Medicine 2026 part 4

[mumsneedwine]

Hi. Me again.

Thanks

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/5483650-medicine-2026-part-3?page=40&reply=154249781

Thanks for the new thread.

Daughter has been for more vaccinations today at the uni. More to come in 4 weeks apparently.

Thanks & following!

What vaccinations @Tsuipen ?

Idek why I'm here because am a med student not a mom lol

But anyone has questions feel free to ask and well done to everyone who got accepted to med school this year

@PurryGrowls My DD is in a similar boat; she met the conditions of her Sheffield offer. She is 2 marks short of an A star in Chemistry and 4 marks off an A star in Maths. She said she didn't want to go for a re-mark, but I'm now thinking it might be worth it in Chemistry. My only reason is, as unlikely as it is, what if she discovers she doesn't like medicine and wants to apply for a different degree?😅An A star might open the door to more competitive courses.

There's nothing to lose, right? She took four A-levels and achieved AAAA (bio, chem, physics, maths). So, even if her Chemistry grade drops, which is extremely unlikely since she is so close to the upper grade boundary, she would still meet Sheffield's offer conditions with her other three As.

Can you contact her teachers, request a copy of her papers which is free | think and the teacher has the mark scheme so can check it

If they will not help you can buy the mark scheme from someone online (probably not allowed though)

Cheaper to do this than commit the money to remark without having seen the paper but of course check deadlines as it may be too late to spend time doing this

@inae do Sheffield want an A in Chemistry ? Ask teachers to review papers first, it's free. I did all ours that were near a grade boundary and found a few with what I thought were marking errors (they are not remarks but admin checks). Most back with amended grades. But lots I couldn't find anything worth the money.

She had blood tests and a Hepatitis vaccine about 4 weeks ago, then they called her in this week for the Hepatitis booster and a tetanus/polio/other things booster.

I wonder if they’re getting her in and vaccinated now as we live in Sheffield so they can get her started before students from other areas start arriving.

I have before never heard students getting vaccines and blood tests before starting, let alone before an offer is confirmed. It does seem very early. Apart from Men B this year - though that is a general student vaccine not occupational health ones.

@mumsneedwine Sheffield wants "AAA, with an A in either Chem or Bio, plus a second science", so DD meets the offer even without Chem, as she sat all three sciences and Maths exams in year 13 and all are A grades.

Yes, teachers now have access to papers, so she can ask her Chem teacher to take a look see if it's worth it. There is no real rush, as we don't need a priority remark.

@Tsuipen it's because you live in Sheffield. My DD was told she can can do it either before the course starts, or right after it starts, but we aren't local. Is your DD planning to live at home?

@inae Wow, your daughter did well to get 4 As!
Yes, this was the kind of stuff I was thinking about regarding a re-mark… You never know what’s down the line and it’s true an A-star might open doors in terms of applying to another course (though I really hope it never comes to that 😅)
I can imagine gaining a mark in one paper and losing a mark in another would be really annoying though so hopefully we can identify the best paper to re-mark rather than doing all three…

@inae She is going to live at home at least initially as she says it makes sense financially. She didn’t choose to apply to Sheffield because it was her home uni but because she liked the course and it made sense tactically with her ucat and GCSEs. In the end, it’s the only place she got an offer from post interview.

That's what happened to my son's re-mark for Chem I think for GCSEs. One paper went up, and the other paper went down - and the grade remained the same!

Morning everyone,

I've not visited the thread for a while, as most of us haven't by the looks of it 😂.

Just checking in to see how we all are? and our YP.

DD was on a high after results and has been very excited about moving to uni. We have done most of the shopping and even took a trip up to Newcastle to have a look around before all the students arrive. Moving in date is Fri 18th so not long now.

Following the excitement though DD has started to go the other way and although she is working her last few shifts is feeling a bit deflated and not making much effort to do anything else. I am not sure if this is just boredom, lack of routine, fear of change coming or just normal. It feels like a strange limbo time but hoping once she gets nearer moving her excitement will return.

How is everyone else doing?

Ps I am also refusing to acknowledge that my nest will be empty very soon. As I had my DD1 when I was young and have a huge age gap between DD1 and DD2, this will be the first time I have not had a dependent child at home for 33 years 😢.

I think it is pretty normal to be apprehensive about the big change. You won’t necessarily find her excitement returning the way it was earlier. Reality is now hitting. I would aim more for reassuring her at the moment and perhaps plan a visit about four weeks into term.

Perhaps also a couple of nice activities over the next two weeks. Take her out for afternoon tea or a local walk, or nice meal
out.

That’s my DS safely delivered to St Andrews earlier today. We helped set up new monitor and bedding and then went to the supermarket for food.

We’re now back home, and I just said to my DH that it feels weird not knowing when he’ll be back.
He is an only so it’s me and DH and the dog!

I have twins. DS is off to Uni next Saturday and DD off to Newcastle for med the following Saturday. I have no idea how I’m gonna feel to be honest. It’s also gonna be weird for them being so far apart. Big changes all round.
They are both super excited about it all though.

My DS was very excited too, I knew I needed to keep my feelings in check.me this evening.

Hello everyone!! I’ve missed you all.

We are shipping out this coming Saturday ! (Are we the first ‘English uni’ ones..?). Certainly from talking to DS it sounds we are the first. I’m definitely not feeling ready although I don’t think my house can take anymore boxes and suitcases. He’s my first born. Other than maybe a week’s camp somewhere with school, or when I travel
away for work (2 weeks max) I’ve not been apart from him. It’s going to feel so weird that he’ll be elsewhere doing things in places I’m not familiar with.

probably sounds very precious but things like when he says now I’m going to the supermarket I know where that is even in a nearby town. But now I have no idea where that is and what sort of commute that means.

he seems very chilled. Last night they had some sort of last gathering with some of his buddies. I’m hoping to maybe get stuck in in tidying his room, decluttering and cleaning when he’s gone. I’m also changing jobs so I’ve got that I guess to distract me slightly and some leave to take before I start.

This is a good reason for spending a few hours/night in the uni town after dropping them off even though they are no longer with you - so you have a general picture of where they are. I’ve always taken mine for a big shop before I leave, so you can get to know their supermarket too!

Also, it can be good for both of you to arrange a visit about four/five weeks into term. At this point the initial excitement has faded and whilst friendships are forming they are still very early days. There can be quite a dip in energy around then so seeing familiar faces for a few hours, and have someone foot the bill for a meal, is generally a very welcome respite for them. And lovely for parents too! It also gives a chance to get a better idea of how they are (though as I mentioned, it is very common to have a drop in energy at this point).

@MyGreyBiscuit next weekend is probably one of the first non Scottish starts I think. I know what you mean about the bedroom filled with stuff!

After a weekend with me taking DD to the cinema, out for dinner and today to get the last uni bits she is once again upbeat about going. I have organised a family get together next weekend so she can say goodbye for now to everyone.

I agree with @Sachetaandb and have told DD to try and not come home for the first 4 weeks and we can come up and see her (only 2 hours away so doable in a day). When my DD1 went (many years ago) she was very independent and even she had a homesick wobble around Nov/Dec so I am expecting DD2 to be worse at times. Facetiming will come in very handy too.

@Itstheyearitstarts glad your DS is settled in and hope you get used to your new way of things quickly, this will be my and my DH soon.

@Curlyshabtree gosh, having to do it twice is hard! Do you have other YP or will it be an empty nest at home?

Thanks! That’s what I was thinking but it’s London he’s moving to. And it’s actually an hour away from us so…I’m probably freaking out more than I should. He went for a recce recently and came home declaring that the Aldi near him was the poshest one he’d been to and the awesome croissant for 69p was super gourmet and fresh. So… I guess there’s that. Also, that he found a place selling £2 briyani. I guess that’s super affordable?! I want to eat that too if it’s good!

we don’t have family near by so it’s just us. He saw his grandparents in July. My parents are not around anymore. I’ve just put in all the term dates in my calendar and seeing when he’ll be back. It’s his sister’s milestone birthday 2 weeks after he leaves but he said he won’t be back because they have the culmination of his orientation. Maybe we can go up the following week then. 😅

No more YP, complete empty nest (and hope to get rid of “D”H but that’s another story!!)