Medicine 2021 - Part 4

[MaddieElla]

Fingers crossed for those final offers coming in!

Hope no one minds me starting the new thread...

Can anyone help with advice. DD wants to do medicine- she hates Maths so wants to do Psycology with Biology and Chemistry A levels. Will this exclude her from applying to Cambridge? She won't listen to advice and thinks it won't. Obviously she might not choose to apply there but I really want her to keep as many options available as possible.

@FreekStar2 My DD is studying vet medicine at Cambridge. Not taking Maths will not exclude her from applying for medicine but will reduce her chances considerably of getting in. If she performs amazingly in the BMAT which does have a compulsory maths section I think and at the interview then it will give her the best hope. Cambridge does prefer Maths A level for all their science degrees.

@FreekStar2 Cambridge is the only one where that will be a problem. Some colleges would interview without 3 sciences, so would have to be a bit selective, but the success rate is very low. Makes no difference at any other medical schools.

Also wondering if not studying Maths at A-level will affect her ability to perform well in the BMAT?

@FreekStar2 I think maths at BMAT is pitched at GCSE level but your DD will be up aginst majority of applicants taking Maths A level and a proportion of those will be taking Further Maths too.

Freekstar2, DD found that there was quite a lot of maths in her first year. A level helped, but those without struggled through.

(Look at how much maths statistics there is in any article about Covid.)

Cambridge is full on science for the first three years so maths will almost certainly be more important.

Is she capable of getting a good maths A level? If so A level maths is a lot more interesting for those with aptitude than GCSE, and likely to open doors to more "sciencey" courses. If not, she should take the A levels which will allow her to get the grades, but consider whether the Cambridge course is a good fit.

My dd is did psychology, biology and chemistry.
She used medic portal to work out which were best universities to apply to with that combination.
She weighed up her best chances as doing ucat only and focusing on work experience etc.
She got offers from all four choices.
Got firmed up for Bristol today.
My advice is think carefully about what kind of course and uni experience your d wants. Medicine at Cambridge is very different to medicine everywhere else.
Is she sure she wants to be a doctor or does she just want to go to Cambridge?
If she is really set on Cambridge then she needs to be really focused on outstanding results in bmat and the other stuff Cambridge values.
Medic portal is really helpful to work through this kind of issue

All good here too.... great to have the confirmation in black and white.

She's not set on Cambridge- she is still in the early stages of deciding what she wants to do- being a doctor is more important to her than going to Cambridge. I think we still have a lot of research to do. I just don't want her to close doors for herself at this stage. She is better at Maths than she thinks she is- she's predicted 7/8at GCSE but guess we won't know that until Thursday, eek!

There are figures available somewhere (don't have time to look now) showing that nobody gets into medicine at Cambridge without three from biology, chemistry, maths, physics. It's the only place she shouldn't consider if she's doing biology, chemistry & psychology.

@Millylovespuddles lovely news! Phew!

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne

There are figures available somewhere (don't have time to look now) showing that nobody gets into medicine at Cambridge without three from biology, chemistry, maths, physics. It's the only place she shouldn't consider if she's doing biology, chemistry & psychology.

It is not quite nobody, but something like a 5% success rate post interview v 30% for 3 science/maths subjects, and not all colleges will interview, but some will.

I would be more worried for Cambridge about the fact that you need 2xA + A and if you are heading for a 7 for maths, an A at A level is not likely when doing real exams again. There is usually no negotiation on grades at Cambridge.

If you want to do medicine, the most important thing is to get AAA or better, in 2019 only 17.9% of A level students got at least AAA (2021 - 37%) and 40% usually miss their medicine offers. 2019 less than 4.8% got 2xA* (2021 - 15.4%).

www.gov.uk/government/publications/analysis-of-results-a-levels-summer-2021/summer-2021-results-analysis-and-quality-assurance-a-level

DD just offered 10,000 to go to another medical school or 8,000 in accommodation credit to defer to next year

@withiceplease oh wow - what are her thoughts about that?

Where was her firm choice and where are they suggesting (if you’re happy/allowed to say)?

www.medschools.ac.uk/news/brokerage-programme-to-be-introduced-for-oversubscribed-medical-schools

Sure they'll be a few of you getting an email

DD has her first choice confirmed. It's strange for us as we're in Wales so have had provisional results since the middle of June. There was no reason to think that these results would change but DD was still relieved when UCAS updated her status this morning. Congratulations to everyone else who's been successful - now the shopping can begin!

We're hearing that Birmingham and Manchester are offering significant cash incentives for their successful applicants to go elsewhere and study. Apparently a few options in London, Brighton and Leeds are being offered as alternatives. Interestingly, these are all BMAT unis so I'm wondering if only having an option of sitting BMAT post application is having a detrimental effect on their application numbers?

@LaLaFlottes
Doesn't say where it would be
Not a chance of her accepting either though. She hadn't planned anything for a possible gap year in case she had another UCAT summer

If anyone does consider deferring, I checked that the ski company DD worked for during her gap year is recruiting British citizens.

www.workaseason.com/

Camp America who she worked for during the summer, are also recruiting
www.campamerica.co.uk/explore/work-for-us

DD had been ill the summer before her A levels and felt she needed a break as Yr 13 was pretty tough. She asked for a late deferral. She does not regret it at all, and grew up and picked up lots of useful skills during that year. Even though working for Ski Esprit and then with American kids, killed any ambitions she may have had of being a paediatrician. Before the ski season started she took a cookery class and was able to stay on as an intern which means she is a confident cook and has saved lots of money, plus her cakes are always welcomed by staff when she is on placement.

@withiceplease glad she can stick to her plan exciting isn’t it?

One of DD’s friends was also asked this but is sticking with her Uni. I think it’s Birmingham she’s off to.

Hope everyone’s having a lovely day celebrating

So remind me - what we’re all the bits and pieces you were all buying a while ago? I seem to remember fun stuff like anatomy colouring books? I was too worried about tempting fate but would now like to start gathering a few things! Any links would be much appreciated

@Needmoresleep that sounds like a wonderful gap year.

This one is good. USB stick in shape of a doctor or during pens.
They will likely get a discount certificate for a stethoscope so worth waiting as we got 20% off and free engraving. But can start choosing the colour now (Litman II seems most popular - check has paediatric side).

Well done ! Most of ours are in but 2 having to wait to see if they are ok. Our results are v much in line with a normal year.

Bought DD this - it's a bit too near the truth though. Watch one then do one.

Thank you @mumsneedwine that’s great!

Glad to hear most of yours are in - I hope it’s not been too traumatic for you this year and that that 2 still waiting have good news soon

@LaLaFlottes few flutters early on as odd missed grade but seems to be working out ok now. I hate them being called Teacher Assessed grades - I had no idea what they had got until same time as the kids. Ours sat 5 exams per subject and another teacher marked, they were moderated by another school and grade boundaries set as per usual system. So not teacher assessed at all !
I love that the school in Hackney has got 55 into Oxbridge and beaten Eton. Their head is an inspiration 😊.

Guardian says 1/3 of med schools affected by over-offers www.theguardian.com/education/2021/aug/10/medical-students-in-england-to-be-offered-compensation-if-they-move-to-a-different-school