The Student Room Group

Medics and Applicants Profiles - NO DISCUSSION

Scroll to see replies

Year of Entry: 2014
Deferred?: No
GCSEs: 5A*, 5A
Standard Grades Int2s (Scottish applicants): N/A
AS Grades: AAAAb (Biology, Chemistry, English, French, Critical Thinking)
A2 Results: AAA (Biology, Chemistry, English)
Higher grades (Scottish applicants): N/A
Previous Degree (if applicable): N/A
UKCAT (if applicable): 2013 entry = 509, 2014 entry = 718
BMAT (if applicable): N/A
Work Experience/Volunteering:
10 months volunteering in a hospice
Ward volunteer in hospital
Shadowed consultant rheumatologist
Shadowed GP
Volunteer tutor for primary and secondary school children
Extra Curricular:
What you do isn't important, it's what you gain from it. Be sure to write about the skills gained from your hobbies/interests and why that would make you a better doctor.
Universities applied to and decisions:
2013 entry-
Liverpool = Rejected after interview
Keele = Rejected without interview
Lancaster = Rejected without interview
Leeds = Rejected without interview

2014 entry-
Liverpool = Unconditional offer
QUB = Interview
Sheffield = Rejected without interview
Keele = Rejected without interview

I was a re-applicant having achieved AAA but had no offers for the 2013 entry, therefore I had a gap year.
I found these profiles very useful during the application process so I hope mine will be of use to somebody.
(edited 9 years ago)
Year of Entry: 2014
Deferred?: No
Standard Grades/Int2s: 1111111A
Higher grades: AAAAA
Advanced Higher: AAA
UKCAT: 755
Work Experience/Volunteering: 1 week shadowing doctors in various departments of a hospital, 1 week in a GP practice, 9 months volunteering in a palliative care unit, 9 months working in an out of school care club
Extra Curricular: I only had a few notable things to write about: deputy head boy, DofE, computer games design, debating and interest in politics, charities committee at school. However, I made sure I reflected on them in my personal statement. For most universities, it's not about the quantity of ECs but what you learned from them.

Universities applied to and decisions:
Aberdeen: offer (BBB at Advanced Higher) - FIRM
Glasgow: offer (AB at Advanced Higher) - INSURANCE
Dundee: rejected after interview
Edinburgh: rejected

My advice: Especially for those applying to Scottish universities, make sure you do well on the UKCAT! It forms a big part of the pre-interview selection criteria at most Scottish universities. I knew a few very capable people whose UKCAT scores let them down and, as a result, they didn't receive an interview. I would recommend the 600 Questions book (but don't worry if the book seems difficult, the actual test is a bit easier - for me at least).

It has been said a million times before but it's about quality and not quantity when you write your personal statement. Compared to some others on TSR, my application was average at best, but if you show what you got out of your experiences, you're at no significant disadvantage. On the other hand, don't write a whole paragraph about one experience - you need to find a good balance. Remember you can expand on your points at the interviews.

When it comes to the interviews, make sure you know your personal statement very well and be able to expand on every sentence as it often forms the basis for interview questions. Apart from that, my only advice is to be yourself and try your best! Good luck!
Year of Entry: 2014
Deferred?: No
GCSEs: 6A*s, 3As, 1B
AS Grades: AAAC (Biology, chemistry, psychology and maths)
A2 Prediction/Results: A*AA (Biology, chemistry and maths)
UKCAT (if applicable): 717.5 + Band1 SJT
BMAT (if applicable): 5.6, 3.0, 3.5A
Work Experience/Volunteering: 1 week in a hospital (stroke ward), 2 days in A&E
Extra Curricular: Head boy, president of student union, student governor, 3 years of youth theatre, rowing, athletics, mentor for year 11 science students.
Universities applied to and decisions:
Oxford (Balliol): Pre-interview rejection
Leicester: Post interview rejection
Manchester: OFFER! (AAA) Firm
Southampton: OFFER! (AAA) Insurance

:biggrin:
(edited 9 years ago)
Year of Entry: 2014
Deferred?: No
GCSEs: 6 A*s 5 As 3 Bs
A Level: AAAAb (Bio, Chem, Maths, Japanese, AS Physics)
UKCAT (if applicable): 685
BMAT (if applicable): N/A

Work Experience/Volunteering:

1 week in pathology lab
2 days in A&E
6 weeks of doctor shadowing in private clinic
Teaching Assistant Oct 2013 - present

(maybe my work experience wasn't good enough)

Extra Curricular:

Aikido Club
Gold Dofe
Mountain Climbing
Cooking Lessons

Universities applied to and decisions:
Leeds - Rejected pre interview
Barts
- Rejected pre interview
Nottingham
- Rejected pre interview
Exeter - Rejected pre interview

will be reapplying for 2015 entry!
Year of Entry: 2014

Deferred?: no

GCSEs: 9A*'s, 2A's

AS Grades: AAAA (maths, biology, chemistry, psychology)

A2 Results: A*AA (biology, chemistry, maths)

UKCAT (if applicable): 762.5 average

BMAT (if applicable): na

Work Experience/Volunteering: I spent a year as a volunteer on the renal ward, one week shadowing a gastroenterologist and 2 days in a care home as part of an NCS program.

Extra Curricular: I was a member of the science and premed society at college so got the chance to attend evening events based on different medical specialities, ethics and other general science topics. I also provided maths tutoring for a neighbour and have a part time job as as a sales assistant.

Universities applied to and decisions:
Manchester: interview, offer, firm choice
Nottingham: interview, offer, declined
Keele: post interview rejection
Liverpool: pre interview rejection


Posted from TSR Mobile
Year of Entry: 2014
Deferred?: No

GCSEs: 6A* 5A

AS Grades: AAAA

A2 Results: A*AA

UKCAT (if applicable): 695 Band 1

Work Experience/Volunteering: 2 days at neonatal unit, 1 day acute medicine ward, 1 week at optician, 6 months at care home for disabled people, St Johns Ambulance 1 year

Extra Curricular: Dancing, chemistry captain at school, reading mentor

Universities applied to and decisions:
UEA - Interview --> Offer
Manchester - rejection pre interview (reason - UKCAT)
Aberdeen - rejection pre interview (reason - UKCAT)
Glasgow - rejection pre interview (reason - UKCAT)
(edited 9 years ago)
Year of Entry: 2015
Deferred?: No

GCSEs: Exempted

IB Predicted: 44

IB Achieved: 42 (Applied with PG and got 42 to confirm the offer)

UKCAT (if applicable): 755 (3020) / Band 1

BMAT: 5.9 / 6.9 / 3 / A

Work Experience/Volunteering: 3 medical attachments, each for 2 weeks, once in 2011 twice in 2013

Extra Curricular: Softball (National Level), Dance, Interact Club, Environment Group, Student Press, Maths Club, Science Research Challenge, Scouts

Universities applied to and decisions:

Oxford / Interview / Conditional Offer / Firm (Conditions Met)

Edinburgh / Conditional Offer / Insurance

Imperial Biomed / Conditional Offer / Declined

King's College / Interview Offer / Withdrawn

Imperial / Withdrawn

*Overseas Applicant
(edited 8 years ago)
Year of Entry: 2014
Deferred?: No
GCSEs: 2A* 4A 3B 1C
AS Grades: ABBA(Maths, Chem, Bio, Phys)
A2 Prediction/Results: ABB/ABB(Maths, Chem, Bio)
Previous Degree: Master of Pharmacy
UKCAT (if applicable): N/A
BMAT (if applicable): N/A
GAMSAT: 60
Work Experience/Volunteering: 5 weeks shadowing consultant endocrinologist and SHO in CICU, 4 weeks shadowing orthopaedic surgeon in Zimbabwe, 2 weeks volunteer work in orphanage, 2 weeks volunteer at care home,
Extra Curricular: hockey, jogging, art
UK Universities applied to and decisions: St Georges (interviewed->waiting list->late offer->declined) Nottingham (rejected) Exeter (rejected) Plymouth (rejected)
Irish Universities applied to and decisions: Trinity (interviewed->waiting list) Galway (rejected) UCD (rejected) UCC (interview->offer->accepted)
(edited 9 years ago)
Mine with some waffle with advice/things I learnt...

First
Year of Entry: 2014
Deferred?: No
GCSEs/A-Levels: Below (but A2's not yet achieved)
UKCAT: 665, Band 3 (can't remember individual section marks)
BMAT: 4.0 in section 2. Enough said. :tongue:

Work Experience/Voluntary Work (only putting down what I put on my PS):
- Some experience shadowing doctors/seeing procedures in Renal Medicine.
- Assisting students with learning difficulties for a couple of years.
- Helping out with this Medical Research project in labs that I was part of.

Extra-Curricular (only putting down what I put on my PS):
- Opening bowler for various cricket teams.
- Read a couple of Medically related books that I mentioned.
- Ran a small business in which I developed and published a couple of Android applications.

Universities applied to and decisions:
University of Oxford (Medicine): Pre-interview rejection (reason - BMAT too low/GCSEs a bit on the lower side for Oxford)
Imperial College London (Medicine): Pre-interview rejection (reason - BMAT section 2 below cut-off)
University of Birmingham (Medicine): Pre-interview rejection (reason - not enough work experience)
University of Bristol (Medicine): Pre-interview rejection (reason - PS not as strong as others)

Imperial College London (Biomedical Sciences): Offer (AAC) - Declined

So took a gap year!


Second
Year of Entry: 2015
Deferred?: No

GCSEs: 8A*s, 3As
A-Levels: A*A*A*AAA

stuff... GCSE/A-Level



UKCAT: 690, Band 1 (but SJT wasn't used because of some mistake)
BMAT: 4.6, 4.6, 3A (oops! Went down in both sections 1 and 3 compared to last year :tongue: )

stuff... Entry Test



Work Experience/Voluntary Work (only putting down what I put on my PS):
- Some experience shadowing doctors/seeing procedures in Renal Medicine.
- Some time shadowing doctors/seeing procedures in Cardiology in a hospital in Pakistan.
- Some time shadowing doctors in ER (A&E) in Pakistan. Saw something quite shocking here.
- Sitting in with GPs, nurses, physiotherapists, acupuncturists and a phlebotomist at a GP practice.
- Assisting students with learning difficulties for a few years.
- Helping out with this Medical Research project in labs that I was part of (I had more of a leadership role now because I'd been part of it for a while).
- Assisting with the care of elderly patients at the GP practice, as well as having various other volunteering roles with the practice.

Extra-Curricular (only putting down what I put on my PS):
- Opening bowler for various cricket teams.
- Ran small business in which I developed and published a couple of Android applications.
- Samaritan trained to act as a listener to people.
- Prefect
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Won GCSE History award a couple of years ago which I decided to throw in. :tongue:

stuff... Work Experience/Volunteering/Extra-Curricular



Universities applied to and decisions :
Imperial College London (Medicine): Interview - Offer (subject to me providing my A-Level certificates/DBS checks etc.) - FIRM!! :biggrin:
Plymouth Medical School (Medicine): Interview - Offer (subject to me providing my A-Level certificates/DBS checks etc.) - Declined
University of Liverpool (Medicine): Interview (attended) - Withdrawn
St George's (Medicine): Interview (not attended) - Withdrawn

University of Sheffield (Biomedical Sciences): Offer (unconditional) - Declined

Advice Reapplying/Other



Good luck to everyone who's thinking of applying! :biggrin: The TSR Medicine forum is very useful so if you have any questions, feel free to ask there. If you have any questions regarding my application or want some clarification regarding anything I said, drop me a PM. :yy:
Reply 649
Year of Entry: 2015
Deferred?: No
GCSEs: 11.5A*s and an A in FSMQ
AS Grades: AAAA, 95 UMS Avg
A2 Prediction/Results: A*A*A*
UKCAT (if applicable): 755 (SJT unknown as was an error in tests)
BMAT (if applicable): 5.1, 6.3, 3.5A
Work Experience/Volunteering:
1 week shadowing Orthopaedic surgeon
1 week at the eye clinic in a hospital
2 days at a GP surgery
Extra Curricular:
-13 months volunteering at a local hospital
-6 months helping out lunch & play times at school's reception class
-Part of committee which organised school fashion show
-In charity committee
-Read a lot of books
-Tennis and badminton

Universities applied to and decisions:
Cambridge: Pooled, reinterview + deferred offer Murray Edwards (A*A*A)- declined
UCL: OFFER (A*AA) -declined
Imperial: OFFER (AAA) Firm :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
Kings: OFFER (AAA) Insurance

Good luck everyone applying! Just remember to apply to places which favour the stats you have. I applied to places where they want good grades, which made it easier for me to get an interview
(edited 9 years ago)
Reply 650
Year of Entry: 2015 (reapplicant after 1 interview & 4 rejections first time)
Deferred?:
No
Standard Grades Int2s (Scottish applicants):
9A's
Higher grades (Scottish applicants):
6A's and A in Adv Bio, B in Adv Maths and C in Adv Chem in 6th year
UKCAT (if applicable):
663 and Band 1 (not used this year)

Work Experience/Volunteering:
1 week in GPs
1 week in orthopaedics
1 week in anesthetics
1 week in transplant unit
Assisted sick and elderly on trip to Lourdes
Volunteered at a care home for 1 year
Worked for a care at home company and volunteered as a ward helper in a hospital during gap year

Extra Curricular:
Netball, competitive dancing, Duke of Edinburgh, took part in 5 week building project in Uganda

Universities applied to and decisions:
Edinburgh - rejected
Dundee - rejected
Aberdeen - interview and offer
Glasgow - interview and offer

(Not yet decided where to accept!)
It brings me great joy to be able to finally post in this forum :h:
Year of Entry: 2015
Deferred? No
GCSEs: 7.5A*, 2A, 1B (English Language)
Standard Grades Int2s (Scottish applicants):
AS Grades: aaab (b in chemistry)
A2 Prediction/Results: Predicited A*AA
Higher grades (Scottish applicants):
Previous Degree (if applicable):
UKCAT (if applicable):
VR - 590
QR - 790
AR - 690
DA - 680
BMAT (if applicable): S1: 5.7 S2: 5.1 S3: 3A
Work Experience/Volunteering:
1 Week Hepatology Professor (Out-patients, In-patients - ward rounds, upper endoscopy investigations)
1 Week Community health team (Health visitors, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, District Nurses, Public health representative)
1 Week Cardiologist (Clinical investigations team - pulmonary and cardio investigations, Cath Lab, ward rounds)
8 months volunteering at Saturday club for children with learning difficulties
Extra Curricular: Train 4 times a week swimming and swim competitively, St. John's Ambulance, DofE
Universities applied to and decisions:
Cardiff - rejected preinterview (my b in English language pulled my GCSE score down too much)
Nottingham - rejected preinterview (again b pulled me down, and my UKCAT was enough to make up the difference)
Leeds - rejected post-interview (Lovely admissions team who constantly keep you informed!)
Sheffield - Interview and OFFER, firmed within a heartbeat
Have to say I was rejected from leeds an hour after I had done my sheffield interview and it was a terrible feeling. Made me think I could've made the same mistakes at sheffield. Luckily I heard the news after my interview otherwise I would've felt terrible during it! Moral of the story is - just because one uni rejects you, doesnt mean another will too - they're all looking for different things :smile:
Year of Entry: 2015
GCSEs:
2 A*s and 8 As
AS Grades:
ABBC
A2 Prediction
: AAA / A*AA
UKCAT (if applicable):
700, band 1 (590, 670, 890, 650)
Work Experience/Volunteering:
1 year volunteering nursing home, 1 year volunteering nursery, 1 week GP and 1 week hospital
Extra Curricular:
First Form Friend, Head of Logistics - Model UN, Photography, Dance competition (Graphics, design & Pictures), Musical/drama (photography), Sixth Form Committee member, Tennis, Archery, Chorus, Sixth form play (acting) and another drama role, Prefect, House charity rep, etc

Universities applied to and decisions:
Plymouth - Post interview waiting list -> rejection (score of 21 - 21.3 needed for offer!!)
Aberdeen - Post interview rejection (interview/ukcat/grades not high enough)
St Georges Uni of London/SGUL - conditional OFFER - AAA!!
Liverpool - Pre interview rejection (PS not competitive enough)

Any questions, PM me :smile:
(edited 9 years ago)
I am here! After all those years of hard work and waiting!

Year of Entry: 2015
Deferred?: No
GCSEs: (I did IGCSE) 7A* 3A
AS Grades: AAAAAAA, 97.81 UMS Average on best five subject/science subjects
A2 Prediction/Results: A*A*A*A*A*
UKCAT (if applicable): 626 Band 1
BMAT (if applicable): 5.9, 6.6, 4A
Work Experience/Volunteering:
1 week shadowing in Neurosurgical department at King's College Hospital
1 week at a GP practice in my local area

Extra Curricular:
-7 months volunteering at a local hospital
-A year volunteering in a Saturday School for primary school students as a ICT mentor
-A year volunteering in a kindergarten with kids around 4 years old
-House Captain of Boarding House
-Deputy head of biology Society
-Passed Grade 8 Piano with merit, Passed Grade 6 Clarinet with merit
-Play in wind band, clarinet quartet and school choir
-Taken part in Essay competitions and was selected to go to CERN particle School during the summer
-Written an extended essay on Three-parent baby IVF
-Gold on British Biology Olympiad, Senior Math Challenge, Chemistry Olympiad; Silver in Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and AS Physics Challenge


Universities applied to and decisions:
Cambridge (Downing): Post interview rejection :mad::angry:
Imperial: OFFER (AAA) Firm :tongue:
Birmingham: Post Interview rejection :confused:
Cardiff: Pre interview rejection :confused:
Imperial (Biochemistry): Rejection

As you can see, only one offer is needed. Medical schools have their own criteria, so you really have to look into all of them and play your strength wherever possible. Felt so gutted to be rejected by Cambridge, but look, it is not the end of the world. Just move on and shine in Imperial.

Feel free to ask me any questions via PM.
Year of Entry: 2015
Deferred?: No
GCSEs: (I did IGCSE) 9A* 1A
AS Grades: AAAA, approx 98 UMS average
+ predicted A in f. maths AS I'm finishing this year
A2 Prediction/Results: A*A*A*A*
UKCAT (if applicable): 752.5 Band 1
BMAT (if applicable): 7.6, 6.3, 3.5A

Work Experience/Volunteering:
1 week shadowing in physiotherapy department of hospital in Geneva
2 weeks shadowing in paediatrics department of hospital in London
2 weeks shadowing doctor in India
3 days in a GP surgery
1 day in a sports medicine clinic (not mentioned on application)
1 week volunteering at home for the elderly with psychiatric illnesses
Weekly volunteering at centre for disabled children for 2 years

Extra Curricular:
- Deputy head of Boarding House
- Biology representative at school
- Acrobatic gymnastics at international level, two national titles.
- EPQ on gene doping in sport

- highly commended for the Biology Olympiad
- bronze medal in the Chemistry Olympiad
- silver certificate in UKMT senior maths challenge
- presentation at a science symposium on eating disorders
- sign language for over a year
- trampolining


Universities applied to and decisions:
Cambridge (Christ's): OFFER (A*A*A in bio/chem/maths + A in further maths) - Firm
UCL: OFFER (A*AA with A* in bio or chem) - Insurance
Edinburgh: OFFER (AAA) - Declined
KCL: OFFER (AAAC) - Declined
Bristol (Medical Biochemistry): Withdrew
Year of Entry: 2015
Deferred?: No
GCSEs: 9 A* 2A
A Level: Predicted 5A*, AS: 5A
UKCAT: 700
Work Experience/Volunteering: 1.5 weeks in small city hospital observing lots of specialties including radiology and nursing, half day in a GP, 3 days in a hospital in Malawi, volunteer at a local ambulance charity, volunteer leader at local DofE award centre.
Extra Curricular: Senior prefect, DofE bronze-gold,
Universities applied to and decisions:
University of Birmingham: Offer post interview - A*AA including biology and chemistry DECLINED
University of Edinburgh: Offer - AAA including biology and chemistry FIRM
University of St Andrews: Offer post interview - AAA including chemistry INSURANCE
Queen Mary/Barts: Interview invitation WITHDREW

My Advice:
As you can see here you really don't need too much work experience - its quality not quantity and how you can get it across. Aim for where you want to go, but check you have a realistic chance of interview :smile:
Year of Entry: 2015
Deferred?: No
GCSEs: 6A*, 5A, 1B, 1Dist
AS Grades: AAAAA (Bio, Chem, Psych, Hist, GS)
A2 Prediction/Results: A*A*A*A (GS, Bio, Psych, Chem)
UKCAT (if applicable): 732.5 avg, Band 1
Work Experience/Volunteering: Weekly volunteering in a hospice. One week in a hospital. Weekly volunteering at a school for disabled children for a few months. Work part time as an 'optical consultant' in an opticians.
Extra Curricular: Karate, guitar. Really into DIYBio, online courses.

Universities applied to and decisions:
Cardiff: rejection pre interview
SGUL: rejection post interview
King's College London: Offer, AAAa
Bart's and the London: Offer, AAA
Reply 657
US Applicant

Year of Entry:
2015
Deferred?:
No
GCSEs:
None
AP Grades:
55554 (Chem, Physics B, Calculus BC, Statistics, Bio)
AP Prediction:
55(Physics C Mechanics, Physics C Elec/Mag)
BMAT:
8.0, 9.0, 3.5A
Work Experience/Volunteering:
Interned at medical school research lab for a summer

Universities applied to and decisions:
Oxford: Offer
UCL: Rejection pre interview
Leeds: Rejection pre interview
Imperial: Interview, withdrawn
(edited 8 years ago)
Year of Entry: 2015
Deferred?: no
GCSEs: 11 A*
AS Grades: AAABA
A2 Results: AAAA* (first 3 a levels 2009, pre-a*, 4th taken in 2014.
Previous Degree (if applicable): BA (Hons.) in Classics
UKCAT (if applicable): 815
Work Experience/Volunteering: 1 week shadowing anaesthetists, St. John ambulance 6 months, volunteer tutoring 1 year.
Extra Curricular: singing, piano, guitar, rowing.
Universities applied to and decisions: Southampton BM4: Offer. Firmed.
Newcastle GEM: Offer. Declined.
King's GPEP: Offered a place on 5 year course. Declined due to finances.
Warwick: Interview, declined before attending due to receiving other offers.





Posted from TSR Mobile
Year of Entry: 2015
Deferred?: No
GCSEs: 8A* 1A and a few BTECs here and there
AS Grades: 5As
A2 Prediction/Results: 4A*1A on application (dropped a subject now 4A*s)
UKCAT (if applicable): 692.5
Work Experience/Volunteering:
On PS:
1 week in a stroke ward
4 weeks at a GP practice
1 week abroad in India
6/7 months volunteering at my local hospital in wards
8/9 months volunteering at a local nursing home
Also went on a fair few summer schools which I talked about in my PS:
STSS Camb. For medicine
Access to bristol for medicine
UNIQ for chemistry (mentioned in interviews)

Extra Curricular: Depury head boy at previous school, prefect at new school, CCF, part time job

Universities applied to and decisions:
Keele: Rejection Post interview
SGUL: Offer AAA
Birmingham: Rejection Post interview
Bart's and the London: Rejection Post interview
UCL - Maths with Economics - Offer A*A*A
(edited 8 years ago)

Quick Reply

Latest