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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Medicine - 2024 Entry

1000 replies

LaMereDuChat · 24/12/2022 13:48

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 😬?

OP posts:
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User27680416 · 04/07/2023 15:03

@Mumofboys2006 you definitely don’t need anything more that GCSE physics. But worth just revising back through it. There are lots of things online about what to have a look at - I guess because the vast majority will be doing maths, chem and bio for A level.

mumsneedwine · 04/07/2023 17:15

Just check the Uni still used BMAT as a couple have dropped it this year. It's the last year it exists !

Mumofboys2006 · 04/07/2023 20:31

Ok thanks. As far as we know the ones he’s interested in still use it. Imperial, BSMS and UCL.

BlueMum16 · 07/07/2023 08:44

I've been reading last year's thread from this time discussing UCAT scores and applying strategies. There's a spreadsheet being shown. Is this someone's personal spreadsheet or something you find online.
DS knows what he doesn't want but doesn't know what he does want, if that makes sense! We've been to Liverpool a few weeks ago and I think he's trying not to have this has a favourite and everyone seems to say due to high interview numbers to avoid.
We want to do some open days but he's reluctant so only want to go and see any he 'might' be lucky enough to be able to apply for.

He is only doing UCAT. He wants some where maybe Birmingham or north. No south, south west/south east due to cost of living. We live in Cheshire.

He had though about St Andres but ruled out as 6 years. He had thought about Cardiff but as English applicants ruled that out.

We're hoping to see Edge Hill and Central Lancashire but never see these mentioned on these threads. Tempted to look at Newcastle but their open day is after his closing date for his UCAS form at college.

I'm lost on how to guide him.

mumsneedwine · 07/07/2023 09:42

@BlueMum16 the spreadsheet was made by the wonderful Monkey so not something on line, just here. I'd get DS to make a list of things that are important to him, like dissection, early patient contact, course structure, type of Uni and location/cost and draw up a long list. Visit a selection from this.
Best thing to do is then wait until you have DS UCAT score and pop back here and we can help advise as to where he is most likely to get an interview. That's the important bit. However, if he has perfect GCSEs then Notts, Belfast, Birmingham and a few others are worth a look as they still score GCSEs as well as UCAT.
Newcastle needs a high UCAT of over 2,900 usually.

mumsneedwine · 07/07/2023 09:43

@BlueMum16 and Liverpool is worth a go if he likes it. Yes they interview more but someone has to get that offer. My own DD did and she's pretty normal as a student 😊

BlueMum16 · 07/07/2023 10:11

Thanks so much for the reply so quickly. I don't think he's really thought too much about course content other than he doesn't want PBL and more traditional/integrated style. He has good GCSEs, all 8s and 9s. UCAT booked for 22/08 and once he's finished college work next week he'll be on to studying for that. Will pop back when we have scores and will continue reading last year's threads so I'm not asking previously asked questions x

opoponax · 07/07/2023 10:42

@BlueMum16 I have a DS at Newcastle med school if you have any questions. It all starts to fit into place regarding where to apply once your DS has his UCAT score. I remember first looking at these threads this time three years ago and the complexity felt quite overwhelming but it starts to piece together as they go through the process. Good luck with UCAT.

Lottsbiffandsmudge · 07/07/2023 12:17

Sheffield fits your criteria. Ds got an offer there but is going to Brimingham. We really liked it and it's very good for cost of living. And routinely scored well for student satisfaction.
I wish DS had picked it over Birmingham (smaller cohort, cheaper to live, loved the course leader) but its his call....
As others said UCAT is the key.

mumsneedwine · 07/07/2023 14:13

Ah the delightful Julian 😊. Sheffield is fab and should be on everyone's radar - as long as UCAT is over 2,800 (was higher this year but who knows).

opoponax · 07/07/2023 14:35

Agree Sheffield is fab

NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 07/07/2023 14:57

He had though about St Andres but ruled out as 6 years.

Well, 6 years in total but only 3 years at St Andrews: you only do a medical science degree at St Andrews, then do 3 years of clinical medicine at Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London (Bart's/QMUL) or Manchester. I realise you almost certainly know that already but just pointing it out for others.

We're hoping to see Edge Hill and Central Lancashire but never see these mentioned on these threads.

They both have peculiarities that mean very few people on this board are likely to have children applying there. Edge Hill only has 30 students in each cohort, and up to 15 of these will be students progressing from their foundation year. UCLan only takes home students (up to 45) from specific areas in north-west England (including Cheshire), along with a larger number of international students.

We've been to Liverpool a few weeks ago and I think he's trying not to have this has a favourite and everyone seems to say due to high interview numbers to avoid.

The interviews:offers ratio is really only a consideration for students applying to medical schools where they know for certain they will get an interview (e.g. because of a very high UCAT score). For everyone else, the important number is the applications:offers ratio. There's no point favouring somewhere that makes offers to a larger proportion of interview candidates if you're unlikely to get an interview there.

he doesn't want PBL and more traditional/integrated style

I did type a bit of a rant about this mythical spectrum of PBL-integrated-"traditional" courses, which is misleading and quite unhelpful, but I won't post it unless people actually want to read it. To summarise, he should be looking at course structures with a much more nuanced view, rather than trying to put them all under one of three heading which won't actually fit any of them.

TheGander · 11/07/2023 13:53

Apologies for posting a naive question. DD ( year 11) has expressed an interest in studying Medicine. We are not clued up on the process which from a quick read of this forum seems a titanic endeavour! I have seen Monkey’s spreadsheet but I lack even the basic prior knowledge to make sense of it. Can someone please suggest where I can glean the “ starter info” before we dive deeper. Thanks in advance.

GANFYD · 11/07/2023 17:29

TheGander · 11/07/2023 13:53

Apologies for posting a naive question. DD ( year 11) has expressed an interest in studying Medicine. We are not clued up on the process which from a quick read of this forum seems a titanic endeavour! I have seen Monkey’s spreadsheet but I lack even the basic prior knowledge to make sense of it. Can someone please suggest where I can glean the “ starter info” before we dive deeper. Thanks in advance.

Some useful info here, too
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oZtGNsHs71AzElhdWoAS7kdDvvrhuVtQOERUpUnGQds/edit?pli=1

A Guide to the Medicine Application Process

A Guide to the Medicine Application Process This is a document designed to help you through the medicine application process, it does not have to be followed, it is simply a guide from mine and other applicants experiences over previous admissions cy...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oZtGNsHs71AzElhdWoAS7kdDvvrhuVtQOERUpUnGQds/edit?pli=1

TheGander · 11/07/2023 18:24

Thanks @NoNotHimTheOtherOne and @GANFYD those are excellent comprehensive resources and a great starting point, especially showing the A level requirements per medical school and whether they require UCAT or BMAT.

TheGander · 11/07/2023 18:26

I will also make sure to show him ( it’s DS not DD, typo earlier) the “ is medicine the right profession for me” as I’m not sure how much of a vocation he has at this point. It must be awful starting med school and realising it’s not for you.

mumsneedwine · 11/07/2023 18:28

@TheGander he won't need to worry about BMAT as this is it's last year. Not sure what is going in its place yet.
Make sure he knows what he's getting into. Doctors are not just striking over pay.

jjjjkkkj · 11/07/2023 19:21

Hi all, thought I'd join as I'm hoping to apply for medicine as a mature student for 2024 entry! I already have a degree and master's, so will be applying for graduate-entry. I'm feeling quite anxious about the whole process, as I feel like the odds are stacked against me with it being so competitive, and I feel like I want to have a plan B in place but have no idea what. I'm in my late 20s now feel like I can't just take several gap years to keep reapplying, so I'm trying to think up a fall back option if all else fails

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).

TheGander · 11/07/2023 21:32

Thanks @mumsneedwine I’ll watch that space. Maybe all schools will use the UCAT?

BlueMum16 · 15/07/2023 14:48

So we went to UCLAN yesterday. It was a campus tour rather than med specific. Don't think DS was too keen. Looked at the accommodation (much cheaper than Liverpool). DS now knows he only wants en suite accommodation! The tour was by current students and who couldn't really answer any questions.
DS now reluctant again to look at any others as feels it's a waste of time. We do have Edge Hill in a couple of weeks so will see if he'll still go that one.

LaMereDuChat · 27/07/2023 18:03

Hope all the UCATs are going well? Dd just put hers off for another week as the decison making needs some work. We also just found out our local testing centre doesn't have keyboards, so learning keyboard shortcusts was a waste of time!

Currently scoring around 2700 and SJT2 in practices, but she needs a higher score than this as her predicted grades are going to be AAA (if she keeps up the revision for retests) and GCSEs are 1 x 9, 6 x 8s and a couple of 7s...

OP posts:
mumsneedwine · 27/07/2023 18:27

@LaMereDuChat that's a good UCAT, lots of options if she ends up with that. GCSEs good enough too. 😊. It's a tough test but once it's done pop back here, or PM me, and we can advise best options for interview success. My strategy hat is already on and ready.

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