Medicine 2024 part 2

[mumsneedwine]

New thread. Hope the offers keep flowing in

[Tripadvice]

Just had another rejection. This time from Exeter, her no1 choice! Only St George’s left. She’s broken. 😞

[W0tnow]

Sorry @Bananaandmarmite.
A bit early to think about gap year though, right? It’s not over yet. I hope she is ok.

[SuperSue77]

@Tripadvice

Just had another rejection. This time from Exeter, her no1 choice! Only St George’s left. She’s broken. 😞

Oh no, I’m so sorry. Everything crossed 🤞 for St George’s.

[opoponax]

@Bananaandmarmite I'm really sorry to hear about the rejections. If your DD is really set on medicine, a gap year and reapplication is the best way forward. Alternative course and switching over is very difficult to do in practice and grad medicine is ridiculously competitive and there is also the issue of funding to consider.

[Bananaandmarmite]

She’s worried that she won’t get in the following year, and then won’t have a back up of Neuro Science offer on the table.

Thinking of resitting ucat in July before Clearing….

[Savourycrepe]

@Bananaandmarmite

She’s worried that she won’t get in the following year, and then won’t have a back up of Neuro Science offer on the table.

Thinking of resitting ucat in July before Clearing….

I feel for you and your DD. Where else did she apply and what’s her UCAT? Hopefully one of the others come off, but if not a gap year can be a good option. Reapplicants are supposed to have a high acceptance rate:

[opoponax]

@Bananaandmarmite I thought only one UCAT sitting counted per cycle and clearing would be part of this cycle. @mumsneedwine will know this for certain though. Your DD could put neuroscience as her fifth for second application next year, the only difference being that she would be applying grades in hand. If predicted grades are realistic and she achieves them, she would be in an even stronger position for neuroscience offer applying next year and would also have had a second stab at medicine. That's the theory though and in practice so much depends on how they feel themselves when they get rejections and that makes it really difficult to give them advice on what is best for them. DD (last year) and DS (three years ago)both had several friends who got four rejections and some happily went on to do other courses that they are loving. Others reapplied for med and in DS's cohort they were all successful second time round and are now really happy doing that. 

[Unexpecteddrivinginstructor]

I think it depends on what the situation is with accommodation for the neuroscience but she can keep that application open and then withdraw when she knows if her ucat is likely to be getting her interviews next year. She can put neuroscience down again in the next cycle. It does seem brutal that a couple of hours doing an IQ test essentially determines who becomes a doctor.

[NoNotHimTheOtherOne]

what’s the best way to go… year out? Or take the 5th choice and then transfer to medicine

There's no guarantee she'll be able to transfer to medicine from her 5th choice. While Brighton & Sussex say neuroscience students can apply in year 1 to join year 1 of the medicine programme the following year, and will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the academic requirements, that doesn't guarantee they will be offered a place: they will be in the same competition as new direct-entry applicants who reach the interview stage. Also, any offer would be conditional on excellent attendance in term 1 and achievement of 70% weighted-average module marks. Not sure what they'll be doing about the BMAT requirement.

https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/guaranteed-interviews-medicine

TheMedicPortal has a list of transfer routes they're aware of: https://www.themedicportal.com/application-guide/graduate-entry-medicine/medicine-transfer-schemes/. As you'll see, there are very limited numbers of places avaialable.

It's unwise to start another degree programme assuming you'll be able to transfer to medicine, as it is such a rare occurrence. If you've achieved the required A-Level grades for medicine and are convinced it's what you want to do (and this is based on sound understanding of what it involves), it's usually better to give up your 5th-choice offer and reapply with grades in hand. You will need to have sat UCAT again, though (or sit it in September) and should have kept up your volunteering, etc.

[mumsneedwine]

@Tripadvice it's such a tough process and I really feel for your DD. You only need one offer and I hope St George's come through. The UCAT has so much weight (even at Exeter now). Redoing it in July for a following year application is a good plan. Her current UCAT would be used if any places come up in clearing - they did this year !
Plan going forward. Concentrate on A levels and getting the best grades possible. Redo UCAT and if high think about reapplying the following year. If not, take the neuro offer.
And on results day if get great A levels get onto those in clearing as fast as possible !

[mumsneedwine]

And I agree, don't start a different degree hoping to transfer. It's v v rare. Only do that degree if you are happy studying it for 3 years.

[Randomactofkindness]

Interview offer for Sheffield for my daughter - she is so happy as she loved it at the open day.

[speedyhedgehog]

Interview at Sheffield for my DD too. She's very excited.
I'm really sorry for those who've had some rejections but keep the faith. You only need one in the end.

[Randomactofkindness]

@Bananaandmarmite @Tripadvice so sorry to hear about the rejections - where did your children apply and what were their UCAT scores? There are still more to go so fingers crossed for interviews however
they do say it can be a 2 year process and so a gap year can be useful to gain more work experience, earn some money and be even more prepared for the next cycle

[Groundhogday2021]

Bristol interview offer for dd this morning for first week of Dec…
sorry to hear about some rejections. It’s such a brutal process and agree that it seems crazy that it can often hinge on a 2 hour exam score. 😞

[mumsneedwine]

Sheffield not giving the questions in advance this year. Not sure if cut off yet but I think a little lower than last year (but might be much lower, they hadn't published it last time I looked).
Well done on interviews. For those waiting, keep the faith.

[rosesinmygarden]

We have an interview at Sheffield too.

Really surprised as her UCAT scores were OK but not super high like the cut offs from previous years look like.

Still waiting to hear from kent and medway (also ucat), and lancaster (bmat).

Sheffield is in person but She seems to think the others would be online if she was to get an interview. Will be interesting to see the process.

Has anyone heard from KMMS yet?

[Tripadvice]

Well done on the interviews.

my dd heard from KMMS and got a rejection. So I’m sure no news is good news

[mumsneedwine]

@rosesinmygarden I think their cut off might be back to pre pandemic levels, which would be nice. Bristol currently a bit nuts !

[Ib1234567]

Got interview in Hullyork , we are taking the car, any recommendation where to stay and if there is parking in the Hull Univ, (it says in the email there is parking but it doesn't say if it is for visitors ).

The same Questions for Newcastle , we got interview today. ( parking in univ , where to stay).

Thanks and good luck for everyone waiting .

[opoponax]

@Ib1234567 sorry can't help with HYMS but the Maldron Hotel in Newcastle is very good, reasonable, close to the Med School and you can get a family room with double and single bed if you are both going. No on-site parking but there is a Q Park nearby and you get reduced rate as hotel resident. I just had a quick look on Booking.com and you can get a large room excluding breakfast for £69/night in December and £89 with breakfast included. We stayed there with breakfast when DD had her Newcastle interview last year and I worked out it was the most expensive half croissant I'd ever bought as she was too nervous to eat on the morning.

[Mumofboys2006]

Oooh just got some good news! ds has an interview at SGUL in early Decmber 🥳
it was our ‘safe choice’ but it would be incredibly convenient for us and also seems to have great reviews.

Anyone have any tips for the interview pls

[SuperSue77]

Congrats to everyone with interviews and good luck to those still waiting.
Sorry for derailing this thread slightly but just wanted to ask if anyone’s child found any medicine-related work experience pre-16? My daughter has work experience week at school, last week of summer term, she’s year 10 currently and will be aged 15 at the time (turns 15 on the day it starts!)
Most of our local hospitals do work experience from age 16 onwards so she’s not be able to apply to a hospital for this, and our GP practice has already said no. Did anyone’s child find a good type of work experience that was suitable for a 15 year old? I have wondered about a care home, but worried that it won’t give her real insight into medicine (though it would into caring which is very important) and also wondered about those courses in London that you spend a fortune on, but not sure if there are any on at that time.

[opoponax]

Both of mine did hospital work experience once they were sixteen. St John Ambulance was good when younger.

[Ib1234567]

Thanks @opoponax I will look at that, and I appreciate the help. anyone knows hullyork ?