Reconsideration/Appeal success stories

I am looking to see if any school leavers has received an offer after chasing up non-interviewing medical schools?

I.e. getting your school to recommend you, etc?

(edited 12 years ago)

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Reply 1

kateb566

One of my mums best friends is an oncologist. She applied around 12-13 years ago and got offers after interview to all her choices but the one she really wanted (Sheffield!) rejected without interview.

She wrote them a strong letter and ended up getting an interview - and ultimately a place! Although apparently she got grilled at the interview quite a bit....It never hurts to try.

Reply 2

Schoolio93

Original post by kateb566

the best time to get into Uni lol: No fees, entry requirements are ABB/BBB, Unis don't use the UKCAT/BMAT.

Reply 3

John Locke

why would they? your teachers already gave their input on your application in your reference...

Reply 4

username356927

A friend of mine got 4 rejections, then wrote to his MP about the 'injustice' of it all.

Miraculously Aberdeen phoned up and said they had recently found a place for him....

This was 4 years ago.

Reply 5

theatrical

Original post by Schoolio93

the best time to get into Uni lol: No fees, entry requirements are ABB/BBB, Unis don't use the UKCAT/BMAT.

A levels were harder though - no resits, no modules, no AS level exams. Just A2 standard final exams at the end of 2 years of work and the grade you got was the grade you were stuck with.

Reply 6

John Locke

significantly fewer medical school places as well

Reply 7

Beska

Original post by TooSexyForMyStethoscope

A friend of mine got 4 rejections, then wrote to his MP about the 'injustice' of it all.

Miraculously Aberdeen phoned up and said they had recently found a place for him....

This was 4 years ago.

Haha holy crap. That's a brilliant idea, why didn't I think of writing to my MP...

Reply 8

winter_mute

My MP is a fairly prominent Lib Dem. All the uni's would probably send him back in pieces.

Reply 9

username356927

Original post by Beska

Haha holy crap. That's a brilliant idea, why didn't I think of writing to my MP...

Yeah thing is there was a reason he wasn't accepted....

Non existent people skills. Still, hopefully the NHS will burn it into him.

Reply 10

ImWithTheBand

Gordon Brown (when he was Chancellor) intervening on behalf of that Laura Spence girl didn't end up doing her any good .... and she was mentioned in Parliament.

(I've just read Wikipedia and she eventually studied postgraduate medicine at Cambridge, graduating in 2008, with distinction)

Reply 11

John Locke

Original post by ImWithTheBand

that entire fiasco was BS to be fair

Reply 12

Beska

Original post by John Locke

that entire fiasco was BS to be fair

Indeed. Very little can be said (imo) if one is appealing for a post-interview decision. One can't exactly say "I was amazing! You loved me! You should have given me a place!"

Reply 13

ImWithTheBand

Original post by John Locke

that entire fiasco was BS to be fair

Agree.

Reply 14

ImWithTheBand

Original post by Beska

Indeed. Very little can be said (imo) if one is appealing for a post-interview decision. One can't exactly say "I was amazing! You loved me! You should have given me a place!"

LOL. Perhaps people are doing all the wrong prep for their interviews. Look into my eyes..... you're back in the room.

Reply 15

Elles

Original post by ImWithTheBand

(I've just read Wikipedia and she eventually studied postgraduate medicine at Cambridge, graduating in 2008, with distinction)

& she probably could have studied at Oxford too... if she'd applied for Biochemistry there too. :tongue:

Generally - you can appeal the procedure (if they didn't do what they say they do etc.) but not the decision.

Reply 16

garlicbreadman

Never expected so many to say it is pointless! lol

Surely if your school bothers to write a letter of recommendation for you and send it off, it must count for something?

Reply 17

Fission_Mailed

Original post by garlicbreadman

Never expected so many to say it is pointless! lol

Surely if your school bothers to write a letter of recommendation for you and send it off, it must count for something?

They've already written your letter of recommendation.

Reply 18

Helenia

Original post by garlicbreadman

Never expected so many to say it is pointless! lol

Surely if your school bothers to write a letter of recommendation for you and send it off, it must count for something?

Why? They only have a limited number of places to offer, and probably most applicants' schools think they're the bees' knees - why should universities change their admissions procedures because someone asks really really nicely?

I am very aware that medicine admissions systems are far from perfect but I don't think that they should be influenced by who can get their school/MP/whoever to shout the loudest.