Oxford for medicine

OP

Come on, 9A* and 3A is clearly a competitive group of results. People will say it's not quite the average, but 9A* and 3A is still a good set of results and I would arguably say it's better than 8A* and 2A even though the percentage of A* to GCSE isn't as good.

I really happy with my results when I got them on results day, but now looking at the statistics of the average candidate applying to Oxford, I don't feel so good anymore. One thing I don't understand is how they can base so much of it on GCSEs. For example I have this one friend who got an A* in Physics because he memorised the whole textbook, but he did not understand any of i.

Reply 21

studentsixth

13

Original post by Asian5

I really happy with my results when I got them on results day, but now looking at the statistics of the average candidate applying to Oxford, I don't feel so good anymore. One thing I don't understand is how they can base so much of it on GCSEs. For example I have this one friend who got an A* in Physics because he memorised the whole textbook, but he did not understand any of i.

Have you considered Cambridge?

Reply 22

Asian5

OP

1

Original post by studentsixth

Have you considered Cambridge?

I thought the entry standard was higher than Oxford? But I prefered Oxford as a place and I feel like I will fit in more with the medical students there than the ones at Cambridge.

Reply 23

Vodka

8

Original post by Asian5

I really happy with my results when I got them on results day, but now looking at the statistics of the average candidate applying to Oxford, I don't feel so good anymore. One thing I don't understand is how they can base so much of it on GCSEs. For example I have this one friend who got an A* in Physics because he memorised the whole textbook, but he did not understand any of i.

If someone took the time to memorise the whole physics textbook and is able to apply what he learnt on physics problems, then he probably deserved the A* lol.

That's how Oxford does things. It's based on past statistics where there was a correlation between percentage of A*s in GCSEs and how likely you are to do well in your exams in Oxford.

Reply 24

Vodka

8

Original post by Asian5

I thought the entry standard was higher than Oxford? But I prefered Oxford as a place and I feel like I will fit in more with the medical students there than the ones at Cambridge.

Medical students in Cambridge are no different than in Oxford, not that I know of. In fact, all medical students are the same regardless of which university they go to, whether it's Oxbridge or Bart's or Aberdeen.

Reply 25

tcameron

19

Original post by Asian5

I really happy with my results when I got them on results day, but now looking at the statistics of the average candidate applying to Oxford, I don't feel so good anymore. One thing I don't understand is how they can base so much of it on GCSEs. For example I have this one friend who got an A* in Physics because he memorised the whole textbook, but he did not understand any of i.

Still feel good about your results. The problem with Oxford is that they're so gcse heavy and without everyone doing AS anymore who knows how high they'll place gcse's. I'd say you're still a very competitive candidate and providing you dont mess up your BMAT then no reason why you shouldn't be invited to an interview in my opinion.
Your gcse's are very strong for loads of other unis which aren't so gcse heavy

Reply 26

Asian5

OP

1

Original post by Vodka

Medical students in Cambridge are no different than in Oxford, not that I know of. In fact, all medical students are the same regardless of which university they go to, whether it's Oxbridge or Bart's or Aberdeen.

I get what you mean, but I just meant the vibe I got from them

Reply 27

nexttime

22

Original post by Vodka

Medical students in Cambridge are no different than in Oxford, not that I know of. In fact, all medical students are the same regardless of which university they go to, whether it's Oxbridge or Bart's or Aberdeen.

They are not. They learn to different curricula via very different methods, tend to go into different specialties and get substantially different exam results.

But are they all equally employable? Yes.

Reply 28

Asian5

OP

1

Original post by tcameron

Still feel good about your results. The problem with Oxford is that they're so gcse heavy and without everyone doing AS anymore who knows how high they'll place gcse's. I'd say you're still a very competitive candidate and providing you dont mess up your BMAT then no reason why you shouldn't be invited to an interview in my opinion.
Your gcse's are very strong for loads of other unis which aren't so gcse heavy

I would need 7's in section one and two, which I have heard is almost impossible to get

Reply 29

nexttime

22

Original post by PimpNamedSlikbak

... the only reason people go to oxford is to benefit from the higher quality of education, prestige and for connection making.

You clearly haven't studied at oxford then.

The college system, unrivalled wealth and provision for students, compact city, and tutorial system are all separate huge reasons to apply to Oxford, without even touching on course-related reasons or anything else.

I take it you were rejected?

Reply 30

tcameron

19

Original post by Asian5

I would need 7's in section one and two, which I have heard is almost impossible to get

I heard 5's are strong and 6's almost guarantee an interview. So I'd say aim for 6s because it's not like you're far off the average anyways.

Reply 31

studentsixth

13

Original post by tcameron

I heard 5's are strong and 6's almost guarantee an interview. So I'd say aim for 6s because it's not like you're far off the average anyways.

It doesn't work like that. Unless you have 100% A*s at GCSE (or around 95% for that matter), you will not go through with 5s. Even 6s will not guarantee an interview with a proportion of A*s being at 0.75. He'll have a better shot at Cambridge for sure.

Reply 32

Alevelz

2

Hi guys,
I got 10a*s and an A at GCSE and at as (it's so annoying that my school did as) I got AAAC in (bio, Chem, rs, and maths) so I dropped maths at a2. Do you guys think I stand a chance? I feel like they might look at my c at as and reject me because of that, especially because most people got 4a's. I really appreciate any advice! Thank you!xx

Reply 33

nexttime

22

Original post by Alevelz

Hi guys,
I got 10a*s and an A at GCSE and at as (it's so annoying that my school did as) I got AAAC in (bio, Chem, rs, and maths) so I dropped maths at a2. Do you guys think I stand a chance? I feel like they might look at my c at as and reject me because of that, especially because most people got 4a's. I really appreciate any advice! Thank you!xx