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.

An express remark can take 3 days. Normal ones are anything from a week to 3. Most unis will hold place if doing an express remark. But some don't and I've known students who have had to defer once new grade has been confirmed as too late tor Uni to accept.

Thanks mums - good to know x

@Newgirls....hers took a couple of weeks, there was no panic as shed been accepted in her case.

Hello, my daughter will be applying for medicine this year. She needs to decide whether to do an EPQ or not. Just wondered what the consensus was. I am of the opinion that she might be best not doing it and focusing on revising for the UCAT etc but obviously if it will help her application then we need to think about it. Any opinions?
Tia

redtulip - definitely worth doing if she applies to Sheffield or HYMS as you get a reduced offer (AAB) if you have A*/A in EPQ. Also good for Barts as you get more UCAS points. Can give you something interesting to talk about at interviews.

However, most med schools will not give it an explicit value, whereas they all want wok experience and volunteering, so great to do it, but not if the extra workload of EPQ + volunteering stops her from getting AAA.

Dd received an offer from Newcastle today! So all waiting for Newcastle 🤞offers are starting to come out. Crossing everything everyone waiting on them on here gets an offer. 🤞🙏

Congratulations Speedy! DD just got the Newcastle offer too. We were only there this time last week, so it’s brilliant to hear so early.

RedTulip,
I'm sure Monkey knows all about specific schools that do or don't like EPQ. I just wanted to throw in the tuppence that it can give the kids something to talk about at interview or as part of their personal statement, and critical thinking skills. Sometimes they are asked in interview to debate ethical issues that their EPQ touched upon, so they literally do know something about the topic which really helps their confidence and demonstrates their interest. It is good if they can demonstrate a wide range of things they did to try to inform themselves about medicine as a career.

If you think UCAT could suffer from doing EPQ then definitely prioritise the UCAT.

ps: I don't think DD spent more than 5 weeks really studying for UCAT, btw. She took hers at end of summer so she'd have a nice clear lesson-free spell to revise on practice UCAT exams a bit most days, and then have it done by time real lessons resumed.

Yay shangrilalala - its great they are getting the offers out earlier than they said - its a lovely surprise. Hope they carry on sending out offers quickly now. Waiting is horrible and I know dd has been fortunate to hear quite quickly.

Congrats on the Newcastle offers. This thread should "hot up" over the next few weeks!

Were the offers AAA for the early offers (top interview scorers)?

Dd's was AAA. Same for Birmingham, Kings is A*AA

Same here - AAA for Newcastle and Bristol. It’s timely; DDs enthusiasm (and work ethic) was waning and this boost will help.

redtulip My DD came to the conclusion that it was only worth doing the EPQ if you were going to get at least an A, because then some Unis would then give you lea-way on your offer. Anything lower-graded didn't seem to offer much benefit, though. So she decided to drop it, and focus on her A levels & UCAT - and was thoroughly relieved she did.

Just noticed that this thread is almost full so I have set up part 2 - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3808360-Medicine-2020-part-2?watched=1