Medicine 2021 - Part 3

[SATSmadness]

Hoping for interviews and offers all round, now and well into next year !

Congratulations to all the DCs who have secured offers - what an amazing achievement. DD is still waiting to hear back post interview from her 2 remaining options. One is still interviewing and won't send any decisions out until they've finished (she interviewed back in December!). The other initially said offers would be in early March but sent a message out last Monday to say that it would be another 3-4 weeks. Aargh!

DD is working hard to secure the grades, but it would give her such a boost to know that she had an offer to work towards. It's a long old wait...

I think that it’s down to the ever changing landscape of the governments decisions on A levels.

My d is a second year at imperial. When she was interviewed, she had a decision ten days later and got her offer in late January. In any year it’s a balancing act for admissions tutors. They know that, for the number of offers they make, a proportion of students will either miss the grades or choose to firm/insure a different university so they over offer proportionally. The number of places they have is strictly controlled due to the cost of training a med student and the capacity of their partner hospitals, it’s not like they can just get everyone to budge along a bit in lecture halls to make space for a couple more. An offer is a binding contract and I believe they get fined if they commit to more students than they are allowed in any given year. Last year most of the med schools had made offers before lockdown and before the whole exam debacle and subsequent government U turn. The proportion of students that ‘missed’ their grade was not as would be expected in a normal year, offers were firmed etc, then a whole second wave of students with adjusted grades came along. I know imperial have over 10% more in the current first year than their permitted numbers, and in addition still have students from last year whose offers are being honoured as they chose to defer or resit. I heard of unis last year that offered students free accomodation for their first year if they’d defer. Then the online BMAT had multiple technical issues which complicated selection for interview. And the A level situation for this years students is not fully resolved. The unis have a finite number of places, and probably fewer this year than pre-pandemic, but their ability to confidently make offers knowing they can accommodate those students is down to government indecision, not just the uni systems working slowly. I know that imperial have told this years’ applicants that decisions will be sent out in April despite the interviews being completed in January.

I know it’s stressful and a horrible time, but it’s not just down to the unis being indecisive.

Thanks @mumsneedwine, completely understandable and yes like you say it seems pretty much the same every year - I'm just impatient!
I think my DD will wait before firming. She's just finding it hard when all her non medic friends are talking about where they are going and now several medic friends have also formed. A few more weeks isn't much longer in the grand scheme of things!

@IsThisNameTaken I missed your post.

In 2019 all the people on the Sheffield reserve list who did not accept another offer before results day ultimately hot in. A friend's DD got into Exeter after being put on the reserve list (she graduated last summer). Every year reserve list places turn into offers - otherwise they would not have them. Tell her that being on the reserve list means they want her, but don't know if they have space.

@redtulip12 do you know that you can apply for student finance before you know where you are going?

People with offers worried about grades, that is the silver lining of not getting offers and applying in a gap year - all the offers are unconditional!

I just came on to say that redtulip
School weekly email told them to apply for finance now

@Monkey2001 / anyone else
Do all Universities operate a reserve list for medicine ?

@SATSmadness not all, but it seems to be a growing thing. Sheffield, Dundee, Plymouth, Exeter, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Liverpool are some of the ones I have seen using reserve lists.

@WithIcePlease just wondering, what is the advantage of applying for finance now?

Ok thanks will get DD and DH to have a look at the student finance site this week.

@opoponax just to get it down me and out of the way as soon as possible I presume

Done and out of the way

@LaLaFlottes - yes, UEA one of the late ones!

@SATSmadness yes, sounds the same. She can find out today where she is on the waiting list, so will know after that what sort of chance she has.

@Monkey2001 thanks, that's encouraging - hadn't considered that many might get in from reserve list.

Thank you @WithIcePlease. It is a good idea to get the finance application done and out of the way.

Isthisnametaken, you can learn something about a medical schools approach by looking at the end of the previous years TSR threads. There can be a surprising number of late pleas for help or advice from DC getting last minute offers or interviews.

Thanks @Needmoresleep , I'll have a look. Interestingly though we found out the reserve list positions today ... and DD is joint 1st. So flipping annoying to have just missed out on an offer but chances of a late offer must be pretty high!

@IsThisNameTaken that’s so annoying to have just missed out - but surely that place on the reserve list will turn itself into a place which is GREAT!

@IsThisNameTaken so annoying for your DD to just miss an offer by a whisker but also very reassuring about the chances of getting one down the line.

Oh wow, how close! I'm sure that will soon turn into an offer.

@IsThisNameTaken I would be very surprised if that did not turn into an offer.

Can I ask if people are applying for finance already? Do you have to have firmed a place?

DS2 hasn't applied yet, but no, the applicant doesn't need to have firmed anywhere before applying - they can just put the most likely choice of university in, then amend the application later. No money is released, either to the university for tuition or the student aa maintenance, until they actually enrol at the beginning of term.

DD would have done but her passport expired at the beginning of March so we’ll have to get that sorted first. I’m in no rush really though.

My main concern is accommodation (or lack of it).

I asked DD about books and she has bought 2 in almost 3 years. One in biochemistry and one just now on clinical practice. Everything else has been free on line. She said her anatomy colouring book was fab and obviously an engraved stethoscope (engraved because they get put down & all look the same). She's never worn a white coat and hospital give them scrubs. Her recommendation for a gift is a good fancy dress outfit and gin. This may not be helpful.

@MaddieElla does d know anyone else who has an offer from the same Uni (who has firmed) ? They should've able to see what is still available so can gauge when to accept.

I am laughing at the fancy dress outfit.

No unfortunately not re others who have firmed and chosen the accommodation. I'm sure it'll be fine and I know some reserve rooms for later firmers like medics.

I looked online at the stethoscopes, good idea to get them engraved. I might get one for when she turns 18 but I'm a bit superstitious about buying something before she gets her grades. 🤦‍♀️