Medicine 2026 Part 3

[MyGreyBiscuit]

Hi everyone, here's the new thread!

sorry to hear this - I would probably contact all of them, and tell them the situation and ask what their support (in terms of things like accommodation/lecture attendance) might be for at least the first two terms, and go from there. In that email, I would also ask what the possibilities are for gap year. Yes, you may not take it up, but that can help you make your decisions in case your daughter does decide to take a gap year after the operation, you can for example say 'ah Bristol which you've firmed has agreed to let you take a gap year' with the knowledge that you already have from their reply.

I would also probably choose the places that are closest to your home so that you can go and help if needed.

I know someone whose child (not doing med but still quite intense) goes to university across the country, and the mum goes across there practically every weekend to help with logistics (food prep, cleaning etc). They have managed to make that work and it's not a temporary situation. Might it be an option for a parent or someone else be able to stay with her temporarily just to ease her into life at uni? at least in terms of essentials like cooking, cleaning etc.

Sheffield is very hilly for sure...so might be an option to ask which halls she can gain access to and whether there's some sort of transport they can arrange via DSA...?

Fantastic news! Well done to your DD!
My DD is a 2nd year at Sheffield - happy to answer any questions!

I was at the offer holder day for Biological Sciences at Sheffield last week and one of the students mentioned the disability service at Sheffield being really helpful. Might be worth giving them a call.

My DD is at Sheffield in Y2. She says the med school is wheelchair accessible with designated spaces in the lecture halls at the back. There are accessible rooms in Endcliffe - it’s a flat walk to the med school from there. The only issues she can foresee is the anatomy tables but I’m sure this can be sorted. My DD had sepsis in her 1st semester and they were brilliant with her. For GP placements she can request a central practice. Let me know if you have any more questions.

thank you for all your very helpful advise.
sheffield is my firm favourite!
we are going to all the offer holders day and will ask all these questions. thank you

@France8857 I hope you find a good solution for your daughter once you do the offer holder days, and that her recovery will be fast. She sounds very brave!

Hi friends, we went to the Bart’s offer holder day today and I was really quite impressed. A good 3h of talks from
various people including deans and heads of years. A student panel as well. Only not so good thing was they they didn’t get to show us the accommodation - not sure why. They could have done what other places prob do which is to ask a couple of students give access to their rooms in return for some discount or something.

impressive list of achievements. General good vibe. Any one else went or have thoughts of this place?

@MyGreyBiscuit glad your DS enjoyed the Barts offer day. DD went to Newcastle yesterday and had a great afternoon. We did get a chance to see some accommodation too but I think it is a lottery at NCL so no idea where she would end up!

I thought DD would come out knowing for definite that NCL will be her firm but she is still torn between that and Leeds (and hasn't got a decision from Liverpool yet either). At least they have time now to think over the pros and cons. What did surprise me was they did a clinical skills session with cadavers. I wasn't sure how DD would react to them but she found is really interesting. Her overall feeling was she has absolutely chosen the right profession and was excited by the mini lectures and teaching sessions they had.

Wow @bluefineliner That’s quite something re the cadavers! My daughter did a clinical session at the Lancaster OHD yesterday - but it was an anatomy table, not quite the same! She also thoroughly enjoyed her day there and has some decisions to make.

@MyGreyBiscuit Have you been watching the new tv series with Alice Roberts re Barts hospital and its 900-year-history - really fascinating!

Ohh will have to check it out! Thanks! @PurryGrowls and @bluefineliner I’ve got FOMO now hearing your children’s opportunities to do taster practicals!!! We didn’t even see any labs or whatever. Hm.

Oh wow @bluefineliner, I wasn't expecting cadavers at OHDs! I wonder what UEA will have in store for my daughter next weekend!

The Barts TV programme sounds really interesting @purrygrowls I'm going to check that out too!

We were a bit surprised too! Tbh I have never been sure how DD would be around the more squeamish side of medicine, but she loved watching a breast surgery operation on her wex. She was not phased by the cadavers, they had to sign an agreement before they went on the day and were reminded how privileged they were to be able to do this, thanks to the donors.

I think it was a case of 'find the spleen, pancreas, liver' etc, but they all got involved and were able to examine the organs themselves so quite an experience before med school!

It of course then led me to having to google how many people donate their bodies to science or medical education 😁.

DD had an offer holder day at Sunderland yesterday. They got to see the accomodation and the afternoon the applicants went off to do various activities (they were in the dissection room but didn't see the cadavers) while the parents got the hard sell. She loved it and liked the other offer holders she met then told me she wanted an en suite room and she didn't want to share a bathroom with smelly boys. She might be sadly disappointed.

so...I'm getting my head round the Sheffield offer day (and perhaps others who have attended offer days which have lots of things going on...) - how important is it to attend 'the other things' outside of med school related stuff? I'm wondering whether we can do an extreme day trip. (it'll involve train journey of 4h each way).

My DD plans to visit the accommodation at Ranmoor, as we only looked at Endcliffe when we went to the open day, and she'll stop by the students' union. She’s booked the PM slot for the med school activities. It will be a day trip as well, which is a bit less than 3 hours each way. I'm not yet sure if I'm going, she's making plans with a friend but not confirmed yet.

I think if we go to offer day then it'll be me and him. Think there's a couple of them who also got offers but he's not close to them.

All v quiet on here!

just wanted to check that I haven’t missed anything - has Liverpool started to come out?

@SlenderRations we are waiting for Liverpool. I think it will be the end of March. This is only one left- had 2 outright rejections and 2 interviews followed by a rejection. If don't get Liverpool offer will be clearing ( very slim chance ), or gap year for us.

Yeah, none of DD's friends have heard from Liverpool yet.

Liverpool is expected next week, probably from Wed/Thurs. It’ll be our last one.

Hi all, hope you’re doing well.

We went to the UEA OHD yesterday, my daughter enjoyed it. Was very busy, but impressed by the staff and students we met. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to properly explore the campus or accommodation, did anyone else go?

Still to hear from Southampton, think offers will be sent out this coming week…

Good luck to everyone still waiting and hope your YP gets those Liverpool offers @wooly1962 @Vista123 @SlenderRations

We went @purrygrowls - really impressed with staff and students, excellent parent Q&A session!

We looked around a few of the halls, and a bit of the campus (in getting to the halls!). Halls all fairly similar really, all en-suite, etc. Happy to answer any specific questions if I can!

Hi, daughter went to holder day at Bristol this weekend which she really enjoyed but shattered now!
Question she has regarding accommodation is what do you do with insurance offer re signing up for halls? Do you still sign up for accommodation when it’s an insurance one? Thanks x

Hi all,

Just catching up as it's been quiet on here whilst we are all still waiting (well most of us for something I guess!).

We are hoping to hear from DD's final choice Liverpool this week so she can make her decisions. She is worried because she wants to firm Newcastle and their accommodation opens on Mon 30th, first come first served, so she wants to be able to firm before then. Liverpool could be an insurance choice if she gets an offer but I think she's decided if she doesn't hear in time she will just firm NCL, insure Leeds and withdraw from Lpool. It would be a shame as she really wanted to know the outcome of all her interviews but taking so long by some unis does impact their other choices sometimes. Anyone else in a similar situation, or has anyone firmed and insured at all yet?

My son was set on firming Imperial and insuring Bristol but now torn after really liking the Bristol course at the offer holders day. We are in a similar situation though where he is fed up of waiting for Southampton and considering just making the firm and insurance choice without hearing the outcome. I don't know why they take so long. They must lose applicants who just decide on somewhere else.