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 😬?

Further to the QMUL/Barts chat, I got this back in response to an inquiry to admissions (I thought the FAQ ambiguous as to whether the only 3 a levels counting applied to the UCAS scoring as well as the binary academic qualification test).
When assessing applications we consider qualifications (predicted/achieved) that meet our entry requirements and count towards an offer of A*AA. Tariffable qualifications such as LAMDA, EPQ etc. would not enhance the tariff score, nor would a 4th A Level.
I also asked how the ucas and ucat scores were combined, as the adding together method discussed on TSR doesn't really fit with Bart's use of the word "weighted" but sadly they just repeated the below from the website - they clearly don't want to explain that!
Applicants will be selected for interview based on a weighted score compared to other applicants who apply in the same year, and may be comprised of UCAT score, UCAS tariff of qualifications predicted or achieved or weighted scoring of degrees for graduates. Selection after interview may consider all assessment factors: interview score, situational judgement test, UCAS tariff points from predicted/achieved qualifications, and UCAT score.

Anyway, useful to finally settle the belief that Barts gives extra for extras

I don't think any mdical school gives extra for extras anymore, though correct me if I'm wrong. All they're worth is a cursory mention in the personal statement (which may or may not be considered, depending on where you apply). Good job dd does hers for the sheer love of it!

Keele still use their R&R form. But otherwise it's UCAT and grades. I am thinking less people will apply this year as the news is putting them off.

Although do remember that some of these activities will be useful to mention in interviews to show that the student is a rounded individual and is a team player/ has strategies to relax etc.

Definitely. All experiences are useful at interview. Think of examples when shown resilience, leadership, worked as a team, initiative. All those skills a young doctor needs.
Personally, after talking to my DD, I think they need to be taught old fashioned short hand. Ward rounds would be so much easier.

@Chelseahandfull thanks for this update on Barts.

I’ve been ploughing through the TSR thread and it seems last year candidates with 3A to 2A plus A and a UCAT from around 2750 (ish) upwards were called.

(there is an element of a UCAS tariff being included last year so I’m just trying to figure that out as nowhere else seems to care too much about it)

just as an aside - I’ve noticed that some posters on TSR keep changing their UCAT scores depending on where they’re posting so prob take it with a pinch of salt but hopefully the above info helps - a little!

Sorry that should say 3A stars to 2 A stars and an A!

Thank you for sharing that information @Chelseahandfull
I have no idea why some universities like QMUL are so unclear about how they score applications. They must surely be aware of the difficult predicament that applicants face…

Dd is thinking of putting Leeds down as her wildcard as we have the feeling they won't get many applications this year as their scoring is so opaque!

It’s really frustrating @Notcontent especially as some universities do it so well and with such transparency.
For anyone interested, QMUL do state on their website that 2720 as the UCAT cut off for home applicants for 2023 cycle (assume for 2 or 3 Astars)

I think it is important to remember that from the university's perspective it doesn't pay as much to be opaque. They like to be able to say that 2000 people applied for this course last year, even if 1000 people never stood a chance of being interviewed. Most people do not put in the amount of research that many of you are doing. Many applications are not strategic.

Some places are very transparent in their criteria - e.g. Sheffield, Plymouth etc. Dd valued that in her choices too because she wanted a medical school which was transparent and didn't seem to want to trip students up. Others have more complex algorithms but at least publish them so you have a chance of calculating your odds - HYMS, Nottingham etc. I think it depends what you look for in a course.

@LaMereDuChat I think that Leeds will be super popular - I think it doesn't get as many applications as some of the "favourite" unis because if you have a high UCAT, you probably wouldn't bother with BMAT. I think the fact that its now going to be UCAT, if you have very good GCSEs and a decent UCAT score, its worth a shot - we're in the NW, think have said it before, it is probably the most popular uni.

Keele still use their R&R form.

They don't: https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduatecourses/medicine/medicinehowtoapply/#shortlisting

I think Sunderland still do: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/help/school-of-medicine/interviews/interview-selection-tool/

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne sorry. Meant PS - head still in 2022 ! (my fault for typing while in a meeting 😊). For Keele you need to follow their guidance when writing the PS. It's v we'll set out though what they are looking for (used to be a separate form so v good they've dropped it).

Sunderland also using CaSPER thing. Still not 100% sure how it works as none of my students have applied since they set it up.

UCAT for my daughter today. 2950 SJT 1. Fairly evenly weighted across all sections - in the 700s

She’s thrilled with the score, and absolutely does not want to go through this again next year so we’re looking at narrowing choices down to universities with a reasonable IV to offer ratio, bonus points for using UCAT and SJT as tiebreaker post IV.

Oops. Posted too soon.

Looking at:
Exeter
Nottingham
Sheffield
KCL
UEA
SGUL
QMUL

Grateful for any thoughts!

PS. Non contextual. Virtual WEX, and some volunteer work that is ongoing. 4 x A * predicted (inc biol, chem, maths).

@W0tnow good choices. Should get interviews at all - assuming scores highly on GCSEs for Notts.
Sheffield, UEA and St George's v safe. Exeter pretty sure v safe.
She has lots of choices.

Thanks 🙏 @mumsneedwine

forgot GCSEs. 8 x A * (math, biol, chem, physics, French, Spanish, eng lang), business and 1 x A ( eng lit)

Also wondering about Birmingham as they seem to have a solid IV to offer ratio too.

@W0tnow Notts looks a good option. Should be good for Birmingham too, although 15% contextual score can be a hurdle (still think your DD has a good chance).

Choose the courses and cities she likes. Don't get too hung up about offer ratios (important but not if end up going somewhere you don't want to be).

mumsneedwine · 11/07/2023 20:01

@jjjjkkkj physicians assistant. Earn more than doctors and only a 2 year post grad degree. Treated better than doctors too (but bit controversial at the moment - Google).

why do physicians assistants earn more than doctors?

@4andnotcounting that is a v good question. Because the world has gone a bit mad ?

DS2 is thinking of putting the following 4 down he has a score of 3220 on the UCAT and is going to be doing the BMAT.

UCL
King's College
Southampton
Leicester

His reasoning is that they all have the same teaching styles. Are there any other similar universities he could also consider?

@losingtheplot999 why is he doing BMAT ? Is there a Uni he wants above all others - UCL I assume. With that UCAT (it will one of the top scores) he can guarantee himself 4 interviews (see spreadsheet attached below - it's 2022 but won't affect him). Southampton is fine. The others depend on his GCSEs so if good then he'll be ok.

Thanks @mumsneedwine he has all 9's at GCSES. He wants UCL as first and Kings College second. With regard to Southampton it is quite a distance from us we are in the midlands and was just thinking if there was another he could put instead. He said the teaching styles at these 4 are similar is that the case and is there anything else he could put instead of Southampton? TIA

SHT 1 ? Then Nottingham. Sheffield, Liverpool, Newcastle all v good with his UCAT. He has plenty of choice !