Campus based med school

[GENDOUBLEZZ]

Dd is in year 10 and doing very well in all her subjects. We can't afford private school but if she continues to do very well academically and gets the necessary GCSE and A-level grades, she hopes to do medicine, ideally at a campus based university rather than a large city. If anyone has knowledge about the various med schools, which ones should dd look into and research further?

OP to add to the above, there are some very knowledgable people on the Medicine threads - not just parents that have been through the process (and it is brutal - apart from vet med / dentistry - it is unlike any other subject and so, so hard for students parents) but teachers who are upto date with all the admission information. As others have said, it is likely to change in coming years, but now it is really about strategic applications (once you know your UCAT score). There is absolutely no point applying to a uni that you love because the campus is pretty (or any other reason) unless you can be relatively sure you're going to get an interview there - and thats all down to how each med school uses the UCAT score (and possibly GCSE grades / contextual markers etc)

@GENDOUBLEZZ far too early to choose I'm afraid. Once she's got her GCSE results you can start to look at where those stats fit - most only need the minimum of 7 7s and do t care about anything higher. Then it's down to UCAT. Sat in summer after year 12. Most Unis use this to select for interview.

To be honest, you apply strategically where you are most likely to get an interview. There are loads of campus Unis but best to wait and see where you are in year 12.

@Fiftiesishard all v well said 😊

@GENDOUBLEZZ best to take biology and chemistry as leaves all options open. Only taking 1 will limit choices. You do not need maths (3rd can be anything - drama, art, PE). House the ones you'll get the best grades in !

Thank you so much, this has already been eye opening. I had no idea that BMAt has been discontinued but I reckon that's a good thing as those who had to potentially sit the UCAT and BMAT now just have one exam to prepare for. Also good reminder to take stock once the GCSE grades are in. I hear everyone who is saying strategic application after UCAT.

I just wanted s starting point, and get a sense where was particularly popular with existing students and those who have graduated. Am I right in thinking that the Oxbridge cohort is particular in the sense of being hyper academic or to use an old fashioned term academically gifted?

I read somewhere that UEA focuses strongly on communication skills, do they all do this now?

@GENDOUBLEZZ there is no such thing as an academic medicine degree - they all are ! But some will focus more on theory than patient contact. Oxbridge more theoretical in early years while other are much more hands on. UEA are very strong on communication and early patient contact. But many others are too.

Research how courses are taught as there is a lot of difference. BUT, and it's a huge but, yours years away from applying and things change every year.

And there is no 'better' Unis for medicine. Doctor jobs just don't care.

@GENDOUBLEZZ no, in my opinion, it's not right that the medicine Oxbridge cohort is particular in that it's hyper academic. I'd say anyone applying for medicine at any uni is academically gifted. I think the lack of patient contact at Oxbridge puts many off, hyper academic or not.

I do think you're right in that communication is key - I think that's why interviews are a critical part of the process.

Interviews mostly Mini Multiple Interview format (MMI). 5-8 different stations, testing all sorts of skills.

Medicine at Oxbridge (and Imperial and UCL) does have a stronger focus on the academic/research side of medicine than other med schools. They all have compulsory intercalation, an extra year of study for a BA/BSc, and a research project/dissertation. Intercalation is possible at most other med schools as an option but not compulsory. Some med schools allow you to intercalate at another university. I believe Nottingham squeezes in a BSc and research project into a 5 year course but @mumsneedwine is the person to ask about that.

Intercalation is a fantastic opportunity if your DD is interested in research or wants to study a specialism in depth but if she is only interested in practicing medicine, it might not be for her - it’s an extra year of study and an extra year of costs!

Yes, Notts give a BMedSci degree as part of the 5 years. Intercalated degrees are possible everywhere but some only let a few do them. Some are open to everyone l. Now the points have gone for an extra degree they are becoming less popular.

You'll do research and audits as part of F years.

My most useful tip for a year 10 who wants to study medicine would be to sign up for St John Ambulance now. It’s great experience for an aspiring medic but branches often have waiting lists several years long so it might be too late if she decides she wants to join in the sixth form.

TBH, despite what a million posters will tell you, you don’t need a huge amount of work experience to get into med school but you do need some. It can be a pain to organise because of age restrictions and availability although there are online options and things like scouts or jobs where you develop communication or other relevant skills (eg retail) also help. St John Ambulance is a great way to get hands on experience and avoid the mad scrabble to find suitable placements in the sixth form while trying to juggle A-levels, med school applications and UCAT prep.

I think most med schools are aware how hard it is to get good experience or volunteering so anything is good.

Where we live you would have no hope of doing St John Ambulance unless you signed up at birth! 😆

I agree with everything you say 100%, @Notcontent! It’s worth a shot applying to St John Ambulance though.

@Fitzbillie agreed!

Hospital volunteering can be good too, but I think that’s not always an option. My dd volunteers at a hospital but she can only do that because she has a half day once a week at school when she only has morning lessons and can leave after that.

Having a job is brilliant. It shows time management, resilience, customer contact, patience etc. All the things that make a good doctor.

As one admission tutor said, we'd rather you'd worked the lunch shift at McDonalds that worked with your daddy who is a surgeon.

Keele is a good campus medical school. They like candidates who've done long term volunteering or jobd so that's something to consider now. Anything people facing would work.

ARU in Chelmsford is a lovely campus.

UEA students obviously do get placements quite far away, however - DH says they are 'regulars' at Thurrock. The campus and Norwich itself are great, though. DS2 is at UEA (not a medical student, though) and DD lives in the city centre.

Also agree with @DoorPath re the ARU campus.

But of course, as others have said, all this is academic, without knowing how one's achieved / predicted qualifications fit the entry requirements of the particular medical school.

Thank you so much for all the insights. I completely take on board that GCSE grades and then the UCAT score are the determining factors to narrow down options. Bearing this in mind, I have one further question.

Which med schools are well know for having a culture that supports student wellbeing or that scores highly in terms of student satisfaction? I hope this is not a silly question but wondered if there clear are differences between the institutions?

Someone mentioned St Andrews as a med School that does three years of academic study first then on the ward training elsewhere but St Andrews is going to he changing to a full medical degree programme where you don't have to go elsewhere for the second three years of your degree.
Otherwise it fits the bill as a uni in a cosy small town with very good student satisfaction ratings.
You have to be pretty robust to cope with studying medicine and medical training, I'd be a bit concerned about your daughter having strong preferences against big cities or non campus unis.

St Andrews is going to he changing to a full medical degree programme where you don't have to go elsewhere for the second three years of your degree.

Do you know when this is planned for? Their 2024 entry web pages still only offer 3 years at St Andrews followed by 3 years at Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester or QMUL.

To mention ARU again, it has recently won University of the Year (Times Higher Education), partly down to the outstanding student experience.

You can find student satisfaction data here. Lancaster is top of the list and is a campus university. https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/medicine?tabletype=full-table&sortby=student-satisfaction