Medicine 2022 entry

[Monkey2001]

Support thread for aspiring medics.

We want all our DCs to succeed, whatever their school type. We share knowledge to help them to achieve their goals, celebrate success and support if things don't go well.

As we press the "send and pay" buttons on UCAS, we wish all our DC the best of luck in this tough year with so much uncertainty.

@Ijw2025

Cambridge interview invite received yesterday😊

Huge congrats on that. Hopefully lots more today when the dark blue admissions team open their flood gates!

Well done @Ijw2025 - did the BMAT go well?

I think it will be Tuesday for Oxford but I'm not feeling positive for DD. DD is a little cheered after perusing TSR and working out she must surely get a Newcastle interview. The odds look very good for her for a Leeds one as well.

Fantastic news @Ijw2025 - will it be in person or online?

DD had a practice online MMI last week and said the role play actually felt less uncomfortable than in person (grasps at miniscule straws...).

Interview is online and my DD BMAT 7.2 5.5 3A

@Ijw2025

Interview is online and my DD BMAT 7.2 5.5 3A

Great BMAT score, 12.7 for first 2 sections v competitive for Cambridge, most ignore S3. She just needs to stay relaxed and think aloud!

@SandyBayley I don't know what your DD got in BMAT, but am sure she will be fine for Leeds, Newcastle and Bristol, just unlucky that they are all being a bit slow. I saw that a few Newcastle ones had gone into Promotions or Spam folders - how they are all keeping an eye on those. I once had a letter confirming a £3m grant go to Spam!

@Monkey2001 - 11.8 and 3.5A . On the cusp for Oxford I think but may the odds be on her favour!

[quote SandyBayley]@Monkey2001 - 11.8 and 3.5A . On the cusp for Oxford I think but may the odds be on her favour![/quote]
🤞🤞that is a very good score, hope she gets good news on Tuesday. Cambridge interview 80% of applicants, I think Oxford only about 20%, so harder to get an interview, but better post interview odds if you do.

Thanks @Monkey2001 - part of me wishes she'd applied to Cambridge as she'd gave hit an interview but it all evens out in the end over the process.

She's been very wound up over the weekend (boyfriend issues) and did say it might be a blessing not to have to worry about a looming Oxford interview as well. I just smile, nod and make cups of tea....

Same here @SandyBayley ! DD chose to apply to Oxford over Cambridge because she felt that the shortlisting procedure was more transparent (she didn’t trust Cambridge’s holistic approach). Unfortunately she had iT issues so tactic backfired, so we’ll see what happens tomorrow. DD pretty chilled (on the outside)!!

Hand hold @notmedicmum - I like the fact that Oxford shares the strongest candidates around so you aren't disadvantaged by choosing a popular college. At least with Oxford you can make a choice but don't have to worry that it will disadvantage you.

I also wonder if it's better to get the pain out of the way and not get an interview at Oxford than get an interview at Cambridge and potentially face rejection in January.

Thank you @SandyBayley. Swings and roundabouts I think, with the Oxford vs Cambridge thing. TBH, I think DD is borderline but I also believe there is an element of luck in the selection process! We will see tomorrow……
Her other choices are all UCAT unis, and we chose safe ones (with her UCAT score). And as others have said before, you only need one offer, and after graduation it doesn’t matter which university you go to when you do medicine. So the Oxford thing isn’t the be all and end all , just feels like it

DD's best friend got an interview offer from Cambridge for medicine today and her boyfriend got an interview offer for geography at Oxford as well. Poor DD is pleased for them both but feeling a bit 😬 tonight...

Just seen posts by someone called "worried dad" on TSR. His daughter got 3130 and AAA* predictions and has 3 rejections so far - Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow, just waiting for Oxford. So sad to see un-strategic choices spoiling the chances of a really strong candidate. Edinburgh was unwise with the predictions, Dundee only have 15 places but Glasgow v unlucky as she was rejected for not doing AS or A level Biology, which is not actually listed as a requirement on the website!

It is a horrible process!

It's really distressing @Monkey2001 - I'm so grateful for the help you and @GANFYD offer so generously every year.

For anyone reading this and thinking about 2023 please take advantage of the good advice offered 👍

Definitely @SandyBayley. Even having been through the process just last year with DS, we will be paying a LOT of attention to what @GANFYD, @Monkey2001 and @mumsneedwine have to say when it is DD's turn next year.

Good luck to all the Oxford DC tomorrow. It is nerve wracking if the DC have their hearts set on studying there. But for what it's worth, a couple of my DS's friends didn't get past the interview stage and are now very happy studying at other med schools.

I forgot @mumsneedwine - very sorry! The Holy Trinity of medical school admissions gurus!

@Monkey2001 that is so sad and so unnecessary. I know the advice given here was very much noted and followed. It seems like you need a degree to work out where to apply, or the biggest decision tree ever.

It baffles me that there seems to be a genuine will to make studying Medicine accessible to a wide range of DC and yet the application process is so complex and a total minefield if DC don't have the right support to choose wisely.

😊 it's lovely to be able to help just a little bit. And see all your kids getting interviews. As a mum I know how tough a process it is.
As a teacher, I wish students didn't have to be so strategic, but it gets more important every year. Good luck !

I agree, our reward is to see your DC succeeding in getting through this obstacle course!

Seriously though, there is a need for the experience and advice that @mumsneedwine, @GANFYD and @Monkey2001 bring for all potential medical school applicants, not just those who have DP that lurk on mumsnet! Especially as the process starts early, in year 10. Especially if your DC go to a school where they have 0 to 1 successful applicants yearly. Especially as I know a few DC that paid thousands of ££££ to attend courses that then advised them to apply to unis where they have little chance of being accepted….Especially as I think you need an adult to navigate some of the complexities and level head and calm things down.

Any news from Oxford yet?

SHE GOT AN INTERVIEW!!!

@SandyBayley

SHE GOT AN INTERVIEW!!!

Woo hoo! 🎉

I rarely use capitals but I thought the occasion merited it. I'm sure it was marginal but for now I'm going to delight in the moment!