Birmingham Medical School Applicants 2012

Original post by nahim9393

erm...i was just wondering what birmingham looks for in a PS since they dont take UKCAT? (only managed 645 in it so was considering birmingham)

since I'm asking, i may as well carry on... what are the chances I'd get an interview with

7A* 6A at GCSE
A*AABB at A2 (A* in maths, A's in chem and human bio)
PS mostly about w/e + voluntary work and what i learnt about the role of a doctor and EC's like charitable stuff, doing an extended project, playing football, working during gap year as a customer assistant.

cheeeeeeeeers in advance!

Original post by spoinkytheduck

Just wondering if not taking EPQ would give any (even slight!) disadvantage here??

Why would it? I did mine on something horrifically dreary like 'Medicine in 19th Century Imperial British Military Campaigns'... Surely any extra work on your part looks good...

Unless you took it instead of a fourth A-level, which wouldn't be ideal.

Not sure I'd risk it with 7A*s... We.. they... the admissions tutors are rather harsh with GCSEs; they cut off everyone below a certain number of A*s that is usually around 7-9, and it's hard to tell where it'll fall each year.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 122

Son1994

Hey guys, I'm currently in the process of applying to med school, but my predicted grades are A*AB (B in biology, A in chemistry)

For GCSEs I got 11A*s and 2As

Just wanted to know whether it was worth applying for Birmingham as I absolutely loved it there on the open day

Reply 123

areyousure?

13

Original post by Son1994

Hey guys, I'm currently in the process of applying to med school, but my predicted grades are A*AB (B in biology, A in chemistry)

For GCSEs I got 11A*s and 2As

Just wanted to know whether it was worth applying for Birmingham as I absolutely loved it there on the open day

I have no idea about this year, but for 2011 entry they said that in order to be invited to interview you had to:

1. Have more than 7A*s at GCSE
2. Be predicted AAA

And that didn't guarantee an interview.

I think that with your A*AB prediction they could easily reject as they are looking at AAA/A*AA this year.

However, if you really want to do go there then go for it.

Reply 124

Original post by Son1994

Hey guys, I'm currently in the process of applying to med school, but my predicted grades are A*AB (B in biology, A in chemistry)

For GCSEs I got 11A*s and 2As

Just wanted to know whether it was worth applying for Birmingham as I absolutely loved it there on the open day

You're in a great position with the GCSEs; with those you should be well above the cut-off, and then it's down to your A-level predictions, reference, personal statement, work experience et cetera. So long as you 'wow' them in the traditional way - show them you're brainy in your application and show them you are well rounded and cultured in the interview - then you have a very strong application, no worrying about UKCAT/BMAT or the GCSEs.

Go for it.

Reply 125

Son1994

Original post by Friar Chris

You're in a great position with the GCSEs; with those you should be well above the cut-off, and then it's down to your A-level predictions, reference, personal statement, work experience et cetera. So long as you 'wow' them in the traditional way - show them you're brainy in your application and show them you are well rounded and cultured in the interview - then you have a very strong application, no worrying about UKCAT/BMAT or the GCSEs.

Go for it.

Thank you so much, I think I'm definitely going to put it down as a choice. My predicted grades aren't that great due to the B in biology, however I'm prepared to work this year and hopefully get my As and reapply next year. I'm so determined to get into med school coz I really can't see myself doing anything else!

Reply 126

Original post by Son1994

Thank you so much, I think I'm definitely going to put it down as a choice. My predicted grades aren't that great due to the B in biology, however I'm prepared to work this year and hopefully get my As and reapply next year. I'm so determined to get into med school coz I really can't see myself doing anything else!

I suggest you go basically demand that your teacher gives you a predicted A in biology, and make it known just how much you need it. And then go get that A or A*. If you can't see yourself doing anything else, then you'll probably be successful!

Reply 127

Original post by Friar Chris

I suggest you go basically demand that your teacher gives you a predicted A in biology, and make it known just how much you need it. And then go get that A or A*. If you can't see yourself doing anything else, then you'll probably be successful!

Do they count short courses as 1/2 GCSEs or as a whole... cause I have 12 A*s but 3 are short making it 10.5A*... I'm sure it's the latter they count right?
So with those gcses, AAAAA at AS (though got a B in a maths, chem, history module :/) - will resit the chem module... dropped history... and maths + bio were v. close to the A grades so won't resit them. My predictions are A*A*AA

Do I have a good shot?

Reply 128

Original post by Cleoleo

Do they count short courses as 1/2 GCSEs or as a whole... cause I have 12 A*s but 3 are short making it 10.5A*... I'm sure it's the latter they count right?
So with those gcses, AAAAA at AS (though got a B in a maths, chem, history module :/) - will resit the chem module... dropped history... and maths + bio were v. close to the A grades so won't resit them. My predictions are A*A*AA

Do I have a good shot?

Your A-levels look fine; it's hard to tell about the 1/2 GCSEs... I take it that you would have 9 A*s even if they discarded the halves entirely though, so you should be fine. If still in doubt, email/phone them and ask how grades in 1/2 GCSEs are used in calculations.

Reply 129

Original post by Friar Chris

Your A-levels look fine; it's hard to tell about the 1/2 GCSEs... I take it that you would have 9 A*s even if they discarded the halves entirely though, so you should be fine. If still in doubt, email/phone them and ask how grades in 1/2 GCSEs are used in calculations.

Whaaat :0 they don't count short course subjects? :/

Reply 130

Original post by Cleoleo

Whaaat :0 they don't count short course subjects? :/

No I'm sure they count for something, but even if they didn't you'd still have a reasonably safe total :smile:

, and you'd have to ask them specifically how they treat half GCSEs.

Reply 131

Straight up G

I'm applying too. Slightly disadvantaged because I have neither the A* in English Language or the AAAA at AS that they like (I got AAAB), but I'm hoping they'll take a risk on me and give me an A*AA offer (as they've said they'll do to 50/50 candidates).

Reply 132

Original post by Straight up G

I'm applying too. Slightly disadvantaged because I have neither the A* in English Language or the AAAA at AS that they like (I got AAAB), but I'm hoping they'll take a risk on me and give me an A*AA offer (as they've said they'll do to 50/50 candidates).

Who would they give the A*AA offer to? To those who have A* predictions? also, how do you know its 50% of candidates?

Reply 133

Straight up G

Original post by Cleoleo

Who would they give the A*AA offer to? To those who have A* predictions? also, how do you know its 50% of candidates?

To those applicants that are on the borderline/have one weak area in their application. So maybe those with two As at GCSE in English and Maths, or those with AAAB at AS level, or those with an average PS... That's what I meant by 50/50...

Reply 134

Original post by Straight up G

To those applicants that are on the borderline/have one weak area in their application. So maybe those with two As at GCSE in English and Maths, or those with AAAB at AS level, or those with an average PS... That's what I meant by 50/50...

Hmmm but if they're not predicted any A*s? It seems unrealistic of them to give the A* predictions...over those who have A*A*A*A* predictions for example.

Hmm but I can understand why a hazy interview may give rise to an A*AA offer.

Reply 135

oHellno

12

How much do Birmingham like ECs? How much am I supposed to be doing lol? :erm:

Reply 136

My-My-My

2

Original post by nahim9393

erm...i was just wondering what birmingham looks for in a PS since they dont take UKCAT? (only managed 645 in it so was considering birmingham)

since I'm asking, i may as well carry on... what are the chances I'd get an interview with

7A* 6A at GCSE
A*AABB at A2 (A* in maths, A's in chem and human bio)
PS mostly about w/e + voluntary work and what i learnt about the role of a doctor and EC's like charitable stuff, doing an extended project, playing football, working during gap year as a customer assistant.

cheeeeeeeeers in advance!

They look for exactly the same things as every other med school! What you've listed sounds fine.

They say the cut off is 7A*s but if that is the actual cut off I can't say, sorry.

Reply 137

Original post by oHellno

How much do Birmingham like ECs? How much am I supposed to be doing lol? :erm:

(sorry, that is Quinn from glee in your sig right ? :tongue:

)
and as far as ECs go, I know I hardly have any... no sports and no music :tongue:

Reply 138