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....

[MaddieElla]

Feeling very despondent for DD today.

UCAT 2510 Band 1 SJT

Nottingham was the dream but she only scores 44. She's gone for a driving lesson and I'm frantically looking and what other options she has.

[MaddieElla]

*at

[mumsneedwine]

@MaddieElla if it's any help DD has 46. And is now a 3rd year. If it's her dream then its worth a place on UCAS as you never know what the cut off will be 🤞

[LaLaFlottes]

@MaddieElla there will be options! Band 1 for situational judgement it awesome too, and very useful.

How are your DD’s GCSEs?

As @mumsneedwine says, if it’s the dream then Nottingham could still be worth a space on the UCAS form, alongside 3 safer options maybe?

[MaddieElla]

Her GCSEs are 5 8s, 5 7s and a 6

I've since realised that although Lincoln medical school is run by Nottingham and is a Nottingham degree, it has a lower score threshold so she has decided to choose Nottingham and the Nottingham Lincoln pathway. Like you say, if it's her dream then it's worth a shot...we'll wait for this year's cut off just in case it's higher than normal.

Hull York and maybe Liverpool are options

[MaddieElla]

Also thank you both for calming me

She got 750 on abstract reasoning which was a shock and she did okay on the other 2. It was verbal reasoning that was an absolute shocker.

At least we know what's what now.

[Abraid2]

Another point to bear in mind re UKCAT is what time of the day you feel at your sharpest if you're booking a slot. My daughter, now a fourth-year at Birmingham, booked one of the earliest UKCAT morning slots and admitted afterwards that she wished she'd chosen something later in the morning. She isn't a natural lark. We had to do a lot of strong coffee and brisk walking to wake her up.

[abitoflight]

I really feel for you. DD's is next week. So despondent tonight - her mock tests have been going down despite her hard work
It's painful

[LaLaFlottes]

@MaddieElla that’s great news about Nottingham

The band 1 situational judgement is a great thing to have for HYMS too.

Would Leicester be worth a look maybe too?

[mumsneedwine]

@MaddieElla the new medical school at Lincoln is v nice according to DD. But as Notts score each part of the UCAT individually that SJT1 will count for 4 points. At Sheffield it is full marks on one MMI station.

[Powergower]

Can anyone help. My ds keeps getting disabled trying to get into his online test? He's panicking.

[LaLaFlottes]

@Powergower I just saw your post - did your DS get this sorted? Hope it was ok in the end

[Powergower]

Hi no it's been a nightmare he kept getting to the screen waiting for the protector to join and a minute into waiting the screen froze and disabled. This happened 9 times. After he'd submitted id done all the checks etc etc. He's absolutely gutted, so am I. Ucat phone lines only work Mon-fri and zero online assistance so nothing at all we can do until Monday. I'm gutted for him, he was up late practising.

[LaLaFlottes]

@Powergower I’m so sorry to hear this. What a nightmare for you both.
I hope you can get it all rebooked when they open on Monday. Is there a test centre you can use instead of at home maybe?
Sorry though it must be really disappointing Hope DS is ok and manages to just tick over for the weekend until you can get it sorted.

[altmum]

@Powergen - that sounds so stressful. Hope you manage to sort things x

[GreyBow]

@Powergower they should be able to tell remotely that the screen really was frozen. Fingers crossed he can rebook on Monday!

[MaddieElla]

That is so frustrating in what is already a stressful time, they just want it over with. They will be able to tell it was an IT issue though, it's just a pain not being able to speak to anyone over the weekend.

Hope it's sorted.

[Millylovespuddles]

Does anyone have personal recommendations for BMAT study help?
Thanks

[GreyBow]

@Millylovespuddles I bought DD the BMAT medify as well as the ucat one. She's not really used it though yet as concentrating on the ucat this week.

I do know her school made all the potential BMAT candidates do some extra physics last term remotely as although it's gcse standard physics apparently, it's set out differently to the gcse and can cause a surprise.

[Millylovespuddles]

Thanks.
Yes, physics is the part she knows she needs to brush up on - her good old gcse study guide hasn't been passed on.

[Lega]

That is a good idea re BMAT medify subscription. My DSs college are not giving any support re med school entry exams so we are finding our own way - feels like a bit of an uphill battle when other schools are more supportive re test prep requirements, PS drafting and interview practice. We are looking at TSR to help him start his PS from scratch - anything anyone can recommend to practice interviews would be gratefully received!

[Babbas]

I have been mentoring a young local boy by helping him with his application. Just providing bits of advice, Signposting him to good resources and revision guides. He's just sat ucat and texted me with huge disappointment. He scored 2590 and band 3 in his SJ. I've tried to reassure him but he's very despondent. He's had a tough year with lots going on at home, but he's a great lad and with a fab personal statement. Is there anyone on here whose child scored similarly and went on to do well or is still optimistic. I think it's his sj score he's most upset about. I told him to have a look online and plan strategic applications.

[GANFYD]

@Babbas

I have been mentoring a young local boy by helping him with his application. Just providing bits of advice, Signposting him to good resources and revision guides. He's just sat ucat and texted me with huge disappointment. He scored 2590 and band 3 in his SJ. I've tried to reassure him but he's very despondent. He's had a tough year with lots going on at home, but he's a great lad and with a fab personal statement. Is there anyone on here whose child scored similarly and went on to do well or is still optimistic. I think it's his sj score he's most upset about. I told him to have a look online and plan strategic applications.

Loads of options still open, depending on his other stats. If he wants to join TSR and post all his info on their "Which Medical School" thread, people will try and advise

[Babbas]

Thanks ganfyd. He's posted on tsr and also shortlisted Lincoln, hull/ York, Liverpool and Sunderland. I've advised him to sit the bmat and look at some bmat unis too. I wonder if there cut offs for unis will be different this year due to the challenges this years candidates are facing?

[GANFYD]

@Babbas

Thanks ganfyd. He's posted on tsr and also shortlisted Lincoln, hull/ York, Liverpool and Sunderland. I've advised him to sit the bmat and look at some bmat unis too. I wonder if there cut offs for unis will be different this year due to the challenges this years candidates are facing?

Sadly, if a significant proportion of next years places are reserved for those med schools are forced to defer from this year due to lack of space, then I suspect they will interview proportionately fewer people and cut offs may go up. Disadvantaging those with lower scores and usually, those who they should be trying to target for places