Medicine 2026 Part 3

[MyGreyBiscuit]

Hi everyone, here's the new thread!

I definitely wanted him to ‘shop from home’, particularly taking my mismatched stuff and freebie mugs that I don’t want!! But no. I will see how he goes… I’m sure at some point things will break and he will end up shopping from home.

@SuperSue77 I’m sorry you feel that her UCAT wasn’t as high as you’d like but as @mumsneedwine says, there will be 4 schools that you can choose strategically, especially given her GCSEs. Band 2 is much of a muchness the same as Band 1 so don’t worry about that.

I’m sure you already know about the fantastic guide from myukcatpeople - go through that and shortlist. Make double triple sure that Keele will be happy with your profile (only because you seem to have a favourite….). But don’t get too hung up about Keele - the best medical school for your daughter is the one that offers her!

I’m going to take a nap now…I’ve had a terrible few nights from being ill and of course yesterday’s stress!!

I’ve been visiting my local Reuse shop at the tip and have picked up kitchen stuff for pence! Bundles of cutlery for 20p, crockery for 50p and saucepans for £1 (have checked they are induction hob compatible).
DD has a twin brother who is also off to Uni so I need to spend as little as possible!

I didn’t mean to be critical of the ikea box - it is convenient and a positive symbol of the next step and you didn’t have to argue over the merits of a spatula! Just other options also exist.

@SuperSue77 Sunderland's course is apparently very similar to Keele's, they have a low minimum UCAT, and they interview early. Might be an option. DD1 had a similar UCAT score last year to your DD.

DD has 3 friends going to Newcastle for medicine so will be mixing with the medics there a lot I suspect so she might see some of your DCs!

ah no problem! :) I was critical of the IKEA box because I didn't think he'd be using it all but who knows, plus it comes all conveniently packaged. I think he liked that. Of course, as we walked round the store, we still had to pick up a peeler, some tea towels etceetc... so it's not all complete.

now battling with him about the drop off - he's insisting we just drop and go. DH is supportive of that... I'm freaking out. :((

We dropped stuff about midday, then took them for lunch and a shop at the local large supermarket. Took that stuff back then headed off. Probably about three hours in all. So not quite drop and go but not hanging around either. Other parents are there carrying stuff too so the idea of embarrassing parents is mitigated by that.

@SuperSue77 well done to your daughter for getting through the UCAT, and hope she is not too disappointed with her score. As others have said, there are lots of strategic options. We have a week to go until dd's and it has been a nightmare with dyslexia, even with extra time, so will likely be looking at similar score, if that! She has worked really hard, which is all you can do, though I feel a bit guilty for letting her put herself through it, as I did know it would be challenging - still, we will just see what happens on the day, it will be a relief to get it over whatever happens!

Not close to home but Dundee often take lower UCATs and I hear good things about it.

But limits on RUK students - always with a punt though.

Thanks - I think her biggest worry is going back to school and everyone asking her how she has done. Luckily she isn't thinking too much about the applications yet, and knowing that Keele isn't totally out is keeping her sane. Also having it behind her now is a good feeling, and we go on holiday on Sunday, so a chance to switch off from it all and just relax (hopefully - I think I need to stay off mumsnet!).

Good luck for your DD next week. I hope it goes well for her and that she's happy with her score. But I agree the relief to have it over with is amazing!

for my DS there was a core group of 6 of them who were cheering each other on and sharing tips like which uni was holding mock interviews and things like that. I supplied some of the info from here too!

I wouldn’t worry about what people think - easier said than done I know but at the end of the day, getting in is what counts… who cares if it’s x or y.

of the 6, I think there’s Oxford, Sheffield, ucl, BSMS, QM and one other place I don’t remember!! And they all had a range of scores.

hang in there and enjoy the hols!

@SuperSue77 well done to your DD for surviving UCAT summer, it is not for the faint-hearted. And still plenty of strategic options as others have said. Scores are soon forgotten and even more so once Oct 15th comes round as next focus is who gets an interview and so on....

Thank you all for kind words and advice. @inae no plan to resit to try Exeter again, happy with AAA as should keep loads of options open to apply grades in hand and Exeter in our bad books now!

@mumsneedwine this is the plan and will absolutely be picking your brains (again)! Focus now is UCAT, a 35 day lock in, re-apply, work, hopefully get and smash interviews and travel. Assume if lucky enough to get an offer post interview would be unconditional.

Few fairly big steps first but hoping a year of growth and travel will be the making of her. And I get at least another 6 months of her at home ❤️

@Peanuts79 yes, any offer will now be unconditional. Which is nice

Lancaster may be worth a punt too

https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lms/medicine-and-surgery/admissions-data/

KMMS?

and possibly Lincoln?

did you daughter have any contextual factors?

ucat bursary?

Thanks for the suggestions. No contextual factors - she is at a non-selective state school, but it is high performing so KMMS would be risky. Lincoln might be worth looking at. I did wonder about Bangor too.

Bangor v heavily Welsh (it's taught bi lingual).

Bangor specifically rewards interview answers that demonstrate:

• Genuine interest in rural / remote / community healthcare
• Awareness of NHS Wales as distinct from NHS England
• Welsh language ability or commitment to learn (you don't need to be fluent — willingness counts)
• Understanding of healthcare challenges in geographically dispersed populations

Lincoln could be ok but UCAT is half the selection score (but you'll get 9/15 so def worth a look as have great GCSEs).

Lancaster was quite high UCAT this year (first year so no clue what will happen next year). But the only certainty is if you don't apply you won't get a place so it's always worth a try if really like somewhere. Strange things happen every year !

Thanks for the intel on Bangor - I didn’t realise that. It will be well off the table then as although DD is a quarter Welsh she is not a linguist!

Thanks @SuperSue77 - good that you are able to
put it behind you for now and look forward to your holiday. We are also squeezing in ours at very end of summer holiday, going a couple of days after ucat, though not really been focusing on it at all!
Can totally relate to the worrying about telling people how she did - dd is same, especially as she has turned down various social engagements so people are aware she's been studying for it.
Anyway, what will be will be - have a lovely holiday.

The thing to remember with UCAT is you are not being tested against average 18 year olds or even average A level students. This is a test taken only by those aspiring to apply for medicine and dentistry who will all be on track for at least As at A level. So an average score (1891) is the average of a high flying group and something to be proud of!

Dd's friend got 3 A* but is having to retake UCAT as she wanted dentistry and got in the 1800s and Band 2 - didn't get any offers for this year and absolutely no interest in Medicine as a plan B. It's just one of those things for med/dentistry students.

Sorry to hear that. Dentistry is even harder to get into than medicine as fewer places to study. There is probably still something of a tail from Covid too when pretty much the whole year group got deferred as final year students had to repeat a year to get sufficient experience. Subsequent years have had an extra year’s worth of applicants woven through them.