Medicine 2019 - Part 2

[Monkey2001]

Oops, looks like none of noticed the old thread was full!

@HostessTrolley @Hoodiemum @4catsham @mamamedic @medicmom @mimiasovitch @Nightowlpossibly @ProfessorLayton1 @Tinkobell @Weaverspin @Itsthekissing @Sluj @Mumneedswine @Movingmountains

Apologies to any regulars I have missed

For those worrying about Chemistry and not finishing syllabus, my daughter has recently signed up to an online thing that she really rates. It does cost (and she is really frugal) but she thinks it's great. I can ask her the name if anyone's interested.
A levels after half term here, but ds2 has started GCSEs. It's revision central in our house!

Good luck to all with their exams. Its the last hurdle, a tough one, but still the last in this long journey to get into medical school. In terms of finishing the syllabus, I think it is quite common, DD hadn't finished either a few weeks before exams and worse, her teacher had an accident, couldn't return to work and they couldn't find anyonecto replace him so they had to finish self taught but still manage to get that required A.

Re. Cost of living, DD experience is that there is a huge variation amongst students, some who gets a large stipend from their parents and have a lot to spend to have fun, and others who have to work through their studies and can't afford to go out except for special occasions.

DD falls somewhere in between, but works long hours when she is back home to build a nest. She is lucky to work on the bank and get all the hours she needs and also does babysitting which pays well.

@ladsmum - how is the last minute work for Physics going? DS has just chucked me out of the kitchen for a couple of hours to do a paper under exam conditions. He seems to be borderline A/A at the moment, so luck will probably be needed on Monday if he wants to get the A he was predicted.

Fingers crossed for anybody doing Physics next week.

So OCR Physics paper was apparently much easier than previous years. I am wondering whether this is following criticism that linear A levels have got too hard. The GCSE maths paper was made easier in 2018 than in 2019 (first year of 1-9) - after the outrage that you could pass (at least the Edexcel higher paper) with 17%.

Will be interesting to see whether this is just an anomaly or a general move.

I meant GCSE maths was made easier in 2018 compared to 2017.

Makes no difference if it's easier or not - just means grade boundaries will go up. 2018 grades were 10/11 marks lower than 2019. Probably just you DC had revised really well !

2017/18. Sorry. Grades are set after kids do exams and a lovely bell curve is made. Makes it fairer if papers are easier or harder.

Monkey2001 DS happy with how yesterday's physics went, although he is more worried about Friday's material. He was struggling with physics at the beginning of this year but the money invested in a tutor seems to have worked wonders for his confidence and exam technique (had to resort to tuition by Skype, as no one locally with availability). As Mumsneedwine says I am worried that easy papers may make the grade boundaries very narrow. Looks like, in recent years for Physics approx top 30% scored an A* or A so DS hopeful that he falls into that group. Good luck to all DCs with exams this week.

I wish my d had started exams. It’s still a fortnight until her first one, she’s finding this bit of time really difficult - she’s worked hard, feels prepared but not ready (I think that’s normal) and is stressed out and climbing the walls. I think once they settle into exam mode it gets easier. Most of her friends have started exams, with economics, history, physics underway and being analysed and dissected in group chats.

She’s got her crb and medical
forms accepted, has had an email saying there’s a delay in the imperial accommodation applications opening so it will now be early June, and is procrastinating with online clothes shopping for her holidays

Good luck to all who are living with students currently sitting exams - wine is a necessity, I’m finding...

New next-door neighbours have just moved in and they were telling my their DD had 4 interviews and no offers when she applied for medicine, but then re-applied following year and got 4 offers. She then transferred to Zoology after the fist year , but a nice gap year success story!

Good luck, everyone!
Monkey, that's good news about your neighbour's child. I've read online about people that's happened to, but it's good to have confirmation from 'real' people. It'll all work out, I'm sure. Has he got some good interview-skills-boosting plans lined up for the summer and autumn?
Our worry with the grade boundaries (for IB) is, if a multiple choice biology paper was off the scale difficult for English speakers, will it also be off the scale difficult for kids doing the same exam in French or Spanish? Or will wording clarity affect things? No idea, but it's adding to the stress!
And yes, Hostess, I second the wine. I certainly don't feel I've covered myself in glory in a supportive mum role in the last few weeks. It's bl*y hard. Can't wait for there to be no excuse for them to be horrid to everyone they live with! (And to be allowed to hoover downstairs without being yelled at for distracting revising child in upstairs bedroom.)

And she's done! Let the partying commence. On the beach this afternoon and then trying to get into a club despite being a few frustrating weeks away from her birthday. We won't get to see her until tomorrow morning (if we're lucky).

The rest of the thread's DCs will be there before too long. It'll be worth the wait! Hope all this week's exams have gone well for everyone.

@hoodiemum lucky girl! We're not starting until after half term, but she's working so hard. I do wish she'd allow herself a break as I worry she'll burn out before they start. Dd2 on the other hand has sailed through her GCSEs without a care. She still has some after the holidays, but I don't think that will interfere much with the more important stuff, like prom shoes. They always say you never get two the same..

@Hoodiemum, how nice to have finished exams, but as you said, the next month will whizz past for all of us. Your hoovering comment made me laugh, DS has decided the best place to work is the kitchen so I am banned from doing anything noisy whilst he is working.

On a lighter note, we had fun making periodic table mini bakewell tarts for the last chemistry lesson ever. His sixth form have cake rotas for double periods and the last lesson was a big tea party as all the people who had not made them yet brought cake in. May have been a strategic move to get attendance up in the last few days of school!

Thinking of all your DDs and DSs as they face, endure and finish A levels. DD is just finishing year 12. Hs booked her UCAT exam date.
Can I ask whether this looks like a good outfit for medical school interviews?
www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0119-4622-9845L00&productvarid=0119-4622-9845L00-NAVY-RED-12&refpage=shop-business-suits
Feel like such a greenhorn....

My dd wore her school skirt with a white shirt and flat shoes. Think it honestly doesn't matter as long as you look presentable. I certainly wouldn't spend a lot of money on an outfit (lovely as it is!)

Thanks @specialted I promised I would buy her a new outfit as there is no uniform at her 6th form and she lives in black jeans and colourful tops and we haven't really bought anything new for over a year.
She hasn't seen it yet - currently checking out Exeter Uni with DH - and may hate it anyway.
Were most people not wearing suits? Another parent, Year 13, told me they needed a suit or dress/jacket combination.
This is what I mean about being a greenhorn - I believe all I am told!

Nobody will mind the Hobbs ensemble, but it is more formal than almost everyone wears while on patient contact. Perhaps look for something she will happily wear when with patients? (Also better value from more use?) That said, medicine is not like banking where you definitely do not want to have a better watch or suit than your consultant...

Hot pants, leggings, ball gowns, dress suits are unsuitable for seeing patients in, so anything comfortable, neat and preferably not 'extreme' in any way eg the further away from knee length that skirts are, the more restrictive they are. If you need longer lengths, trousers are perfectly fine, especially ones that do not restrict circulation movement. If you feel an irresistible urge for a jacket, why not use one of yours, and depending on the vibe on the day, she can take it off without feeling she has to wear it?

Piggypokkyfool- My DD just wore a skirt ( just above knee a line) and blouse for her interviews. Had a jacket/smart mac, but didn't wear them. One of the interviews she wore smart black jeans and a blouse. But think dress code was more casual for that particular university. She did not buy a new outfit.

She said most of the girls ,were dressed similarly and none were overly formal. Also only a few boys in suits. A lot just smart shirt trousers/ dark jeans.

Mine wore black trousers and a shirt. Her advice if you do Liverpool interview is take a jumper as it's in the crypt of the cathedral and freezing. And if want to have something they can use on placements make sure it has short sleeves or can be rolled up. Things need to be above the elbows. Good luck with A levels - DD in middle of first year exams 🤪

Thank you everyone - I just want to give her a confidence boost as she thinks she looks very young for her age, isn't into make-up or hair straightening that many of her friends are. I have just persuaded her to try a little foundation and lip tint - which she has admitted looks good. She is naturally lovely. I want to support her in anyway I can as she has wanted this for so long.
Thanks for the short sleeve advice - she has a GP week next month and
a hospital experience(plastic surgery!!) the next month so I'll pass this on.
Great support as usual

Dd wore her school clothes - her school has the sixth formers wear ‘business dress’. Next blazer (they’re nicely shaped and washable), just above knee skirt, tights, smart flat shoes. Blouse - with muted coloured thin jumper on colder days

Dd wore black trousers, flat black ankle boots and a blouse. The trousers have been useful for various volunteering things she's done, and the blouses she wears anyway with jeans. She looked smart but still like herself.

Exams start tomorrow, thank god. It's been a long slog, and I'm looking forward to seeing her relaxed and carefree for a little while.

Good luck to all on this thread heading into exams this coming week....lots of hopes & dreams hinging on the next few weeks. We have pulled back from what DD is or is not doing on her work; having concluded sometime ago that this is now very much a process of self-selection. Those that want it will do it, those that might not so much, won't. @Piggy - good luck embarking on this journey....I have to say, we enjoyed the uni visits and interview process, it was adrenaline filled and fun. Re: personal appearance at interview, I just think "well kept" and groomed is important not perception of how old they look.

For interviews, my DD wore her school clothes - smart casual trousers, 3/4 length sleeved blouse, jacket. Navy or grey. She felt comfortable and smart (but not too formal) wearing that, and could lose the jacket for the practical MMI parts.

A levels start in earnest tomorrow. She had one exam a couple of weeks ago, but the main bulk are in the next three weeks. Fastening seatbelts and preparing for the ride! Good luck to everyone whose DCs are sitting their exams. See you on the other side!