Page 4 | Medicine 2025 entry

HGC2 · 2023-03-29T12:34:31+00:00

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!

greenskylark · 30/09/2023 22:00

@HGC2 Thank you for this. I have just booked for DS to go to the open day as well. Also just ordered the UCAT book recommended by @mumsneedwine from amazon ( thank you!). And set a reminder for myself to subscribe to Medify plus book the UCAT slot before July 2024 ( my memory is so bad lately). So will now encourage DS to focus on his Highers and his Volunteering. Will tackle UCAT right after Highers 🙏

joan12 · 01/10/2023 09:11

An alarm is a great idea! Was just wondering how to remind myself about this in June 2024!! Thank you all, so helpful.

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 01/10/2023 09:31

mumsneedwine · 30/09/2023 18:05

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

I would also recommend watching you tube videos from medics with tips and advice, helps to break up the monotony of lots of mocks. Also in the early days concentrating more practice on the weaker topics helped because my dd reached a high plateau with some of the areas so spending 30 mins on verbal reasoning and 30 on quantitative wasn't as beneficial as spending an hour bumping up her weaker quantitative reasoning.

joan12 · 01/10/2023 12:33

@Unexpecteddrivinginstructor that's great advice thank you. I never think of you tube and there is such a lot out there!

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 01/10/2023 16:27

We did it together on the TV, so it felt a bit less lonely before she would go off to do more practice. Watch a range of different medics to see which ones you like.

joan12 · 07/10/2023 12:39

Hi all, just wondering what people's thoughts/experiences are of Medic Mentor? We've been sent some info by the school but I'm not sure what it is?

mumsneedwine · 07/10/2023 17:06

@joan12 I'm always sceptical about anything that charges. You don't need things like this.

Ib1234567 · 07/10/2023 18:08

@joan12

I think it is fine to attend the free stuff as they have virtual society and they had conference intro to medicine ( this was starting point for us as we didn’t know anything about applying).

maybemedmum · 18/10/2023 12:31

Hi all,

How are all the potential 2025 applicants doing?

DD has got a few days of hospital work experience coming up in November. Any tips or advice from those who have done it before about how to make the most of the opportunity? At the suggestion of college medics' support, she's already started a reflective diary - I guess doing that will be important, especially as she's doing the work experience quite a while before any potential interviews.

Does anyone know anything yet about what is going to replace the BMAT?

W0tnow · 22/10/2023 12:59

A current med student has put together a really useful document about strategic uni application taking into account ucat/A level/gcse/WEX It's in TSR thread. The Which university should I apply to sticky thread. It's referenced a few times (there is a link on page 266 iirc)

W0tnow · 22/10/2023 13:02

Also. I went to an open day at QMUL. we were advised that while clinical experience was great, it was not necessary. It was understood that not everyone has the connections to be able to volunteer in a clinical setting. And we were advised in no uncertain terms to NOT pay for clinical WEX.

maybemedmum · 22/10/2023 14:09

That looks interesting @W0tnow . Did you like QMUL?

I think it's really good that medical schools are levelling the playing field by recognising that a lot of clinical work exp/shadowing is about contacts. But if anyone is thinking of trying to do it, our local trust has an open application process and DD was able to arrange without using any contacts, so it may be worth checking locally. (DH does work for the trust, but we have an exceptionally common surname and I'm not sure anyone would know that - certainly he hasn't been involved in it at all.)

mumsneedwine · 22/10/2023 14:12

The TSR resource is fantastic. But be aware that things change every year so doing your own research is vital. Especially with BMAT going next year.
You don't need any clinical experience, but having some caring volunteering is good. And knowing how the NHS works and it's problems (speaking to doctors helps with this, knowing the current issues with pay restoration, PA scope creep and lack of training positions).
Most Unis know that, unless you have family members working as doctors, it's quite hard to get experience. As one admissions tutor said, 'we'd rather you worked at McDonald's than with your parents friends'. Shows resilience, patience, customer service etc.
if currently in year 12 then the most important thing is to concentrate on getting the necessary predicted grades. Next summer get the best UCAT. And can then select the Unis your profile fits best to get those interviews.

mumsneedwine · 22/10/2023 14:15

"@maybemedmum it's been like this for years. Unis realised that a lot of places don't have hospitals that offer opportunities and that really it was the qualities required to be a doctor that matter, and these can be shown by having any customer facing job. Lots of students have to work through 6th form and doing this is really looked favourably at when applying.
But you do need to know what you're getting in to. Some students still say they want to be a doctor for the 'money and prestige'. 😂😂

W0tnow · 22/10/2023 16:23

@maybemedmum She did like it, yes. We've not (and won't) visit the other 3 choices as for various reasons it's not feasible. Her favourite uni will be the one that offers her a place!

After the med talk, we stayed for the following'5th choice' session. I forget the name of the presenter, but she was incredibly inspirational and convinced my daughter to put down a 5 th choice (she received an early acceptance last week). Whether she'll take it up or not if she's not successful is another story, but she is no longer dead set against the idea.

W0tnow · 22/10/2023 16:27

Oh, and as @mumsneedwine said, knowing what you're getting into is something that the speakers encouraged. Talking to doctors, or if you don't know any, reading blogs, listening to podcasts, Twitter etc. especially by recently qualified doctors.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 28/10/2023 12:14

W0tnow · 22/10/2023 16:23

@maybemedmum She did like it, yes. We've not (and won't) visit the other 3 choices as for various reasons it's not feasible. Her favourite uni will be the one that offers her a place!

After the med talk, we stayed for the following'5th choice' session. I forget the name of the presenter, but she was incredibly inspirational and convinced my daughter to put down a 5 th choice (she received an early acceptance last week). Whether she'll take it up or not if she's not successful is another story, but she is no longer dead set against the idea.

DS decided not to put down a 5th option when he applied as he decided it was Medicine or nothing. A couple of Unis didn't accept him but did offer him alternative courses.

Ib1234567 · 31/10/2023 10:15

Hi, my son going to interview for volunteering in hospital. Any advice of what it involves, he was asked to bring IDs with him . Does he need to prepare for it ?

maybemedmum · 31/10/2023 11:11

DD did an interview for hospital volunteering last week @Ib1234567. She had to show various bits of ID, including something recent with our address on. Some of it was housekeeping/logistical stuff about her availability etc, but they did ask her some questions about motivation, experience, how she'd act in certain situations etc too. She said it was all straightforward and things you'd expect.

She now has a load of online training to do, DBS to complete and has to submit proof of all her childhood vaccinations etc before she can start.

Hope it goes well for him.

Ib1234567 · 31/10/2023 11:41

maybemedmum · 31/10/2023 11:11

DD did an interview for hospital volunteering last week @Ib1234567. She had to show various bits of ID, including something recent with our address on. Some of it was housekeeping/logistical stuff about her availability etc, but they did ask her some questions about motivation, experience, how she'd act in certain situations etc too. She said it was all straightforward and things you'd expect.

She now has a load of online training to do, DBS to complete and has to submit proof of all her childhood vaccinations etc before she can start.

Hope it goes well for him.

Thanks , appreciate the help. I will tell him and hopefully it will go smoothly. good luck to your daughter.

Justlikingit · 31/10/2023 23:16

Just marking my place. DC interested in applying for Medicine. In year 12 now, so will be applying for 2025 entry.
A bit daunting. Plays sports at a high level and this takes up a lot of weekends and some evenings in the week. Trying to figure out how to fit in volunteering, as well.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 01/11/2023 08:26

Justlikingit · 31/10/2023 23:16

Just marking my place. DC interested in applying for Medicine. In year 12 now, so will be applying for 2025 entry.
A bit daunting. Plays sports at a high level and this takes up a lot of weekends and some evenings in the week. Trying to figure out how to fit in volunteering, as well.

Do they have a medical society at Sixth Form? Ours didn't and I found the thread for DS's year on MN invaluable

Ib1234567 · 01/11/2023 11:54

Justlikingit · 31/10/2023 23:16

Just marking my place. DC interested in applying for Medicine. In year 12 now, so will be applying for 2025 entry.
A bit daunting. Plays sports at a high level and this takes up a lot of weekends and some evenings in the week. Trying to figure out how to fit in volunteering, as well.

As I am going through this process this year, please look at elite athletic criteria ( as I remember that I saw Nottingham and Newcastle gives guarantee interview if he meets minimum requirements). I think also some other universities but I am not sure. I know it is early to make any list but just look at elite athletes criteria in each univ ( it could be conditional of what it meant depending on univ). Good luck

Needmoresleep · 01/11/2023 11:57

If you have to pay international fees it is also worth looking at Bucks
https://medvle.buckingham.ac.uk/#:~:text=The%20University%20of%20Buckingham%20Medical%20School%20is%20the%20UK's%20first,will%20put%20the%20patient%20first.

As far as I know the only private medical school in the UK. Four terms a year so you finish in 4.5 years rather than five. A friends niece (from Australia but with 2 British parents) is there at the moment and is very happy. If you are in the EU, and perhaps if you are not, Ireland is also worth a look. Irish medical schools also have relationships with medical schools elsewhere (Malaysia is one example) which allows students to study first in their own country and then complete their clinical years in Eire.

Medical School - University of Buckingham

https://medvle.buckingham.ac.uk/#:~:text=The%20University%20of%20Buckingham%20Medical%20School%20is%20the%20UK's%20first,will%20put%20the%20patient%20first.

Justlikingit · 01/11/2023 14:06

@SiouxsieSiouxStiletto and @Ib1234567
thank you both. Yes she has joined medsoc in school.
I wasn’t aware sports offered any sort of advantage, apart from obvious transferable skills. I will definitely ask her to look into those universities, and others that may potentially view her sports advantageously