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Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Medicine 2021

999 replies

Millylovespuddles · 28/11/2019 19:46

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.

OP posts:
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Powergower · 10/06/2020 09:30

Also I forgot to mention, the 3 x live lessons a week (1 per a level) will have 2 classes present, so approx 50 kids and they have all been advised to mute their mics. So it'll be more akin to watching a video than an interactive live lesson. No opportunity to all questions or seek clarity.

LaLaFlottes · 10/06/2020 10:44

@Powergower it’s a really tricky time isn’t it? DD is also hoping to apply for 2021 entry and it’s going to be hard. She’s always seen it as potentially a 2 year process, I.e if she doesn’t get a place she will take a year out and try and fix her application so she gets in second time round.

Do you not think that on line lessons in September will only be for a short while with the school getting back to normal over the course of the first term? Surely it won’t be on line lessons for the whole of the next academic year?

Do you know where it says that interviews will be virtual for 2021 entry? I didn’t see anything on the Medical Schools Council website but maybe it says this on some individual University websites? This would be a shame, although I think most applicants would share the thought that they would do better in person. It changes the whole style of interview though doesn’t it? Also changes how the Situational Judgement score would be used I guess too, as at some Uni’s that’s added to the interview score from MMI interviews.

If you take a look at the Medical Schools council in the Covid 19 section - resources for students, there is the virtual work experience that your DS is already doing but also another couple of things such as Observe GP and a course from the Kings Fund.

Another idea would be trying to get some volunteering at the moment? Maybe this could help your DS get some extra experiences?

Tough times - feel so sad for them all.

Millylovespuddles · 10/06/2020 12:50

St George’s is the only one my daughter has heard for sure that will be doing virtual interviews. Perhaps others have posted on their application pages, so if there are more, let’s hope we can draw up a list from forum contributors.

OP posts:
Pumpkintopf · 12/06/2020 00:41

Thanks for that link re work experience, really useful although I question how much some have actually taken any notice at all of the restrictions covid 19 has imposed - eg

Imperial
Work experience in a healthcare setting is strongly favoured.

DS had been accepted onto an aspiring medics programme prior to coronavirus which has all had to be cancelled. Luckily we had arranged some hospital work experience in Feb half term so he has that and will do some of the online things available, but these are not normal times!

Powergower I hear you. DS's school is only now thinking about offering some online lessons, not all teachers or departments are doing it- it's an absolute mess IMO.

LaLaFlottes · 12/06/2020 03:58

@Pumpkintopf I agree when I looked at that list about revised work experience requirements in light of covid, I couldn’t see an awful lot of difference to the previous list!

I had expected to see more saying that they understood it hadn’t been possible. DD also has some done already, but had so much more due, which has all be postponed but I doubt it will reschedule.

SirTobyBelch · 12/06/2020 11:19

The MedicPortal list of work experience requirements has been produced by someone just looking at all the medical school web sites and summarizing what's on them. Most medical schools are updating their advice in preparation for open days; what's on the web sites might lag slightly behind. I would guess that TMP will update their resources as time goes on: they are usually pretty responsive.

Certainly my own medical school doesn't expect experience in healthcare settings. In fact, it's often a disadvantage to have this as it tends to involve passive observation, which isn't really of any value for demonstrating suitability. It can be valuable to students to help them decide whether it's actually a career they want to pursue, but it doesn't tell medical schools anything about them as future doctors.

Everyone is in the same boat regarding access to caring experience, so of course what's expected will be different. I would be encouraging prospective medics to be thinking about what kinds of things they can do that show they're committed to NHS values. The most obvious things are getting involved in their local communities - e.g. delivering groceries to shielding/self-isolating people, working with food banks, etc. - and supporting charities like hospices, which are mostly in imminent danger of bankruptcy. An applicant who has done some online entertainment events for people who are trapped at home, and in the process raised money for an essential charity, is going to be far more impressive than one who has fruitlessly tried to get experience in a hospital/GP surgery.

Given that schools are going to be closed throughout the summer, there might well be a need for sixth-form students to contribute to efforts to support younger pupils while they have no regular contact with schools: buddying schemes, etc. This is the kind of thing I would expect a prospective medical student to be volunteering for pretty much automatically. I would be very disappointed in someone who wants to go to medical school but doesn't actively seek this kind of voluntary role.

Remember, also, that many medical schools don't have any work experience requirements. There are things that students need to be able to talk about at interview but there are lots of different ways for them to find out about those things.

Regarding virual interviews, I think most medical schools are planning for these in case they become necessary. We'd all prefer to do interviews face to face but, if we're not allowed to have those numbers of students in buildings and students can't use public transport, we're likely to be forced into doing them online. Again, there will be announcements soon.

LaLaFlottes · 12/06/2020 12:22

Thanks @SirTobyBelch that all makes sense. DD has managed to get a space as a volunteer in a kitchen cooking twice a week for vulnerable families. She’s enjoying it and it gets here out of the house too which is good. She’s also in the final stages to be approved as a telephone buddy, via a local hospital. They’ve interviewed her by phone and I know they’ve now been in touch with people for her references so fingers crossed.

Here is a link to a lot of dates for virtual open days. Quite handy to have them all in one place:

www.themedicportal.com/application-guide/medical-school-virtual-open-days/

SirTobyBelch · 12/06/2020 13:36

She’s also in the final stages to be approved as a telephone buddy, via a local hospital. They’ve interviewed her by phone and I know they’ve now been in touch with people for her references so fingers crossed.

You see, to me that is immeasurably more worthwhile than shadowing a doctor. And it's the kind of thing we only see in a relatively small number of applications.

Interesting spelling of Edinburgh on the MedicPortal list of open days.

I wouldn't recommend having your heart set on attending an open day in person in August/September. I don't think it's very likely we'll be able to have those kinds of numbers of people on campus by then, other than to do the most superficial looking around. We're mostly expecting not to be allowed to have students physically in lectures or group tutorials by October, having to restrict use of buildings to segregated groups using labs, anatomy facilities, etc., so I can't see how we'd offer things like subject talks to students & families at open days before then.

BusyMumZ123 · 13/06/2020 15:09

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GANFYD · 13/06/2020 15:50

It is this type of commercial, paid for PS "reviewing" that has lead to med schools paying virtually no attention to a PS. How do you know the person reviewing it has any more idea what the med schools you are applying to want in a PS for this cycle?
I do not think commercial "services" like this add anything to med school applicants and are just a way to extract money from those who have little other support, and hence are least likely to be able to afford it!
TSR offer a free PS review service if people feel they need some support, and have advice and past medicine PSs on the website for people to read if they feel some inspiration would be helpful.
www.thestudentroom.co.uk/university/personal-statements/
www.thestudentroom.co.uk/university/personal-statements/medicine/medicine-personal-statements

Powergower · 15/06/2020 23:08

Ds has heard rumours that exams next year might be open book. I've not seen or heard anything myself and personally I don't think this will address the imbalance in home learning. I hope some clarity comes soon for year 10 and 12 so they can get on and prepare for a very unusual year come September.

Personally I think they should bring back some element of coursework, this will not only encourage independent home working but also give students some more control over their learning.

abitoflight · 16/06/2020 08:45

Similar to the above, DD has heard they may reduce syllabus content for public exams next year. I've seen something suggesting it may be considered in Wales when I googled it from welsh education department but not elsewhere

redtulip12 · 21/06/2020 22:16

My daughter is gutted that the ucat are no longer going to use whiteboards. She has been practicing using one and uses them for sums, notes etc. The scratch pad option is just not the same. Anyone else see issues with this?

GANFYD · 21/06/2020 23:07

@redtulip12 there have been lots of people contacting Pearson Vue to complain about this and the information pages in the UCAT website have changed from giving detals of the scratch pad to "TBC", so it may be that they are re-thinking this option. It is certainly what happened with GAMSAT, who originally were going to use scratch pads and relented and allowed people paper and pen

redtulip12 · 22/06/2020 10:02

Thanks @GANFYD, I really hope so!

GANFYD · 22/06/2020 19:29

@redtulip12 An update today says the whiteboard is back!

www.ucat.ac.uk/news/ucat-2020-update-22-june/

redtulip12 · 22/06/2020 22:56

@GANFYD Thank you, I have one very relieved daughter!

GANFYD · 22/06/2020 22:58

@redtulip12 I don't think she will be the only one Smile

HostessTrolley · 23/06/2020 23:37

@Pumpkintopf - my d is a first year medic at Imperial. She actually had very little medical work experience. She worked right through sixth form (bar/waitressing) and did some sports coaching and was able to apply the skills she’d learned etc from those to desirable attributes etc for medicine - communication, initiative, team working, reliability, dealing with the public etc. This was without Covid. I would imagine that they’d be more flexible due to Covid but many students have done things that can be linked to reading and research about the profession. They’re not really looking for an afternoon a week making tea in a care home, but to see that they’re realistic about a what’s involved in a career in medicine and can see how they might be suited to it x

Pumpkintopf · 24/06/2020 00:29

Thank you @HostessTrolley , appreciate that sense check.

LaLaFlottes · 24/06/2020 14:01

DD is planning to have a look at QMUL (Barts) Virtual open day tomorrow. It’s not one we’ve look into much yet.

From what I can see they use UCAS tariff points as part of the selection process. This is the only Uni I’ve seen this for and I wondered if anyone knew of any others?

I’m thinking they might be best avoided as those doing lots of music exams, extra a levels etc are likely to score higher than DD.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated as it’s the first one we’ve come across using the points system.

Thanks!

WithIcePlease · 24/06/2020 15:14

This sounds ridiculous but do all UCAT test centres have the note book/ note board to write on?
DD is saying that she saw something late last year that on UCAT site intimating that test centres vary?
It says in the 'at the test centre' brochure that on your desk will be a computer and a mouse. No mention of note board. Do you have to ask for them?

mumsneedwine · 24/06/2020 15:22

You should get a whiteboard, pen and rubber. Check pen works before person walks away as sometimes hard yo get them back.

GANFYD · 24/06/2020 21:35

@LaLaFlottes Barts are the only ones who use UCAS tariff. They use it 50-50 with UCAT score. You are right that tariffs tend to be very high, as they consider 168 points (for 3A*s at A level) to be a low score! It benefits people doing IB, Scottish exams, extra A/AS levels, EPQ and music/drama exams. There is more info about previous successful combinations on their website (this is for last year's entry)
www.qmul.ac.uk/smd/undergraduate/courses/admissions-statistics-for-medicine--dentistry/

LaLaFlottes · 26/06/2020 13:53

@GANFYD thank you for the info on Barts!

I now have another question after our virtual open day at Birmingham today. They have changed their widening participation policy and now use points as part of the overall process in choosing applicants for interview.

Apparently 90% of state schools are on the list and due contextual points. But DD’s college isn’t on the list so she gets no points for that.

So she would get maximum points for GCSE, then whatever she gets for UCAT and that’s it! The contextual points are between 1 and 2.5 and to put it in context a UCAT of 2600 gets you 1.333 points. So to get 2.5 contextual points is pretty massive!

It seems like this might make it quite tricky for DD without an amazingly high UCAT.

Is this an unusual system or something we will find everywhere? Birmingham was high on her wish list but we’re not sure now.

I absolutely get why widening participation schemes exist, but I thought it was more that the offer might be lower, ABB for example?

Thank you for any help!

Any please don’t take this as me being against widening participation, I just want to make sure we understand it and how it could affect DD’s chances so that she applied strategically. Smile

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