The Student Room Group

Cardiff Medical School Applicants 2014

Facebook Group!
ThestralQuill67 has made a Facebook group for 2014 offer holders to join and get to know each other. You can find it here. There will be an official MedSoc page set up in the summer so keep an eye out for that, but until then join this one and get socialising with your friends for the next five years!


It's coming to that time of year now where applicants start finalising their UCAS choices so thought I'd best get this thread started.

There are a few Cardiff medics on TSR, I'll be starting third year in september and there are a couple of others from various years of the course who will try their best to answer any questions you post in this thread. You can also PM myself with any queries you have and I'll try and help you out.

If you wish to look at the thread for 2013 entry you can find that here.

You should also take a look at the medical school's website, particularly the admissions policy.

Angury has found this video of Stephen Fry explaining some of the reasons why Cardiff is a wonderful university to study at. Take a look if you have time.

I hope you find this thread useful and I wish you luck with your applications! :smile:

EDIT: The admissions policy for the 2014-2015 cycle has been taken down and replaced with the policy for the 2015-2016 cycle which can be found here. Please bear in mind that if you have applied for 2014 entry the updated policy may contain some changes that do not apply to you.
(edited 10 years ago)

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Reply 1
:woo: Good luck to all the applicants. Feel free to ask any questions about the university or the course itself. :smile:
Reply 2
Good luck to everyone! :3
Good luck everybody :biggrin: Got in through deferred entry so i'll see y'all next year :biggrin:
Reply 4
Original post by Elwyn
It's coming to that time of year now where applicants start finalising their UCAS choices so thought I'd best get this thread started.

There are a few Cardiff medics on TSR, I'll be starting third year in september and there are a couple of others from various years of the course who will try their best to answer any questions you post in this thread. You can also PM myself with any queries you have and I'll try and help you out.

If you wish to look at the thread for 2013 entry you can find that here.

You should also take a look at the medical school's website, particularly the admissions policy.

I hope you find this thread useful and I wish you luck with your applications! :smile:


Same question I posted before :biggrin:

Will they consider me if I resit my GCSEs to get more A*s?

I got 3A*s 5As and 2Bs which I know is low comparatively :frown:
I also achieved A*AAb at A level (reapplicant)

Do I have a chance or will it be pointless because of my GCSEs ?

Also I read that the UKCAT is only used for borderline cases. So if I got a ridiculously low score I would still be considered but rejected because of UKCAT only after jnterview?


Posted from TSR Mobile
Reply 5
Original post by Dr.Ugs
Same question I posted before :biggrin:

Will they consider me if I resit my GCSEs to get more A*s?

I got 3A*s 5As and 2Bs which I know is low comparatively :frown:
I also achieved A*AAb at A level (reapplicant)

Do I have a chance or will it be pointless because of my GCSEs ?

Also I read that the UKCAT is only used for borderline cases. So if I got a ridiculously low score I would still be considered but rejected because of UKCAT only after jnterview?


Posted from TSR Mobile


Hey. So assuming that second B isn't in maths, english language or a science your score is 20. Now, I'm not entirely sure what extra points you get for known A2 grades. I heard a figure of 3 extra points being mentioned on the thread for 2013 entry but not sure how reliable this is. A score of 23 is likely to be below the cut-off so you really need to find out about these extra points. I will get in touch with the admin team and see if I can get you some sort of answer in the week.

As for resitting GCSEs, the admissions policy does state that GCSE resits are not permitted so you'd be stuck with the grades you have I'm afraid.

And as far as the UKCAT goes, it's nothing to worry about when applying to Cardiff. It shouldn't be a deciding factor in whether you apply to Cardiff or not.

Hope that helps and I'll try to get you some extra information in the week :smile:
Reply 6
I'm hoping to apply can anybody tell me if the ukcat is used to select for interview or after interview? Also how good does the personal statement have to be and what was the gcse cut off for this year-2013?
Reply 7
Original post by Elwyn
Hey. So assuming that second B isn't in maths, english language or a science your score is 20. Now, I'm not entirely sure what extra points you get for known A2 grades. I heard a figure of 3 extra points being mentioned on the thread for 2013 entry but not sure how reliable this is. A score of 23 is likely to be below the cut-off so you really need to find out about these extra points. I will get in touch with the admin team and see if I can get you some sort of answer in the week.

As for resitting GCSEs, the admissions policy does state that GCSE resits are not permitted so you'd be stuck with the grades you have I'm afraid.

And as far as the UKCAT goes, it's nothing to worry about when applying to Cardiff. It shouldn't be a deciding factor in whether you apply to Cardiff or not.

Hope that helps and I'll try to get you some extra information in the week :smile:


Thank you so much :smile:


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Reply 8
How does the case based learning work?
Reply 9
Original post by uchikchi
How does the case based learning work?


This type of learning is a new style that is going to be introduced to Cardiff for the first years starting next month. So, I obviously haven't had any first hand experience with it but have been told what it involves.

The first thing you need to know is that this is not problem based learning. It's a far more structured and supportive learning style than PBL and will ensure each student has had the same learning opportunities and receives the very best quality of teaching.

In terms of timetables, I seem to recall you'd be presented with a case on the monday morning, and the teaching for the following week or so will be based around this case. So, for example, lets say the case presented involved a patient presenting with an injured knee after a sporting injury. The teaching sessions following this will be focused around this case. So in lectures you may learn about mechanisms of inflammation and anti-inflammatory medications, in the dissection room you'll be dissecting the relevant area (so the knee), on placement you may be in a physiotherapy clinic dealing with sporting injuries and in the clinical skills labs you may learn how to examine a knee.

I hope that answers your question but if it doesn't let me know :smile:
Reply 10
Hey!

I was hoping I could maybe get some advice about grades. I'm just starting Year 12 in September but I'd been hoping to go to Cardiff for Medicine since Year 10. I never knew they focused so much on GCSE results until the night before Results Day. My school only offered a limited amount of GCSEs, so discounting Short Courses (as I believe Cardiff does), I only have 8 GCSEs in total. I have 4A*s and 4As. I know that gives me a point score of 20, but is it likely they'll take into consideration the fact I don't even have nine GCSEs into account if I were to apply?

Also, I'm a part of the Step-Up University programme with Cardiff, and I'm fairly certain in the application it mentions guaranteed interviews for certain courses. Does anyone know if that applies to Medicine, or?

I know I'm quite young to be asking, since I won't be able to apply until next year, but I want to find out as much as I can now so if I know there's no chance I can get into Cardiff as I'd hoped I'll have time to look for other schools or possibly other courses.

Thanks in advance!
Reply 11
Original post by Chloconut
Hey!

I was hoping I could maybe get some advice about grades. I'm just starting Year 12 in September but I'd been hoping to go to Cardiff for Medicine since Year 10. I never knew they focused so much on GCSE results until the night before Results Day. My school only offered a limited amount of GCSEs, so discounting Short Courses (as I believe Cardiff does), I only have 8 GCSEs in total. I have 4A*s and 4As. I know that gives me a point score of 20, but is it likely they'll take into consideration the fact I don't even have nine GCSEs into account if I were to apply?

Also, I'm a part of the Step-Up University programme with Cardiff, and I'm fairly certain in the application it mentions guaranteed interviews for certain courses. Does anyone know if that applies to Medicine, or?

I know I'm quite young to be asking, since I won't be able to apply until next year, but I want to find out as much as I can now so if I know there's no chance I can get into Cardiff as I'd hoped I'll have time to look for other schools or possibly other courses.

Thanks in advance!


Hey.

So first of all you're right in saying Cardiff discount short courses, which means you do need an extra GCSE. The only option I can think of for you is to undertake an additional GCSE over the next year if you can find a way to do this in your own time. However, having said that even if you obtained an A* in that GCSE your score would be 23 which I think is probably going to still be too low, so you'd need to take an additional two GCSEs and gain A*s in both to gain a higher GCSE score.

Unfortunately I am not familiar with the step-up programme. Is it something for students from the south wales area? I'm from south wales but I don't think this programme was around when I applied. Whether or not this programme will mean they'll be more lenient with your GCSEs I'm not sure so it's probably best you get in touch with the admissions team and find out.

I wish you the best of luck, but just remember that Cardiff is only one of many medical schools, your GCSEs are fine for most places. It's just unfortunate that Cardiff has such a high GCSE criteria.
Reply 12
Original post by Elwyn
This type of learning is a new style that is going to be introduced to Cardiff for the first years starting next month. So, I obviously haven't had any first hand experience with it but have been told what it involves.

The first thing you need to know is that this is not problem based learning. It's a far more structured and supportive learning style than PBL and will ensure each student has had the same learning opportunities and receives the very best quality of teaching.

In terms of timetables, I seem to recall you'd be presented with a case on the monday morning, and the teaching for the following week or so will be based around this case. So, for example, lets say the case presented involved a patient presenting with an injured knee after a sporting injury. The teaching sessions following this will be focused around this case. So in lectures you may learn about mechanisms of inflammation and anti-inflammatory medications, in the dissection room you'll be dissecting the relevant area (so the knee), on placement you may be in a physiotherapy clinic dealing with sporting injuries and in the clinical skills labs you may learn how to examine a knee.

I hope that answers your question but if it doesn't let me know :smile:


Thank you! It really does!
What about life in Cardiff? And being on a different campus to most other students? Sorry to bombard you but you did so well the first time :biggrin:
Reply 13
Original post by uchikchi
Thank you! It really does!
What about life in Cardiff? And being on a different campus to most other students? Sorry to bombard you but you did so well the first time :biggrin:


Cardiff is a wonderful city. I may be a little biased because I'm from an area not far from Cardiff and obviously I study there but I think most people you ask would agree. The city itself is large enough to ensure there's plenty to keep you entertained but small enough that you don't feel lost or overwhelmed. You should sign up for an open day so you can come and see the university and the city before you make your choices.

Being on a different campus really isn't much of an issue. For my first two years we were mainly based at Biosci which is at the main campus, but in all honesty I don't think being based at the hospital for the next three years is going to make much of a difference to me. All students usually rent houses in the same area anyway so outside of uni time you'll still be mixed in with students from all other courses which means you don't have to be stuck with other medics (not that that's a bad thing :tongue:).
Original post by TheMan17
I'm hoping to apply can anybody tell me if the ukcat is used to select for interview or after interview? Also how good does the personal statement have to be and what was the gcse cut off for this year-2013?


UKCAT is used for borderline cases post-interview, a tie-breaker between similar candidates as it were.

Your personal statement should be good, as in evidence of work experience and reasoning for choosing medicine. For Cardiff interviews it is basically walking through your personal statement with detailed questioning on it so certainly know it inside out.
Reply 15
Original post by Muppet Science
UKCAT is used for borderline cases post-interview, a tie-breaker between similar candidates as it were.

Your personal statement should be good, as in evidence of work experience and reasoning for choosing medicine. For Cardiff interviews it is basically walking through your personal statement with detailed questioning on it so certainly know it inside out.



so UKCAT is not used at all pre-interview? and thank you for the information :smile:
Original post by TheMan17
so UKCAT is not used at all pre-interview? and thank you for the information :smile:


For the last admissions round that is correct. :smile:
Reply 17
Original post by TheMan17
so UKCAT is not used at all pre-interview? and thank you for the information :smile:


Yeah. A poor UKCAT score is no reason at all not to apply to Cardiff. For all intents & purposes you should treat Cardiff as if they don't use the UKCAT.
One of the things cardiff look for in the Personal Statement is 'study skills' what does that mean?

Also they look for social awareness and responsibility, is that just showing you can communicate with people and your leadership skills respectively?
Reply 19
Original post by Dr.Ugs
Thank you so much :smile:

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I still haven't found an answer to your question but the admin lady has told me she'll let me know if she finds out.

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