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 😬?

Thanks to everyone for all the advice. He is set on the choices he has made so will see what happens. Will keep you all updated on the journey.

Noooo, you have such a good overview of all the courses, you can't retire!

@Unexpecteddrivinginstructor 😊 I'll still be here. Been a busy few weeks at school but all done now. Hope everyone has made their choices and can now relax for a bit. Unless doing BMAT, and then can't. Now it's the tough bit - the waiting game

Does anyone know when final UCAT deciles are released? Assume some time next week as all the testing only finished yesterday?

UCAT says latest 4th October

Thanks @Randomactofkindness

Hi and thanks so much for the wisdom so far! Very helpful
DD is fortunate to have got a strong Ucat (+3000 plus SJ 1) 3 A star predictions and 9/8s for gcses
Shes got three she particularly likes (Newcastle, Sheffield and Leeds) but struggling with the 4th…
Does anyone have experience / views on Bristol, Exeter and Glasgow as a medical student? Thinking of student life, accommodation, placements etc Thx

@Pickupapingu Bristol is an amazing student city, but expensive for accommodation. Placements provide accommodation if far away, for free. Exeter they will spend 1-2 years in Truro.

My friend's dc is doing medicine at Exeter. Dc (along with half the cohort) was sent to Truro full time for years 2 and 3 of the course. All fine if you don't mind that but it has meant that dc only really has medic friends and hasn't really been able to make the most of the facilities of university in Exeter.

Glasgow has an excellent med school and is a great city in which to be a student. RUK considerations but your DC has strong stats. Bristol is very similar to Newcastle in course structure and is also a great student city. Exeter's med school is off the main campus at St Luke's campus in town. That may not be an issue for your DD but thought worth mentioning.

Thank you, very helpful

Looks like the test statistics part of the UCAT site is redirecting to the results page - could it be that the final numbers are incoming?

You’re right @LaMereDuChat the final deciles are out! Looks like slightly less overall candidates compared to less year and relatively stable deciles so should bode well for cutoffs staying broadly stable too? With the usual caveats of it depends who applies where, of course

@Sybill I’m hoping you’re right! My daughter is applying to Sheffield and Newcastle so high UCAT uni’s

Just marginally higher than last year, which is consistent with previous years.

Fingers crossed for your DD @Randomactofkindness I was looking at the data and the jump in the top decile was most significant (+30) from 2021 to 2022 (which coincided with the jumps in cutoffs). Hopefully the +10 this year compared to last will make for less marked increases.

@Sybill thank you! This application to medical school is stressful for the kids and the parents!

It really is @Randomactofkindness !! My DD is taking it one step at a time and making sure she keeps focused on her actual A levels as much as possible as that’s what’s most important. I’m helping with all the data crunching in the background because I do love a good spreadsheet 😁And I make tea as needed!!

@Sybill sounds like a good plan! Yes my daughter is taking it all in stages too - another one today with the final deciles published - she can submit her UCAS form
now! Where is your daughter applying to?

Will be such a relief to finally press send on UCAS this week @Randomactofkindness !! My DD is definitely applying to QUB and Leicester, then debating between Plymouth, Notts and Exeter for third and then a tbc BMAT uni! Where else is your DD looking at, apart from Sheffield and Newcastle?

@Sybill it really will! She got 2900 SJT band 1 so is looking at Newcastle & Sheffield then also HYMS and UEA - we’re up North and she would like to stay up here but UEA seems a good one to pick with her UCAT and SJT…….
She absolutely loved Sheffield and Newcastle and we are going to visit Hull this Saturday - it’s too far to UEA so will do the virtual tour and if she’s lucky enough to get an interview can look around then

I've been following this supa helpful thread from the start - thank you everyone for the information and advice!

My DS scored 2760 with SJT 3 (a bit disappointed with that 3 unusual for him). He's got absolutely tonnes of work experience - a year as a GP receptionist, lots of hospital shadowing and extra healthcare courses taken. Plus great GCSE's (6 x 9's, 2 x 8's, 2 x 7's).

He's looking at Liverpool, UAE, Aston and possibly Southampton. He doesn't want St Georges (we live in London) and isn't keen on Plymouth.

Can anyone confirm to me how much the SJT influence is at Liverpool and UAE? Liverpool we think you just need to be 1-3? At UAE does anyone know how much sway will it have with the interview? We're wondering if it's worth applying with a band 3.

Also, I can't find out how to search this thread and can't find the info which I know I've read on Cardiff - is there any point considering this if you're not Welsh? He's just mentioned it - last minute triple checking of options I think.

We've discounted HYMS because they use 15% SJT. Have we been too hasty?

Finally with the new bands out, is Southampton worth it as he's only just over last year's cut off as it is?

If anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it.

@Roundandround23 Liverpool is a good choice I think - do you mean UEA?

HYMS score out of 100 -

max 15 - contextual
max 15 - SJT
max 30 - GCSE’s
max 40 - UCAT decile

Cut off last year was 77 though this may come down due to grade deflation

I’m sorry I don’t know about Southampton

@Sybill i agree that just taking it one step at a time is the only way, as otherwise it’s just too daunting.

Yes I do mean UEA sorry! UAE would be a very@ expensive travel option!😁 @Randomactofkindness