Medicine 2022 - Decision time!

[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.

Lots of interviews now done, fingers crossed for lots of offers, but we know it is a tough year and that most applicants will have a bumpy ride. Best of luck everyone!

Previous thread - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/a4358647-Medicine-2022-entry?msgid=114590369#114590369

2023 applicant thread - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4459778-Medicine-2023-Entry

@seekinglondonlife, there would not be any penalty if he accepted then dropped out before starting, but there really isn't any point in doing that. Hopefully he will get an offer at the end of the month, but a good reason not to hold a non medicine choice is that you can't stay on waiting lists if you have accepted an offer and also can't apply through Extra/Clearing if anything comes up.

@coffeeandbiscuittime a waiting list place is a lot better than a rejection, glad she sees it like that. I think Sheffield waiting list might be better than Newcastle waiting list as a lot of people seem to insure Sheffield.

Congrats to those receiving offers!

DS today has been put on hold by Bristol, together with his 5 classmates. There are 29 students in their school applying medicine this year, obviously, Bristol is a popular choice.

Would one of the people with a Newcastle offer holder please share what they were told about decision dates? On the TSR offer holder thread someone said that they have been asked to decide by April. If applicants are deciding early, there might be more movement on the hold list before the A levels start than I feared.

DS is dealing with the uncertainty better than I am (unless we are both pretending to eachother!). I would really like to know how many offers they have made and where DS is on the Hold list and I think they should tell people! Plymouth are leading the way on empathy for people on hold!

@Monkey2001

Would one of the people with a Newcastle offer holder please share what they were told about decision dates? On the TSR offer holder thread someone said that they have been asked to decide by April. If applicants are deciding early, there might be more movement on the hold list before the A levels start than I feared.

DS is dealing with the uncertainty better than I am (unless we are both pretending to eachother!). I would really like to know how many offers they have made and where DS is on the Hold list and I think they should tell people! Plymouth are leading the way on empathy for people on hold!

Just asked ds who conveniently works from his bedroom office next to mine and he says Newcastle haven't said anything about making a decision by April to him. I feel the TSR offer holder who said this might be misinterpreting encouragement to firm early for best accommodation choice ot something. The Newcastle offer holder days aren't until April so it wouldn't make sense to expect students to firm before they've had a chance to look round. Hold your nerve young Monkey. Your turn will come.🤞

Thanks @Haffdonga!

Hang in there @Monkey2001 - I promise DD will decide whether to release her Newcastle offer asap. She wants to hear from Bristol and Leeds before doing anything though.

Once she has the full picture she will firm Oxford and then I sure with Leeds or Newcastle. I'm not sure whether Newcastle will make more offers if a student chooses them as an insurance though?

The sooner all offers out the better. At least then people can start declining offers held.

Many congrats to those who have received offers!

The ever long waiting is exhausting! My DD has not yet heard from Uni's., and desperately waiting to hear something from UCL and Leeds. Is anyone else in the same position..waiting? Is it too late to get interviews now, or should we be hopeful still? any information or leads will be much appreciated. thanks.

@MommyP

Many congrats to those who have received offers!

The ever long waiting is exhausting! My DD has not yet heard from Uni's., and desperately waiting to hear something from UCL and Leeds. Is anyone else in the same position..waiting? Is it too late to get interviews now, or should we be hopeful still? any information or leads will be much appreciated. thanks.

Wow, that is really slow. On the TSR thread they are saying that interviews will be going on into March at Leeds, lots of people seem to be waiting. www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7089696&page=54

Thanks @HoneyMobster, I expect they won't worry too much about people holding insurance offers.

thanks @Monkey2001! I hope there is some light at the end of this tunnel...

DD's best friend got an offer from Exeter tonight 😊

DS just came back from his birthday party and told me that he got two rejections today, by Bristol and Exeter.

Now he got all the 4 rejections (1 pre-interview, 3 post) and an offer from Bath biomed. So far he seems to be alright & handling the rejections quite well. He would take a look at the alternative courses and gap year options in next two weeks, before making any decisions.

Best of luck to everyone!

@bitsbots that was a tough day then, are you sure he has not been offered waiting list for Exeter?

Don't forget that if he has not already applied to St George's London they usually come up in extra/Clearing, and if he has done BMAT, Lancaster often use Extra too.

We have also been discussing gap year plans - Chemistry A level, job as hospital porter, diplomas in singing and/or piano.

@bitsbots sorry to hear that, that’s not good timing on his birthday.

So sorry to hear that @bitsbots

@bitsbobs sorry to hear that. My ds had a rejection yesterday too from sheffield. He's had 3 interviews as well and this is the first decision he's had. Two in one day and on your birthday will be so hard but that he's coping and not in pieces shows real resilience. These kids of ours will be ok whether they take a gap year or refocus on something else. Its so hard to watch but my ds seems to be taking it ok too.

@GANFYD wrote a good note on TSR about the use of wait/ reserved lists this year. It is worth a read.
I would have copied but wasn't sure I was allowed to - but basically they advised to still have hope as it is unlike other years.
I just wish we knew how many offers were made and where they are on the reserve lists - at least then you have a better idea.

@coffeeandbiscuittime - I’ve just read that and it’s wise advice.

@bitsbots So sorry to hear about your boy - is there anyone at his school who can offer advice about applying with grades in hand? Surely next year won’t be quite as bonkers?

@coffeeandbiscuittime @GANFYD will not have a problem with you sharing her wise words on here, she may even apear in person.

I have realised that it is easier to be objective about other people's chances than your own DC! So I am convinced that the Exeter reserve list will see a lot of movement because they only interviewed people with strong predictions and UCAT, so their offer holders will hold multiple offers, and they can only Firm one choice. But I worry that the same won't be true for Newcastle (mainly because the Partners people have BBB offers, so it is likely to be their top choice), but Newcastle have loads of places, so there has to be movement, but it can all spin around in your head! On a rational basis, if they have all made half the normal number of offers and lots of those offers are held by the same people, we are still in with a good chance. I REALLY wish Newcastle would be as transparent as Plymouth and let people know where they stand whilst they deal with the stress of waiting lists on top of the stress of doing exams for the first time in their lives, not to mention Covid stress and the war in Ukraine. Our poor children! 😢

Another thought I have is that this may be the most girl-heavy year ever for medicine! Girls tends to be better at getting good GCSE grades and doing well at interviews, but the boys do better in science A levels, so I think fewer miss their offers. With generous grades and the need for really good interview skills it will be interesting to see whether the male/female split of Y13 entrants is affected.

If I have posted some mindless drivel somewhere, anybody is welcome to reproduce it, as far as I am concerned.
I am not sure which bit you are referring to, but was it this? (though I think the doggos would be more fun!)
"It is frustrating and disappointing to be waitlisted, but looking at the stats of those med schools that have released them, the chances of an offer seem excellent. Most unis usually over-offer by 2 to 2.5 times the number of places they have, and this year, they are sitting at, or just above the number of offers to places. Now the governement have already announced grade inflation will be between 2019 and 2021 levels, so around the same as 2020, meaning many people will not get the grades they have been predicted. In 2019 (and prior to this) only around half of the people got the grades they were predicted or better, so even if that goes up to an unlikely 75%, that means 1 in 4 will not make their grades and they are going to need people off the waiting list to fill the places. That is without those already given offers who will decline them for other places - lots of people have 2 or more offers. Plus there are many people on more than 1 waiting list, and they can only accept 1 offer, if it's made. So there may be hundreds on the list at the start, but that number will whittle down, and some offers will be made between now and end of June with another batch on results day.
A waitlist place is a big positive this year, even more so than it has been in previous years, so do not compare it to last year and do not write your chances of an offer off just yet!"

@bitsbots my heart goes out to your poor baby boy *I mean fine upstanding young adult! If he is strong enough to want to reapply, and there is anything I can add into the mix that might help, do give me a shout

@Monkey2001 yes, you need to heed your own wise advice a) have you seen Manchester's stats for this year? b) mini-monkey #2 may well end up with 2 offers c) a gap year is almost always a positive
I remember when my son got an early offer for Glasgow and Edinburgh and the standard Sheffield, but nothing in the first batch of Newcastle offers last year, and even though we both KNEW he was fortunate and should be going to med school whatever, he was still upset, as despite my best efforts, had set his heart on Newcastle. That was all forgotten when the offer came a week or so later and certainly is now he is living his best life and having so much "could you just lend me some birthday money in advance, please mum" fun!
This roller coaster takes strength and courage and resilience and perseverance - great training for would-be medics, and unfortunately, their parents get it as a by-product, too! But then, the offspring have to have inherited it from somewhere, I like to tell myself (when they do the good things).
Well done to everyone with offers, commiserations to those who have missed out, but congrats on getting this far, and best of luck to those still waiting.
As I say, not sure I have much to say that will help, but happy to lob my two pence worth in, if anybody feels it would be of benefit

What a year ! I've been watching you all and willing those offers to come in. It's not over until results day !
If no offers I'd suggest calling as many Unis as you fancy on the Tuesday before results day. Unis will know how many places they might have. Ask if it's worth calling on results day - if they say yes they may have places. I've got a few in doing this. Call Thursday morning, interview Friday place, on Monday. No idea how these horrible waitlists will effect this - don't think Unis do either🤞🤞🤞

@GANFYD you never post drivel 😊. Can you sort out the F1 fiasco please - I really shouldn't follow #medtwitter. Not good for my blood pressure.

@GANFYD yes, I saw that only 14 people were interviewed for A104 at Manchester! I assume they won't have a waiting list, just straight offer/reject. But he doesn't really want to do a foundation year, so an offer there might just confuse him. I assume there would only be a handful of people on the course, so it would be an odd university experience.

DS2 is completely committed to a gap year application if he doesn't get in, he saw that it worked for DS1 and has plans for things he would do.

@GANFYD - loved the pet posts- your support to coolkingz was needed.
Re Manchester - where do we find the stats, you were referring to please?
@Monkey2001 - it's always easier to be rational to others, you have been a valuable support on here. The kids have had a tough year, as an adult I am lurching between worrying over Ukraine, worrying over COVID and the impact on the NHS and immunocompromised patients ( I am a nurse ) and also worrying over my DC needs.
@BabbleBee That is hard for your son, hopefully there will be places through clearing for all our kids and like others have said year out could be beneficial.

@coffeeandbiscuittime www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/medicine/apply/data/

[quote Monkey2001]**@coffeeandbiscuittime* @GANFYD* will not have a problem with you sharing her wise words on here, she may even apear in person.

I have realised that it is easier to be objective about other people's chances than your own DC! So I am convinced that the Exeter reserve list will see a lot of movement because they only interviewed people with strong predictions and UCAT, so their offer holders will hold multiple offers, and they can only Firm one choice. But I worry that the same won't be true for Newcastle (mainly because the Partners people have BBB offers, so it is likely to be their top choice), but Newcastle have loads of places, so there has to be movement, but it can all spin around in your head! On a rational basis, if they have all made half the normal number of offers and lots of those offers are held by the same people, we are still in with a good chance. I REALLY wish Newcastle would be as transparent as Plymouth and let people know where they stand whilst they deal with the stress of waiting lists on top of the stress of doing exams for the first time in their lives, not to mention Covid stress and the war in Ukraine. Our poor children! 😢

Another thought I have is that this may be the most girl-heavy year ever for medicine! Girls tends to be better at getting good GCSE grades and doing well at interviews, but the boys do better in science A levels, so I think fewer miss their offers. With generous grades and the need for really good interview skills it will be interesting to see whether the male/female split of Y13 entrants is affected.[/quote]
@Monkey2001 couldn't agree more! it has been a very tough year for our children, I'm very proud of them just for their courage and resilience through the whole process.

And thank you very much for the advice on other options. This morning we have talked about it, DS decided to accept the waiting list + alternative course offer from Exeter, also consider Bath biomedical offer, but not a gap year. He admitted that he didn't prepare enough for interviews, as he naturally doesn't like to talk that much and tends to keep the conversation as brief as possible. He may try to apply again in few years time, or just do something else. I completely understand if he wants a break from talking and waiting.

I would imagine that the most important thing for a doctor would be the ability of diagnosis rather than talking/interview skills, but here we go, this is life.