Medicine 2025 entry

[HGC2]

Inspired and slightly terrified reading the 2023 entry threads and how much prep has to go into a medicine application!

DC wants to do medicine, probably in Scotland as a Scottish student, doing well at school but this doesn't seem to be enough! School has little / no experience of applications for medicine as a not fantastic state school!

Can anyone advise what work experience / volunteering they will need (currently volunteering at sports club with hope of job)
what are the spreadsheets that people talk about?
How do you strategically apply?

I have one child at uni and they just applied and got a place, this seems like a whole other level!

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne

The rules are discriminatory, I understand it's just the universities applying the rules but it's still discriminatory.

I can understand not wanting to train international students who would then go and work abroad (which, to be honest, doesn't stop UK students either...). I can (just about) understand the fee situation.

But why discriminate against a UK national on entry requirements into medical school? Heck, she'd be subsidising the home students and no issues with placements or if she'll work anywhere else. Makes no sense. Hopefully she'll get home status due to temporary absence but really frustrating if she ends up being classed as international

Is it Uni of Buckingham which is not on my list? Uni of Buckingham has some strange entry requirement where they allow students with qualifications from any country not to have taken Chemistry but ONLY for the IB do they require Chemistry HL. I asked them for an explanation as why they only require this for the IB but never got one. I hope they change this for 2025 entry.

i didn't include that one or UCLAN (or Dundee with a foundation year) as I was thinking of the four for UCAS applications if she is considered home student. If she's international we'd apply to UCLAN. Of course, there is also Ireland or somewhere else in Europe or even Australia as an option too but potentially she could establish herself in those countries and not even go back to the UK if she likes it there.

I'm actually trying to put her off medicine as it all seems rather brutal throughout from what I've read. At the end of the day, it's her decision and she'll have to make the commitment but I am trying to open her eyes to how hard it is. Potenitally being a bit more laid back could be a strength as long as she does enough to pass what she needs to pass. I think far more protective of metnal health in the long run. Only she can decide if she wants to do this or not.

Hi @imush

Don't know anything about international status at all. From what I've seen online, universities seem to have some discretion/differing approaches to who they class as international students for fees (with grey area people such as your DD). I suppose that might also be the case for admissions numbers and so might be worth contacting individual admissions offices.

My DD is also planning to do the IB, though is intending to go with what seems to be the classic prospective med student combo of HL Chem, Bio, Maths (and SL English, French and History/Psychology). College have really stressed the flexibility of the course - I wonder if it might be an option for your daughter to start HL Chem alongside her other HL subjects and then drop it if it's as bad as she fears, or drop one of the others if actually it's OK. But it sounds like there are quite a few med schools that wouldn't require it anyway if she's set against it.

I'm also conflicted between being excited and proud that she might go down this path, and really hoping she changes her mind. The NHS is a very hard place to be at the moment, and training to be a doctor within it seems like a very difficult way of spending your twenties. Of course, ultimately DD will make her decisions and we will support them as much as we are able.

Yeah, it seems very hard. If she doesn't study in the UK in the end, perhaps she won't end up in the NHS.

I think you're right about Chem HL to begin with. That's a really good idea! Thank you!

The 4 HL to begin with is something the school has already proposed to her since she is taking HL psych online through Pamoja (she has always really been into psych and her school doesn't offer it) and they want to give the option of dropping it if it doesn't work for her but Chem wasn't on the table at that point. So she can swap the 4th HL for Chem and then she should be OK and can go either way. I think it might be more a confidence thing than actually a lack of ability so it could help to begin doing it knowing it can be easily dropped.

@maybemedmum
Sorry, didn't tag you in my post answering you

Sounds like that could be a plan for her - take a bit of the pressure off and see if it is just a confidence issue.

It's hard to know how much credence to give the 'this is a massive jump' talk there is around HL Chem, Maths (and A Level Maths). I think it's good to go in knowing it's going to be a step up, but I think if you've found GCSE level OK that must count for something!

@maybemedmum
Just ran your idea past DD and she thinks it'll work for her! So thank you for that inspiration!

Now we're going to drive the school crazy by requesting last minute changes when the term starts but I'm sure we won't be alone.

@imush that's great news - I'm not sure I've ever inspired anyone one here before 😂.

Hope it all gets sorted and goes well for her (after the well-earned summer break).

Hi, I have just finished year 12 doing cs, maths and econ applying for mechanical engineering. But I have had a change in heart and decided to retake and do chem, bio and physics to do medicine instead. I am not sure whether I should do it or not - everyone is saying I shouldn't and it could be a waste of a year. But I am not sure as I don't know whether I will even enjoy mechanical engineering

@Layla03 you could continue with your A levels and apply to Newcastle for medicine as they accept all subjects. If you are not 100% sure of medicine I would first go get some work experience asap, speak to anyone in the health service or who does engineering. They are v different pathways ! Restarting your A levels now is quite a bit thing to do, unless totally sure.

Just bookmarking for the shared experience and wisdom! DS has just finished GCSEs and planning to do Chemistry, Biology Maths and FM A levels next year. Looking forward to sharing the mental load with everyone!

@Layla03 I’ve just dropped my son off at Southampton Uni to do a taster course on biomedical engineering run by Smallpeice Trust. My son is intending to apply his medicine / I think this would be a better ‘fit’ for him as he’s very good at maths so hoping it might inspire (or at least give him things to talk about at a medical school interview). It might be worth contacting them as they go a lot to inspire young women to consider STEM subjects - they may have people you can talk to to help you decide.

Sorry about typos! https://smallpeicetrust.org.uk/

Hi, Ah I didn't know that about Newcastle Univeristy - I really do want to do it but I am hesistant to redo the year I am going to ring them now and see what they see as well as ask for advice. But I am just scared that I will write a personal statement for them and not get into that . But yes restarting my alevels is quite a big thing

Ah thank you, I will look into this website and seek some advice

@Layla03 most medical schools don't read your PS 😊

Ahh do they not, I will have to try hard for the UCAT, I was going to do it Mid September. So is it just newcastle that allow you in without any other subjects? Sorry for asking so many questions I don't really have anywhere else to ask without anyone thinking it is a bad idea or saying something negative. What do you recommend I do now as in next steps to ensure I get place with them as I really want this

@Layla03 yes, Newcastle would be the only one that currently will take you with your A levels. Do you have any work experience or volunteering ? If not, get some this summer. A customer facing job is good too. It's about showing the skills needed to be a doctor if get an interview.
Look at Newcastle Partners if you have any contextual flags as that would lower the UCAT score needed. Newcastle us high (over 2,900).
Otherwise you could look at gateway courses - some are for people who have the wrong A levels. Some are contextual only. Google is your friend here.

Thank youu so much, Haha I have been using google and I didn't even come across Newcastle 😭Sorry, what is a gateway course thanks

@Layla03 it's an extra year at the start. Some are for students who took he wrong A levels. So 6 year course instead of 5. When I'm home I'll try and find the ones that would suit you - but if have any contextual flags it would help

@Layla03 Manchester is def I've to look at. A108

Ahh thankyou so much

Ah that is very helpfull! I will apply to manchester, newcastle now I just need to see some other ones - For the manchester one I don't meet the GCSE entry requirement should I still apply

I am going to aim for Newcastle but I am kind off scared just in case it does not work out what can I do to maximise my chances of getting in as I will be going against students who have biology and chemistry. I feel like I am putting all my hope into this haha..

@Layla03 do you have the GCSEs for gateway at Manchester ? There may be other Unis you qualify for so do some research. Each gateway/foundation course has different criteria.
For Newcastle it all comes down to UCAT score. They use that to select for interview. Then it's all equal.

Here are the foundation requirements