Medicine 2025 entry - part 2

[HGC2]

Not sure how to link old thread, can anyone help me do this?

Onto UCAT and personal statements now - good luck everyone!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4773726-medicine-2025-entry

Did I manage to add the old thread?

Yaaay! It works

My DD has the UCAT on Friday, she is not hopeful and think perhaps she's over studied, she wishes she had just got it done over the summer now rather than combine with school (Scotland), roll on the weekend!

It works

My daughter is the same..feels she’s over studied and her last two mocks have been going backwards so she’s really worried now. Fingers crossed it will be different on the day 😕

Hi

At least both your daughters can say they did their best. Mine did two mocks & a few five/ten minute practise tests.
Good luck to both your girls.

Place marking

Thanks for new thread, placemarking for now.

UCAT early next week for DC, they're very stressed and down in the dumps about it all. Hard to know how to support really, and agree with PP at the end of last thread wondering how UCAT eventually correlates to good doctors (though I do understand there needs to be some kind of filter b/c so many applicants)

Good luck to those shortly sitting UCAT. I was more anxious about DC sitting UCAT than I was about them sitting their exams. It felt more out of control.

There was some research posted as I recall when dd was applying, which seemed to suggest there is not a high correlation and A levels were a better predictor. The research however was already quite old a couple of years ago and more places have adopted the UCAT so there may be more evidence now. When just a few places used it then it would be a self selecting group who applied for those places wanting a higher ucat.

I do sympathise, having had two children who didn't pass the 11 plus but have gone on to excel in secondary school it makes one a little cynical about the value of a snapshot test.

I remember seeing that research too @Unexpecteddrivinginstructor and if I remember rightly, the only correlation was with respect to VR (but even that was weak enough). I may have made this up, but think research also showed that those who did well in AR tended to surgical specialties later on (which does make sense). But again, it’s old data with all the caveats etc. I like a uni that uses a mix for selection and also is 100% transparent on how they score applicants and share previous stats clearly (looking at you Leeds, grrr)
My DD hated UCAT with a passion - it just never clicked with her and she had to work very hard to get 2680 (whilst her friends sauntered in and got 3000+!!) But she still got 3 offers from the 3 UCAT unis she applied to, so please don’t despair. It will be harder this year as there’s no data to go on for some of the ex BMAT unis but as long as you can get one or 2 that your DC feel confident should get them an interview, that’s a fantastic start.

Oh and if applying for Exeter, check your UCAT against the interim deciles once they’re released mid Sept and doublecheck if they are applying the same decile definition as per UCAT (they didn’t last year and it was a bit confusing)

Looks like a few of us in similar boats. DD’s mocks seem to be going backwards too. Only thing that’s holding is SJT.
She just wants it over and done with now…

It will be even harder to assess doctors success these days with F1 allocations taking place by lottery.

Yep same for us with SJT; she is consistently getting B1 (sometimes B2) on SJT but AR and DM are swinging wildly…it seems as though it depends on the variety of questions in those sections I.e., my daughter has a loathing for VENN diagrams and some mocks have loads of them and some don’t and this is affecting her scores making them swing 🙃

I imagine they will look at the association between UCAT score and the Medical Licensing Assessment and conclude that those who are better at taking multiple choice assessments the UCAT before their degree are better at taking a multiple choice assessment doctors after their degree.

Did I tell you I was cynical?

Best of luck 🍀 to everyone's DC who is taking UCAT , I remembered being all nervous when Dd finished and called us for pick up.

@Sybill please can you explain how Exeter defined the deciles for their charts? I can’t find anything on their website about it. Thanks

It’s easy for me to say but relax! I remember someone in the know saying this time last year about the UCAT that mocks can vary greatly and generally, kids tend to score nearer to their higher mock results in the actual test. This was true for my daughter. She scored anywhere from 2500 - 3200 in the mocks. Her final UCAT was 2950.

As for Exeter, unless it’s changed this year, 3 x A star predictions are pretty vital for interview. Even with a top UCAT. My daughter is going there in September.

Anyway, I feel your pain….I’ve been there!

Hi, just checking in to thread 2!

DD went early to get UCAT over with before our summer holiday (currently in Northern Spain). She's meant to hand in a first draft of her PS this week and we're working out which open days she might go to in September, but otherwise just really glad it is done.
Wishing lots of luck to all those with it coming up soon!

Exeter scoring here

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

UCAT is far from perfect but they have to use something to differentiate between the applicants, all who have great GCSEs and A Level predictions. Can't use WEX as that's not fair (v easy for some, virtually imposed others). And PS we're being written by paid for companies in some cases.

The UCAT just gets you the interview. That then becomes the most important part of the process. Pretty much everyone who gets a place will become a fantastic doctor.

I got 3k Band 1 and 4 offers for medicine last year so any questions I can try answer.

Being optimistic that Fridays UCAT goes ok, anyone got any good guides or tips for personal statement writing?

Good luck for Friday. In terms of personal statement it actually isn't that important to get an interview with some unis saying they don't score or even read them. However not sure how truthful that is. The key is to show your motivated, understand the challenges of the career and are able to reflect on your work experience and volunteering. Having watched surgery for example doesn't really give an advantage so dont worry about stuff like that. You should be as truthful as you can though and know it well as the stuff in your personal statement is likely stuff you will mention at interview.

@HGC2 most Unis don't read it, but a few do (on the spreadsheet). It's about reflecting on what you've learned, not what you've done. So not 'I worked in a care home for 2 weeks'. More 'while working in a care home I learned that patience and compassion are vital attributes and that the best care is through teamwork'.
Mention something academic (my biology has led me to an interest in the function of the kidney and I've learned .....).
And mention interests saying how they show ability to manage time, prioritise and look after mental health.
Use the GMC competencies as your guide.