[Vulpes]

(Original post by GrahamRianna)
Not sure if I created this in the right section..
I could do with some advice with what extra I can do to get into medicine at university!
I am currently in year 12, retaking Maths, Biology, Chemistry at GCSE as I didn't put any effort in it at school and got B's. I moved schools late in year 10 and had next to no options of GCSE's to take - so I ended up taking Drama, Dance, P.E BTEC and Art along with Core science, Additional science, Maths & English Lit&Lang. All of the choices I had are all completely useless to me. I got 8B's & a C in GCSE (I had no idea what I intended to do in higher education). I've been interested in medicine for a good 3 years now but only just grown up in the past few months and realised the extent of my interest - there is nothing else I want to do but something medicine related.

I hope to get A/A*s in my retakes - but again I have only just realised how much effort I need to put into my work. I've applied for Maths, Biology, Chemistry & Psychology ALevels which I'll be starting in September (Suitable subjects?). I'm currently volunteering in a hospital every Monday I started in AMU then moved in the pathology labs which I pushed as I'm more interested in forensic pathology, histology etc, and also because they didn't need me. I'm helping out in Coagulation at the moment.

After reading the medicine forums I feel completely lost because everyone has got straight A/A*s.. So if anyone has any advice for me I'd be very grateful!!

Academic merit is important to get into medicine but that isn't the only factor. If you take a look at this thread, you will see that many people applying for medicine do not have straight As / A*s.

If possible, you should try shadowing GPs and doctors around the hospital as part of your work experience. Your subject choices for A Levels are fine. Although you may have to avoid several medical schools when applying as some of them place a significant weighting on GCSEs (Oxford, Birmingham).

[GrahamRianna]

There is just so much to research University wise, I don't even know where to start let alone find their entry requirements

I'll give shadowing doctor's a go for definite. Also I was thinking of going to do MedForce abroad for a few months... Has anyone done any overseas work experience?

[oyyoyy]

im taking maths, further maths, biology, chemistry, and then epq if i get it, or critical thinking if i dont. i already emailed universities such as imperial and cambridge about maths and f maths, and i got replies saying that the two will be counted as separate subjects for as and a2. so, do you think they are good a levels to take for medicine?

[Jam']

I do all of those (maths, f.maths, chem, bio) and they're all great for medicine. Physics is generally considered better than f.maths and a lot of medical courses won't consider f.maths as a separate A Level - but as the two unis your interested in have replied contrary to this, those combinations are clearly perfectly suitable.

[Someone123123]

(Original post by oyyoyy)
im taking maths, further maths, biology, chemistry, and then epq if i get it, or critical thinking if i dont. i already emailed universities such as imperial and cambridge about maths and f maths, and i got replies saying that the two will be counted as separate subjects for as and a2. so, do you think they are good a levels to take for medicine?

And if you don't get accepted there?

Be really careful as some medical schools do not count them as separate subjects. Isn't it better to widen your options?

(Original post by pop101)
Yes. FM sets you apart from the many that take Maths, Bio and Chem.

Sorry but it doesn't "set you apart".

(Original post by Jam')
I do all of those (maths, f.maths, chem, bio) and they're all great for medicine. Physics is generally considered better than f.maths and a lot of medical courses won't consider f.maths as a separate A Level - but as the two unis your interested in have replied contrary to this, those combinations are clearly perfectly suitable.

Physics isn't "considered better" unless obviously if the medical school doesn't count FM and maths as separate subjects, as you said.


Generally OP, Bio+Chem+any other 2, excluding general studies and some other subjects. My personal advice is don't go for further maths so you widen your options to include those medical schools that don't count maths and FM as separate subjects. But ofcourse, it's up to you.

[salsharifi]

Ok so here is my question:

I want to apply to Oxbridge, but which one? From what I can gather, Oxford look at GCSE results and BMAT closely, and favour people with ~100% A*s. They don't care about UMS at AS level. Cambridge look closely at UMS at AS level on the other hand, and BMAT too.

Now, I have 12.5 A*s and 1 A, and at AS my UMS (from my January modules) are 98, 96, 94, and 92 (all out of 100). Maybe it's worth adding I've been to Oxford and Cambridge and I personally preferred Oxford uni. I don't really know why haha.

So which uni would favour my results more: Oxford or Cambridge??

[salsharifi]

Aaaaaaanyone???

[medicinemm]

(Original post by salsharifi)
Ok so here is my question:

I want to apply to Oxbridge, but which one? From what I can gather, Oxford look at GCSE results and BMAT closely, and favour people with ~100% A*s. They don't care about UMS at AS level. Cambridge look closely at UMS at AS level on the other hand, and BMAT too.

Now, I have 12.5 A*s and 1 A, and at AS my UMS (from my January modules) are 98, 96, 94, and 92 (all out of 100). Maybe it's worth adding I've been to Oxford and Cambridge and I personally preferred Oxford uni. I don't really know why haha.

So which uni would favour my results more: Oxford or Cambridge??

If you preferred Oxford, then apply there. Your GCSE's are great for Oxford, and your UMS are fine for Cambridge too - you're in a pretty great situation. Just pick the one you prefer and concentrate on continuing to build up work experience, putting together a great PS and doing well in the BMAT. There are too many other variables other than GCSE and AS results to possibly be able to determine which you would stand a better chance of getting in to.

[carcinoma]

(Original post by salsharifi)
Aaaaaaanyone???

(Original post by medicinemm)
If you preferred Oxford, then apply there. Your GCSE's are great for Oxford, and your UMS are fine for Cambridge too - you're in a pretty great situation. Just pick the one you prefer and concentrate on continuing to build up work experience, putting together a great PS and doing well in the BMAT. There are too many other variables other than GCSE and AS results to possibly be able to determine which you would stand a better chance of getting in to.

This^

Then choose medical schools on important attributes such as course structure and location.

[lsaul95]

(Original post by GrahamRianna)
-

You don't need straight A's/A*'s at GCSE as mentioned above.
My GCSE's are similar to yours and I'm still going for it

Your a-level options are fine, keep up the volunteer work, try and get some work experience shadowing a doctor/surgeon.

Check these out dude -

Where To Study Medicine
GCSE Requirements Medical School
A-Level Requirements Medical School


Any more questions feel free to ask.

[eenu]

can anybody please guide me with the entry requirements for medicine?

[Steerforth]

can anybody please guide me with the entry requirements for medicine?

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medicine

Get reading.

[britash]

Just wondering what month the usual Interviews take place,

After 5 months of searching, today I *finally* got some work experience dates... for February 2013...

It's going to be brilliant work experience over 10 different departments and shadowing many many doctors, but I'm extrememly worried that its going to be pointless, especially if I can't talk about it in my interview..

So.. when exactly are the majority of people called up for interview? x

[myyrh]

(Original post by britash)
Just wondering what month the usual Interviews take place,

After 5 months of searching, today I *finally* got some work experience dates... for February 2013...

It's going to be brilliant work experience over 10 different departments and shadowing many many doctors, but I'm extrememly worried that its going to be pointless, especially if I can't talk about it in my interview..

So.. when exactly are the majority of people called up for interview? x

It varies too much to say when majority are interviewed. Also different medical schools interview at different times.

[laurenl93]

Depends on your medical school and if they do it continuously/ in batches

I mean, I was interviewed by Liverpool literally early early start of November and then heard from two other unis and had been interviews by all three by mid December whereas the year before the first time I was interviewed was about jan or feb and then right end of march

oh but I was interviewed by Lancaster This year and they were only interviewing before December

So it's really subjective really on which med school and chance

[MJK91]

Does anyone know when Warwick interview?
EDIT: & Selection Centre, obviously

[myyrh]

(Original post by MattKneale)
Does anyone know when Warwick interview?
EDIT: & Selection Centre, obviously

For 2013 entry, the dates for attendance at WMS Selection Centre will be Monday 11 - Thursday 14 February 2013.

[MJK91]

(Original post by myyrh)
For 2013 entry, the dates for attendance at WMS Selection Centre will be Monday 11 - Thursday 14 February 2013.

Thank you!

[britash]

So I'm pretty much screwed then?

I'm doing a lot over the summer though.
Care home, Nursery, Helping on wards and *possibly* getting a GP placement for a week, although I'm struggling with this as well.

I'm really concerned that I'm not going to have enough/ANY work experience and that my personal statement will be thrown out because of it

[myyrh]

(Original post by britash)
So I'm pretty much screwed then?

I'm doing a lot over the summer though.
Care home, Nursery, Helping on wards and *possibly* getting a GP placement for a week, although I'm struggling with this as well.

I'm really concerned that I'm not going to have enough/ANY work experience and that my personal statement will be thrown out because of it

Well what you've stated could be sufficient for your personal statement. You can also write in that you have planned X amount of weeks at a placement and what you hope to gain from it. It's not the personal statement that will be the main issue though, work experience is an opportunity for you to gain more of an insight into the career and that's what they'll be more interested in asking you about at the Interview.