Medicine - 2024 Entry

[LaMereDuChat]

Just thought I'd start a thread for anyone else who feels like me... Dd has just announced that she'd really like to apply for medicine. It seems pretty much impossible to get into and I'm dreading the process as the odds are stacked against her - private schooled, grades a bit iffy as she's chosen a language as an A-Level and it's hard, though she loves it. Anyone want to join the pity party 😬?

Should say that although she decided against Bristol it did get the thumbs up for friendly students.

DD, who had been through the academic London sausage factory took a similar approach. Some Doctors will rate medical schools, but as a London based Consultant friend said to be recently, she does not want very clever researchers on her wards, she wants junior doctors who are good at treating patients.

One of my DDs new best friends as an F1 went to Cambridge. They are in the same place doing the same rotations. No one cares. No one asks. DD has no clue where her consultants or registrars went to Uni, it's just not important at any stage of their careers.
Being a good doctor is much more than exams.

Have been a lurker for a while, but now trying to help my DS to navigate through choices and wondered if anyone understood something we are stuck with. Barts/QMUL just says " Applicants will be selected for interview on the basis of a weighted score compared to other applicants who apply in the same year, and may be comprised of UCAT score, UCAS tariff of entry qualifications predicted or achieved" Does anyone know what that means? Presumably not that UCAS points are simply added to the UCAT score, which is what last year's TSR thread seems to suggest. Maybe it has changed. But Barts show a UCAT cut off on their 2023 admission stats page which also seems odd, given that UCAS points factor in somehow.
Am v confused!

QMUL used to give credit for taking four A levels. UCAS tariff sounds as if they still give weight to other things such as a music qualification or an additional A level.

I would assume they put together the UCAT points and the UCAS tariff according to their own formula and start interviewing in order, starting with those with the highest scores. Perhaps they also have a minimum cut off for UCAT to filter out applicants who have been collecting drama exams, language qualifications etc leading to an unusually high UCAS tariff.

@Chelseahandfull think Bart’s changed their selection criteria around mid Sept last year. They now only take UCAS tariff for max of 3 A levels so the points are capped for 3 x Astars, then UCAT added to that. The cut off will relate to the lowest UCAT you could get an interview with 3 Astars predictions. If you have lower predictions, need a higher UCAT. So extra A levels, music exams etc don’t count any more. Their website is very not clear though, and changing their process halfway through peak application period last year seems pretty poor IMO

@mumsneedwine just hoping you have a moment to look at dd's score and see if I'm right in where to apply... Ucat 270, SJT3 (really disappointing for her as she always scores 1s in practice, but at least it's not a 4). VR 670, DM 800, QR 550, AR 700.

GCSEs - 1 x grade 9, 7 x 8s, 2 x 7s, 1 x 6. Unfortunately maths was a 7 but double science = 8, as was English. National level orchestral music participation, grade 8 done and on the way to getting an ARSM music certificate this term (equivalent of first year uni level), A-level predicted = 3 x As

No contextual markers.

Work experience: over a year in a customer facing role (front of house in a restaurant taking & managing bookings / waiting), plus a week shadowing a consultant and a week's access to medicine course at the local Uni, one year volunteering at a nursery.

As far as I can see, we are left with choosing from: Dundee (risky - we're not Scottish), Edge Hill, Liverpool, St Georges, Sunderland. Manchester will be the wildcard. Thanks!

Sorry - UCAT 2720! Fat fingers...

@Chelseahandfull Bart's is as explained below. You really need A stars snd a good UCAT to guarantee that interview.

@LaMereDuChat 2720 is a good UCAT ! Possible ones are : ARU (depends where live), KMMS (although contextual with how you've done compared to others in your school), Liverpool, Plymouth, St George's, v close to Southampton and UEA. Dundee and Manchester also possible as is Keele as you have good work experience,
You can only choose 4 so have lots of options. Liverpool, Plymouth & St George's should be ok (unless weird stuff happens). So can still have one that's a bit of a punt if you love it.

@mumsneedwine - thank you! I am confused as I did have a look on Manchester's site and the entry requirements say they only take SJT 1 and 2, yet other places say otherwise (Medify etc) - is SJT 3 ok for the holistic lottery? https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/medicine/apply/ucat/

We're nowhere near ARU and Plymouth is out as it's our nearest city and she wants to get away from it :)

@LaMereDuChat apologies. Forgot about Manchester not accepting SJT 3 🥺. Plymouth is a shame as it's a fantastic medical school. She doesn't have to come home (& will be v popular ax knows the best local beaches).

I know.. unfortunately she hates Plymouth city with a passion! Ah well, we will try, while planning for a gap year / miracle of low offers this year.

My daughter's most useful interview war story was what happened when she was 17 and had to tell a pub full of bank holiday lunchers that they wouldn't be getting their puddings, or in some cases, their main courses, as the chef had just walked out.

1.45pm. Rural pub, nowhere else for miles.

Some of them were lovely, some were vile, so when she came home we scraped her off the floor and told her how useful it would be for proving at interview that she could handle the public.

@Abra1t - think our children must work in the same pub :D

Yes, always a question mark as to whether dinner will be on!

She will probably be spending her final three years on placement, perhaps two outside Plymouth. From what I remember, DD said the Plymouth students in Taunton spent a whole year there. It might be worth asking.

Again from memory the Plymouth students were expected to find their own accommodation whereas the Bristol students had it provided.

@LaMereDuChat if you’re considering Scottish unis, maybe take a look at Aberdeen? It doesn’t have a lot of RUK places but equally not as many apply. Her UCAT is well above lowest interviewed last year but I’m not sure how they do the academic score (yet!) DD has it on her list to research this weekend as an alternative option should the UCAT deciles go mental!!

@Undecidedat46 that’s very interesting about QMUL. Dd was thinking about applying there but crossed off the list as she only has A levels. The information on their website provides no information other than saying that they use UCAS tariff…. Not very transparent!

It is @Notcontent and I only realised it when I started reading the FAQs section
If I do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements but offer or exceed the correct tariff points, can I apply?
No, we expect applicants to be predicted/achieved at least AAA in the correct subjects, therefore you cannot offer tariff points that add up to AAA. We will only consider the grades A*AA (or higher).
This is also where the admission stats are, the UCAT cutoff must be with 3Astars (my interpretation anyway)

If your DD is interested, she should definitely contact the admissions dept to confirm this. My DD has emailed lots of admissions people so she has stuff in writing from them and they’ve all been really helpful and quick (apart from Leeds, who were very quick but no help whatsoever 😂)

Thanks @Undecidedat46 i will suggest she emails them.

Changing their method that late is very shabby. As is their website being so unclear. I assumed that candidates could still get UCAS points from 4 A levels from what they had said. Grr

Also interested in Barts. Do we know what a ‘good’ UCAT score would be there?

St Andrews has a 10% ucat uplift for young carers.

if Newcastle is on her radar - partners offer would be BBB as a young carer.

its really worth looking into

@thefatbutteredpig thanks for taking the time to let me know that. That would be a bonus. Coincidentally her form teacher who I'd emailed last week to keep her informed, suggested the same to her today, that is, that we should apply. I have filled in the forms today and will be double checking them tomorrow then sending them off.

Off the top of my head, Lancaster/Sheffield/Leeds all give contextual offers for young carers too.

I have sent you a quick PM too