Medicine 2021 - part 2

[Millylovespuddles]

Following on from the first thread:
DD now has UKAT booked for mid-August. She couldn’t get a driving theory test booked until after the UKAT date, but will keep an eye out for cancellations.
Now, her big dilemma is Oxbridge it not....

Just to say the new e-mail from Sheffield say that interview e-mails will be sent between the 12th and 16th Nov, so quite a while away!

My DS has had the email inviting for interview - swiftly followed by another explaining it was an error!

@MazarineBlue such a shame - but it did seem a bit strange didn't it, before the deadline etc!

Does anyone else feel like they’d like to know that the universities have definitely received the UCAT scores in November?

I wonder if there is any way to check? I know it’s supposed to be automatic but it would be nice to know!

@LaLaFlottes - we thought it could be some cunning plan offer interview dates v early to encourage students not to change their choices in Track now the UCAT deciles are out - clearly I'm giving them a bit too much credit there for Machiavellian thinking and it's good old-fashioned admin errors!

Thought it was odd. Not very good that they made this error. Poor kids who were all excited!

Anecdotal evidence is that IT systems in several Universities struggled with the start of term and the demands of on-line learning. DD found that her emails at both the external University she is intercalating at, and her home University, went into meltdown on Monday, plus a few other admin niggles. All seems to be working now.

The other way of looking at it is that staff are working in new ways, often from home, students are scattered all over the world, and IT is under huge stress. It is pretty impressive that so many have adapted so well. (OK, some Universities seem to have done better than others.) On-line MMIs would seem to present a whole new challenge, especially as interviews normally depend on pulling medical staff out of front line roles. No surprising if things go a bit slower this year. Who knows what will happen if the second wave hits with real force, though the bigger victims will be students in their clinical years who already lost a big chunk of last year.

Remarkable to see 35000 entries this year as compared to only 29000 UCAT entries last year.
Also on platforms like TSR students with very low GCSE grades but remarkably have been given the so-called teacher inflated achieved three A level grades. UCAT average is higher than last year too.
Going to be a difficult year, good luck to everyones DC
One child let down by sadly being in the small percentage of deflated teacher CAGs 2020 after receiving an offer and second DC now competing in a difficult market with fewer offers to be given out and more achieved applicants with generously given A grades.

Typical that DDs band 1 is now one of 30 odd per cent

Ah well. She's still applying as strategically as possible and she can't do any more.

Her UCAS is going off today and in her meeting the teacher read out her subject references and her tutor reference. I didn't think schools shared these with the applicants but DD welcomed it. They have said she's got a very strong PS with her work experience so I am truly hoping she gets an interview somewhere so that she can shine.

If it is likely that DC will be having Zoom interviews, I would strongly recommend searching the internet for advice. There will be tips about clothes, lighting and background.

We got DS, who was not a medic but who was regularly faltering at Skype interviews, a few sessions on interview technique. One suggestion for Skype was to practice talking to a blank wall. It can be hard to read facial expressions, especially if there is delay.

The delay is so off-putting in normal circumstances let alone in a critical interview.

@Needmoresleep thanks for the info and tips. DD and I did joke that we'd just need to buy the top half of a smart outfit if interviews were on line

Good point about interview technique and talking to a wall. The delay is so annoying.

I see that there are courses specifically for medical school interviews, but I wonder if that just makes them robotic rather than answering more naturally?

[quote LaLaFlottes]@Needmoresleep thanks for the info and tips. DD and I did joke that we'd just need to buy the top half of a smart outfit if interviews were on line

Good point about interview technique and talking to a wall. The delay is so annoying.

I see that there are courses specifically for medical school interviews, but I wonder if that just makes them robotic rather than answering more naturally?[/quote]
This made me smile because my son (non medic, graduated this year) had work meetings last week wearing a smart shirt and pyjama shorts

There are a million ways to spend money supposedly to enhance a medical school application. I am cynical. That said, my guess is that there are now two issues with interviews:

1. the interview per se. DD is good at interviews (a compensation for being awful at UCAT and other timed tests) so we never looked into available help, but I can see why others might like want to rehearse a little.

1. The on line element. Here I would be tempted to encourage the DC to look for tips. It is different and outside many people's comfort zone. I would also suggest setting up a few Zoom calls with helpful adults, perhaps those who are used to interviewing, to get experience and feedback. Even if there is not a lot to learn, considering aspects of the interview (is the bed made, is the wall behind covered with gaming posters, what lighting works best) should help confidence and a sense of being in control.

It suddenly struck me that some applicants may be busy buying suitable anatomy posters, and books for the bookshelf...then wondering whether that means they are labelled "too keen".

Your dcs will probably know this, but on many platforms you can blur your background, which can be handy!

@HostessTrolley that's brilliant! I always think newsreaders are probably in their shorts under the desk in the summer!!

@Needmoresleep do you think making a sign saying pleeeeease give me a place would be too much??

Can't help wondering if teachers have at the back of their minds that next year's A Levels might come down to CAGs and are being generous in their predictions/allowing upgrade requests to go unchallenged.

At DDs school, anecdotally, anyone who has challenged their predicted grades in maths or science subjects has had them put up a grade.

Several predicted As have become A*s and at least 2 Bs are now As as far as Uni admissions are concerned.

I also can't help thinking that Unis that don't normally pay much heed to actual GCSE grades (other than ensuring that minimum entry requirements are met) might think it an idea to consider placing more weight on GCSE scores as they may be the last time this cohort were formally tested.

DD's being having music (instrument) lessons via skype although obviously this is more relaxed and informal. It was a great monotony reliever when schools first closed and lockdown was in full force.

It also mean't that the music teacher didn't lose all of her income too.

She also did various other hobbies related stuff via Zoom.

Good idea to do a test meeting with each other to see about backgrounds. Would an interchangeable "I love Relevant University city" poster in the back ground be too obvious ?

What a pallaver re the email error! As if this year wasn't stressful enough.

SATS - our school is being very very strict with a levels, most early entrants received b and c grades and anyone who appealed is being asked to sit further tests. I do think state schools tend to under predict if anything. My neighbours son attends a private school and he has been predicted 3 x A* and was shocked as his tests to date have all been marked at B-C level.

Ds still has tests until next week and predicted will then be confirmed. He has completed his form and paid the fee so school can input the reference. Still no certainty about grades so still unsure if he'll apply. Just keeping everything crossed he gets good predicted.

Oranges - the differentials are astounding and depressing.

Maddie and needmore- some good points re online interviews. I know my ds is dreading online interviews, he comes across completely differently in person.

I'm glad we're almost there application wise though. It's been stressful!

SATS - stress ... oh yeah, plenty here too! The ucat deciles are making DD reconsider one of her choices and it's driving us to the edge. I think she'll stick with the original, but it makes it 'risky' for sure, but she'd love it as her second choice. Oh, I feel another sleepless night coming on!

@Millylovespuddles did you come to a conclusion? I hope it wasn’t a sleepless night after all.
There’s a chance the deciles might come down a little further when the last 2000 sit their test maybe?

Lala - A bit of a restless night, but think she'll stick with her original decision...I think this is taking more out of me than her!

I think it does take a lot out of us doesn’t it @Millylovespuddles - it can drive you slightly crazy thinking of all the options and all of the possible scenarios. Wanting the best possible chance but also wanting to choose places they like.

It all feels quite mind-boggling this year. I imagine it is a tough process in any year but all the COVID fallout makes everything feel so uncertain for them. I guess it could be considered as good preparation for the focus and resilience required for a medical career (once you are looking back at it!) I'm just trying to drill in the 'it's a two-year process' approach and keep a lid on the stress of it all.