Another Path - part IV

[321zyx]

Apologies if I've done this wrong! I seemed to have filled up the last thread, hopefully the abbreviated title is ok!

@Seasonfinale I'd forgotten about the widening participation considerations too. I believe Bristol Med is 40% contextual offers and at first I though that might affect DS's chances there but they are also UCAT heavy so you know that with a top UCAT you will still get an interview.

Millylovespuddles I agree that it has been a hugely stressful year. I think our DC both had similarly high UCAT scores, which helped a lot to secure interviews but even with that advantage, it still felt very stressful. And I know other DC applied strategically and in good faith with very decent UCAT scores that would have comfortably secured interviews in previous years and then missed the crazily high cut-offs. You would have needed a crystal ball to have anticipated that.

The only thing I would say though is that top-fliers and dead certs do seem to miss out every year. The fact that so much weighting is put on the interviews means excellent academics are never enough to nail it. The demonstration of character suitability and motivation is, in many cases, all that counts after interview selection stage. I think that the most stressful part for me this year was knowing that all his academics were spot-on, he'd worked his socks off volunteering for ages and he had only ever wanted to be a doctor and yet that final decision all just came down to a 30 minute Zoom interview.

I agree it is heartbreaking what's happened to this year's cohort as a whole, not just med. My friend's DS applied to Durham for another subject. The boy has perfect academic stats, huge motivation for his subject and is a total all-rounder with national sporting achievements etc. and he was just rejected outright and in feedback was simply told they had stronger candidates. In any other year, he would have breezed it.

I know everyone will say it's the system, it's just the year it is, it's beyond anyone's control... but as a parent, I am cross and disillusioned, but mostly I feel so so sad for this year's cohort who have had to deal with it

I has been moving that way for the last few years though surely? It's always been difficult to get in first time. Same with VetMed. And recently, due to Covid, Brexit and other unforeseen circumstances, applications have soared, and in all other medical fields too. Paramedic, Nursing, Midwifery, all have seen huge application increases, yes in 18 year olds, but also in more mature post-graduate cohorts. So you are also in a position of having to compete against a 23, or 25, or even 28 year old, post grad, with life experience. It's really, really, tough.

I have just called Edinburgh who say they still have quite a lot of replies to be issued and hope most of the outstanding ones will be sent by end of this week!

Have they just had more applications then than most?! 🤬

Just found the new thread!

That sounds crazy with Edinburgh, but apparently people are still waiting on LSE until the end of the week and also UCL is still sending out decisions as well. Such a long time. No idea if this is normal or not.

Glad you found it @quest1on!

I know it's not his fault but kinda laid into the person on the phone. Assessments/exams are going on and some dc still don't know where they stand. Especially since they know so many who have heard it's particularly cruel.

Unfortunately - loads of LSE rejections coming through.

@SeasonFinale
Ok, likely that these last few will not be positive.

There's got to be some good ones too though surely. Maybe they are saving the good news until last.

Maybe. I'm just so fed up.

Maggie - I really hope you hear good news tomorrow. The waiting is so draining and can take away the shine of getting the offer when it eventually comes. It wears you down.

It’s so confusing at the moment at DS’ school because there was an email out the other day saying that they can use evidence from across the course for grading, but then some subjects are saying it’s only on these three sets of exams they’re doing now. Every subject seems able to just do it’s own thing.

Plus my other one has exams pretty much every day now until half-term (this is GCSE in another school). I think this is OTT.

I am beginning to feel very angry on dd's behalf. She's been very stoic about it all but I wonder how she's really feeling inside (she tends to hide feelings).

The assessments are a joke! I know what doesn't kill you should make you stronger but some young people are going to suffer ill effects from this rubbish for a long time

Thank you @quest1on

maggie - sorry if you’ve already said this, but is Edinburgh her first choice? What are her options at this point?

If your DD is anything like DS, they just kind of go into exam mode and put the uncertainty out of their minds. But yes, ridiculous to be waiting in May.

Does anyone have any St Andrew's news............still waiting........(but there again DS was lucky enough to hear from Edinburgh last week).......

@quest1on
I think it's between Edinburgh and Bristol and pros and cons for each.

@321zyx - Dd's bf got unconditional for St Andrews months ago. Hadn't realised until recently that they were very late too.

Same as you @321zyx - Edinburgh History offer last week but still waiting for St Andrews.

maggie Edinburgh and Bristol were both on my son's list. He went to Bristol in the end as nearer to London and a 3 year not 4 year course but I am sure he would have been equally happy at either. (My twins have already graduated last year but I just now feel invested in the teenagers o this thread too so still following it... good luck to them all. It is a dreadfully unfair few years. If we end up with grade inflation my son was saying his grades might look worse compared with children of 2020 and 2021 so it may be swings and roundabouts particularly for those with generous assessment at their school).

@xenia
It will be ok in the end. I believe that as with most things they'll all have to invest time and energy in getting what they want out of their courses/time at uni.

Booking is now open for post-offer visit days (well, short tours) at Durham. Socially-distanced guided tours by student ambassadors. No guests.

@DahliaMacNamara thank you very much for that. Ds hadn't seen the email as he was in college but he has now booked in. Fingers crossed this goes ahead.

Thanks Dahlia. DS doesn’t have this email yet but will look out for it.

Any news today maggie?

@quest1on
None I'm afraid. I've been practising BP lowering techniques!

Sorry bit late checking into the new thread. Hope everyone doing ok. Final ‘exams’ this week and next and then schools out. DS has now firmed a deferred offer for Bristol.

How exciting to have made a decision @Tenpastseven

I asked DS if he would like to go to the Durham open day - he said no as it won't make a difference to his decision and he may just meet people he has already met on the group chats 🙄. Each to their own I guess .....