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!

This might be helpful as I don't know your details. You can see which ones you are eligible for.

www.themedicportal.com/application-guide/choosing-a-medical-school/foundation-courses/?v=79cba1185463

Ah I see thanks. No I don't have the Gcse requirements sadly. All other programs want biology or chemistry so i guess all my hopes is on Newcastle.

I will just have to try really hard in the UCAT and score high. Although I don't know how to find work experience as the city hospital says it takes up to 8 weeks to process a work experience application request. I am going to ring Newcastle tomorrow too and see what they say and recommend

Also thank you for your help it has been really insightful 😄😃

I am not sure if my message sent from before haha, but I wanted to thank you for your help today!!

No I don't have the GCSE requirements for Manchester so I am really hoping that I can get into Newcastle, what do you recommend I do so I can guarantee a place there as I don't stand out due to the subjects I am doing.

I am going to try my hardest for UCAT and try to get some medical work experience. I might volunteer at a care home or I am not sure what else as the city hospital says they take 8 weeks to process requests and it is hard to find a part time job. I might look for something online too and do some reading.

So it is just UCAT and my personal statement I need to work on. I will also look at some other pathway courses though I just need to find some. But as for now I have my eyes on Newcastle haha. Thank you once again!

As for the personal statement what should I put about academics as I don't do biology or chemistry

Ah now it shows up lol, it did send sorry for the spam in this thread. I will stop asking now 😅

@Layla03 go ace that UCAT. Some courses are still to declare their requirements for next year so I'll keep an eye out. Just in case anyone else looks good.
PS not really important for Newcastle, but having some customer facing experience will help at interview. Doesn't need to be medical.
If doesn't happen then will need to think about doing Bio and/or Chem in one year after year 13.

@mumsneedwine Thank you!!! I am just struggling with finding any work experience :// No care homes are accepting students and the city hospital said it will take 12 weeks to proccess my application due to the high demand. Is there anywhere or anything you recommend to do - And I am unable to find any customer service job :(

@Layla03 care home volunteering. Day centres. Babysitting. Cafe/shop/care assistant job. Offer to volunteer with younger years once back at school - sports/science club.

Read the GMC competencies - they need you to know these.

www.gmc-uk.org/gmpinaction/gmc-guidance/good-medical-practice/index.asp

And do the Brighton online work experience.

bsmsoutreach.thinkific.com/courses/VWE

@Layla03
Why not finish your A levels as they are and then take a gap year and do Chemistry A level in one year, study for Ucat and get work experience? Youll have a stronger application then. Your maths A level will count and many unis don't require bio if you have chemistry and maths.
Not sure if all unis will accept not sitting all a levels together but I assume most will if you get good grades in the three you're taking.

@mumsneedwine thank you, I have applied for NHS ward volunteer and I just had my interview . I'm now doing the 15 sections of the course that they require as training!!

@imush Yeah, my parents don't want me to take a gap year so I'll have to directly apply and test my luck. I'm trying for Newcastle. I'm going to sit my ucat in September if the score is low then I won't apply for medicine and just do engineering like I intended but if I score high then I might try for it and if it does not go well then I'll apply for uni through clearing

I am sorry if i missed this discussed here or elsewhere but my DD (yr 12 now) wants to do medicine and has always been interested in Imperial as one of the options. We are only just starting the whole process (which does feel incredibly daunting) and i just saw that BMAT is being cancelled - i think from 2025? Is there any information at all as to whether the BMAT unis will switch to UCAT or come up with a different test? Any insight appreciated!

Hi @Stranger3 I think Imperial have already made the decision to move to UCAT for 2025 entry (am sure I saw it on their website) Suspect Lancaster will do same but not sure about the others - Oxbridge may do their own thing perhaps, or use some of the existing aptitude tests that they use for other science based degrees and tweak a bit.

Thank you @undecided!

Hi there, DS is a Scottish student looking to apply for Medicine for 2025's entry, currently at S5, when should he be taking his UCAT? After his Highers exams? Or before? Thank you in advance. I am abit confused about the steps. Most threadsI can find on mumsnet are for English students.

The earliest date he can sit UCAT will be in July, so it will be well after Higher exams.

@greenskylark my daughter is the same, next summer for UCAT. We’re off to Edinburgh open day next month ti get a bit more info

How do they prepare for UCAT? I don't think my son's state sixth form offer any prep classes. Anyone had experience of what they need to do?

@joan12 Medify. About £40 subscription, and also practice free tests on UCAT website. Usually about 6 weeks before sit the exam.

@mumsneedwine thank you so much for this! Had contacted MPW who are local to us and they quoted £90 per hour for tutoring which just seemed insane! Really grateful for the tip.

@joan12 that is insane !! And a total rip off. Practice is the answer. There is a good book too (pic attached). Really good at talking through how to decode the questions. £15 on Amazon.

Yes, I thought so. Thank you so much for this. We are not medics so pretty clueless!

@joan12 I was you 7 years ago. My DD is now an F1 and have learned a lot along the way.

Wow, well done your daughter!! That's brilliant and I hope she finds it rewarding work despite everything. Without being too outing I supervise CTs in a particular speciality and so have had a bit of a window on their world and despite the pressures it sounds immensely engaging and rewarding work, a great combination of intellectual stimulation and people skills.

@joan12 I'm not sure this is the week to ask her how she feels 😊. 80 hours seems a bit mad. Striking next week as doing what they do for £15 an hour is ridiculous. Tough money wise, but they all want to save the NHS and be able to pay their bills.
But she does find it rewarding, has learned so much in the last few months and made some great friends. Let's hope they sort out the training log jams and staff retention by the time yours qualifies 🤞

It's ridiculous, I agree, good luck to them next week. In a way, it's very inspiring to hear they are idealistic about the NHS though. Thank you again!