Medicine 2020

[EightToSixer]

Ok, so I know it's super early, but I've been hovering at the medicine 18 and 19 threads. DD is keen to apply for medicine in 2020. Is anyone else in the same boat?
I thought it would be useful to share info and stories, it's all a very steep learning curve because despite me now having a PhD and working in a RG university I was late to learning and not a patch on my DD who is very driven and organised.
Hopefully people will find this group and we can share the rollercoaster of the next two years.

Hello. He has applied to Newcastle, Manchester and Liverpool. Only heard back from Sheffield tho for interview

We are waiting for Nottingham(she will kill me if she doesn't get an interview as I told her to apply - the only real interference from me...) and Keele that she liked nearly as much as UEA.

Congratulations to all the DC who have had interview invites this week - well done! We have currently heard from 1 out of 4. Roll on next week!

DD1 has a Birmingham interview for medicine, one of the two med schools she applied for.
Has anyone heard from Manchester med school yet?

DD has a Birmingham interview too! She's super excited.

Amazing news @FiveHours and @speedyhedgehog.
It is really hotting up on here.

DD got an interveiw at Exeter last week. She’s also waiting for Manchester @FiveHoursSleep ...fingers crossed!

Has anyone applying got an interview with similar results to these:

5x8
5x7
1x6

I know there is still a chance with a high UCAT score, and some Unis score 8s and 9s the same, but reading this thread, I am starting to think that it's not going to be enough.

@MaddieElla - my d got 7A*, 3A, 2B so not that much different at gcse. A good BMAT and ukcat and high predicted A levels. She got four interviews, three offers (withdrew from her 4th choice as she was happy with what she had and didn’t want to wait any longer to hear) and is now a first year medic at ICL having a whale of a time xxx

That is so good to hear, thank you Hostess. My heart sinks a bit when I read about a straight set of 9s. I've just got to hope she gets interviews and a good UCAT score.

Do you mind me asking where your DD got her offers from?

Mine had 6 A* and 4 A. UCAT of 2710. Got 4 offers. Depends on the Uni though. Good luck.

@MaddieElla she had a ukcat of 2880 and BMAT (although you find this out after the ucas forms go in) of something like 5.7/6.2/3A. She got offers from imperial (AAA), Sheffield (AAA), and Nottingham (AAA). She was on the wait list for kings for a very long time after interview, basically we reckon she was a borderline interview and they were waiting to find out how many they’d made earlier offers to would accept them. Their standard offer is AAA and she felt that they were a long way behind imperial in how she felt about going there, but because of the grades needed would be no use as insurance either. She likes the uni at kings but to her the med school felt cold and not welcoming. She’d also reached the point (I think it was April) of wanting to just push the buttons so she could forget about ucas and settle down and work on getting the grades. She loved the feel of Sheffield so she insured them. Her achieved grades were 3xA which she was speechless about, she was expecting to get AAA but with the A in maths as imperial specified they wanted the A in Chen or bio.

She’s very happy at imperial despite being unhappy about them taking dissection out after they started. She’s enjoying the course, has good flatmates and it’s not as expensive as we feared, loves the social scene, especially the weekly sports night (she goes out with a club that she’s only actually put her trainers on and done the sport once lol), is doing a bit of voluntary work on the kids ward, and is still with her boyfriend who’s at a different uni that she sees probably 2 weekends out of 3. She’s very busy but when we meet up she’s glowing and happy xxx

@MaddieElla - It depends where she's applied to. Do any of the medical schools she's applied to use GCSE grades in shortlisting for interview?

Sorry, mixing up posts. You didn't say your daughter has already applied. Is she in year 12 and thinking about applying next year?

@MaddieElla they are definitely good enough if you apply smartly. My DS got 5A* 3A 1B and 1C with UKCAT of 2930 and he got 3 offers from Sheffield, Liverpool and Bristol. He chose Sheffield and currently loving life there in his second year! 😊

Delighted to report that the Keele interview came through today - a 9.30am slot in December so this means a night in a hotel as it is a three hour session so a 4am start doesn't seem a good idea if she is to give herself the best chance.
It must be hard to navigate this process with limited funds.
Well done @bellylaughs DD - has she already done her A levels or is she predicted 3A*s or has she got a great UCAT?

@PiggyPokkyFool she’s predicted 3 A stars. So she was high on the tier list. Stupid system by Exeter IMO but it has worked in DD’s favour...

Great news piggy!

It is a bit @bellylaughs as DD needed 2810 UCAT to be interviewed and so missed out - really pleased for your DD. It's a bit of a roller coaster.
Thanks @speedyhedgehog - it takes a little of the pressure off for next Tuesday knowing she has another shot in December.
I have had this in my head the last few weeks and wonder if it should be our theme tune on here:

Lord rest his beautiful soul.

Good news with all the interview offers coming in this week. Well done to your DC! DS1 received his mock exam time table last week - starts in January, as soon as he goes back after Christmas. I'm hoping there won't be clashes with interviews, all a bit stressful.

SirToby, yes she's in Year 12 so a good way to go, just trying to jump through the work experience hoops for now. Her favourites are Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds and they do score GCSEs. Some treat 8s and 9s the same but I think she will lose points at Nottingham.

Hostess, your daughter did amazingly well and I'm pleased she is so happy there.

Thank you all for your reassuring posts and good luck with the upcoming interviews everyone.

Have Sheffield changed their system? They used to just check that GCSEs meet or exceed the minimum standard (it was 5 at grade 7 or above, and maths English and a science needed to be grade 6 or above) then interview invitations were completely decided on ukcat scores. They were a dream to apply to, the information they publish is full and informative, they have a timetable, it’s really clear. Once the ukcat results are published, they publish their interview threshold so you know if they’ve met it or not before the invitation comes in, and they say ‘our offers will all be sent out in week x’ so you know there’s no point in stressing about it until then.

www.sheffield.ac.uk/medicine/prospective_ug/applying/whathappens

I think that is still the case Hostess. My understanding anyway

@MaddieElla - yes, as the others say, just need to be strategic. I think GCSE- heavy med schools will start differentiating between 8/9 soon, but until they do, your DD should avoid Oxford and Cardiff. Leeds is tricky - my DS got an interview last year with 6 A, 4 A, and a top band BMAT but expect you will need more this year because there are so many more 8/9 grades than As. Sheffield definitely fine, it is all about the UCAT - there are some very sad people on TSR with perfect GCSE/A level scores but weak UCATs who are very limited.

My DS got 4 interviews last year (Cambridge, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle) and should get all 4 this year (Cambridge, St Andrews, Sheffield, Leicester - already has 2 interviews booked) and his GCSEs are not as good as your DD's but he gets good scores in UCAT/BMAT. His problem last year was interview performance. We will see what happens this year.....

DD has, heard from Southampton and has a selection day in early Dec. She's very happy to have 3 interviews now with just Oxford to hear from.
Who is everyone else waiting to hear from?