Medicine 2023 Entry - Part 4

[opoponax]

Anyone out there with DC applying or reapplying for Medicine 2023, please join a friendly thread for mutual support and useful advice.

Hang in there @MerchSwyddEfrog - sending lots of positive thoughts to you and your DS.

I remember well just how stressful it was waiting for offers. It really is horrible and I feel for you.

Fingers firmly crossed for positive news very soon, for you and others still waiting.

Hang on in there. I really hope your son gets his offer soon. I’ve been there with my DS last year and its so hard as a parent to watch them go through this grueling process Big hugs to both you and your son.

I think the thing is as a parent we feel their pain, but all we can do is give them a hug and encourage them to pick themselves up.

I have seen my children go through the pain of grandparents dying, failing 11 plus exams, managing disabilities and more recently seeing patients die. It doesn't mean that dd would not also be crushed if she didn't get her grades. I know she will pick herself up, refocus and reapply, but I would feel sad for her. When they are babies you can fix most things, but the process of parenting a nearly or new adult includes the pain of no longer being able to fix everything, or really anything for them. It is totally a necessary pain and important for them to go through times of difficulty but so hard as a parent to see their faces crumple. All we can do is still provide that unconditional base to come back to.

@MerchSwyddEfrog really hope he gets some good news and if not that he finds a path which brings him new confidence.

@Dyslexicwonder is accurate however if this thread were only about facts it would be say 99% shorter. While the thread is largely social nursing, what strikes me every year when it completely predictably trends according to time of the cycle is that the applicants themselves would probably be mortified with the breast-beating their obviously loving parents indulge in. Certainly they're likely to be deeply aware how cut-throat many of their peers are, and already unfazed by failure because nobody gets to 17 years of age without realizing they're not going to ever outperform everyone or even enough to get by all the time.

Pain from key life events eg bereavements, yes. Failure from school applications, the correct response is to brush it off and treat yourself to some excellent champagne etc. No point beating yourself up let alone @Dyslexicwonder for nothing.

@maryso quite aside from your sneering tone, I don't agree with you at all. There has been invaluable guidance given on this thread and previous ones. If you don't think applying to medical school needs to be strategic then you are just out of touch. And you neither need to read the thread nor contribute negatively to it. It's really not helpful.

@opoponax quite aside from your inexplicable touchiness, you don't need to read my views nor is your validation needed. Applications need to be tactical however the term strategic is inaccurately used here, unless you actually mean stratagems, which is not the same as strategic. That said, what does that have to do with my post that @Dyslexicwonder is being berated for simply expressing fact? And you neither need to read the thread nor contribute negatively to it. It's really not helpful.

We could debate whether or not @Dyslexicwonder was "simply expressing fact". My personal view is that it's absurd to think that you can pass comment on a teenager's resilience and/or suitability for a particular career based on one throwaway comment from their parent on an Internet forum.

But even if it was fact, what would be the point of expressing that "fact" when the parent is clearly here seeking support rather than judgement. Since when has being "right" given anyone a licence to be unnecessarily unkind? What's the point of kicking someone when they have already said quite clearly that they are struggling?

This has been a very positive and supportive thread until now, and many extremely kind and generous posters have helpfully shared their insights and experience with others who are supporting their kids through this process. Of course, it's an open form, and anyone is free to comment as they think fit, but personally, I would be sorry to see the positive nature of this thread unnecessarily derailed for no obvious reason.

Southampton offer today for DS which was his favourite at interview. He also has an ARU offer. Sorry pleased for him. He just needs an A in his chemistry resit now. He’s heard from all four unis (Plymouth rejection and Sheffield waiting list) The only uni he hasn’t heard from is Reading which was his fifth choice (four year physician associate course) It’s an emotional roller coaster!

Congratulations @GladysGeorgina wonderful news!

Great news @GladysGeorgina . Congratulations to your DS.

Congratulations to your ds, @GladysGeorgina.

Congratulations to @GladysGeorgina DS

Also an update to say that my DS has been rejected by Cardiff

Great news.

This thread is lovely, so supportive and people genuinely willing to help each other and offer advice.

I love seeing offers coming in for all of our hard working docs to be.

Congratulations to @GladysGeorgina and heartfelt condolences to your DS @IGoWalkingAfterMidnight and to you too, so sorry to hear your update.
Hang in there @MerchSwyddEfrog. Will be keeping fingers crossed for your DS...and for everyone else out there waiting for news.

I'm so sorry to hear your news @IGoWalkingAfterMidnight.

Thank you both. He's OK - going to email to request feedback. He was part of the SEREN project due to his GCSE results, did part of his interview in Welsh so not sure what more they wanted from hjm!

I feel so much that we've let him down - I didn't find this thread until too late and didn't know how to support him in UKAT prep, strategic application or interview prep. We don't have contacts who could have advised or accessed work experience etc. If he wants to try again next year at least we know more.

Of course you haven't let him down, OP. I'm sure that you supported him well. It's just a brutal process and every year, there are amazing candidates who are just unlucky.

We met so many students at the open days who had missed out first time round and got in the following year. Many of them seemed to be very positive about their experiences overall, despite having had to deviate from the original plan.

DS was applying for the second time. In the meantime he’s been working full time as a GP receptionist/admin. I can’t tell you how much his confidence has grown, and his clinician colleagues have been very supportive (he’s also earned and saved loads) Sometimes the extra time is a good thing overall (but does extend the anxiety and uncertainty for us poor mums!) Fingers crossed for all those still waiting. On DS’s first application he was kept waiting until the last possible day in mid May and finally rejected. It’s just a brutal process.

DD a bit worried tonight as her friend has had an offer from Southampton today, but she has heard nothing - hopefully some more offers to come! Still waiting on Bristol too..

Great to hear a success story from someone who applied second time round, @GladysGeorgina. Hopefully his experience will be of some encouragement to those who haven't had an offer yet.

@IGoWalkingAfterMidnight don't feel you have let your DS down, I am a Nurse, I work with medical students every day - yet I didn't fully understand how difficult it was or how to assist my DD. Last year she was rejected from 2 and waitlist for 2.
This Gap year has been really good for her - she has gained confidence , earned money and I think is more prepared for the challenges of medicine.
Just support him through his Gap year , look at NHS jobs ( they take ages to do all the checks so worth applying early , just after A levels for hopefully a Sept start). Also look at GP practices they often need staff.
Good luck - no one is a failure it is hard.

Well done to new offer holders and I really feel for you @IGoWalkingAfterMidnight Sending best wishes.

Oh and this year she has 3 offers and a waiting list place. She is one happy girl.

Brilliant story, well done her! 👏

@coffeeandbiscuittime well done to your DD, great to hear that things have worked out for her.

Thinking back to a med talk we went to at Leicester Uni open day, if my memory serves me correctly, I think all 5 students that they had speaking at the session had started med school 'late'. At the time this didn't strike me as significant but now... one had not had any offers the first time of trying, one had decided post A levels to apply for medicine, one had transferred from another course etc etc. I can't remember the full detail but now I can see that these students who for whatever reason weren't quite ready at the time, that extra year had made all the difference to them and they were there, studying to be doctors. Maybe this is the path for your DS @IGoWalkingAfterMidnight.