Medicine 2021

[Millylovespuddles]

Hi all
It looks like there’s no medicine 2021 entry thread yet, so it might be an idea to get the ball rolling.
My DD is getting stuck into her A level course, doing well so far, but I’m guessing we parents could do with some mutual support and advice from parents who’ve been here before.

Why do you think a potential applicant felt the need to set up a new thread if not to avoid the dominating of the thread with arguments?

@Pumpkintopf intercalation can be useful for the points it adds for their F1 placements. Some (Nottingham being one) do an extra degree within the 5 years, but it's worth 1 point less than a full year out. Also can be a year doing something totally different as some Unis let you do it in virtually anything. Some don't.
And for those interested, my DDs UCAT was not stellar. She got 2710, so in the 70% ish range. She applied strategically to places she knew should (not would) give her an interview with that. That's how she got 4 of them. Please please please stop twisting things - I have no idea why the need to be unpleasant has creeped in. I post to be helpful nothing more.

It's a very curious thread TomoeGozen. Perhaps MN should look into it and check out the posters.

I have already asked them to do just that

Says the person who seems intent on picking an argument with me?

If the person who set up the new thread was so unhappy with my contribution they could have messaged me directly. Rather than call on the thread police.

I have been on the Higher Ed board a while, and try to contribute constructively where I have direct knowledge. And I am sincere in saying that whilst you too may have a child who will ace UKCAT and breeze through A levels, picking up 4 offers without breaking sweat, there will be others for whom it will be a marathon, where they will need to be tactical and spend much of yr 13 dealing with stress and disappointment.

Most will get there in the end because they will be good kids and will make good doctors, and a bit of determination and resilience never held anyone back. However, from my experience, posters who keep advising that all is easy, as long as your child is a genius, are not doing anyone any favours.

You may think I am over invested. Perhaps I was. But I had to be as DD was recovering from a near fatal accident (really serious stuff involving air ambulance etc) so was in no position to do the research she had planned to do before the UCAS deadline. You might not have done, but I suspect I am not the only mother who is prepared to over invest to protect my child.

I assume it is ok if I reply to pumpkintopf’s reasonable question?

I hadn’t realised the intercalation added more points for their F1 placements. Thank you for yet more valuable information.

I also didn’t know that some universities do the extra degree within the 5 years!

So much research done but still loads to find out about!

Bit of self reflection may help. There are a lot of lurkers around who get fed up. Look back at this thread and see how much of it is dominated by a few people. Nice to see you agreeing on something though!

Have you mumsneedwine? You also asked MN to delete this thread for misinformation. It's just a really, really odd thread that other one. I haven't asked MN to check it particularly but the number of new posters is pretty unusual I'd have thought, and the immediate nastiness - you know, given the new posters. Very odd. Why can't people be straightforward?

@Needmoresleep I have no clue how I have tried to pick an argument with you ??? I haven't want to argue with anyone. Just want correct information going out. Opinions vary, facts don't.
Lets hope this, and the other thread, get back on track and parents can get the support they want. Yes ?

I wasn't particularly aiming my comments at you. It's just a general exasperation when it just goes off on mum of a medic oneupmanship.

Oh dear god. Grow up !!! I have been at work all day and came here to HELP others. Leave me alone, ignore me, don't read my posts. Just stop being ridiculous. You are not showing off Oxford graduates in a very good light.

@TomoeGozen I do so agree. Wherever your child goes to medical school they will succeed and be a great doctor (this opinion seems to be why I am getting the abuse, but I will stick by it regardless).

The ability to intercalate varies from med school to med school. The six year courses have a BSc included. Some, like Birmingham, only allow you to intercalate within the med school. Others like Bristol, allow you to intercalate elsewhere, as long as the med school/university does not offer the course. Some, like Nottingham, have some form of intercalation lite, which means you do some extra courses over the summer. Others, SGUL is one I think, don’t allow intercalation at all.

A list of available courses is here: www.intercalate.co.uk/

Intercalations can be BScs or MScs.

I think it is a good idea to look at the intercalation options of the med school you are applying to. Not least it gives a flavour of the areas of strength. DD is keen to take an intercalation which should help boost her chances of getting into her desired field. And potentially open the door to research. Applications are in and fingers are crossed.

However obviously it adds a year to the degree and to costs.

Oh @goodbyestranger I never asked MN to delete this thread. Where do you get your 'information' from ? Your obsession with me is becoming slightly flattering.

@Needmoresleep great advice. Lots of options.
Just to clarify Notts, it's not a few courses over the summer - they spend their 2nd year continuing medicine whilst also starting their Biomedical degree. They then do a dissitation in term 1 of year 3. Then its back to preclinical for a term. And the summer after year 3 they start clinical. At least this year - might change ! I'm sure they'll explain it better than me at open day !

I hope it stays. There was some useful stuff.
Maybe a thought for people WHO HAVE YET TO APPLY before anyone deletes it

@mumsneedwine
Same as 35 years ago then 😳😂

My apologies mumsneedwine - although you do very, very definitely flatter yourself. It was this post:

Medic mums, I'd start a new thread to get the help and support you need as I don't think this is going to stop. I am reporting to Mumsnet as giving misinformation is not fair.

Forgive me, but I took reporting to mean a request to delete.

Such an odd other new thread though. Seems to be posters who then forget to change their names back - I'm very confused but then I don't name change.

Mumsneedwine, I would consider being in the top 30% of a good cohort as pretty stellar. And four offers is really unusual.

Very few will do as well.

All I was doing was to try to offer a bit of advice. Presumably as a teacher you are careful not to ‘encourage’ pupils who are struggling by emphasising how well someone else is doing, so am not sure why you do so on this board. For most applicants a place is good enough, and for several they may end up waiting though to March or later. Support includes acknowledging that things are not as easy for everyone.

@abitoflight can you explain ? I'm being a bit thick !

@goodbyestranger I wouldn't have a clue how to game change. Took me 4 years on here to know how to read the messages bit !

@mumsneedwine
I went there and that was the system then

Mumsneedwine are Nottingham students forced into doing biomed? What happens if their interests lie elsewhere. Surely the point of intercalation is to gear up towards a specialisation and gain greater in depth knowledge to give them a head start in their chosen area rather than simply an extra point towards F1.

@Needmoresleep I do agree and if you've read my posts you'll know that my DD received her first offer in Feb and her last offer in late March, so not early ! I was trying to show how you don't need 'stellar' results (her GCSEs were not good enough for Cardiff) and that she needed to apply strategically - not necessarily to places that she might originally have wanted (UCAT wasn't good enough for Newcastle). Was trying to show how being flexible until have entry exams is important. Never meant to sound like she had it easy - none of it was easy !!

Thanks - I didn't realise you could intercalated without doing an extra year so that's interesting!

Mumsneedwine how is your dd finding that, with the extra work alongside her medical degree?