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!

Thanks @ipredictariot5 I will have to get her to add up her hours re Sunderland, but I don't think it will be enough unless I have forgotten something.

I do think it might be more straightforward for sporty kids, based on my younger DS's experience, as he has already done loads of coaching of younger teams, whereas DD only does music as an extra curricular. Music doesn't offer the same kind of volunteering set up, but she can show commitment and leadership (eg leading an orchestra), which is why I thought Sunderland might be out but Keele a possibility. She has some other volunteering experience, but she was more focused on shadowing/ work experience this year and I don't think Sunderland is looking for that.

I am looking through where else she might be contextual and what that might mean. So far, also contextual for Sheffield, but I don't think they take it into account at shortlisting stage. However, their stats for last year were not that high, so it is going in my 'maybe' pile. Not contextual (yet) for Birmingham, but they are reviewing their policy for 2025, so I will look out for updates on that.

@ColouringPencils, DD got a similar score when she applied many years ago, with a similar academic profile. It was easier then as there was not the same emphasis on UCAT. Indeed Bristol, where she ended up, did not use aptitude tests at all.

It was a deep breath and a decision to focus on getting the results. Yr 13 could be a trial run. She would only apply to places she wanted to go, and focus on getting the best grades she could in preparation for a post A level application. Again she was lucky that BMAT still existed, which would have been a better test for her, but which for different reasons she chose not to sit in Yr 13.

Cue a giant spreadsheet, and essentially narrowing down to three that might consider her, plus a fourth that probably wouldn't. The fourth didn't and her interviews invitations came in late - three interviews in one week in March, but luckily she received two offers. It was very difficult when everyone else was getting offers, and talking about future plans. Two other would-be medics were also waiting and were the first to congratulate her when she did get an offer. One got a place on reapplication, the other had a brilliant gap year where he was promoted twice and came to the wise conclusion that he had probably applied to medicine because his father was a doctor but actually his talents lay elsewhere. In short it worked out fine for all three of them.

DD started really looking forward to having a year off and doing something completely different. To the extent that when her offer came through she wrote back asking if she could defer. She had a brilliant time and starting med school with an additional year's maturity was very useful. Having decided that she was, effectively, on the back foot and might not get a place, it helped to have a constructive Plan B in hand.

FWIW I think relying so heavily on UCAT is mad. DD studied with a lovely group who will make great doctors. None would be interviewed now. A real waste.

Note also there can be a yoyo effect on scores. Somewhere is very high one year. Fewer people apply, so the score drops. So more people apply the next year and the cut off rises again.

Nottingham used to offer a guaranteed interview for talented sports men/ women

Might be worth looking to see if this is still in place

Sheffield was 2780 last year. Newcastle partners do face lower UCAT so worth checking (it should be in their website)

Keele were inundated this year - interviewing in May.

www.theukcatpeople.co.uk/guide/medical-school/medicine/university-of-newcastle

https://www.theukcatpeople.co.uk/guide/medical-school/medicine/university-of-sheffield?srsltid=AfmBOop31fNPHPiyYd4DeWzWXLwVzCrQqkbgMpg7DLPmmS1CW88Ipg

@Needmoresleep I hope Bristol cones down as 2,900+ just to get an interview is tough. But anyone with a v high UCAT totally applies there, meaning more high UCATs in their pool, pushing up the top 900 that they interview.

Hi,
DS has just got his GCSE results, so looking for the 2026 entry. Couldn’t find the 2026 thread, so asking here – apologies! Long-time lurker, so can recognize a few names from the 2018 medicine thread, especially @mumsneedwine!

The GCSE results here are not very high… 99998888776 – does this put him at considerable disadvantage? DS has almost decided to take up medicine (has a sibling that’s just started her FY1), but the GCSEs have given him pause. His predicted grades were higher, and he should be capable of the A level workload.

As of now, I see we already need to avoid QUB, Notts, Leicester and other obviously GCSE heavy universities that offer higher points for 9s. From a purely GCSE point of view, can we consider these universities: Manchester, Birmingham (since they appear to score 8s and 9s equally) and Liverpool (I’ve gone through the very useful Excel sheet upthread, and noticed that Liverpool might use GCSEs as a tiebreaker)? Provided of course, that his UCAT and predicted grades pull through. Hoping too, that the GCSE goal posts don't shift too much with the discontinuation of the BMAT!

@Magstulliver his GCSEs are brilliant !! As long as the 6 is not science or maths he's fine for most places. Will all depend on UCAT. Unless they score them then 7 7s at GCSE is good enough to pass that hurdle.

Thanks a lot @mumsneedwine , that is very reassuring. The 6 is in Geography. Maths, Science, Lang and Lit are 8/9. DS is quite keen on medicine, though the advice from his FY1 sibling is to ‘Run while you still can’ 😅 But that perhaps is a discussion for the Doctor Parent thread!

@Magstulliver my DD loves her life as an F2.

That's wonderful to hear! Hoping things settle for my DD, once she gets accustomed to the new routine, especially the on-calls and the 'beep'. Her teammates on the ward have been really lovely and supportive, though.
All the very best wishes for the other mums supporting their DC through the 2025 entry!

@Magstulliver my DDs advice to new F1s - the only stupid question is the one you didn't ask. Exception report extra hours. And nurses know everything.

Do any new F1s not realise nurses are their lifeboat? You hear stories of arrogant newly qualified doctors treating nurses disrespectfully but does that still actually happen?

@Sloejelly no idea ! Some nurses don't treat new F1s very well though. Have heard of some v mean behaviour.

PS not heard from my DD. Loads of nurse friends. But ex students have reported some very mean things.

Hi

have been following for a while but now we have the stats needing advice!

DD sat UCAT yesterday, a mixed bag with 2670 SJT band 1.

She is disappointed as she’d wanted Sheffield and that’s out. We move on!

GCSEs are 999998877765 (hopefully the 6 in astronomy and 5 in Spanish can be ignored for most unis )

A level predictions not firmed up yet as did year 12 exams just before summer break but between A A A and AAA - Chemistry Biology and PE. She’s also doing an EPQ next year.

I’m not sure if she can consider Notts / Lincoln - on my measure she scores 130/152 on their scores as they heavily weight the band 1 SJT. She got decision making above 700 so that’s 10 points. I can’t find any cut offs for previous years though.

also considering Hull York, Exeter if the 3 A* predictions can be achieved, KMMS and UEA. We live in Kent and did KMMS open day and they checked her GCSEs contextually against her school and that looks ok.

she wanted to look at Lancaster but there’s no info at all on admissions as first year of. UCAT - too much of a risk?

Keele might be worth it - I think her PS will be good, she has a genetic metabolic condition so has basically grown up within the NHS , she’s done two NHS work experience placements, volunteers in a local hospice every two weeks, is a young leader for cubs and works for my law firm including with my older and vulnerable clients. She’s also a competitive ski racer (regional level).

we have zero contextual marks unless her being in receipt of higher level PIP counts for anything? Polar Quintile 5. Just moved from a polar quintile 2 area- damn! I had no idea about this. Her friend is in a polar quintile 1 area and has a more expensive house than us - how is this worked out!!??

so grateful for any other thoughts or ideas. This thread already so helpful Thanks

Hi @islaoo

I'm not very clued in on all this but I'm reading Sheffield's ucat cutoff is 2430 for 2025 entry. Why would your DD not apply there?

@Optimum19 Sheffield cut off us 2780. They look at everyone over 2440 and rank them, then interview top 1,000.

@ColouringPencils I'm afraid Notts cut off has been 130+ last few years, but Lincoln about 129. Liverpool she's close to cut off, Plymouth would be a safe option.

For some of the others we are in the dark a bit. Exeter use a grid now so need to score.

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/media/universityofexeter/recruitmentsites/docs/BMBSadmissionsspolicy2022-23v5.pdf

Leeds was quite high this year. Newcastle changed their policy so might be worth a look.

Belfast ?

www.theukcatpeople.co.uk/guide/medical-school/medicine/university-of-queen's-university-belfast#:~:text=Belfast%20Medical%20School%20Entry%20Requirements&text=GCSE%20performance%20in%20the%20best,(grades%204%20and%205).

@islaoo that was meant for you, not @ColouringPencils . Sorry.

You need to look at this for Notts !!!

www.nottingham.ac.uk/sport/performance-sport/sports-scholarships/

Guaranteed interview if can get accepted

Maybe UEA and St George's. Close to recent cut offs.

Thanks so much! I appreciate all the insights and suggestions. It’s all so complicated.

we will look at Liverpool and Newcastle. Maybe Lincoln as a stretch option. KMMS will be on the list.

DD is dyslexic and the UCAT was brutal for her - I’m so proud of her for getting what she did especially on the SJT and she worked so so hard - I’m trying to persuade her she still has options but she’s a bit downhearted! I see others here experiencing similar so just know you’re not alone and let’s hope the system has a place for all these YP who I’m sure will all make great medics xx