OMG OMG OMG
I'm absolutely distraught, I had my UKCAT today. I came in nearly late to the exam as I had to travel 50 miles to get to a test centre, an guess what there was traffic so I started the VR section with my heart racing like it was competing in the 100m olympic sprint
VR: 600 - In the mocks I was getting 670
.
QR: 710 - Surprised myself, I was getting 650 in the mocks.
AR: 590 - 700 in mocks. And they told me it was easier than the modify questions..
SJT: Band 2 - Should have gotten Band 1
Average UKCAT score: 633Here is my applicant profile.
GCSE: 6 A* 5 A and an A in Additional Maths
Also Deputy Head Boy at my High School.
AS: AAAAB - A's in Maths, Bio, Chem, Physics and a B in Critical Thinking.
Hoping for an A in EPQ this year
A2 Predictions: A*A*A* in Maths, Bio and ChemWork Experience
1 Week Cardiology
1 Week Respiratory Medicine
1 Week GP placement
10 Months Volunteering at a local Care Home as a Health Care Assistant.Recently got a job as a Health care assistant at another home. It also has a hospice unit and a nursing unit for injuries; I will be able to progress as a carer and develop my caring skills and see new perspectives in the caring profession.
Hobbies : General reading; BMJ , wikipedia. Weightlifting, Cardio.
Been going to extra spanish lessons to improve my spanish.Did NCS.
I'd like to highlight that I came to the UK in Year 5 and English is not my mother tongue. I don't know if Uni's take that into account in any way. Also I am a first generation applicant as well as coming from a bottom 20 percent area in terms of income as well as schools which are not known for their academic achievements. I hope the uni's I'll be applying to will take that into account.
After doing my research I believe that I should do the BMAT and apply to 1 or 2 BMAT unis and non UKCAT heavy unis.Here is a list of what I think are my best options.
Leicester: Gonna have a score of 41/48 and according to some TSR members then that is the cutoff for reaching an Interview. I am an all rounder and it seems like that's what Leicester is looking for in their medicine applicants.
UCL: Went to their Open Day, loved it. Wasn't sure if I wanted to do the BMAT after choosing my choices. I guess now I've got to do it.
Brighton: Another BMAT Uni; a uni that takes into account contextual data. Hearing its highly competitive though.
Lancaster: Another BMAT uni alternative.
Liverpool: I meet their unofficial ' cut off ' of 600 UKCAT points. Also have 18/18 in GCSE points. I will damn right make sure to let them know how committed I am to medicine and how much I value the caring experience that I had at my volunteering and what I want to get out of my employment.
Manchester: I know I know, UKCAT heavy Uni, but after doing a little research, my Area as well as school are ' geographical and educational indicators' which they take into account in their selection process and last year they allowed for a cutoff of 54th Percentile for UKCAT compared to 70th Percentile for 'Non-Geographical and Educational indicator' applicants. So I'm thinking, if 633 is going to be in the 50's in terms of percentile, then I meet their cutoff to reach the next stage which is Stage 3: Non Academic Selection criteria which I'm sure my work experience will come in handy.
https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/media/mhs/bmh-faculty/UoM_Medicine_Your_Application_16-17.pdfHYMS: HYMS: Combines GCSE's and UKCAT- Top 50 percent are given interviews- GCSE's are strong, UKCAT average I might get an Interview here. They too are a Uni that takes into account your geographical area and education so I believe that by God's grace, they would give me a chance at an interview.
UAE: Non- UKCAT heavy
Any advice guys ))