Liverpool Medicine (A100) Applicants 2014

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For GCSE I got 6A* 1A 1B and a short course B as well, would I stand a chance at applying to Liverpool? Btw I think my gcses add up to a score of 15.5

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You definitely stand a chance but you would have to compensate slightly for your GCSE scores by having an above average Personal Statement and a really good interview. If you look at the 'Interview' section of the first post then you will be able to gauge how many applicants successfully received offers with a GCSE score of 15.5.

Reply 21

mynameisntbobk

Applying here for certain now

GCSE grade and point score posted before.

Also finished the second draft of my personal statement, although I have no idea what Liverpool will be looking for since they're very ambiguous. Does anyone know how they score the personal statement?

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 22

Kyalimers

Original post by mynameisntbobk

They haven't really released their scoring system for the PS. They tend to prefer statements that show a good mix of work experience, voluntary work, research and extracurriculars so a generally strong PS would do very well.

Reply 23

mynameisntbobk

Original post by Kyalimers

I don't know how strong mine is, but I've got all the above points apart from research, and since you wrote it in italics, I'm assuming its supposed to be important?

Reply 24

Kyalimers

Original post by mynameisntbobk

I don't know how strong mine is, but I've got all the above points apart from research, and since you wrote it in italics, I'm assuming its supposed to be important?

Sorry the italics was meant to highlight the broad nature of research as a term. It's no more important than any other section; if anything, the work experience section is the most important. Arguably, your opening and concluding paragraphs are the next most important/effective paragraphs.

You should definitely exploit the PS Help service on the forums where a PS Helper such as myself can go through your statement in a secure forum and give you some advice on it. But only post it on there once you are happy with your PS and you think you've got as far with it as you can.

Reply 25

mynameisntbobk

Original post by Kyalimers

Oh right, yeah that's fine then. Hopefully it'll turn out fine

I've used it already, so I'd rather the PS helpers help others who need it more, and I've started on a third draft, so I'll finish that and see what I can do :smile:

Reply 26

Kyalimers

nimsay1

Thought I'd answer your question in here to stop spamming that thread!

The OP (1st post) here has some useful information, but in direct reply to your question:

Yes, I do most definitely enjoy myself at Liverpool. The city had an unfair reputation of poverty and a low social class. Whilst this may have been true 20 years ago, I think it's most definitely incorrect now! Liverpool is up and coming fast. There has been so much development and it's a really homely city (for me at least). The university has a nice mix of the old and the new but they are always redeveloping. The course here, as with most places, could do with some improvements but the faculty have actually listened and the new dean has already implemented some of these changes for the coming year.

If you want PBL, well then Liverpool is your place :biggrin:

. I'd sell it by saying that we have some of the best hospitals in the country. Alder Hey speaks for itself as a world class institution and the Liverpool Women's Hospital is renowned throughout Europe. Aintree Hospital has a fantastic Neuro centre (which is very rare these days for medical students) as well as a mini-cancer centre as well. The Royal Liverpool Hospital (recently featured in Junior Doctors) is being completely rebuilt and will be the first hospital in the UK offering solely single bed rooms instead of bays.

Hope that helps? If you have any other Q's, let me know or just post in here :smile:

Reply 27

Kyalimers

myyrh

QFA

Wondering if you could help me out.

I was going to update an unofficial book list I had for 1st Year but it is almost 5 years old. Considering you've just been through it, would you be able to give some more recent and accurate advice?

Reply 28

myyrh

Original post by Kyalimers

Hmm I mainly just used "Tortora" and the university resources. I also used "one stop doc statistics and epidemiology" for PP. Others I've heard people use were
"Martini"
"Guyton"
"Medical sciences"
"Gray's" (lol)

Reply 29

Kyalimers

Original post by myyrh

So essentially nothing has changed :rolleyes:

.

Thanks, I'm going to update editions etc. and upload it on here when I'm done! Hopefully will help some people.

Reply 30

username571327

I was thinking of applying here as I really like the idea of PBL. But it depends on how well my UKCAT goes I guess

Reply 31

Chanshik

I'm applying to Liverpool 2014 entry as my first choice... I got my A levels and got ABBB with Bs in Maths, Bio and Chem. I was close to an A in both Bio and Chem so I'm going to resit a few modules to get them up to As. I rang the admissions at Liverpool and they said it's ok as long as I reflect in my PS. I should be predicted As in them. I got 6A*s and 3As at GCSE so I have 18/18 points for that, right? Do you think I have much chance as a A level resit applicant?

Reply 32

*Dreamer*

Great to see many keen people applying for Liverpool. I'm in third year now so if anyone needs advice feel free to message/harrass me lol

One thing I will say is to really really consider whether PBL is for you. Apart from your 3 times a fortnight group sessions, its completely independent learning. Some people take to PBL really quickly and thrive under it, for most its a complete shock at first then you get used to it and others despise it. As its the method of learning, please give it a serious think through.

I like PBL now, at the beginning I hated it and felt so stupid so was basically a mute. Now, I literally can't keep quiet! It also depends a lot on your group dynamics, not everyone will be as willing to contribute. But honestly, contributing and giving it a go really highlights how much you really know and what you need to go back and look at.

The early clinical contact is also good, but Liverpool's emphasis on this I feel is at the detriment of indepth knowledge.

Yeah just a little bit of advice, and good luck! xxx

Reply 33

MedicalMike

Hey, just wondering if I could get any genuine opinions of my chances of getting into liverpool aha!

GCSE's: 4 A*'s (Bio, Chem, Phys, Maths); 5 A's (English Lang, English Lit, Business, German, Full Course RE); 1 B (history); 1 Distinction in ICT (A*/A equivalent apparently).

AS Levels: A - Biology; A - Chemistry; A - Physics; A - Maths

A2 Predictions: A - Maths; A - Biology; A - Chemistry.

Work Experience: 2 Weeks shadowing in the RLBUHT, (Liverpool's university hospital trust), around 10 different departments including a day with a GP and Clinical skills training; 1 Week shadowing in ICU/AMU at St. George's University Hospital in London; 4 Months voluntary saturday work at a community pharmacy; 4 months care home work experience; 1 day shadowing a private physiotherapist in clinic; 1 day assisting the key note speaker of a Royal Society of Medicine meeting run the meeting/day.

Extra Curricular: Rugby for both school and town; Debating in sixth form debating society (now chairman of said society); Senior prefect this year at school; Senior head of house last year at school; involved in other student leadership committees (prom committee, cafe committee, learning forum); Reading buddy for year 8 child; Numeracy buddy for year 7 child; Assisted in running of year 8 science club for one term; 5 years service in Army Cadet Force, now senior cadet at my local detachment of 20 cadets; St John Ambulance and Red Cross certified first aider.

Honest opinions please, do I have a hope in hell?:/

Reply 34

myyrh

Original post by MedicalMike

Yeah your application is fine and you'd have as good chance as any. Just make sure you reflect on how your experiences relate to medicine and show what you've learnt in your PS.

Reply 35

myyrh

Original post by Chanshik

You would definitely have a chance, plenty of resitters get in every year :smile:

Reply 36

TheMan17

Original post by *Dreamer*

congrats on your place, can you give me details about the course, for example what is your typical week at liverpool? how much lecture time do you have in a week?

Reply 37

madgene

Hi can you give me some help too?

GCSEs: 5A*s, 7As
AS: AAAB (B for chemistry)
A2 predicted: A*AAA
work experience: two hospital internships, one regular voluntary work in hospital (once a week, did it for a year now)

Do I have a chance? :/

and one extra question is about PBL :P I heard liverpool uses pure PBL, how are you finding it? :smile:

Applying here!

Original post by TheMan17

congrats on your place, can you give me details about the course, for example what is your typical week at liverpool? how much lecture time do you have in a week?

hey there

OK so its quite different in third year because you have rotate through different specialties so no week is the same...

in second year, we are in hospital 2 days of the week, pbl three times a fortnight (monday, friday then the following friday for example). At some point in the year you have a GP slot, so for 1 day a week for 6ish weeks you travel somewhere in Liverpool to a GP practice, and the following week have a UCCT session, which is a session where you discuss with a group and practising doctor cases you have seen and diseases etc...
Second year is hectic because you also have 2 SSMs (allocated research time for 4 weeks each) which is great for time off, but depending on your topic may mean you are exceptionally busy. Most people attempt to use the time to catch up on missed work and revision. HARC is a great anatomy resource centre with fantastic teaching - that's once a week at Liverpool. You have 4 lectures a week in second year, 2 on Monday, 2 on Friday, each lasting an hour. These are introductory lectures, i.e. they dont really teach you anything, you gauge throughout the year which ones are worth going to. Your clinical knowledge increases vastly due to the amount of time you spend seeing and examining patients in hospital, sitting in clinics and being on ward rounds. You have random communication skills sessions in the year too, with actors coming in pretending to be angry/upset patients.

First year (it seems so long ago now!), you had a 1 hr lecture every morning. Again pbl 3 times a fortnight. You have a once a week clinical skills session where for 2 hours you are taught by specialist nurses clinical skills. You have a lot more comms skills sessions and have a community rotation where you research child development. You have 1 SSM this year as well. HARC is also once a week.

Sorry if this was all over the place, I hope this gives you an idea of the course. Remember, there is no spoon feeding at Liverpool xx