his A- levels next year.
Take your advice on board and will find out more about the application criteria from individual med schools.

Medicmom...I just checked and there is a mumsnet thread for 2019 entry, with parents who are going through the process now. Also, some of the mums from here are offering sound advice on that thread too. I would post you the link if I knew how to do it!! Hopefully you’ll find it, or maybe one of the more techie mums on here will be able to do it for you... 🤗

Medicmom.....did I just do it!! Try this below...👍
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3269466-Medicine-2019?pg=3

Ladies. Has anyone started to feel sad that their DC are flying the nest? I only have DD and am a single Mom, I am getting so tearful, the time is whizzing towards her leaving. I am so proud of her and don’t want her to know that I feel like this. I think the fact that we have been so busy, actively supporting our DC through this mad medical school application circus just makes me feel that I will be lost and redundant.

Mommy those feelings are perfectly natural - I felt the same last year when DD suddenly got into Cardiff (I’d thought she was going to have to take a gap year). It’s so exciting for them but tough for us at the time. All I can say is she will be back and to keep yourself busy when she goes. Mine kept coming back last year (I don’t think she felt settled) and she’s been here all summer. Medicine is a full-on course they work hard but they play hard too: sometimes DD needed a home break from this. I’m expecting far fewer trips home from her this year as she is settled with a nice bunch of friends. It’s hard at first but will get easier I promise! And for now you can busy yourself with the dreaded Ikea trip etc etc. While I love having DD here I am also looking forward to September when she takes her mess back to Cardiff with her and to when I can buy blueberries without them disappearing from the fridge! There is an upside x

Thank you for those kind words pixelchick10. Gosh, what a rollercoaster year. It’s good to have someone to share this with. Thank you for making me giggle - re blueberries, I needed that. She’s off to Reading Festival tomorrow, rather her than me!!! x

Same feelings here. I think I have focused so much over the medicine application process to distract the elephant in the room - the fact that he is actually going to be leaving. My DS is so chatty that it is going to leave s massive hole in our house, he’s going more than 4 hours as well so not sure there will be much popping home 😩
It was so hard when my eldest DS went but at least I still had one DS at home. This time that will be it. However I know he will have such a great time and he is so excited about doing medicine it make it worth all the sadness on my part! At least we will
Have a break from the 4.30am post clubbing wake-ups!

Thanks muddlethro

I think at the moment I am still on a high from results last week and have to run the gauntlet of gcse results tomorrow so not had time to feel sad yet. Did the whole duvet etc shop yesterday but felt exciting rather than anything else. Am sure I will be sobbing dropping her off though. Will still have DS at home so no empty nest for a couple of years .....

I was very tearful too mommymoomitzi. I remember giving my DS a hug outside of his halls of residence, he kissed me on the top of my head (he’s 6”2, I’m 5”4!), told me he loved me, and as I walked away, I glanced back, and my throat started to tighten as it strained to hold back the tears. But he was smiling and looked so confident. I felt so proud, and so very sad - I gave him a wave, turned away, and then cried for about 3 months....! 😔
But as pixelchick says, it does get easier....😊💕

Thanks girls x She has gone off to Reading Festival today. I have resisted the urge to check that she had packed everything (I was dying to ask if she had a vest, toothbrush and teddy) this weekend will be a little taster of how things will be. I’m going to do a big spring clean, Autumn clean??? She is going into her accommodation on her birthday, medics start 10/09 and all other students 17/09, so 2 fresher weeks. I am finding this difficult, sometimes she seems like a 4 year old, sometimes like a 24 year old. Just trying to hold back a bit and be there, when she needs me. Hope everyone else is bobbing along nicely x

GCSE results here this morning. Another v early wake up feeling sick. Felt like last week was all about her sister so was dreading her doing badly. She didn't. She did so so well, despite nearly collapsing in a puddle at times with the stress. When calling parents I've had to translate grades - just said she got As and A* equivalency things. Vet school still in. Round 3 here I come !
Hope everyone is having a lovely week and everything working out ok whatever their choices. It's been a bit of a year !

Round 2. I'm
So tired I can't count. Or spell. Or think really 😂😂