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.

Is it common practice to put applicants on hold? Should we expect that from other universities as well?

Bristol do it every year. Not many others do. They just don't say anything 😂

@Cratos and @coffeeandbiscuittime I agree with the others. On Hold means that you have passed the academic requirements (so A level grades are fine) and it is just about the UCAT. People over 3000 will be fine, would be a shocker if it was over 2950, and surprising if it was over 2900.

Dd has an Edinburgh interview! Much excitement here! Anyone else? Seems like only the RUK and internationals so far (she is RUK). So grateful to have heard from one positively!

@UnclearNuclear fantastic news. Well done to your DD.

I think we might have preferred not hearing anything at all today 😂
so fingers crossed.

I am glad academic requirements were submitted correctly. No need to contact the school then. We just have to wait I guess. Thank you Monkey2001

Thanks @Monkey2001 - I am not worried about Bristol as I remembered last year they did the same.
More concerned about the interviews themselves and whether she has developed enough self belief- she knows her stuff she just needs to convey it.
It will be what it will be.
This student mentor job has at least made her realise she doesn't want to teach now she has seen it from the other side!

Last year ds had the same Bristol hold message and the same qualms, immediately assuming he was on some kind of also-ran reserve list. In fact I think they just don't process all the interview invites in one go. It would really help if they explained briefly in their hold email what they mean to anxious applicants! Ds ended up going to Bristol so all ended happily.
For interviews ds found it really helped him to have practised talking through (with me) a mental 'bank' of STAR style personal experience stories that might demonstrate how he met the various skills and competencies of a doctor e.g. an example of a time when he'd dealt with stress, demonstrated leadership, handled conflict, worked in a team etc etc (using the interview book as a guide). He had had one very powerful personal experience with a friend that he planned to talk about that covered the whole gamut from empathy and care to stress, resilience and why he chose medicine. It took him a good few practices talking it through to get the balance of telling the 'story' in a way that demonstrated the requisite skills without getting sidetracked in gory or confidential details. Practice out loud really helps.
Eventually he used that personal story one way or another in all 4 of his interviews and he got the offers. He says the prep definitely made a big difference to his confidence.

Any interviews yet from Sheffield ?

No and nothing on the TSR group chat either.

Newcastle interview has come in this morning.

Yes quite a few newcastles coming through for DSs friends

Sheffield just coming through.

Sheffield just booked.

Woah that was squeaky bum time…Sheffield interview offer came but booking system was down initially. Seems to be working now and DD has booked late Jan. Such a relief to get one interview offer in. Gotta go figure out the travel!!

@RockyHorrorShow keep trying I think. DD said it was not working then just suddenly did. Good luck!

Leicester starting to come through too according to TSR

Very helpful advice. Thank you for sharing.

Sheffield booked for DS!

Nice to see so many interview invites this week.
For my daughter, we are still waiting. She has applied for UAT universities Southampton and Leicester.
Has anyone heard from the above?
Other two medicine choices are BMAT universities. So I understand nothing until after the week after for these universities.

Happy to DM @RockyHorrorShow . DD said she had to keep trying as it kept booting her out of the system but she kept trying and it worked.