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Higher education

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

Original poster

Medicine 2019

999 replies

kaykay72 · 05/06/2018 16:32

Hi,

Does anyone here have a DC applying for medicine to start in 2019? It would be nice to meet others as we embark on uni visits, predicted grades, UKCAT etc

We’re in Kent, d is planning to visit kings, UCL, Nottingham, Sheffield and Newcastle at the moment. She really wanted to go look at Belfast but they want three A’s plus an A at AS level but won’t accept her additional qualification in place of this (despite it having a higher UCAS tarriff). We went to an open afternoon at BSMS which she liked more than she thought she would, so is pondering the BMAT.

I have two older kids (well, adults now), one of whom has just finished his masters, the other just completed his first year elsewhere, but medical applications are just so complicated in comparison to their experiences at this stage.

Hope to hear from others in the same boat :-)

OP posts:
sluj · 13/01/2019 18:04

Tinkobell, I think it was a mixture of friendly and green campus and the hands on aspect of the course. He was literally giving flu jabs by Christmas of year one and already has so much practical knowledge and experience. There are plenty of lectures and seminars to go with the PBL learning and a whole day working in a GP practice every week. Each module (3 or 4 a year) ends with 4 weeks in a hospital placement so there is lots of patient contact.
It's well organised and the course runs in a logical way. DS actually loves working with his PBL group.
Norwich is also a lovely safe city with a lot of history and good shopping. Let me know if you need to know anything specific

Tinkobell · 13/01/2019 19:32

Thanks @sluj, I'm passing your kind info onto DD! How has he found gaining a breadth of clinical experience at Norwich to date? More broadly, I'm interested to know more generally if the size and national importance of affiliated teaching hospitals is a key decider for applicants? Q Elizabeth at Birmingham is clearly a massive place with a huge number of research specialities .....but in reality, how much does this impact the teaching and learning of an average med undergrad?

mimiasovitch · 13/01/2019 20:10

@Mochi3 my dd has an interview at Bristol in November and heard within two weeks that she was on the 'on hold' list, and then had another email a few weeks later confirming this. She'll hear either way in feb half term I believe. If it was a straight rejection I'd assume they would have let you know by now. It wouldn't harm to get in touch though, as their communication has been pretty good.

HarryTheSteppenwolf · 13/01/2019 20:51

More broadly, I'm interested to know more generally if the size and national importance of affiliated teaching hospitals is a key decider for applicants? Q Elizabeth at Birmingham is clearly a massive place with a huge number of research specialities .....but in reality, how much does this impact the teaching and learning of an average med undergrad?

Very litte. It's useful to spend time in a big teaching hospital, preferably a tertiary referral centre, as in your later years you'll see complex cases that you wouldn't see in smaller district general hospitals. However, it's useful also to spend some time in a smaller hospital to see more routine stuff, which is what you'll be dealing with as an F1 doctor. Norwich has a mixture (so does Birmingham).

Research specialities are of no significance at all unless your daughter wants to do vacation lab projects and/or a science intercalated degree.

NJJK · 13/01/2019 22:00

I have just found this thread and would like to join.
My DD has an offer from Southampton and got interview invite from Imperial. She is still waiting to hear from UCL(her first choice).
She has reasonable BMAT scores and good PS.
It has been a tough journey though.
Wishing everyone all the best.

Tinkobell · 13/01/2019 22:32

Many thanks @harry for this ....we have no medics in our family to ask about this point, so thanks. Even with intercalated year though, there’s opportunity at most unis to take a placement further afield I think, so not necessarily constrained by that.

Monkey2001 · 14/01/2019 10:50

Cambridge rejection Sad. We know that all med schools are equal, but he really liked the traditional teaching and wanted to go for a choral scholarship.

It will take a few days to let go of that dream and move on to getting excited about the other 3.

HostessTrolley · 14/01/2019 11:03

Sorry to hear that @monkey2001 - but lots of positives still to play for x

Congratulations to those whose kids have received offers in the last few days. We’re trying to do things like prom dress shopping and holiday booking for after exams as a distraction from the waiting!

ProfessorLayton1 · 14/01/2019 12:23

Dd pooled after the interview and rejected today from Cambridge.
Haven't spoken to her yet...
We both are medics - it really does not matter where you do Medicine, which we have made it very clear from the beginning.
I am just hoping for one offer 🤞🏻 and hopefully she will be able to achieve it.

ProfessorLayton1 · 14/01/2019 12:28

Dd got UCL interview date today .... something to look forward to.

Nightowlpossibly · 14/01/2019 13:15

Monkey 2001-Sorry to hear about Cambridge. That is disappointing for your DS. Hope you hear from other 3 soon with some good news.

Prof Layton- Sorry about Cambridge for you DD too. Congrats on UCL interview.! We are still waiting to hear from them.

NJJK- congrats on the Southampton offer. My DD also waiting for UCL hope we get some news soon, as DD has had all of her interviews just waiting for UCL.

Hostess- we are waiting for confirmed Prom date so we can book holidays too. However my suggestion of looking at dresses was met with A stony stare. Grin

sluj · 14/01/2019 13:16

Thanks Harry, I was coming on to say just that about teaching hospitals. DS has been in three very different sized ones so far and all have valuable learning experiences. The Norfolk and Norwich one next door to UEA is pretty big and set up for teaching. At the end of the day though, they are there to learn basic skills and not head straight into advanced specialist skills.

Monkey if it's any consolation my DS works alongside 4th year Cambridge med students on his placements and the hospital staff can be a bit disparaging about their practical experience and patient skills at that stage. I am dead certain they are not all like it but "rabbits in the headlights " is the general consensus. One offer is, indeed, all you need Smile

Quadratilla · 14/01/2019 13:21

That's tough Monkey, I'm sorry.
Mocks start today and we head up north tomorrow for Newcastle on Wednesday. Has anybody been yet? I

Quadratilla · 14/01/2019 13:30

Prof Layton just read down the thread. Sorry too for your DC. It's a rollercoaster ride isn't it Sad

NJJK DD is also holding an offer for Southampton. Smile.

We know the date of Prom, but the dress is also a problem. Can find right style in the wrong colour or the wrong style in the right colour! My suggestion that she wore the y11 again was met with much eye rolling Grin

HostessTrolley · 14/01/2019 13:38

We’re looking at the websites where you choose the dress, choose the colour and send off measurements - we did this in year 11 and her dress was stunning and very reasonable compared to the shops in town. Problem is that it takes 3 months, I’m saying let’s get it ordered so it will arrive pre exams, as revision for mocks will get underway soon. I’m getting the stony stare too 😂.

Monkey2001 · 14/01/2019 14:00

ProfessorLayton1, sorry to hear you had the same experience as we did, hope DD was able to be pleased about the UCL interview.

DS came back from school to be sad as he could not focus, but hopefully will get back on track tomorrow.

Sluj - yes, patient skills are not as central at Cambridge as they are elsewhere, and it will not be a natural strength for DS, so may be a good thing in the end!

Weaverspin · 14/01/2019 14:50

Quadratilla - we are in Newcastle tomorrow (Tuesday). Travelling up tonight, as it's a long way for us! We've had interviews at Sheffield and Nottingham so far, and have Liverpool in a couple of weeks. And after that … the waiting.

Monkey2001 · 14/01/2019 15:05

Newcastle seem to be turning quite a few applications round within a week - quite a few offers on TSR already!

ProfessorLayton1 · 14/01/2019 15:06

I am at work and have tried ringing her in between the patients ( have whole day theatre) and haven't been able to talk to her yet..

Tinkobell · 14/01/2019 15:08

Oh no....sincere sorries @proflayton and @monkey.....it's absolutely cambridges loss! We are braced for some rejections soon I'm sure. All they can ever do is put very best foot forward, hope for the best and be philosophical. Prom....haven't heard anything about that yet, but I'm hoping it's not going to cost me much, skint with driving lessons, skint with rail fares all over the country, skint, skint skint skint. 😕

Onesunnydayiniceland · 14/01/2019 15:13

Lurking for a while here and wasn’t sure whether to post as DD is a vet med applicant rather than medicine. 4 interviews so far, pooled but rejected by Cambridge today and no news from the others. Needless to say she is gutted, she doesn’t mind where she goes she just wants to be a vet. One offer is all that is needed and I hope she gets some good news soon. Well done to all DCs with offers and good luck to those waiting

Monkey2001 · 14/01/2019 16:41

Welcome Onesunnyday, we probably can't help you with information, but happy to share the highs and lows of the experience. Where is your DD on her other applications?

Onesunnydayiniceland · 14/01/2019 16:59

Thank you Monkey, waiting to hear outcome of interviews for the other 3 and one offer for biovet which she’s not interested in. It’s been such a long and stressful process, I hope she gets an offer and she doesn’t have to repeat the whole thing next year

Quadratilla · 14/01/2019 18:30

Weaverspin good luck tomorrow! Let me know if there's anything useful to know (ie do I bugger off to find coffee or is there a waiting room like at Sheffield). Not looking forward to the 5 hour train trip Confused.

Tinkobell I feel your pain. Skint here too. When did train fares become so expensive?!

ProfessorLayton1 · 14/01/2019 18:44

She is cheerful as usual and is not too bothered about the rejection..I am really really proud of her and the way she has handled everything over the last few months. She has had difficult year and has done exceptionally well to come so far given the circumstances.
I think it is definitely Cambridge's loss ( I would say that Smile) as far as I am concerned!!

Any advice about UCL interview ?