Applying to YOUR STRENGTHS. Info inside!

I feel like we should have a thread on here on applying to your strengths. I know there is a page on the wiki about it, but it hasn't been updated in 2 years and here we can discuss it rather than just read.

I'm only applying for the first time (in upper 6th) however I've spent a long time on here stalking medicine applicants (more than I care to admit!) and constantly see people applying to places they don't stand a chance with due to the uni favouring a certain element of an application which is weak in theirs, and obviously getting rejected, simply because their decisions aren't informed enough.

Obviously I don't know about EVERY medical school but I know a thing or two about quite a lot. I'll start off this thread, and hope other members will post about different preferred entry criteria about other universities.


Remember also that just because a website says it needs two C's in English and Maths, and 4 other passes (or something) it doesn't mean you will be considered with these minimum requirements. This is where applications become ambiguous and this is how applicants become misled and make uninformed decisions.

"UKCAT" unis
(i.e don't apply here if you don't have a comfortable 690, unless noted otherwise)

Nottingham (70% of application based on UKCAT)
Newcastle (2013 cut off: 745)
Queen's University Belfast (points system in accordance with GCSEs - see below)
Edinburgh (need a high UKCAT)
Glasgow (ranked on UKCAT)
Manchester (ranked on UKCAT)
Southampton (2013 cut off: 700)
Aberdeen (cut off normally around 695)
Kings College London (should have around 725)

"GCSE" unis
(universities that massively favour applicants with high GCSE scores)

Oxford (at least 80, but normally 90 percent of your grades A*s)
Birmingham (7A* minimum)
Edinburgh (should have about 8A*s realistically)
Cardiff (need around 8A* the way their points work)
Queen's University Belfast (where average GCSEs can be made up by a high UKCAT - see below)
Kings College London

Queens Belfast use a unique points system, where

GCSE A* = 4 points
GCSE A = 3 points

for your top 9 GCSEs. This is given a score out of a maximum 36. UKCAT scores are then factored in whereby the following band score corresponds to the number of extra points you have

Band score	Scoring Range
0	1200-1899
1	1900-2099
2	2100-2299
3	2300-2499
4	2500-2699
5	2700-2899
6	2900-3600

Both factors are then ranked out of 42. In recent years, you have needed 37 points for an interview. So if you have 9A* at GCSE, you will only need 1 or 2 points in the UKCAT points system to secure an interview. Similarly if you have 5A*4A at GCSE, scoring 32 points, getting 6 points in your UKCAT (725) would nearly guarantee an interview.


Feel free to add more!

St Andrews- UKCAT 2963 average for acceptance this year

Not true!!! Source?

http://medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk/prospectus/#

True - "The UKCAT test can vary each year. The overall average for those who sat the test in the summer of 2013 (applying for 2014 entry) was higher than the previous year. For 2013 entry the average UKCAT for those given an offer for a medical place at St Andrews was 2740 and for 2014 entry the average for those given an offer was 2963. We cannot judge what the UKCAT scores for our applicants will be for 2015 entry."

I got bad AS grades but good GCSE's, do you think Birmingham is a good choice? I really liked the med school but stayed away as it is very heavy on academics.

GCSE's: 8 A*s
AS-Levels: A bio, B chem, C psychology and C physics

AAA predictions. Will it be wise to apply or look elsewhere?

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that's not good!! Do you think averages will be down significantly this year? I have 630 B1 (I know, terrible) so do you St. Andrews or Aberdeen??

605... but Birmingham don't use UKCAT.

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