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

Thanks all. I think a gap year is a great thing to do, and he does not dread the UCAT at all, so although disappointed, he is staying focused on A levels (and gym!)

Message today from HYMS for DD who is on waitlist, offering option to move into reserve list and then setting out a timeline of review points. I've copied here for information/interest, and at least DD knows what to expect tomorrow. And now we wait.

Dear xx

As you will be aware, UCAS regulations require that universities make decisions on all applications by 19th May, or they will be processed as a rejection by default.

I am writing to you as one of our waiting list candidates, whose application has been on hold pending places coming available, to confirm whether or not you wish to remain on our reserve list, and to explain how the reserve list process will work as we move towards A Level results day on 18th August 2022.

What will happen to my application now?

On 18th May, your application will be processed as a rejection, as required by UCAS regulations.

How will the reserve list work?

Applicants will be ranked in order of performance at interview.

We do not notify applicants of their position on the reserve list.

Should a place become available up to 26th July, we will make offers to eligible applicants in order of ranking via a process known as Decision Reversal.

We will not make any offers during the UCAS Embargo period.

Should any places become available on A Level results day on 18th August, we will make offers to applicants who have met our offer conditions in order of ranking.

Offers made will be for September 2022 entry only.

If you are a Hull York Medical School undergraduate student, you will be guaranteed accommodation at your allocated campus for your first year. After the 9th June, we may not be able to guarantee your top choices of accommodation.

@Monkey2001 - I'm so sorry that a Newcastle offer wasn't forthcoming before today's deadline. You know we've all been rooting for your DS to save him from the ongoing uncertainty during the exam period.

I think lots of people on the Newcastle waitlist will have to show their hands now and accept offers elsewhere, which much surely improve his chances come August! We all hope so. You've been such a pillar of support to us all here....so hopefully your DS will get some good karma!

Feeling the cosy blanket of Mumsnet support! Thanks all.😍

Massive hugs to @Monkey2001 and @kackle . But this is not over. Keep the DC studying as I still think there is carnage to come after June 9th. And again on results day. Some of my students have 4 offers, some have waitlists and some nothing. No one has firmed yet so offers going back next week. Keeping everything crossed for anyone waiting.
It's been a mess. Next year should be better.

Thank you.

we’ve firmed Edinburgh and just got on with it now

@Monkey2001 sorry to hear your news. You have been so supportive to all of us on this thread over the last few months.

I am totally lost for words at the appalling behaviour of Kings this year.

The default UCAS rejections last night is a kick in the teeth to all the poor students who were still waiting to hear from them. It's disgraceful and inexcusable.

Several universities have failed to consider the impact that their processes this year are having on this poor cohort of students doing their first ever exams after patchy teaching and 2 years of a life style we could never have imagined before Covid happened, but I agree that KCL wins the prize for poor behaviour. The medical school has always had admin issues and low satisfaction for aspects of teaching, riding on the reputation of the hospital and the wider university, and this had been worse than ever this year. I am also looking at Edinburgh for non-medicine, who strung a huge number of applicants on into the middle of May before sending out rejections.

From the medical schools the lack of empathy is somewhat ironic - they are failing to display the characteristics they expect of their students!

@Monkey2001 my email to KCL pretty much said that. Total lack of empathy. I won't be advising my students to apply there ever again 🤬.

I saw on TSR articles about KcL

@mumsneedwine - perhaps forward on your mail to Michelle Donelan, she is the minister of our sh1tshow gov who is responsible for universities.

Poor kids kept hanging on and then auto rejected is beyond disgusting My heart goes out to all of them

So sorry to hear that so many DCs are still effectively in limbo, especially those who are also facing exams this month - it feels so unfair when they've had so much to deal with over the last few years. I've got my fingers crossed for them all!

Agree that KCL's processes in particular seem really opaque - communication with them is difficult too as it's so hard to get hold of the admissions team and the general call centre staff don't really know what's going on so lots of mixed messages.
Same issues with booking accommodation too - conflicting information as to whether everything's sold out or not already now as med offers came out so late and of course you can't even get a booking slot until 2 weeks after you firm and then have to take what's available.

We were at the open day yesterday and still haven't been able to get a response out of them. @Monkey2001 - you mention above general low satisfaction with KCL med school - is this related to general admin problems or is it more specifically about the teaching or being able to get hold of staff? I heard someone say yesterday the staff can be quite inaccessible...

@Solarlantern just something I have picked up on TSR. Maybe @GANFYD who knows more detail and has a phenomenal memory could answer.

What on earth is the KCL admissions process all about? Either accept or reject the poor kids don’t keep them hanging on extending deadlines etc. DD got an auto reject but said she now wouldn’t choose to study there anyway because they are so disorganised.

You can look at the NSS and see how recent grads voted. And then compare to other med schools by using the compare facility
discoveruni.gov.uk/course-details/10003645/UMBB5MSMD/Full-time/

They certainly score very poorly on admin, but are lower end on some of the other metrics, too. Do just make sure you are comparing like with like and check the numbers as they sometimes do weird things!

Thanks @GANFYD - I'll forward that to him. He's deciding between KCL and Newcastle so good to be able to compare as he's wavering between them on a daily basis!

Amen to that.

DS is our first of three, and everyone said the process is gruelling, but this has been appalling. We are so lucky (and it does feel like luck not necessarily merit, which it should be) to have 2 offers, but they have been late, we’ve missed offer days, all very close to the wire. And I don’t mean to complain, as we do feel grateful he got any offers at all.

Talking to non- medic friends, it has been generally an equally poor experience. Edinburgh and Durham seem to get particularly bad press. A classmate of DS finally heard from Durham this week: has an offer as an O/S student! Parents are Canadian and French, he has lived here since he was 2 and has settled status. They are thoroughly disillusioned with the whole system and he is going to study in Canada.

Sounds like there will be a massive shake up on results day, I am keeping my fingers crossed for everyone on here waiting for a place. It is such a lovely group of people, I have been so grateful for the generous support of internet strangers here.

Solar, NSS data can hide a lot of variation. It is about fit. KCL suits some students, not others. In general London Universities get lower NSS ratings than other Universities, which does not mean that all students enjoy London less. DD met several KCL medical students during her intercalation at Imperial last year, and they seemed happy, as is her friend who is a graduate student there.

He should consider carefully what he wants from the medical school, where he lives and the University.

After finally being rejected from KMMS (after 4 months of hanging on in hope) DS has decided to retake his chemistry next summer to improve his B grade and apply to 4 med schools instead of just KMMS.A couple of questions please. Where is the best place to find out which med schools accept applications from students doing retakes? Also - how will he go about applying in October when he has only just started the studying for a retake as he won’t have a predicted grade? He’s planning on doing an online course which he can do when he’s not working. It’s all so complicated! DS is doing his own research but I want to be investigating in the background too as he really needs to get this right. Thanks in advance for any guidance.

@GladysGeorgina that sounds like a wise move. Look here www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6649138 for initial guidance and he should e-mail Admissions at the ones he is considering with his specific situation to check that he would get through the initial screening.

They may be able to advise on predicted grades too, but I think most medical schools would want to see predicted grades. Some don't look at predictions, including Cardiff and maybe Liverpool.

He could also look into doing an EPQ as Sheffield and HYMS would accept AAB with A/A* in an EPQ.

Not sure what his other grades are, but some places will accept with AAB if contextual. Leeds, Sheffield, Keele to name a few

Newcastle via partners scheme is BBB

Lancaster also do contextual for ABB if you meet their criteria

Have a look here

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6649138

Good luck to all the physicists kicking off their A level campaign this afternoon! 🍀

Anybody heard anythjng from the waitlist?