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!

With regards to UCAT, I just wanted to reassure some of you with kids in Year 12 and sitting the test this year that it doesn’t really matter when they sit the test… I think someone said up thread that the earlier the better in terms of success? This was not the experience we had and so don’t worry if you can’t book a slot until later in the cycle. It really is about peaking at the right time and the very reason why some have said that it is very possible to ‘over’ prepare.

It was me - that DC teacher reported those who took the test earlier tended to do better. This isn’t a reflection on the test but on the organisation of the students; less organised/less prepared students tend to sit their tests late. Though of course, organised ones may sit their test late and do well too.

But even then offers are made on Highers; perhaps why academics are considered in making an offer as the Higher grades are known when applying, unlike A levels. The AH are more of a ‘token’ to ensure students keep up the work - they are often set at BB. It is a well recognised problem in Scotland that unconditional offers demotivate students in S6 such that some drop out completely and others just stop studying much.

Can anyone help me make an F1/F2/F3 + thread please. I could make the thread ( education topic?) But don't know how to link it if I did.

@Sluj I’m sorry I’m rubbish at linking etc but wondered if the new thread will be an appropriate place to post questions from parents of current medical students?
I have a third year DD and would like to ask questions about things like electives, companies people have used, electives that other DC have enjoyed. Or do you think I should start a separate thread for those questions?
Thanks!

An inclusive thread whose main theme is the situation for junior doctors after graduation would be good. I can't see why posts couldn't be from any parent, whether of a junior doctor, current medical student or applicant.

Sorry Sluj, I don't know how to help.

No idea how to link it but I've started a thread.

Doctor Parent Help (couldn't think of a better name)

I heard yesterday from a mum that at some medicine interviews there is an actor in the room (acting concerned, scared etc) and that they want to see your DD/DS has compassion and is interested in the person. Has anyone come across that is their childs travels?

Thanks @mumsneedwine , which topic did you post it under?

Higher Education (I hope)

@SoTiredNeedHoliday yes, they will use actors to see how you cope. And patient educators too (real patients who come in)

Doctors in training thread link:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/5103284-doctor-parent-help

In 2022 entry Oxford discounted GCSEs from selection criteria (deemed unreliable due to the CAGs mess) and the BMAT execution was also messed up by the third party provider that year. With BMAT, a lot rested on whether the tech worked for you or not on the day. And at the final stage in the process, their A level offer grades were lower than other medical schools. Not the most robust of processes.

The interview process at Oxford is the most robust of all UK medical schools though CharlotteBridge.

Wasn't it 2023 that BMAT was an issue?

Thanks for the sheffield info @ColouringPencils . DD is hoping to go to their September open day (and will know if her UCAT is good enough to make the long trip worthwhile by then). She's been to Birmingham and Manchester this weekend (but with her Dad so I don't have any info to share yet). I'll post anything useful I hear from our debrief when we have it.

Oxford this week and then that's it for summer open days. There may be more in the autumn if her UCAT score means she needs to prioritise GCSE heavy universities.

maybemedmum DD and her flatmate (fourth year) are helping out at the Open Days in Oxford next week. Try to narrow down colleges ahead of the day so that you don't spread yourself too thin and can get to one or two of the tutor talks which are usually very helpful.

The provider messed it up several years running to varying degrees, I believe.

@Mumsneedwine will remember better as I only had DC in 2021 and 2023 entry but I remember problems in both years.

BMAT has been a mess for the last few years. Caused no end of stress ! Can't say I'm sorry to see it go.

Oxford's last round of aptitude tests were a nightmare due to the new provider doing a very poor job. The university took very swift action to minimise any candidates being penalised, across all subjects. The university has now moved over completely to Pearson. I don't think that the BMAT has had any major blips on that scale at least and any issues with the BMAT would have affected all the universities using it so not really a stick to beat Oxford itself with.

As far as the announcement to not place reliance on the dubious CAGs: absolutely fair and actually the only fair thing to do in the the light of certain schools taking advantage of the situation and boosting their pupils' grades artificially.

Just as well that the interviews are as testing as they are, to provide integrity to the process where certain schools had shown a lack of it.

They often have a role play 'station' in MMIs where the candidates have to respond to a situation (e.g. actor is playing someone who is upset or confused) but don't worry, the candidates are given plenty of warning of what to expect and a clear focus given for the interaction - it's not an undercover stooge walking round among the candidates pretending to be distressed to see who's the kindest!
e.g. The person in the next room is upset. Can you find out why she's upset and help her?

The actor will then 'spill' the story quite quickly that e.g. they've lost their key or they're being bullied or something that the candidate can respond to appropriately. There's less than 10 minutes in each station so not enough time to solve someone's existential crisis!

@pivoinerose thank you, that's a good tip. DH and I met at an Oxford college, so that one's definitely on the list 😀 and otherwise I'm thinking one of the slightly out of town newer ones and a couple in town. DD mainly interested in the kitchens - the lack of self catering at Oxford is a massive drawback as far as she's concerned!

They also have patient educators who are real patients who come in with a problem. You are not expected to fix them, just listen and interact. Listening is a very important skill !

maybemedmum obviously I don't know where you met so apologies if I'm preaching to the converted but in terms of kitchens Brasenose - after the first year - has very adequate kitchens if you choose sensibly on the room ballot.