Medicine 2023 Entry - Part 2

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Anyone out there with DC applying or reapplying for Medicine 2023, please join a friendly thread for mutual support and useful advice.

@Monkey2001 Thank you. Anybody’s child attending Lincoln or Nottingham this year ?

@HAMROGUE we visited both Nottingham (campus based) and Lincoln (city based). Both schools have got the same curriculum and they offer an extra MedSci degree in 5 years. Lincoln does prosection. Nottingham full body dissection. Entry criterias are the same except Nottingham wants B1 SJT but Lincoln accepts B1/B2 with lower point requirements than Nottingham. It is a new school and it has an amazing building. Much smaller cohort so it feels more friendly. The university is by the water and a short walk from shops/restaurants etc. Lincoln is a much smaller town than Nottingham. The students said that they frequently visit Nottingham and vice versa. But just in case check the latest information on their websites as well.

DD has just completed her UCAS form - in alphabetical order (as she is not entertaining having favourites 😂) Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield. She did a bit of soul searching over how strategic to play it and then thought to heck with it, she would simply choose the four she likes best. She's taking the view that if it doesn't work out this cycle, she will play it a bit more strategically next year. There were some that really suited her stats with better interview/offer rates than the ones she has chosen (e.g. RUK Edinburgh, UEA, Exeter) but she didn't warm to them as much. I think the interview/offer rates can be a bit volatile from year to year anyway.

@Unexpecteddrivinginstructor My DS is now 5th year at Exeter. With regards Truro it is 1 or 2 years as he is only doing his last year there. The summer holidays do not shorten significantly throughout the course.

@Cratos
Thank you

@Lovecatsanddogs hello 🥰🥰. Wow, how amazing not to lose your summers. DD has had 6 weeks for 4th and 5th years - for the whole year. Admittedly she finishes in March next year (🤞🤞) so has a summer if travelling planned.
I think it's 2 years in Truro now. That's what my ex student who just started has told me. But good to check if it worries anyone. Personally 2 years on the beach sounds pretty lovely to me.

@mumsneedwine that is literally all there is in Truro it seems the beach! A car is needed as everything is so spread out.

@mumsneedwine holidays are one of the great things about St Andrews - exams finish 3rd week of April, then nothing until early September, so 4 free months for first 3 years! The calendar I linked for Exeter made it look like holidays don't change much, but all short!

A friend's DD liked the Truro placement and saved enough on accommodation to buy a car.

@Monkey2001 probably works out the same over the 5/6 years. They must all learn the same stuff and get signed off for the same things. Getting signed off seems to be the aim of 5th year 😂

@Lovecatsanddogs as much as that sounds like bliss to me it's probably less appealing to youngsters. Although other DDs friend lives there and she visits every summer and has a ball. But they do have a car.

We were told it is a choice of 1 or 2 years in Truro. A year by the beach wouldn't worry dd. Not sure she would want to come back!

Hi All, Seeking a bit of advice.
My daughter has got a UKAT score of 2800 and SJT 2. Do you think she is safe to apply for Southampton University for Medicine as last years cutoff for Southampton was 2750?

Thanks.

Yes. As the number of people taking UCAT went down slightly this year, we are not expecting cut offs to go up much if at all this year. 50 would be a big jump, would be very surprised if it went any higher than 2780.

Good morning all, just noticed that on the UCAS form for GCSE grade dates my son entered August 2021 (the month we heard the results) but on the actual certificates the date is June 2021. Do you think this needs to be changed? Thank you

@Cratos i noticed the same thing for DS's grade 8 piano - changed from March to June, all exams from 2020 showing as 1st June, other instrument grades which were done earlier showing with the dates we entered. I am sure it is fine!

@Monkey2001 yes we have a couple that he entered at different times too. But do you think all other GCSE s should be June 21? My son will ask the office as well today.

Ms DS just called me. He spoke to school. Career office and his tutor asked him to leave it as August so perhaps it doesn't make a difference.

Sorry @Cratos I misread your question! UCAS changes it anyway, we put August and they all changed to June once school had submitted (including the March piano exam).

That is interesting. Thank you so much for responding. Panic over.

Medicine applicant peeps - the Gresham lecture being streamed at the moment is on medical imaging, the appropriate use of etc and very interesting (well, I'm hooked):

Thank you for sharing. I will listen to it tomorrow.

Submitting application tomorrow. Want to check if following gcse is fine to apply to liverpool

Chemistry 9
Biology 9
Physics 9
Maths 9
Citizenship 8
History 7
English literature 7
Computer science 7
Design and Technology 7
French 6
English language 6

My son is worried about two 6

@kk10 fine for Liverpool. Passes the minimum and no one will ever look at them again. All down to UCAT.

@KK10 GCSEs looks fine. You just need a minimum of 15 points for 9 GCSEs. He is only dropping one point as the English Language 6 needs to be counted in. Grades 7/8/9 are all scored the same. So he scores 17/18.

"9 GCSEs attained by the end of Year 11 which must include English Language, Mathematic, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics (or Core & Additional Science, combined or triple science) at minimum grade B/6. A minimum score of 15 points from the best 9 GCSEs or equivalents (where A*/A/7/8/9 = 2 points; B/6 = 1 points)."

Just be aware of Liverpool's low offer to interview ratio of approximately 25%.

Sorry x post @mumsneedwine !