[sach21sk]

Hi all, I'm in AS and in GCSE's I have 7 A*s, 2 A's and 1 B to my name.
Looking at the 2013 prospectus to study Medicine at Birmingham university, it clearly states a minimum of 7 A*'s are needed.

So my question is since I only have 7, will I be in a weaker position over other applicants with 10 A*'s? Or is it just like a minimum cut off point and they don't care as long as you have 7? How much does it really affect your chances? (I've already tried emailing them to get statistics for how many people with 7A*s got in, but to no reply).

I really would like to apply there in October but i just can't help feel it will be a waste of a university choice if i'm automatically at a disadvantage due to my GCSE's.

Anyone with any information to share, Birmingham medical students or any advice to my question? All is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[myyrh]

(Original post by sach21sk)
Hi all, I'm in AS and in GCSE's I have 7 A*s, 2 A's and 1 B to my name.
Looking at the 2013 prospectus to study Medicine at Birmingham university, it clearly states a minimum of 7 A*'s are needed.

So my question is since I only have 7, will I be in a weaker position over other applicants with 10 A*'s? Or is it just like a minimum cut off point and they don't care as long as you have 7? How much does it really affect your chances? (I've already tried emailing them to get statistics for how many people with 7A*s got in, but to no reply).

I really would like to apply there in October but i just can't help feel it will be a waste of a university choice if i'm automatically at a disadvantage due to my GCSE's.

Anyone with any information to share, Birmingham medical students or any advice to my question? All is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You probably will be disadvantaged and they would probably favour those with more A*s What subjects were the As and a B in? Birmingham have in the past raised their requirement during an admission cycle from 7A*s to 8 so I think it's a risk. They also need really good AS grades pretty much AAAA as GCSEs are no longer the only deciding factor for them when they choose applicants.

[twelve]

(Original post by myyrh)
You probably will be disadvantaged and they would probably favour those with more A*s What subjects were the As and a B in? Birmingham have in the past raised their requirement during an admission cycle from 7A*s to 8 so I think it's a risk. They also need really good AS grades pretty much AAAA as GCSEs are no longer the only deciding factor for them when they choose applicants.

This is true.

I have 7.5A*'s (damn ICT short course...) and I got rejected from there last year pre-interview because apparently you needed 8A*'s minimum to get an interview. So definitely a risk.

[Pride]

(Original post by sach21sk)
Hi all, I'm in AS and in GCSE's I have 7 A*s, 2 A's and 1 B to my name.
Looking at the 2013 prospectus to study Medicine at Birmingham university, it clearly states a minimum of 7 A*'s are needed.

So my question is since I only have 7, will I be in a weaker position over other applicants with 10 A*'s? Or is it just like a minimum cut off point and they don't care as long as you have 7? How much does it really affect your chances? (I've already tried emailing them to get statistics for how many people with 7A*s got in, but to no reply).

I really would like to apply there in October but i just can't help feel it will be a waste of a university choice if i'm automatically at a disadvantage due to my GCSE's.

Anyone with any information to share, Birmingham medical students or any advice to my question? All is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

apply somewhere else, they say they want 8 nowadays. This is medicine! there are plenty of other great schools you'll like too eh? You want to improve your chances as much as you can!

[sach21sk]

(Original post by myyrh)
You probably will be disadvantaged and they would probably favour those with more A*s What subjects were the As and a B in? Birmingham have in the past raised their requirement during an admission cycle from 7A*s to 8 so I think it's a risk. They also need really good AS grades pretty much AAAA as GCSEs are no longer the only deciding factor for them when they choose applicants.

I got the As in Geography & Maths, and the B in French. Hmm, i was kinda expecting to hear this so maybe not I guess! I should be able to get AAAA at AS, that's what I'm aiming for anyway and if it is 8 then better not to risk it i guess.

(Original post by Pride)
apply somewhere else, they say they want 8 nowadays. This is medicine! there are plenty of other great schools you'll like too eh? You want to improve your chances as much as you can!

Thats right! Its all about making your odds better! Thanks all

[AspiringDoctor]

I e-mailed Birmingham admissions quite a while back now and the reply was "It will depend on the level of competition." I'm guessing that the 7/8 A* requirement changes depending on that year's cohort, I'm not sure...

I have 8 A*s and have considered applying to Birmingham before but have decided that it's too big a risk as it could be the very bare minimum they want... just remember, as has already been said, that there's plenty of other amazing choices

[Hippokrates]

I would say don't even take the risk the cut off has been 8/9 A*s for the last two years. You are more than capable will 7A*s to get on any other course except Oxford. The best advice I can give anybody when applying for medical school is apply strategically because those are the people that get in.

[ymca]

This year Birmingham looked more at AS grades than GCSE's. I know people with 7 A*s who were amongst the first batch of interviewees, whereas people I know with straight A*s at GCSE were rejected because they had AAAB at AS level. AFAIK this year Birmingham only interviewed candidates with 4 A's at AS. So although I'm not saying you'll be guaranteed an interview (of course nobody knows!) I think you have a pretty good chance if you can nail those AS's

Edit: although they're looking more at AS's, that still means you need a minimum of 7 A*s at GCSE!

[sach21sk]

(Original post by ymca)
This year Birmingham looked more at AS grades than GCSE's. I know people with 7 A*s who were amongst the first batch of interviewees, whereas people I know with straight A*s at GCSE were rejected because they had AAAB at AS level. AFAIK this year Birmingham only interviewed candidates with 4 A's at AS. So although I'm not saying you'll be guaranteed an interview (of course nobody knows!) I think you have a pretty good chance if you can nail those AS's

Edit: although they're looking more at AS's, that still means you need a minimum of 7 A*s at GCSE!

How do you know what the Unis consider more? Did you email them?

I just got an email back from Birmingham saying: "Last we did not interview any applicants (other than the small number who applied through our Access to Birmingham scheme) who did not have at least 7 A* GCSE." Which is fairly obvious , but I just realised last year the minimum was 8 A* and this year it has been lowered to 7 A*.

Yeah for now, I'm getting fully motivated to revise and nail these AS's! [First exam in 2 weeks! ] Hopefully, should I get 4 As at AS then I'll investigate further about is it worth it to apply here given what you said, and if so I'll go to the open day for it in September.

Thanks for all advice!

[My-My-My]

(Original post by sach21sk)
How do you know what the Unis consider more? Did you email them?

I just got an email back from Birmingham saying: "Last we did not interview any applicants (other than the small number who applied through our Access to Birmingham scheme) who did not have at least 7 A* GCSE." Which is fairly obvious , but I just realised last year the minimum was 8 A* and this year it has been lowered to 7 A*.

Yeah for now, I'm getting fully motivated to revise and nail these AS's! [First exam in 2 weeks! ] Hopefully, should I get 4 As at AS then I'll investigate further about is it worth it to apply here given what you said, and if so I'll go to the open day for it in September.

Thanks for all advice!

There have been people this year with 7A*s who have been given an offer.

It used to be the cases that they selected who they would interview based on the number of A*s at GCSE, but this has changed recently to look at the application from a broader perspective (including PS and references).
The 7A*s is a minimum cut off and it is dependent on the cohort that year as to whether that will be enough. It is a risk to take so I would suggest that you should play to your strengths with the other 3 applications to other medical schools.