Medicine 2023 Entry

[opoponax]

Hi all,

I don't think there is a Medicine 2023 Entry thread yet, so it might be an idea to get one started.

Anyone out there with DC applying or reapplying for Medicine 2023, please join a friendly thread for mutual support and useful advice from those who understand the UK Medical School application process.

Can I ask about Brunel? Is this a credible med school? It is their open day this weekend. My dd just got told she is predicted AAB but likely to actually get Astar AA. But either decides to take a year out or applies to ones that consider AAB. No one seems to mention them on here so I’m wondering whether it is worth considering?

@Thethingswedoforlove I believe Brunel is only open to international students.

Oh wow. Thank you @opoponax

@Cratos No, they are interviewing another 40 students.

And is Kmms difficult to get into if you are from a high performing school (but good GCSEs). I don’t really understand how the contextualisation works. We are trying to decide if it is worth sitting ucat this summer or not.

@Thethingswedoforlove it is worth doing UCAT, there are several medical schools which do not look at predictions. BUT you should not let the school get away with UCAS predictions below what she might get. The principle is that UCAS predictions should be best case predictions.

@Thethingswedoforlove Kings are not my favourite after this year (they let UCAS mass reject rather than communicate with students). Contextual doesn't prevent students getting in at most Unis, it just levels the playing field a bit. Kings will look at whole application 'holistically'. Always a bit of a mystery.

@Thethingswedoforlove I noticed that some schools list a number of Secondary schools and Colleges that come under their contextualisation consideration (such as Birmingham). If you are coming from one of these schools you get a percentage point added to the application. More experienced members can explain this better. I also don't fully understand. But I checked my son's schools and they are not in this list despite the fact that the list seems very long.

Thank you. I am all on for levelling the playing field- I absolutely get that and indeed dd did her English talk on inequalities in education. She definitely won’t qualify for any WP or contextual points. Apart from it being a state school she is aboht as privileged as possible in terms of school. I will look at kings @mumsneedwine thank you

@Thethingswedoforlove both Bristol and Birmingham have massive contextual state school lists which are with checking. Birmingham seems to include just about every non selective state school in the country. Our school is on both lists. www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/contextual-offers/ and "use of contextual data" on this page - www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/medical-school/applying-to-medicine/entry-requirements-five-year-programme.aspx

Thank you @Monkey2001. Dd wont be applying to Birmingham. It was kent and Medway that provoked my question as I guess I wasn’t sure whether it was like Birmingham in that it is v difficult to get into if you don’t contextual characteristics.

Nobody understand KMMS, but seems to be difficult if not contextual

I was wondering if you could tell me which medical schools are campus based? So far we only saw Brighton as a campus based university. Thank you

I know Keele is. DS was very impressed at the open day. They emphasised the advantages of being able to drive and have access to a car for years 3 and 4 as the hospitals are not easily accessed. Lancaster is too. I like Lancaster it is a nice City but my DS is not keen. Not sure of any others.

Campus - UEA, Birmingham, Cardiff (Heath Park campus), Nottingham, BSMS, HYMS, Keele, Lancaster, Southampton (Highfield campus), Dundee (Ninewells campus), Exeter (St Lukes campus is in city centre, separate from main campus), Oxford and Cambridge are collegiate, Newcastle is a bit of a hybrid as it has a campus but it is in the city. There may be more I have forgotten.

Forgot Sheffield which I believe is similar to Newcastle, campus in city.

DD is at Cardiff and loves it. But if you are looking for a "proper" campus uni, Cardiff doesn't have that feel. The uni as a whole is in various bits of the city. Heath campus is at the hospital. In 1st and second year medics have some lectures at heath and some in other bits of the university.

Nottingham has a beautiful campus. And the medical school is in the hospital - it was the first purpose built one like this I believe. Good for placements as it's a small deanery, and Notts either pay travel costs or provide free accommodation on site if not in a Notts hospital.
DD just passed 4th year 😊. 5th year starts Monday. She's had 2 weeks off 😂.

Oooh, nearly there then! How is the next year looking for her financially. It is great that the NHS picks up fees in 5th year, but the bursary funding seems decidedly mean!

DD visited Notts last weekend @mumsneedwine. She loved it apart from the accommodation. I think her brother's brand new Newcastle flat may have set an unrealistic expectation. She knows that accommodation is the very least of her worries at this stage though!

@Monkey2001 bank of mum and dad and savings from her old Waitrose job. She'll get £2,900 for the year from bursary and SFE. I knew it was coming so have been saving madly and her rent has been so much cheaper than expected (£95 a week compared to my Bristol DD who pays £155 a week). But it's going to be tight !

@opoponax tell her the halls are old but loads of fun. And it's for 9 months before getting a house in Lenton/Dunkirk. It's a beautiful walk every morning to hospital.
DD didn't want catered at all but food was ok and the social side of everyone being on the Downs made up for it.

Thank you @mumsneedwine. I think the main factor was, like your DD, she's not that keen on catered (she loves to cook) and it threw her a little. We told her it's a great way to meet people and that the first year passes in the blink of an eye anyway. She knows that if she were lucky enough to get an interview, the halls would be the last thing on her mind.

@mumsneedwine 2 weeks holiday seems a bit mad before final year. Is she exhausted ? Excited?

@Thethingswedoforlove in 3rd, 4th and 5th year they get 2 weeks at Easter, Xmas and Summer. 3rd year is because at Notts they get an extra degree within the 5 years - so she has a Bachelor of Medical Science degree already - we are going to graduation in a few weeks 😊.
She was exhausted, but is on way back from sunning herself so feeling more relaxed. It's tough. You've really really got to want to do it.