Academics but no extra curriculars

Firstly, how can you have 9.5 A*'s?

I did 9 GCSE's full course and got A*'s
I also did a half course GCSE in religious studies and got an A*

So, of a full two paper, you only took one?

Not exactly

Its called a short course GCSE not a half course (my bad). Its mainly used by schools to give GCSE's in compulsory subjects. It has half the UCAS points a full course GCSE would give. Hope that clears things up.

A lot of people bull**** the extra curriculars. I've seen people say they know languages they don't even know a word of. As long as you can cover your tracks, you will get away with it 99% of the time. It is very dishonest but practically every personal statement is a begging letter full of overinflated crap.

You could say you know Spanish conversationally, you play Tennis, play Bridge, how are they going to check it. The system is broken and people lie, what can you do.

Hmmm

My school seems intent on getting written references or evidence for everything. And my physique isn't great so lying about a sport might not be a good idea. And about the spanish thing: what happens if theres somebody who knows spanish in the interview

I did write I do cooking bcoz its not like they're gonna be able to check that without making me cook something. But cooking ain't really something great

If you are smart enough to get 9.5 A*s, you are smart enough to cover your tracks.

That's why people write I know "conversational" spanish and learn some basic spanish. I "play" bridge and they read up the rules for bridge the night before the interview.

It's a big scam, you might as well play along, 99% of the people do.

Though personally I wouldn't lie, but 99% of the people applying do.

Did it work for u??

No, they really don't.

And this is medicine. You could get away with lying about playing bridge because it's totally irrelevant to your application. It's going to be much tougher to blag your way through describing 2 weeks work experience in a hospital to experts in the medical field.

I personally don't like lying, but trust me, it will work.

The fact every tom, dick and harry will do it, means you kind of have to do it. People are trying to big up whatever they have, so you need to up your personal statement as well.

Everyone applying to medicine that stands a chance will be A/A* students at GCSE with AAAa or AAAb at least.

So it comes down to the personal statement. That and the interview, that is where the deal is sealed. The personal statement needs to be perfect in a way.

No way in hell are you getting into medicine with your grades and saying I do sweet f all for extra curriculars.

No, they really don't.

And this is medicine. You could get away with lying about playing bridge because it's totally irrelevant to your application. It's going to be much tougher to blag your way through describing 2 weeks work experience in a hospital to experts in the medical field.

Yh I see ur point but I'm sure many others would disagree about every Tom, Dick and Harry. Although I know many people do like doing some "light exaggeration"

Take a gap year and get some proper experience. This way you can work your arse off this year to get 4A* then apply post-A2; being predicted something and already having it are two very diverse things. If I were you I wouldn't drop a subject.

What makes you look more appealing to an admissions tutor? You currently have no experience but will get some, a few hours a weak or whatever, or you took a gap year and spent months volunteering and getting experience?