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!

Apart from having students suddenly deciding to apply for Oxbridge, is there any disadvantage to schools inflating predicted grades?

https://www.ucat.ac.uk/results/test-statistics/

These are preliminary deciles. I did UCAT last year and 3000 was 95th percentile. If trends continue these preliminary ones are usually a little higher meaning a score lower than 2990 will be 9th decile

They'll come done. Let's hope by more than the usual 60.

SJT seems like fewer got B1 this year though?

Very good if applying to ones that use it. Gives an extra bump.

I’ve heard anecdotally that KMMS gave feedback of some results being ‘too high’ i.e student is v unlikely to actually take a place if offered and they want to offer to those who will make them firm choice.

They also unashamedly say at their open days they’re not looking for the best academics but the people who will make the best medics.. and they say there is research that medical students with AAB do as well if not better than with three As (presumably because they may in general have more outside interests).. so it MAY work against you to have flawless a level predictions for some specific med schools - just a guess though

Does anyone know which universities put most emphasis on the UCAT? My DD has a very high (top 1%) UCAT score. Academics are good. Not exceptional but will certainly meet all minimum thresholds. Where would she be most likely to get a place?

Here you go.

Some use the Ucat decile as part of post interview scoring and sjt band as a virtual station.

Has she a long list of where she would like to apply?

Realistically speaking she should interview at any ucat uni

Strategically speaking she should look at uni who favour perhaps her vr score as part of their interview place (Notts), ucat score as 50% of decision for offer, along with 50% interview performance (UEA). Many high scorers use this option. Edinburgh decision is part Ucat score, sjt and interview score. I think St Andrews use sjt score too as a virtual station.

I’m sure others will be along who can advise better than me.

@mumsneedwine is the guru :)

She definitely likes Bristol, Leeds and Oxford (the latter always a long shot a think). Sjt is band two. Predicted grades A star A star A. Looking for a strategic final choice based on her high ucat to maximise chances of getting an offer. Sounds like Nottingham could be good.

what type of work experience is Sunderland looking for - does it need to be medical related?

@MausAttack Bristol, Sheffield, Southampton, Exeter all good choices. But with a 3,000+ UCAT and good GCSEs you can pretty much choose.
Check Notts scoring as need above 130 normally. SJT 2 loses 15 points so will depend on the VR score.

they specify they do not want any shadowing - any work/ volunteering in any setting that can show team work customer service good with people.

@MausAttack as you likely have the luxury of pretty much 4 guaranteed interviews, I would look at the interview to offer ratios. You haven't set out GSCE grades but perhaps look at Birmingham - certainly in preference to Nottingham because SJ2 will bring you down by 15 points and may not be enough for interview. Birmingham's interview to offer ratios are significantly higher than most other unis (94% of home, non-contextual interviews were made an offer according to their website for the 23/24 cycle, 87% of contextual interviews).

@MausAttack
Agree that your dd will have pretty much guaranteed interviews at high UCAT unis if they apply strategically. Some med schools do consider GCSEs alongside UCAT so if not stellar then go for purely UCAT driven ones. Southampton and Bristol for sure will offer an interview. My dd had a top 1% UCAT (Band1) and was offered interviews at Bristol, S’ton, Nottingham and Exeter. Exeter have a new scoring system this year so will depend on score for that but they did offer a reduced grade with at least an A in EPQ if that is something they are also doing/have done. This was not advertised when she first applied and only offered once she had been given an offer but worth thinking about.

Sheffield offer AAB with an EPQ and rely solely on UCAT so would be a good safe 4th. As would UEA as UCAT counts as part of offer score.

@MausAttack DD isn't quite in the top 1% I don't think, but has a very high UCAT. She's chosen Newcastle as her 'safer' option - their scoring has changed this year so they use 50% interview and 50% academics/UCAT. DD will get full marks on the academics/UCAT bit (I think it's over 3150 or 3200 for max UCAT points, but it's on their website), so thinks it's a relatively good option. Just another to throw in the mix along with those people have already suggested.

Yes I am thinking Southhampton or Newcastle both look good. As someone else said Nottingham is probably better with STJ band 1.

It is worth remembering that everyone taking the UCAT is thinking of applying for medicine - this is not a test taken by the cross section of the public but by a top performing cohort.

And dentistry but your point stands I fully agree

Hello all. I'm stressing out as my UCAT score (and my FM grade prediction) are lower than I had hoped and I am not sure of my chances now. Can anyone please tell me where I stand and which unis would very likely offer (standard offer, coming from comprehensive state school)? A few examples would be OK. ta

A-level:
Biology A*
Chemistry A
Further Maths A
Maths A (actual grade, exam sat in year 12)

GCSE:
Biology 9
Chemistry 9
Physics 9
Maths 8
History 8
Spanish 8
Geography 6
Eng Language 6
Eng Literature 5
OCR Add Maths A

UCAT score: 2690 and SJT band 2

work/volunteering experience & other awards:
12 months NHS community hospital volunteering experience
12 months volunteering with girl guides
5-day medical work experience NHS hospital
5-day residential programme NHS hospital
DofE Silver and Bronze awards. Gold expected completion Dec 2024.
Jack Petchey Achievement Award

I am sure someone more expert will be along in a minute to give advice. But I just wanted to say I am sure there are places you can apply with those grades.

Hi

Have a look at Plymouth, UEA, Liverpool, KMMS, Sunderland, Keele and Bangor. Lincoln maybe ( whats your VR score as they use it for selecting for interview).

Is your school on the contextual list at all ? Perhaps with a low attainment 8 grade?

Lancaster might be worth a punt as its their first year accepting Ucat.

Do check the gcse requirements too - some specify English/Maths/Sciences at grade 7 or above.

Probably a silly question, but do some medical schools publish their actual UCAT cut off prior to admission, or is it a process of deduction?

Sometimes people make a freedom of information request. Mostly you just have to go on previous years’ info I think.