Medicine 2012...(hopeful entrants) !!

Good luck on Birmingham, definitely not for me as I have nowhere near the 9A*s they need... I qualify for the access to Leeds scheme, so may apply there. Do you know of any other access to courses? I know Manchester has one too

What's the a2b scheme?

Yep! Last episode tonight

its the access to birmingham scheme basically if you live and/or went to a school in a lower class area, have a low household income and have no experience of university in your family you qualify for this scheme where you can get a lower grade offer than the standard offer theyre meant to be enhancing it a bit more now because of the whole 9k tuition fees malarkey, so fingers crossed!

I no I've recorded it, can't wait to watch it!

I love Suzy best, I think she's such a greater doctor! How about you?

I no I've recorded it, can't wait to watch it!

I love Suzy best, I think she's such a greater doctor! How about you?

I don't understand the reasoning behind them not letting you see the grade... tbh it would be easier for the unis if you knew what you got because then fewer people with lower BMAT scores than the unis want would apply?

Yeah, true, especially when amazing candidates are being turned away... scary.

Good luck! I'm weirdly excited about applying (that's if I even get the AS grades :/)

Awww, thanks. It's nice to be told that, and quite weird because I don't see myself as someone who's massively sure of themselves... it's like when your friends say something about your personality and you're like "eh? Do I really give that impression?" I wonder who knows a person better... the person themself of the people close to them?

Oh okay.

I'm guessing they must only give out about a handful of applicants them though for each course, as for medicine they don't exactly need to do it, other than to be politically correct as they already have too many candidates with lots of A*'s etc.

Personally I don't always think it's fair, I understand people may have been at a disadvantage, but what about if they get a place rather than someone who got all A*s, a great UCAS form, plenty of work experience and voluntary service etcc?

Who says the applicant won't have lots of work experience/volunteer work as well as a great UCAS form?

All they're allowing is lesser grades due to family and educational circumstance, that's all.

Suzi is great but I don't like how they edited it so that she looks like a right dimbo just because she has a fetish with pink.

My favourite has got to be Lucy though although if I could choose one to be my doctor it would probably be Jon. You?

But if they have all that, then why do they need special entry?

Because some schools are full of idiots who distract the entire class, or poor teaching and fewer resources and these qualities tend to be combined in schools in poorer areas.

For example, say that you gain A*AA at your school. You are one of 5 who do so. You have worked hard and when offered your interview they think "Smart girl, good UKCAT, should fit right in at the school here."

Then take person B. B got ABB. However, he also happened to get the highest grades in his school. His is an achievement as well, though on a lesser scale than yours. However, he also comes from a difficult academic background (mum and dad didn't do university and have few qualifications, they work low income jobs so can't afford tutors or a house next to the "good" school, none of his peers are really doing any A-levels) and so some Medical Schools say "Right, we can see that you've worked hard compared to your peers so come in for an interview and we'll see".

Remember that all the grades, UKCAT, BMAT, work experience and voluntary work doesn't make a doctor - Medical School does that. The interviewers are looking for potential and dedication.

Okay I see what you mean. I can kind of relate, I achieved the top GCSE's in my school with "only" 8 A*, as I didn't go to a private school then. I thought this was really good until I moved to my new school and 15 students got 10 A* with 2 more with 11 A* haha. (Though I'm not complaining with my grades, just a similar principle.)

I understand better now, thanks.

I know. Right now I am top of my year at college (I'm applying as a mature student). Unfortunately, this is not a very difficult thing to be...

I guess there's advantages and disadvantages. A bit of competition often helps you improve even more, however being the top is a good thing to say on your UCAS as the uni's can take this in to consideration. (Though again this is medicine so I'm not sure if they say all this just to be PC, though then end up taking all the straight A* students anyway etc?)

True, but I doubt they will Competition does help you improve I feel... This one guy can do maths like you can't believe and he beat me by 2 MARKS in the prelim! ARGH. We joke about how I'm getting closer to beating him at something :P it's good to have someone with smarts about anyway...

If I thought Universities were PC, I'd play the single mother card as much as possible.

Yup it does, especially as I can get quite competitive anyway.. lol. I'm not too bad with marks/percentages.. I just want the top grade in my class haha.

Haha! So if they're not PC, why do they even bother to pretend they have a special scheme for disadvantaged students? :/