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Original poster

Medicine 2022 entry

999 replies

Monkey2001 · 25/09/2021 17:50

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.

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KingscoteStaff · 13/12/2021 13:15

And, as if by magic 🔮, Newcastle appeared!!!!!

I’ve got the power, chaps!!

Original poster
Monkey2001 · 13/12/2021 13:24

@KingscoteStaff

And, as if by magic 🔮, Newcastle appeared!!!!!

I’ve got the power, chaps!!

Haha! Has DD booked already? DS didn't get it at lunchtime, just hoping there will still be afternoon slots when he gets his as morning not his best time!
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Original poster
Monkey2001 · 13/12/2021 13:50

Phew, afternoon slot booked for Newcastle on 14th January.

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Solarlantern · 13/12/2021 14:37

Newcastle here for ds too, think he's relieved it's Jan and not Dec as he's currently working in a vaccination centre and it's absolutely manic at the moment - not the most relaxing time to prepare for interview!

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Monkey2001 · 13/12/2021 14:39

@Solarlantern there are stories of massive queues at walk in centres, must be difficult for the workers.

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Solarlantern · 13/12/2021 14:58

@Monkey2001 - I imagine he's going to have lots of good examples of dealing with challenging people and stressful situations if he's asked at interview 😁...

FanSpamTastic · 13/12/2021 15:26

After the crushing disappointment of rejection after rejection last year, I am delighted to report that DD has a full set of interview offers this year. Just want to say a big thank you to the posters here and over on TSR who have helped to explain the strategic nature of the processes. It feels like she has a shot this time although still got to actually get through the interviews to get any offers - but at least she has a chance! For anyone going through this for the first time who is maybe not getting the interviews they hoped for, I would definitely recommend taking the gap year and trying again.

SandyBayley · 13/12/2021 16:29

Hurray @FanSpamTastic !

Pleased to check in with the Newcastle gang for interviews. Nice to come on the same day as the Oxford interview. DD is feeling pleased with herself too night.

MidLifeCrisis007 · 13/12/2021 17:49

Sounds like it's been a good day for our prospective medics... interviews coming in and @SandyBayley's DD nailing her 2nd Oxbridge interview!

Keep waving that magic wand @KingscoteStaff!

SandyBayley · 13/12/2021 18:46

I'm not sure DD 'nailed it' @MidLifeCrisis007 but it sounded like a good conversation. The way she described it sounded like the 'drawing out' that is characteristic of an Oxford interview. At least we know she'll hear back on 11 January.

Newcastle interview booked for 21 January. DS wants to focus on her mocks now and then think about interviews when they finish on 12 January.

speedyhedgehog · 13/12/2021 20:53

Congrats on the Newcastle invites monkey, kingscote and solar lantern! Also great news on sandybayley dd oxford interview. Really lovely to hear from FamSpanTastic with how different this year has been so far. Hope it translates to some offers 🤞🤞🤞

SandyBayley · 13/12/2021 20:55

Wouldn't it be odd if a whole bunch if our DC end up at Newcastle 😂 It seems to be a common choice on this thread for some reason...

speedyhedgehog · 13/12/2021 21:00

Thanks for asking Monkey. ds has an interview for sheffield. He scheduled it for January. Waiting to hear from Bristol, Southampton and Kings. He may hopefully hear from Bristol this week maybe, not expecting anything from Southampton until january and it'll be a bit of a surprise if he gets an interview from Kings, but he wanted to take a chance.

speedyhedgehog · 13/12/2021 21:01

Thanks for asking Monkey. ds has an interview for sheffield. He scheduled it for January. Waiting to hear from Bristol, Southampton and Kings. He may hopefully hear from Bristol this week maybe, not expecting anything from Southampton until january and it'll be a bit of a surprise if he gets an interview from Kings, but he wanted to take a chance.

Original poster
Monkey2001 · 14/12/2021 00:05

@speedyhedgehog I don't think anyone has heard from Southampton yet and Bristol and Kings both have a slow rolling process. Great to have Sheffield lined up, I think it takes the edge off the stress knowing the questions in advance.

@FanSpamTastic fab news, and this year was another good year to miss, more normal than last year, but still a shadow of the university experience they thought they had ordered!

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SandyBayley · 14/12/2021 06:56

Good luck to mini @Monkey2001 today at Manchester. I spend a lot of time in Manchester for work and can see it would be a good place to be a student 😊

sunnyandshare · 14/12/2021 08:51

@FanSpamTastic can I ask what your dd did in her gap year? Ds may be in this position (dentistry).

speedyhedgehog · 14/12/2021 09:30

Good luck today mini monkey 🤞🤞🤞

FanSpamTastic · 14/12/2021 11:11

Hi @sunnyandshare - she decided to withdraw from UCAS around March last year after drawing a blank on interviews. Her UCAT first time was around 2600 but she had not applied very strategically and kept missing the cut offs for the unis she had applied to. She had to finish off her a levels - they had class tests to set their grades as exams were cancelled. Once done with school she started on UCAT preparation and did lots of reading! She improved her UCAT score this year by around +300 - through more practice. She managed to get some volunteering work in a kids club over the summer and has also picked up a volunteering role at the local hospital. She is doing a part time retail job too. She's going to keep up with all of these until through the interview season. Then if travel opens up again, I think she would like to find a volunteering role abroad. She's looking at various things but it's just hard to make plans when you don't know if or where you can go! If nothing else comes off then maybe a bit of inter railing next summer - if even that is possible!

Original poster
Monkey2001 · 14/12/2021 11:23

@FanSpamTastic that sounds like a great use of a gap year.

My DS1 had his involuntary gap year 2019/2020. Had planned to work, pass driving test, do a singing diploma, go to festivals. He got a job at a GP surgery for the first 4 months, but the rest of the year was scuppered by Covid. He did have a very nice year though, his girlfriend moved in and he learned to cook and use the washing machine! He has no regrets about having a gap year.

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sunnyandshare · 14/12/2021 12:13

Ds is thinking that if he doesn't get any offers this time around he might either do a dental nursing course or work as a HCA. I've just had a look on TSR and people with 3A*s are reapplying and still not getting interviews, which doesn't give me much hope! Ds got around 2650 in UCAT and redoing that is really putting him off. He has an offer for pharmacy but now says he hates pharmacy Hmm

Original poster
Monkey2001 · 14/12/2021 13:04

@sunnyandshare I don't know much about dentistry, but for medicine they really don't care whether you have 3 A*s or 3 As, to get interviews you have to be strategic and know what they are using to shortlist and what cut offs are likely to be, based on previous cut offs and known factors about grade inflation etc. Did your DS look into how they shortlist carefully? Most people do better second time they take UCAT, did he prepare using Medify?

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sunnyandshare · 14/12/2021 14:01

@Monkey2001 yes he did use Medify, and practised for about 3 months. Yes his choices were strategic according to what their lowest UCAT threshold was.

Hopeful201 · 14/12/2021 18:03

@sunnyandshare I feel your pain, my DS has no interviews (so far) and the two he has left he definitely won't get an interview for. He didn't do much for his UCAT, I know he could get nearer 2750/2800 but he is worried he will do better and still bomb out at the interviews. Then it is another year gone.
It doesn't help that he is the only one not to get an interview at his school, so he is reconsidering his options. I think unfortunately this year is even worse than last year.

Original poster
Monkey2001 · 14/12/2021 18:09

@Hopeful201, sorry to hear that, has he already heard from the ones where you thought he had a better chance? It has been tougher than usual.

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