Medicine 2021 - Part 3

[SATSmadness]

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

Great news!

Great news!

Thanks all, at least that makes 2. And like Nottingham, where we knew he ought to be invited to interview based on his scores (and you spend the time wondering if somehow they had missed his GCSEs or something), we have a similar situation regarding Liverpool. Somebody (again on TSR) has phoned them up, and it appears that they are only sending out a few invites now, and the rest in January (sounds like they wanted to get started and interview a few people for three days in December). Again DS might have preferred that, given when his mocks fall, and the people who did get them a probably wishing they had them in January but the University can't know that).

Any news @Powergower?

I guess one is just so jumpy with all the rejections this year for people who in every other year would have received interviews. Apparently somebody on Reddit (DS found it) got a straight rejection from Edinburgh with a UCAT score of 3100 and straight 9s except one 8 at GCSE (and top predicted). Don't know how Edinburgh scores, but seems hard to believe.

I think I may have seen that on TSR Bimkom. DS didn't apply to Edinburgh but it caught my eye as I saw the UCAT score and rejection. I wondered if it was the fact that one of their 3 A Levels was history and not a science.

We’re still waiting for Edinburgh...
I got in to medicine at Edinburgh with 3As and 3 Bs at higher and a B and a C for the equivalent of advanced highers. And no UCAT thank god. It really has got a lot harder. Good luck to all!

I know @emummy changed days! I got an unconditional (not for Medicine) from Edinburgh and turned it down without batting an eyelid. Changed days!

I think opoponax has it sussed, unless it was their predicted A Level grades that was an issue.

In a year when there will probably be sufficient applicants with predicted A/A* in Maths/Chemistry/Biology/Physics/Further Maths, plus some deferrals from the previous year/students with grades in hand, Universities will need to whittle interviewee numbers down somehow and excluding those with a less relevant subject A Level might be one way as DD's school made it clear that to maximise your chances you needed to be picking Sciences/Maths although I doubt that Maths + Further Maths + Physics wouldn't get you an interview.

Yes @SATSmadness and there is also the factor of some of the Scottish med schools having a very low number of places for RUK applicants.

Some news from keele today, just an email to say they've been inundated and expect you get back to people in Jan. They also tried to address some commonly asked questions, one was how the uni will judge English again Welsh/scot applicants who won't be sitting exams. They didn't really give a definitive answer but at least it's on their radar. Talk about not having a level playing field across the UK!

And, at least it's not rejection so that's a relief.

Oops, meant to say doubt that Maths/F. Maths/Physics would get you an interview.

Painfully aware of the Scottish med schools risk @opoponax as DD has applied to one and with her first choice being Cambridge which is statistically a risky choice too, she could end up with just the 2 more realistic options as the potential source of an offer which is a shame when she's such a strong candidate on paper.

Good news @ Powergower. Interesting that they are thinking about how to manage the situation of some applicants sitting exams and some not. Yes, how on earth do you level the playing field!

I think it's so hard to call how it will pan out @SATSmadness. I know of two different DC who got four interviews a few years back (different years) and both got a single offer - Cambridge. They were clearly more suited to that med school than others and it ended up being their least risky choice.

Bimkom - happy news indeed! It's lovey to hear of the interview invites.

Here, dd is is full prep mode. Thankfully Oxford had to reschedule their original day, so now she has interviews on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (QUB) - we'll all be happy on Wed night! Busy times all round.

Mine has had exams all last week and this week. She got her interview dates last week and her interviews are both on Tuesday, but she’d already agreed to work more shifts at work too. I don’t think she has done nearly enough prep. But I dare not ask her what she has actually done as I don’t want to stress her out. She just says she only has 24 hours in a day. I know she knows the courses inside out and she’s been reading health news and NHS stuff for weeks. But it’s the other stuff I think she’s not very prepared for.

She’s got 4 full days where she can throw everything at it but I am worried.

@Millylovespuddles that’ll be a busy few days but like you say, all over and done with and then you can celebrate another hurdle.

Any thoughts on interview outfits? Dd has Glasgow interview this afternoon, she was thinking of wearing a smart black top she has, now worrying that she should be wearing a blouse instead. Thoughts anyone?!

@emummy good luck to DD for this afternoon!
DD decided to wear a little blouse, buttoned up to the top so it sat neatly and then with a little necklace and some nice earrings.

She tried a couple of other tops that were actually quite smart but on a screen looked like they could be more casual than they actually were if that makes sense.

Probably over thinking it but that’s what she decided!

Hope this helps.

I think that’s what Dd is concerned about, looking casual when she’s not. Will have another look in her wardrobe! Thank uou

For her first DD wore a top with a blazer. For her next two (on the same day) she's wearing a long sleeve smart dress, which sounds very 'office wear' but it's really nice.

Yes, envious that boys have this so easy don't they. Smart shirt and tie, job done !

Yes, definitely easier for boys @SATSmadness. That conversation took all of 20 seconds in our house.

Done! She thinks it went ok but not brilliantly. We’re have a take away to celebrate her surviving & me discharging a long term patient. Happy days!

Excellent. Enjoy the well deserved takeaway!

Really hope they don’t judge them
Based on what they wear. My daughter is not remotely girly and only owns one school style shirt. She wore a collar and a smart jumper. She was hoping it was her they were interested In rather than what she wore. You can’t argue with that or an 18 year old!!

Sure it's not an issue @Iamsodonewith2020. The interviewers probably don't really notice what the DC are wearing unless it were something that was really too informal (thinking hoodie!) . Think it's more a case of the DC feeling happy about what they are wearing, whatever it may be, to help with their confidence on the day.