Medicine 2026 part 2

[mumsneedwine]

Thought I'd start another one.

@Lieinrequired, could you please give more info on the GCSE grades? What subjects are the 7s? DD is in Y12 and got 8 9s and 2 7s and the 7s are English Lit and English Lang. We have loved Leeds on the open day but it seems on FB that they prefer very high GCSEs, mainly 9s.

My DS got 5 9s (maths, FM, all the sciences) 8 in eng lit, 7 in music and 6 in eng lang. Hes Also got A levels in hand as he is reapplying (long story) but he had an interview at Leeds last year and again this year.

Her 7s were RE and Physics. She got a 9 in Biology. 8s in Chemistry, Maths and English

Wow, their work experience requirements are crazy! Many organisations do not allow under 16s to do such roles (providing face to face actual health or social care) and if you are eg a young carer, live very rurally, or in poverty then it might be nigh-on impossible to find or do nine full days of qualifying work experience.

Edited as I missed it was GEM but even so.

@2025parent exactly why most Unis do not require medical wex. GEM courses are often looking for other medically qualified people so I suppose this helps them prioritise those.

Morning! Survived one interview... and still only one. Hopeful that we'd hear from Sheffield before Christmas.

DS got an interview through for St Andrews this morning for mid January, phew.

Just Dundee to hear back from now.

Congrats to those who got new interviews and well done to your son @MyGreyBiscuit!

We're still at 1/4 invites (Exeter). Sheffield is taking their time to start inviting, Southampton invites early Jan.

UCL isn't looking to promising for us at the moment, still no reports of scores <2200, but we've not lost hope. I read somewhere that for 2025 entry they had something like three batches for home non-contextual applicants (2950+ scores first, then drop to 2850+, and final drop to 2800+). Their rolling invites system must have a rationale/pattern behind it, but it's as opaque as Leeds' scoring scheme 😀

@MyGreyBiscuit and @inae still waiting to hear anything here - think we unknowingly picked all the ones that like to take their time (we also submitted the day before the deadline - not sure if that makes any difference). Hope the interview went well for your YP @MyGreyBiscuit

That’s part of the torture waiting to hear especially as they all do it as different times, on slightly different criteria. I don’t think when you apply makes any difference as they have to wait for the UCAT scores and they are all released on the same day. Fingers crossed they hear soon.

That’s part of the torture waiting to hear especially as they all do it as different times, on slightly different criteria. I don’t think when you apply makes any difference as they have to wait for the UCAT scores and they are all released on the same day. Fingers crossed they hear soon.

Thanks for all the well wishes! :) I feel like a survivor of the jungle atm...

He thinks it went well but that's all he's said. I don't know if it's the threat of the NDA or whatever, but he's really been quite tight lipped. But he seems happy, which is important, and then spent the rest of the day catching up on homework.

@catty29 - which schools did you apply again?

DS has interview for Leicester next wk- anyone else?
Rejected from Manchester, waiting to hear from Sheffield & Liverpool.
Tough process, he only decided this time last year he wanted to be a Doctor & is not doing Alevel biology, options therefore restricted.
I think it’s ridiculous that for some of our YP that unless they decide age 15 that they want to go into medicine, then they could miss out or end up taking the tourist route.

I bet! I'm sure alcohol sales are being sent to new levels by med applicant parents! DD's applied to HYMS, Sheffield, Southampton and Birmingham. DD suspects Birmingham will be a rejection as those with interview offers have much higher ucat than her. Slightly surprised we haven't heard from HYMS - as far as I can tell she's well within the academics and ucat requirements but it's a bit opaque - she's super keen on HYMS as well so very much hoping we get that one

ah! we have overlaps then! (Sheffield and Southampton)... :)

@CarpetDiemyes! And also waiting on Sheffield and Liverpool. Also no biology as didn't choose A-levels with the intention of becoming a doctor.

Fab!
DS has been practising a bit for the interview but it’s a hard balance between being prepared and rehearsed.
We’re travelling down the night before to Leicester as interview’s at 9am.
It’s not one where we’ve been to open day but one of his college tutors recommended it & I must admit we both like the look of it (& good stats).
We went to open days at Keele, Manchester, Liverpool & Sheffield. Liked them all for various reasons but Liverpool is DS favourite- it’s hard for them not to have a preference! I keep telling him they’re all fab, you’d love it there too etc

@CarpetDiem also travelling down the night before for 9am. I think all the interviews are 9am or 1.30pm starts. No idea what practice is being done...

Even DDs friend who has lots of 9s in her GCSEs and a UCAT >2300 hasn't got an interview for Sheffield yet (she has 3/4 interviews so far including Leeds).

We're still 1/4 but are waiting for Glasgow as a rUK student, Liverpool and Keele so not expecting to hear yet.

@JaninaDuszejko Sheffield hasn't invited anyone yet. Should be starting soon.

@JaninaDuszejko Sheffield selects purely on UCAT ranking for interview (so GCSEs irrelevant), but she'll be fine with that score.

That's kind of what I was implying, nothing to worry about yet.

DD did interview at UEA today. No dramas and one out of the way! 😊

Hope all went well

Well - much joy this afternoon as DD has got an interview at Birmingham! She really thought she wouldn't make the cut but is absolutely delighted that she has - luckily not until the 2nd Feb so plenty of time to prep. Feel this just shows that you can obsess over stats (and I obsessed!)and still have no clue what will happen - it does seem quite random - am sure there's method in the madness somewhere.