Graduate Entry Medicine 2017

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Just booked my travel and hotel to come down to the Warwick open day on 6th July, anyone else here going?

Wanted to book for the 6th of July but unfortunately it was fully booked so I've had to settle for the 8th September :frown:

Let me know how it goes :smile:

Reply 741

WannabeDrA

Hi all, I thought I'd join in! Im currently an undergraduate biology student, graduating in 2017 and applying for GEM 2017 entry. I'm hoping to apply to Warwick, Newcastle, and Kings/Barts/Southampton. Just to clarify, with the UKCAT this year what we get in decision making doesn't matter? Our average will be based on our marks in AR, QR and VR, and these are the only 3 sections that universities will look at? Thanks :smile:

Reply 742

Marathi

Original post by WannabeDrA

Just to clarify, with the UKCAT this year what we get in decision making doesn't matter? Our average will be based on our marks in AR, QR and VR, and these are the only 3 sections that universities will look at? Thanks :smile:

Yes but it's still worth taking seriously as it will affect future tests.

Reply 743

banker22

Original post by koolkat95

Wanted to book for the 6th of July but unfortunately it was fully booked so I've had to settle for the 8th September :frown:

Let me know how it goes :smile:

Did you guys receive a confirmation email after signing up for the open day? I didnt receive anything and am worried i messed it up!

Reply 744

koolkat95

Original post by banker22

Did you guys receive a confirmation email after signing up for the open day? I didnt receive anything and am worried i messed it up!

Yeah I received an email. I think there was a little thing at the end asking if you wanted to be emailed your registration. You had to tick it if you did

Reply 745

paniking_and_not_revising

Original post by koolkat95

Wanted to book for the 6th of July but unfortunately it was fully booked so I've had to settle for the 8th September :frown:

Let me know how it goes :smile:

I was on the waiting list and got a place but I can't go so I hope they passed it to you.

I'm gonna have to go on the 8th September and it's going to be my birthday so I'll probably be in a really horrid mood.

Reply 746

DanaUS

Last year I applied and got an interview from Cambridge graduate medicine. In the international equivalent of A levels, I did not achieve stellar grades in the sciences. I have a strong CV due to my graduate and post-graduate work. However my PhD and Master were in the Humanities. My advise is to attend their open days and visit the relevant colleges offering Gem courses. They are incredibly helpful at those opening days. It is a very welcoming and motivating atmosphere. Assess also your strenght on previous research work relevant to medicine, whether qualitative or quantitative. If it is your dream to study in Cambridge give it a go

Original post by CharlieJay1903

I was thinking the exact same today actually, I also read the bit on their website about not placing too much weight on Alevels.... I'm just thinking though it would probably be similar to Cambridge in that Cambridge officially say they only require A in Alevel chemistry" BUT then go on to say "most competitive applicants have three a levels"..... I had my heart set on Cambridge for a long time until they seemed to increase the requirements unofficially with the last bit. Meet every other single requirement...bugger!!

Reply 747

ejoakham

Hi everyone
Joining this super super late!
Wanted to do medicine for a long time but didn't get the A Levels. Have just finished a BSc Biomed (Physiology) degree at Cardiff with an average 2:1. Prior to uni I volunteered at a local hospice and spent two weeks volunteering in Ghana building a primary school but since uni, aside from a summer placement in a life science commercialisation company and being vice president/treasurer of the bioscience committee I don't have any work experience. Planning to try and get back into the hopsice or one of the care homes near me alongside my job butttttt given how close the ucas deadline is, I'm not sure whether to do gamsat/ukcat this year and apply this year or just put it off for a year with a view to getting more work experience... Anyone got any advice? Be really interested to hear what other people in a similar mindset to me think! Currently thinking about Swansea, Southampton & SGUL.
Thanks guys

Reply 748

WannabeDrA

Original post by ejoakham

Hi! I think trying to squeeze in the ukcat, GAMSAT and work experience in before the UCAS deadline will be a struggle. Work experience can take a while to sort out. You may be best leaving it till next year to apply and take the year to work on entrance exams and getting some work experience :smile:

. Or I'm not sure if there are uni's that aren't too focused on work experience but if there are then you could do the ukcat and apply this year and just try to get some experience in before interviews. Just my thoughts anyway.

Reply 749

Marathi

Original post by ejoakham

Hi everyone
Joining this super super late!

The exam scores are usually the main criteria for invitation to interview. You can use the time between exam and interview to gain more experience. Some GEM programmes don't interview until the New Year so this is plenty of time to gain extra experience.

Reply 750

koolkat95

Original post by ejoakham

Hi everyone
Joining this super super late!

Hey!
Honestly, I say go for it. You've got nothing to lose. I just finished my 3rd year of uni and got a 2:1 as well. I've decided to only just do the UKCAT as I can't afford to do both the GAMSAT and UKCAT. As for work experience, I worked as a HCA in my last year of uni so I have a little bit of that but I recently got offered a job as a HCA at a hospital so I'm hoping I'll have sufficient experience from when I start to when interviews come round. I'm hoping to apply to Warwick, Newcastle and Kings, possibly Southampton or Barts but we'll see

Reply 751

Medici103

Driving up to Warwick tomorrow ready for Wednesday. More than a little excited!

Reply 752

Marathi

I'm going to drive on the day (~2hrs each way), think I am going to regret it, but can't afford to stay over at the moment as just got back from holiday! Looking forward to it :smile:

Reply 753

taywh

Is anyone here doing the GAMSAT and UKCAT at the same time?I am and I have my UKCAT booked for the 15th August, but I am thinking of rescheduling it to a week after the GAMSAT (LATE SEPTEMBER!!) to give me a full week to practice and focus on it incase my GAMSAT goes terribly wrong.What do you guys think? Before or after GAMSAT??

Reply 754

Medici103

Original post by Marathi

I'm going to drive on the day (~2hrs each way), think I am going to regret it, but can't afford to stay over at the moment as just got back from holiday! Looking forward to it :smile:

I remember driving to Cambridge and back the same day and it was awful but I think that's a longer journey so I'm sure you'll be fine!

Reply 755

Medici103

Original post by taywh

Yes, I'm doing GAMSAT and UKCAT (whilst also trying to finish my MSc dissertation 😕). My UKCAT is booked for the 27th of this month and, whilst I thought about changing it, I'm going to leave it there. How I do in the UKCAT will inform where I apply and I'd rather have time to figure out my options rather than make a rushed decision.

Reply 756

temi1234

Im more nervous that this thread has so much replies & pages already.

Reply 757

map1989

Hi all,

I'm applying for GEM this year (2017 entry), and sitting the UKCAT in August. I've been volunteering at a large London teaching hospital for the past 5 months, serving meals, interacting with patients, and working with other healthcare professionals. Through this I've been on both medical, and surgical wards and had some really great experiences. I should also reach the minimum 70hrs in a "caring environment" before the UCAS deadline :smile:

. I'm also volunteering with a charity, tutoring inner London school children STEM subjects with the aim of improving their grades, and getting them into Russel group universities. This is pretty much all I can commit to at the moment, as I'm working full time (in order to save money to study GEM!).

In the past (but not within the last 2 years) I have gained work experience in the radiology department of my local hospital, where I was able to shadow radiologists, work in A&E, see X-rays, barium enemas, CT scans, and MRIs etc. I have also worked in the cancer therapeutic division of the institute of cancer research, where I got to work with oncologists, and been a volunteer with St Johns Ambulance.

I'm a bit concerned that i'm lacking a shadowing experience within the last 2 years. I've read a lot of people say that it's "not what you do, but what you learn" I think I have a some interesting experiences, but am a bit concerned some of them will be discounted or not considered. Should I be re-doubling my efforts to get another shadowing placement? perhaps within primary care?

Thanks

Reply 758

Marathi

Original post by map1989

It sounds to me like you have more than enough experience and plenty to reflect on. Whilst shadowing is definitely more interesting and relatable it isn't essential. Shadowing's greatest strengths lie in reassuring your decision to commit to this career as many doctors don't hold back on their opinions and you will get very mixed messages about a career as a doctor. However, as for 'hands on experience' I think you will be fine.