Medicine 2018 Part 4

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Welcome to the new thread! Can't believe we are on the 4th already

Thank you for all your replies re Nottingham - a weekend of decisions.

I wouldn’t pay much attention for their scoring for UKCAT - it basically awards a point for each decile but considering that very few applicants score below the 5th the points don’t count for much. So my DS with score of 2950 didn’t get interview - he had strong PS that got him interviews at Bristol and Liverpool (both are PS heavy), 5 As, 4 As, predicted AAA, tonnes of work ex, had worked since 14 in a Cattery and since 16 as a kp yet no interview! It is luck I think.

biscuit hope your DD is feeling better now! I spoke to my DD this evening for the first time and she seems very happy, but has a cold. She didn't seem to think an early night was necessary though

oneteen he got 2810

Movingmountains I think UKCAT is important with Nottingham ...they score each section separately and therefore may be less inclined to interview someone with a spikey profile which is really possible ...you could get 9 9 9 2 or 9974 and still have a higher points score than 7777 - if I was an admission person I would opt for the 7777 students or even a 7676...but that's just my analytical take on it.

Thank you for posting UKCAT scores can I be really cheeky and ask you to PM breakdown of all 4 sections - please do not feel obliged to do so...DD's GCSE's are good but not brilliant for medicine (I had a very immature intelligent teen who is now really engaging now her heart is set on medicine- so I'm keen to ensure she applies to schools that will give her the best opportunity of obtaining an interview)

Oneteen - sorry I wasn’t clear, my DS got the over 700 on all sections so he had same points. My point was the because they award points for very low scores it reduces the weighting as most of their applicants will have scored above 5 points. When I phoned admissions, they admitted that a high UKCat score was not as highly weighted as maybe they had implied at open days. You may have already seen this: www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine/study/medicine/faq/a100-selection.aspx
This explains it. I would only choose Nottingham if you have others that are more certain. Have you looked at latest uni rankings - makes for interesting reading especially if you look at places moved and also rank by student satisfaction
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=Medicine

and also rank by student satisfaction

Yes, one might argue that those finding themselves having to put up with Sheffield or BSMS are likely to fall into the 'arrived with low expectations, were pleasantly surprised' category alluded to in the methodology notes, but why, necessarily, if presumably that concept is meant to be discounted for Oxford, only just below them in third place?

Thanks for clarifying movingmountains.

Think the differences in medical school scores are so small in those tables and are also based on last years 5th years so courses have changed a lot. My DD did make a point of talking to students at both open days and interviews to ask what they thought. Which is how she ended up at Nottingham. But she would have been equally as happy I'm sure at her other choices. Choice was a lovely thing but not something she'd anticipated as she genuinely would have been thrilled with one offer. Wherever they go they will enjoy as it's all about becoming a doctor and they have nothing to compare it with !

Oh and I think my DD got 5667 in her UKCAT scores. So it's definitely not everything Notts look for

Well said mumsneedwine- talking to students really gives a clear idea and as you say wherever they are they will love it. I would say to prospective DCs just make sure you have 2-3 strong possibilities- play to your strengths. The 4th one can just be more chancy. That was essentially what we did (although we thought Bristol was the chancy one not Nottingham). I also think after the whole stressful year you will be so relieved to go anywhere that you will wonder why you stressed so much about the choices you make now! That’s certainly how we felt.
How are everyone’s DCs getting on now they’ve settled into more regular routines? DS has enjoyed lectures and getting back to proper work as he puts it but annoyed as his GP placement changed last minute and now really far out and takes 2 hours on public transport.

DD will be happy with any offers ...but its really lovely to get all this feedback....thank you!

Hope everyone's DC's are settling well...

Mine just called to discuss washing and what can go in the dryer. Then a rather good looking boy turned up and asked my DD lots of questions about washing and suddenly I was no longer needed. I'd say she's settling in ok 😂😂😂

Mumsneedwine....that's so funny....suddenly your DD became the expert in all things 'laundry related'!! 🤣

I honestly believe that if they have a genuine desire to study medicine, then they'll be happy wherever they study it (not discounting the challenges that come with it of course!). When I asked my DS about league tables and whether they were important, his response at the time was..."mum, medicine is medicine..."! He did look at course structure, and although he slightly favoured the course at Birmingham (1 year less !!), he rejected it in favour of St A's, because he totally loved the place and the university (his sister is also there, which did influence his decision!).
Oneteen, have you discovered the TSR medicine megathread yet? It's very informative about UKCAT etc..., and I think there are a couple of medic dad's on there too, dispensing some very good advice...

Mumsneedwine that made me giggle! It's nice to see that even with all the maturity they had to show, they remain typical 18/19yo!

Mumsneedwine maybe I can point DS in DDs direction as well. He is baffled by the washing machines...

Send him down K !! Although as that was her first ever load of laundry I think she was blagging it. She was FaceTiming me and the boy next to her was putting his stuff in the dryer so DD pointed out he might need to put it in the washing machine first. He then asked her how it all works and, as he was 6ft and rather good looking, I was dispatched to the pocket. And then a v quick bye. I was laughing so hard.

Said they did a joint first aid thing yesterday with all the nurses, midwifes, physio etc and they will do several inter discipline things this year so they get to know other people in the medic team. Thought that was a brilliant idea.

DD is on. MedSoc surfing weekend, in Newquay - 60 medical students ( surfing the bars last night lol!) The South West is so beautiful and DD is living the course. The staff are first class. It seems some people discount Plymouth - I don’t know why? It was DDs first choice, from the moment she went to the open day. Bonus point - Catfish and The Bottlemen are playing at Plymouth Pavillions in Feb and I got some tickets for DD. They are not playing many places - so that’s a big coo, for Plymouth!

So just dropped DS at Imperial - my stiff upper lip is well engaged and I'm holding it together. His halls are amazing, everyone seemed so welcoming and warm :) And by some really bizarre coincidence, one of his very best friends is in the room next door!
It's so good to read through all your posts about settling in etc - I remember doing this myself many, many moons ago and I know there all super capable but boy, it is hard to let them go!! I am going to have to be very retrained and NOT message him constantly ;)

Innertiger I feel for you. It’s so tough, however 2 weeks in I am say it does get easier. We do message DS a lot but he doesn’t seem to mind - I guess if they get fed up they won’t reply!!! Well certainly that’s what my eldest DS does 😂

Chin up inner tiger!!! We're here with you for support ! Message to self : stop texting dd every day! She's fine!

Mommymoomitzi dd just got tickets for catfish and the bottlemen for Feb back at home! Secretly happy she'll be coming back that weekend!

Great news Mommy and inner with DD and Ds settling well.
DD made it clear she didn't want me to text every day so some how settled with a phone call only on Sundays but I did find her much more talk active last Sunday than she would normally be and its her whose been sending the occasional text in the week. Really looking forward to chatting later today. She'll be back a week in two weeks so hopefully will catch up more than even though expect to have to share her with her friends. Her closest is at uni locally so home every day and will most likely see her more than I!

Have heard from a reliable source that Bristol considering change to full UKCAT method (like Sheffield) in future. Might be worth checking website application process for applicants this year & next.