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MEGATHREAD - The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread MK III

No it's not, Cambridge don't have a minimum requirement for GCSE.

http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/medicine/index.php

They want A*A*A though which I don't think I'll get!

Reply 5601

LL96

Hey,

Have my heart set on Bristol University.

GCSE 5A* Bio Chem and 2IT
7A and one B (in health and social)

AS levels AABC (retaking B in chem)
predicted AAA

UKcat 605

range of work experience etc
am i a good enough applicant?

Reply 5602

LL96

Hiya,

I have 5A* 7A and a B(in health and social) A* in bio and chem

AS levels (AABC)
B in chem - retaking a module, and a C in history.

Also have a range of work experience, shadowing a doctor, a specialist pharmacist, volunteering at fundraising events for the prospect hospice and also working part time in a care home.

Am i strong applicant for medicine? looking at bristol, cardiff, nottingham.

Reply 5603

username1155040

5

for my gcses i got:
english lang and lit: AA
maths A*
triples science: A*A*A*
geography: A*
ict: A
spanish: A
citizenship: A
RE: A

so i got 5A* 6A's but I'm not sure this is good enough as some get 7A*+. Do I stand a chance at any universities with my GCSE's?

any response is appreciated

thanks

Reply 5604

Jack Sto

Do you think I would be able to apply for Imperial with a B at Chemistry AS level? I'm also considering taking a gap year and working in an opticians for a year as an optical assistant and then applying for 2016 entry with a bit more experience... And having already achieved my A levels! :smile:

Reply 5605

em.d_4

17

Original post by Jack Sto

They want A*A*A though which I don't think I'll get!

Broaden the options and you stand a great chance but if you go for Oxbridge you're going to really struggle with your academic records.

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Reply 5606

username702475

2

Hi guys sat my UKCAT yesterday and got a low score (623 average)
GCSE's: 8a*s 3a's
AS: AAAA
A2 predictions: A*A*A*

The Uni's I'm considering are: St Andrews, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Liverpool, possibly Glasgow, Leicester, HYMS.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Reply 5607

Jack Sto

Original post by em.d_4

Broaden the options and you stand a great chance but if you go for Oxbridge you're going to really struggle with your academic records.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Yeah okay, I might take a gap year as already said and get a bit more experience anyway! Thanks for the help btw! :smile:

Reply 5608

lilixxx1000

16

Original post by Barney098

Hi guys sat my UKCAT yesterday and got a low score (623 average)
GCSE's: 8a*s 3a's
AS: AAAA
A2 predictions: A*A*A*

The Uni's I'm considering are: St Andrews, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Liverpool, possibly Glasgow, Leicester, HYMS.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I wouldnt consider St Andrews or Edinburgh with your UKCAT score. I don't know about the other ones sorry. How about Bristol and Birmingham? Neither look at UKCAT and you have very good GCSEs which they will like. Otherwise BMAT unis - Oxbridge, UCL, Imperial, BSMS etc.?

Reply 5609

ja1

11

I would really appreciate some advice and tips on the best unis to maximise my chances of getting in.

AS: 4As
UKCAT: 760
GCSE: 5A*3AB (but no A* English Language).

I have a few queries about which 4 unis to go for. a) One of them is that I would really like to apply for Liverpool, as I just think I'd like it there, and it's close yet far from home (I'm from North Manchester). However with their lack of emphasis on UKCAT, would I be better leaving it out and going for other unis?

b) Newcastle vs Birmingham. I'm stuck between these two as they're both so competitive I can only afford one. Again I really like the sound of both, and I think both unis would suit me. However of course they Birmingham don't care about UKCAT and they're one of the few that want A* at A2, which is achievable but extra hard work. They also prioritise A* at English Lang GCSE but I wonder of this is heavy prioritisation? Will it be offset by my AS grades? With Newcastle they like UKCAT but their cut off point has risen consistently each year for the past 5-6 years. I'm terrified that they'll want even higher UKCAT scores this year (and if they increase by the amount they've increased in previous years 760 won't be enough).

c) Leicester. Using their new points system I get 63/68. In their previous scoring system apparently 57/60 I.e. 95% guaranteed you an interview. In this new system 64.6/68 is 95%. With this one to get full marks though you need 850 avg UKCAT and I wonder if how many, if any at all, will actually get that. How confident should I be of getting an interview at Leicester?

d) Manchester. Is it true they rank pretty much solely on UkCAT? I'm wary of UKCAT scores rising each year and really wonder if mine is good enough to just 'rely' on it by applying to unis who are known to prioritise UKCAT

Other unis I am considering:
Nottingham (again I think I'd like it there, but prioritise 6A* GCSE?)
Edinburgh (no interview but I'm hearing scary stories about how hard it is to get in)
Keele (fulfil all their academic requirements but they have a more holistic approach to selecting who they want for interview. I think this part of my application is strong enough but the fact UKCAT score is a tangible number I can see and compare makes me more comfortable using it as a measure when choosing which uni to apply).
Apologies for long post but would really appreciate any advice!

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(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 5610

LennieSmall

3

Hi!!! I just got my GCSE results and I think it was ok considering I came in england to study last year. I had to self study Chemistry, physics, r.e, food, resistant materials, and units 2&3 of maths. I got a bit of help from my school's staff and I thinked it help me a bit.

These were what I got, I got a BB in double science a B in maths a B in food and resistant materials a B in english language a C in english literature and r.e. I am hoping to study medicine someday however I am curious if my gcse grades would be my fall down because they were too low. Could someone help me or give suggestions on what to do now? I am starting my A-levels this monday september 1 I am doing biology, chemistry, psychology, maths and classical civilization. I might drop maths or classical civ but I am yet to decide on which one to drop.

I really need some advice because I really want to do medicine. My dad's a surgeon and he is my inspiration on wanting to do medicine.

Reply 5611

username702475

2

Original post by lilixxx1000

I wouldnt consider St Andrews or Edinburgh with your UKCAT score. I don't know about the other ones sorry. How about Bristol and Birmingham? Neither look at UKCAT and you have very good GCSEs which they will like. Otherwise BMAT unis - Oxbridge, UCL, Imperial, BSMS etc.?

Thanks so much for your reply. Not either? - I think Edinburgh use it as 8% of total application and I know St Andrews use a cut off but it's been around 2400-2500 so I 'should' be ok. Do you think it is still too risky to apply to these? I think Bristol will be one of my options because I'm leaning more towards lecture based. I'm still considering BMAT but as the exam is after the application I don't know whether to risk it. Any more advice?

Reply 5612

Asklepios

19

Original post by Barney098

Thanks so much for your reply. Not either? - I think Edinburgh use it as 8% of total application and I know St Andrews use a cut off but it's been around 2400-2500 so I 'should' be ok. Do you think it is still too risky to apply to these? I think Bristol will be one of my options because I'm leaning more towards lecture based. I'm still considering BMAT but as the exam is after the application I don't know whether to risk it. Any more advice?

8% was for 2013 entry and before, 2014 entry was 20% UKCAT score and 15% SJT band - I expect it to be similar again this year!

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Reply 5613

lilixxx1000

16

Original post by Barney098

Thanks so much for your reply. Not either? - I think Edinburgh use it as 8% of total application and I know St Andrews use a cut off but it's been around 2400-2500 so I 'should' be ok. Do you think it is still too risky to apply to these? I think Bristol will be one of my options because I'm leaning more towards lecture based. I'm still considering BMAT but as the exam is after the application I don't know whether to risk it. Any more advice?

The UKCAT is now 20% for Edinburgh, and the SJT counts separately in the extra-curricular section which is worth 30%.
St Andrews I'm not sure about but I think they do put quite a bit of emphasis on it. Maybe you should contact them?
Definitely go for Bristol and maybe one BMAT uni that way the stakes aren't too high if it doesn't go well

Reply 5614

lamyers1

Original post by LennieSmall

Hi!!! I just got my GCSE results and I think it was ok considering I came in england to study last year. I had to self study Chemistry, physics, r.e, food, resistant materials, and units 2&3 of maths. I got a bit of help from my school's staff and I thinked it help me a bit.

These were what I got, I got a BB in double science a B in maths a B in food and resistant materials a B in english language a C in english literature and r.e. I am hoping to study medicine someday however I am curious if my gcse grades would be my fall down because they were too low. Could someone help me or give suggestions on what to do now? I am starting my A-levels this monday september 1 I am doing biology, chemistry, psychology, maths and classical civilization. I might drop maths or classical civ but I am yet to decide on which one to drop.

I really need some advice because I really want to do medicine. My dad's a surgeon and he is my inspiration on wanting to do medicine.

I would expect that you will get mitigating circumstances for your GCSEs seeing as you had to teach yourself and came to England so close, but it'd be worth emailing unis to check.

Why are you taking 5 AS and 4 A levels? Surely it'd be better to do the normal number as most unis don't look at extra grades, and give yourself more time to make sure you can get at least the AAA required?

Reply 5615

LennieSmall

3

Original post by lamyers1

I would expect that you will get mitigating circumstances for your GCSEs seeing as you had to teach yourself and came to England so close, but it'd be worth emailing unis to check.

Why are you taking 5 AS and 4 A levels? Surely it'd be better to do the normal number as most unis don't look at extra grades, and give yourself more time to make sure you can get at least the AAA required?

I am going to do only 4 and I might drop either maths or classical civ in the 2nd week so I'll be doing only 4 is that a good move?

Reply 5616

lamyers1

Original post by LennieSmall

I am going to do only 4 and I might drop either maths or classical civ in the 2nd week so I'll be doing only 4 is that a good move?

Yes, just because you can then focus more of your attention getting the best you can in those 4, otherwise you're diluting your time and will therefore potentially do less well.

Reply 5617

TheRedMedic

2

Hey,
I got 6A*s (Science, Additional Science, Maths, Stats, History and ICT) and 5As (English Language, English Literature, French, Welsh 1st Language (I'm fluent) and Welsh Literature) at GCSE, and a Merit in Additional Maths.

I had 4As in my AS Levels (Biology, Chemistry, Maths and History) and am planning to drop History for my second year of sixth form. I've got the UKCAT tomorrow, and I've prepared quite a bit averaging 2500-2600 in the mocks.

I was feeling pretty confident until earlier looking through all of the people who applied for Cardiff on the stalking 2014 applicants page and saw they all had like 3A*s predicted and got rejected!?! In order of favourite first, I was going to apply for: Cardiff; Bristol; Manchester and Birmingham.

I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance! Thanks!

P.S. Is Manchester looking for high UKCAT scores? I looked earlier at the website but am a bit confused if I'm honest!

Reply 5618

LennieSmall

3

Original post by lamyers1

Yes, just because you can then focus more of your attention getting the best you can in those 4, otherwise you're diluting your time and will therefore potentially do less well.

Original post by lamyers1

Yes, just because you can then focus more of your attention getting the best you can in those 4, otherwise you're diluting your time and will therefore potentially do less well.

Thank you very much!

Reply 5619

Agger2k12

4 a*2a3b at gcse (maths bio chem and computing were a*)
AAA predicted (school doesn't cash in AS results apart from the one we drop which was an A in geography)
750 UKCAT
do I stand a chance?