Medicine 2022 - The final furlong

[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.

Offers are in for some, others on waiting lists, others doing their A levels and planning a gap year.

Best of luck everyone for great results on 18th August, we will be here to celebrate, commiserate, advise and generally support you for the last stage of the 2022 journey. 🍀

Previous thread - www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4464984-Medicine-2022-Decision-time

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

@KingscoteStaff Park View? DS has just confirmed his room too - he's glad he's not got some of the other halls which seem to be having quite major refurbs this year! He has a room reference, but no layout plan etc to map it to - do you/DD know if there is a room plan online anywhere?

@Solarlantern I think the link to the matchup spreadsheet came via the Newcastle medics Snapchat group chat. It seems that if your flat number is 028D, you're in flat 28 on floor D (4th).

If you go to the Park View page www.ncl.ac.uk/accommodation/university/park-view/#overview
then there is a chat function to the (very friendly) accommodation office who will be able to tell you which Block and which floor they're on. They could even say that the flats have halogen hobs and not induction!

Thanks @KingscoteStaff - very useful info, and good idea re checking hobs etc! He wasn't aware of the Snapchat group as doesn't really use it so he'll have to do some digging around to see how to join it.

@mumsneedwine just fab news . Tears, hugs and wine ….. so well deserved x

Happy to answer any questions re Park View. Tends to be a mix of medics and non-medics in the flats. DS loved it.

First of all congratulations to all who got their results- huge relief for you all, but as we know it's a hard route to follow. Good luck to all DC.

Now we have to try to focus on resitting an A level, UCAT, applying again and hopefully interviews. I will move to the next thread soon but wondered if any of you had advice for me here.
@mumsneedwine @Monkey2001

DD did the AQA Chemistry, 8 points away from an A. Obviously she needs to resit next year - which is the best way does anyone know?

UCAT she is booked on - and has Medify.

UCAS - how does she get a new predicted grade for her Chem? Who can be her refererees this time?

Interview prep - @KingscoteStaff was it your DD who did a course- if so can you give me ideas/ info. My colleagues have said that they will do interviews prep but it's difficult asking for favours when they are all so busy.

I am so upset for this cohort - years of disrupted study, DD had a really bad teacher in yr 12 , the yr 13 teacher tried to catch them up - I didn't realise how bad it was until younger DD told me. I know they had to go back to grade boundaries but I do think this year group have really suffered. Also the Chem paper leak - I know they have said they dealt with it but I am sure it had an impact.

@coffeeandbiscuittime I'm so sorry it's been so tough this year. So many obstacles shoved in their way.
For the retake there are a couple of options. Firstly, ask the school if they can facilitate this - will have to pay but can you use as an exam centre and can he attend year 13 lessons ? Secondly, contact any local colleges who might do specific resit classes - not common but some do. Again, can you resit there. Lastly, if you are rich, a crammer college. They work I've been told, but cost a fortune. Use MyChemGuy on YouTube for lessons if doing it on own. 8 marks is not a lot to make up !
School should do the reference again for UCAS and may also be prepared to issue predicted grades (we do).

Rather than paying for an interview course has your DD got a customer facing job ? This gives them so many relevant skills for interviews. Look at your local NHS trust website for bank HCA jobs.

Good luck.

Thanks @mumsneedwine for your prompt reply and advice.
She did get a job but it fell through - she is applying for flexible admin staffing at our local trust. They need caring experience for bank HCA's and no permanent ones are out at present- but she ( we) will keep looking.
If I could do one thing different it would have been to make her get a job at 16 not just volunteering as a swim coach / life guard. My younger DD has grown in confidence since working in a cafe.
She cried in every interview so really need to work on her confidence - we have had the conversation about whether she would make it in medicine - I work in Healthcare and I do think she would make an excellent Doctor but she does need confidence.

@coffeeandbiscuittime are there any care homes near you? They always need staff and usually take with no experience.

Now DD is 18 you might find your local trust will give HCA training so no previous experience needed - it's amazing training too.
Failing that, a job in a supermarket, McDonalds, pub, anything that gets her talking to strangers. You're v right, it massively boosts their self confidence.

I'd speak to school first as they will know all the options locally for resits and should be used to the process.

@coffeeandbiscuittime The interview prep that DD did was organised by school. She had 3 practice Zoom calls with ex-pupil doctors and teachers from other schools (they did a sort of reciprical thing with 2 other schools) with feedback from each one.

She says that what helped was reasonable confidence talking to strange grown ups - many years volunteering at the stables and dealing with fierce horsey ladies and demanding parents. She also said that it helped to have a really solid knowledge of the specific courses and what made them different - apparently no one asked her 'Why Medicine?' but they all asked 'Why Newcastle/Bristol/Birmingham/Barts?'

@coffeeandbiscuittime might be useful

www.themedicportal.com/application-guide/medical-school-interview/medicine-interview-questions/

Do you qualify for any of this ? Still good info on here for free if not

www.meditutor.co.uk/medicinewideningaccess

I’m sorry to hear about the Chemistry

we used medic hut for interviews. They were great. Also booked some tuition 1-2-1 with them. I can’t fault them

@coffeeandbiscuittime

First, as it is AQA you can get the script back free, both to check there is no scope for extra marks and to see what let her down.

We have a really supportive school and DS will be going Y13 Chemistry and the exam there. They always support gap year applications, so no problem getting predictions and references, hope yours is the same.

DS started his job at a hospital as an Assistant Physiologist yesterday. The only essential experience was something working with the public (he had 4 days of Covid clinics) and working with children (he used to pick his nephew up from school and look after him one afternoon a week). HIs 7 month, 3 day/week contract was advertised on our local NHS Trust website under Allied Health Professionals.

I agree that you should not need an interview course - using the gap year to get used to interacting as an adult is invaluable. DS1 went from rejections (no waiting list place) to early offers (ie strongest performers). Has she requested feedback from all her interviews?

@coffeeandbiscuittime I’ve only had one DC go through the medicine application process. In terms of interview prep, we found www.medicmind.co.uk/free-mmi-mock/ as a free resource.

With hindsight, I would say to maximise the UCAT score, which then allows you to be more choosy about where you can apply and maximises chances of getting an interview (applying strategically of course). DD got 3 interviews and one offer. For the first 2 interviews (virtual) DD was in tears but cracked it for the 3rd so it was more “live” interview practice really.

Also, if possible, choose universities where interview style works to DD’s strengths. My DD hated the MMIs, the uni that offered her a place had a panel interview and was strong on research (she did an EPQ which she really enjoyed). I also think it helped when asked about specialising that she said she wanted to be a GP as there is such a GP shortage.
Also second the advice about doing s customer facing role; this helped DD grow in confidence especially and gave experience of handling difficult customers (something she could also talk about).

@coffeeandbiscuittime this might be useful.

www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/after-results/post-results/original-marked-paper-or-recording

Thank you so much for all the replies. You have all been so supportive.

DD was really happy to be allocated her preferred accommodation this week and to learn that her 2 school mates will be in the same block. #PartyTime!

I can't believe that it's 2 weeks tomorrow that we'll be heading down to Exeter. I'm way more excited for her than I was for DS1 who started at Durham last year, simply because the journey was so much tougher for her to get her place.

Meanwhile, she's working on the bar at Reading Festival this weekend and says it's great fun.

Yes, it certainly feels like drop off date is fast approaching - it feels like time has flown since DS was facing a gap year this time last year. He's ordered his scrubs and lab coat today and got induction timetable sorted so all becoming very real..I'm happy for him as like you say it's been a challenging journey to get here!

@Solarlantern DD also ordered scrubs today - a long time deciding whether she was small or petite! I must remember to pack her some of that iron on hemming tape just in case!

A Dreadful Warning! One of the girls in DD’s flat did not confirm her accommodation so has had it taken away from her! She spent today finding a room in a private hall…

Just a thing. Most hospitals seem to provide scrubs, some are even labelled as specially for medical students. Hospital launder them too.
One useful purchase is crocs to wear in surgery. They provide those too but DD found they were always too big. After the tripping incident where she nearly ending up inside the patient, she bought her own.
It's so exiting for them - although I imaging bar tending at Reading will be quite exciting too

@mumsneedwine .....I must have missed your earlier post about your DD's unfortunate tripping incident! I hope she and the patient weren't too traumatised by it!

DD is at Reading with 3 mates and they all got allocated to work on a different bar to her which she was initially upset about.... However she is working on the bar right in front of the main stage so has a fantastic view. Her mates have each other, but no view! Every cloud.....

@MidLifeCrisis007 was in 2nd year, first day in surgery and had to wear size 8 clogs. Doctor said 'come hold this' and as she moves forward she tripped over her own feet, almost ending up head first in the patients intestines. V embarrassed. Patient blissfully unaware. She must have made an impression as the surgeon asked for her to assist the next day. In her own size clogs 😂
I'm surprised the bars sell much at Reading. Nearly everyone is under 18. Must be fantastic watching the main stage for free.

I have size 8 feet and can never find shoes to fit! I should work in a hospital!

I think the Reading bars sell to day ticket holders only as they aren't allowed to bring booze in. The bar staff get fined it caught selling booze to U18s so DD is loving being really anal about IDs - and is referring all the dodgy ones to her manager to review!

Ah the secret ways the kids get booze in. Mouthwash to a festival ? Nah, vodka with blue food colouring😂.

Is it the norm to get scrubs for first year medical students? DS hasnt yet been told he needs anything specific for his course so I'm assuming we dont need to buy anything. Is that naive?