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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:
Monkey2001 · 01/02/2019 16:35

Somethingsmellsnice, I looked at Newcastle Dominos out of interest and they don't have olives either. Maybe they have other things we don't have down south.

Tinkobell · 01/02/2019 17:58

@Weaverspin.....was curious to ask my DD what she would do if she were so lucky as to be offered AAB with a 4 week agreement caveat. Said she'd snap it up in an instant! 😮 Bit taken back! Thought she was made of more principalled stuff! Her rationale is that she thinks it's too easy to sadly slip a few marks and miss a grade....couldn't face going through reapplication process. She reckoned a few weeks into the course she'd never look back even if the lower offer wasn't first choice. There you have it!

Weaverspin · 01/02/2019 19:42

Tinkobell - that’s interesting to hear - thank you! I think the main hesitation is that it’s the furthest away uni from us - a good 6-hour drive - so logistically there’s that issue. (Though we’d make it work somehow, I’m sure).

The other is that they don’t do full body dissection, which DD is keen on. But she loved it when she visited.

So we’re no further forward...! Still pondering.

Tinkobell · 01/02/2019 19:58

@weaver.....well everybody is different of course and I can see that the distance and lack of dissection might be negs for your DD. My DD's probability / mental risk calculation is that she would perceive the risk of her failing to attain A* AA / AAA as being markedly greater than the risk of not enjoying or succeeding on the lower offer degree course.

Monkey2001 · 01/02/2019 20:42

I think the students at the open day said that there were opportunities for dissection although it was not at the core of the programme. @Weaverspin, is DD on TSR? There is a GP who has 2 DCs at Newcastle who is very active on the Medicjne 2019 thread. She could ask her about access to dissection.

Monkey2001 · 01/02/2019 20:43

Meant to say the person to ask on TSR is GANFYD

cbs65 · 04/02/2019 20:18

has anyone had offers yet for deferred entry? do you think they will come later? thanks for the advice!

hoodiemum · 04/02/2019 21:27

CBS65: 1 deferred entry offer here, from Manchester. Waiting to hear from Sheffield (interview late Nov, I think it was) and Bristol (interview last week). St Andrew's wouldn't allow deferred, so normal 2019 entry application there. The impression I get is that the offers will come at the same time as for everyone else, but if you're borderline, where 2019 entry applicants might be put on hold, deferred applicants will just be rejected. But I may be completely wrong! Where has your DC applied?

cbs65 · 04/02/2019 22:16

thanks - she's not expecting any offers yet but she is feeling she has made it even harder for herself by opting for deferred entry - she has only just done Newcastle interview, Bristol next week, Nottingham interviewed December but I don't think they have sent any offers yet and Edinburgh her other choice.

hoodiemum · 04/02/2019 22:43

The waiting game is difficult, isn't it? Sounds as though there's every reason for CBS junior to be hopeful, though. We thought that deferred might make it harder, too, but so far, at least, that doesn't seem to be the case. Good luck for Bristol! (Be prepared for a very noisy room!)

Tinkobell · 05/02/2019 12:33

Yup....seems to be very very quiet out there now after the initial early wave. DD's going to chase Birmingham this week after the initial notification of a forthcoming offer....she's heard nothing about what the actual offer is. Starting to empathise with username @mumsneedwine! ...I know we knew that medicine was slower from the outset but it's just dragging a bit. Also it'd be good to plan any offer day visits in and around Easter and revision. I've a younger one doing GCSEs, poorly parents .....I'm kind of ranting / sympathy seeking now 😤 Everybody's got a life to get on with!

Monkey2001 · 05/02/2019 12:58

Tinkobell - I assume she has checked Track? Most communications get there within a few days of e-mails and would show the conditions.

Will all hot up soon - DS expecting decisions from all three remaining (Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds) by end of Feb and Sheffield and Newcastle seem to be 2 of the most popular on this thread. In the Monkey House we are trying to ignore medicine and focus on school production (he has a good part in Beauty and the Beast) and music exams (violin and singing). Will worry about offers or lack of offers in a few weeks (or that is the theory!). Not even attempting to get him to take mocks seriously as I don't like to enter a battle I can't win.

Very glad there is a 3 year gap between my little monkeys, I don't think you realise until secondary school that the traditional 2 year gap is a guarantee of stress!

mumsneedwine · 05/02/2019 18:58

Tinkobell I was you last year. One doing GCSEs and one applying for medicine. It's tough (you're right, my name is appropriate !). Offers can come in at any time (except Sheffield who pretty much tell you when) and it will be so exciting when they do. DD had offers Jan to March and it's a long wait when their friends are all done. Good luck and a nice Rioja does help

Tinkobell · 05/02/2019 19:23

@Monkey and @Mumsneedwine....thanks! Both right. No shortage of mundane dull stuff to distract tbh. Realised today DD might be fledging soon without having had her eyes tested for (errhumm, a couple of years) and teeth checked....all those things. I know Easter she'll be revising and the summer will be festivalling etc etc or maybe planning resits (😫) and a 12 month job. I'm going to have 2 on study leave soon! Dreading that....will become a house bound constant food shopping, cooking drone person......I can see me needing the bottle then @mums so I'll hold off for a bit!

Tinkobell · 05/02/2019 19:32

....just been told that Notts foundation year and Notts Lincoln are trickling out with AAB offers for a 4 week acceptance. So perhaps there'll be news soon.....

mumsneedwine · 05/02/2019 19:55

Tinkobell I recommend having loads of highly unhealthy snacks in and wear a hard hat for a few weeks. And don't let them google the mark schemes after each paper as it only ends in tears !!! Hope lots of lovely offers start coming in soon. DD is at Notts and loving it but know she'd have been happy at any of her choices. This year has gone so fast and it seems only yesterday when I was in your shoes as a medic mum. It's v v hard

Monkey2001 · 05/02/2019 21:09

Tinkobell which festivals is DD lining up? DS went to Reading last year and was underwhelmed (and very wet), didn't your DD go to Reading too? They all seem to be going to Shambala from his school this year. Does not sound like his scene as it is electronic music and he is more into Indie Rock, but I think it is the end of sixth form blow out for his group of friends.

hoodiemum · 05/02/2019 21:35

Hi all,
So, mini dilemma here. I have a birthday with a zero on the end in July, and am planning a big party. No deposit paid, but lots of people keeping the date free already. Turns out IB results day isn't the Friday I'd thought it was, but the Saturday of my party. Results from 1pm, while I'll be erecting tents, doing flowers, and generally getting geared up to people arriving from mid afternoon. We NEVER entertain, so this will all be quite daunting and stressy. If results are good, should be OK, but if not, then what? Poor DD will have to face loads of relatives and family friends two or three hours after getting results, with a mother who doesn't have the headspace to give her any attention. Part of me thinks it would do us all good to have the distraction, but part of me thinks it's potentially a bit cruel. What would you do? Worth thinking about changing the date of the party, or best to plough on regardless?

Monkey2001 · 05/02/2019 22:13

Ouch! Would be amazing to have the party if she has the results she wants, but can see that you want her to think you have the right priorities.

Can you ask her what she wants you to do? If she has a strong opinion either way, that should help you decide. Or do you think that puts pressure on her to say the right thing? How comfortable are her predictions v the offers she might get? May be easier to decide when she has heard back from Sheffield and Bristol, particularly if her school is on the massive contextual offer list for Bristol.

Good luck with the dilemma!

HostessTrolley · 05/02/2019 23:36

I’d definitely ask her @hoodiemum - and before the craziness of mocks gets going.

In terms of festivals I think mine was considering creamfields but a weekend in Amsterdam is now being debated at less cost. She also did Reading last year, the verdict being ‘it was freezing and wet and bloody miserable but I had just the best time’ - vodka and good company makes up for a lot 🙄

hoodiemum · 06/02/2019 00:41

She's feeling OK about going ahead with party for now. We've decided to revisit the decision when we've heard from Bristol (as Monkey says, their contextual offer would be relatively achievable if she got one - although no help with the pesky chemistry...).

4catsham · 06/02/2019 10:18

Still in the interview stage here in fact last one today...in Liverpool and and I m delighted to say I am sitting in a beautiful cafe in the University Museum sipping a Mocha and indulging in some Victoria sponge cake courtesy of the Med School, what great hospitality and much appreciated after an early morning train journey.Well done Liverpool Uni!

So after today the next nerve wracking stage begins...having read around lools like offers can be ongoing for months..last year last few offers from Leicester came at end of April. Supposing as long as not getting rejections waiting is the better alternative. So fingers crossed for at least one offer now!

Hoodiemum, hope you are getting there with a decision.For what its worth I would advocate a chat with your DD about your dilemma it could be a tough one if the worse possible scenario occurs but could it also be a useful distraction ie lots of supportive family and friends around for support . Good luck with the decision and celebrations too when the time comes.

Good Luck to all doing interviews still and to those awaiting outcomes .

Tinkobell · 06/02/2019 11:35

@Monkey....I'm not sure she's thought specific events - but probably Reading as its closest to us. Last year there were a string of smaller festivals along the south coast which I thought looked v good......
@Hoodie....look it's just a personal thing, but in our house bad luck date coincidence is a bit of a thing. If you could push back or forward very slightly now then I would. We went to a family event a week back....I did feel a bit sorry for my kids, they both got blooming interrogated quite publically about future careers, specialisations....all this stuff. One of them hasn't even sat GCSE's fgs, I know they're just trying to strike up a chat, but it can be quite irritating unless life's all hunky dory.
@4Catsham....best if luck today. Full charm offensive with coffee and cake ... wow!

CrunchingNumber · 06/02/2019 12:11

Congratulations to all DC who has got offers. Such an amazing news ... My DD has also got an offer from Nottingham with a foundation year she is highly thrilled ... awaiting to hear from Sheffield and one more interview to go at the end of the month. This process has been so stressful.... wishing all every success .
how long do we have to await to confirm the offers, is there a time period or do we need to await till everyone send in their decision.

cbs65 · 06/02/2019 13:27

you haven't mucked up as much as I have- I booked an overseas holiday for the whole family in Vietnam ('last one" before she sets off on gap year etc) during A level results! I hope there's good internet connection and it would be lovely to get one of those slightly reduced offers to take the stress off !

I agree- discuss with her - maybe if she can invite a couple of her friends for support