Graduate Entry Medicine 2017 Watch

(Original post by AdamCW)
Just after a little help if anyone can advise

I'm currently in my final year with the Open University, studying for a BSc in Natural Sciences with a heavily-based Biology/Medicine syllabus and should graduate in June with a 2:1... permitting procrastination keeps its dirty hands off me. I've done plenty of 'extracurricular' activities and have gained medical/healthcare experience while doing my degree although I won't list it all here.

The (GEM) medical schools I was wanting to apply to were ICL, Kings, Southampton and St Barts (Although I've recently seen St Barts requires a B at AS level in Chemistry so St Georges was the other choice).

The problem is,
ICL - BMATSouthampton - UKCATKings - UKCATSt Georges - GAMSATObviously, I don't want to pay for and do all 3 different entrance exams so what would you guys recommend? Imperial would be my first choice but being BMAT, you're applying blind, and I kind of feel it's a little too prestigious for myself and would rather apply for 4 'realistic school's' over 3 and a 'dream'. There again, with a 2:1 and a good BMAT score, anything can happen.

Would you guys recommend choosing 4 schools and sitting the UKCAT and GAMSAT, thus ignoring the likes of ICL and UCL but being able to apply for GEM at St Georges (a good insurance med school due to its 2:2 requirement, incase I mess up) or sit UKCAT and BMAT and 'dream big'?

Thanks for any advise you guys have,

Adam

Hi AdamCW

I think that ultimately you need to make this decision based on where you would really like to study, which only you really know. What I would say though, is there is nothing wrong with 'dreaming big'.

If you do decide to sit the UKCAT and BMAT, do bear in mind that there is a lot you can do to give yourself the best chance of succeeding. It does all come down to preparation and practice. The fact that you have done your degree via the Open University would indicate that you are very self-motivated, therefore I would imagine that you would have no problem in taking all the steps necessary to prepare yourself properly for the UKCAT and BMAT.

There are many resources available to you for both of these admissions tests in the form of books, mock papers and courses. Once you have made your decision about where to apply to, and you know which tests you will need to prepare for, I'm happy to advise on the best resources for you.

I hope that has been of some help... good luck with your decision.

UniAdmissions

I wasn't aware about the funding of Imperial actually, no. Ever since I saw they replaced their UKCAT component with BMAT, I haven't looked much into it. I'll check their funding page on their site now but I'm sure you're right.

And yes, I think it will merely come down to me personally. So many decisions to sort and decide upon. I've got time though.. I hope.


Posted from TSR Mobile

(Original post by hopefuldoctor)
Hey guys,
I was just wondering in regards to work experience. I've done the required 2 weeks work experience before (but this was about 2/3 years ago) I've arranged some more work exp but because my hospital had a LOT of applications it's possible I won't be able to undertake anymore experience until after the application closing date. Anyone know what else I could do and what I'd need to write on the work exp forms when they send them out? Would it hinder my application if I said I had arranged work exp but for a later date? Also I do have about a year/year and a half volunteering experience at the hospital but again this was about 2 years ago before I started university? Do unis look down on that and want something more recent?
Unis I'm applying for are: Newcastle, Warwick, Kings and St Barts :/

Hey, I'm also looking to apply to these universities too. Though with the way UKCAT prep is going I prob won't make it this year. I just cant seem to get quick at all, and the Qs i do answer are wrong . Regards work experience, the other Uni's are OK regards work experience 2/3 years ago as long as your involved in the healthcare some way now. However, Warwick won't accept that, you'd have to have some volunteering/work in a hospice/care home/hospital within the last 2 years for them to accept, and thats cant be part of your degree.

Good Luck with the application!, there's plenty of time to fit in 70hrs of work experience.*

(Original post by paniking_and_not_revising)
Probably after 15 Oct since that's the UCAS deadline.

Yeah I'm going to do some extra volunteering in August but I've heard that the 70 hours has to come from at least 2 places. Not sure if it's correct though. * *I apparently got the offer on 24 May but never heard anything. Is there a number you could call?

I got no contact details but figured they'd get in touch with me eventually and then I thought they changed their minds or something so booked some time away in September before the GAMSAT so I can get ready without being around my family. So now I need that time off from the job.

Ahh I hate being adult-ish. I just want to be a kid again.

Yes the 70hrs should be from two diff places at least :-)

(Original post by hayleeyy)
I am using the 1000q book and will use medify closer to the time as well as the official UKCAT resources and mock exams.

Does anyone know what (roughly) will be a good enough score to be considered for interviews? *

I have been preparing for over a week, I just cant seem to get my head around UKCAT!!! Going to miserably fail*

(Original post by Marathi)
Warwick, at least, wants something within the last 2 years, the other universities I am not so sure about but it is most likely going to be a similar case.

Yeah I know about Warwick, but I applied for work exp BACK in February/March time for work exp in August which would've been fine. But I didn't hear anything back so to ease my worries I emailed the people that sort the work exp at my hospital out and asked. She told me that due to a high number of people asking for work exp they're doing it on a first come first serve basis and that I'll have to wait till after august for a placement as obviously even though I applied back in February there's still people before me. What I was asking was if I arrange the work experience for AFTER the UCAS deadline date but before the interview would Warwick and other unis still accept my application. I've already got work exp and volunteering but I know Warwick wanted something more recent hence why I tried to arrange some more.
Hope this makes sense.

(Original post by 123ash)
Hey, I'm also looking to apply to these universities too. Though with the way UKCAT prep is going I prob won't make it this year. I just cant seem to get quick at all, and the Qs i do answer are wrong . Regards work experience, the other Uni's are OK regards work experience 2/3 years ago as long as your involved in the healthcare some way now. However, Warwick won't accept that, you'd have to have some volunteering/work in a hospice/care home/hospital within the last 2 years for them to accept, and thats cant be part of your degree.

Good Luck with the application!, there's plenty of time to fit in 70hrs of work experience.*

Hi 123ash

When is your UKCAT booked for?

Hopefully you still have plenty of time to do lots of practise. Ideally you should be setting aside 4+ hours a day in the weeks leading up to your test. The more you can do, the better you will get at it.

Can I ask if you have considered getting any help with your preparation? There are lots of time saving techniques and strategies that can be learnt to help you succeed. You could do an intense course if you are short on time or otherwise there is an online option which means you can do it all from home at your own pace. Let me know if you would like any more information about these.

In the meantime, you should have a read of this blog for some tips. Hopefully you'll find it useful.

Good luck with it all. Do give me a shout if you need any help.

UniAdmissions

(Original post by 123ash)
Hey, I'm also looking to apply to these universities too. Though with the way UKCAT prep is going I prob won't make it this year. I just cant seem to get quick at all, and the Qs i do answer are wrong . Regards work experience, the other Uni's are OK regards work experience 2/3 years ago as long as your involved in the healthcare some way now. However, Warwick won't accept that, you'd have to have some volunteering/work in a hospice/care home/hospital within the last 2 years for them to accept, and thats cant be part of your degree.

Good Luck with the application!, there's plenty of time to fit in 70hrs of work experience.*

I've done the UKCAT like twice before so I understand the format and stuff BUT to really try and get a high score I'm going to the Kaplan course in Manchester, it's expensive but I really do wanna do better on the UKCAT to be considered for interview. I'm not really involved with the healthcare stuff right now either because I have a part time job in retail atm but I might try looking into volunteering at a care home or something because that'll add to work experience hours AND volunteering. I used to volunteer at the hospital for over a year and then when uni came round I didn't have as much time plus I was also working at the same time I was volunteering and going to uni.
I hope you do well on the UKCAT and get to apply this year. PM if you wanna talk more about the unis and stuff, hopefully we see each other at interview

(Original post by UniAdmissions)
Hi 123ash

When is your UKCAT booked for?

Hopefully you still have plenty of time to do lots of practise. Ideally you should be setting aside 4+ hours a day in the weeks leading up to your test. The more you can do, the better you will get at it.

Can I ask if you have considered getting any help with your preparation? There are lots of time saving techniques and strategies that can be learnt to help you succeed. You could do an intense course if you are short on time or otherwise there is an online option which means you can do it all from home at your own pace. Let me know if you would like any more information about these.

In the meantime, you should have a read of this blog for some tips. Hopefully you'll find it useful.

Good luck with it all. Do give me a shout if you need any help.

UniAdmissions

Hello UK Admissions,*

It's booked for 20th August. I have been preparing for at least two weeks, spending a few hours a day. I've covered the techniques through the books i bought. I have not yet attempted any online tests or resources and will start the 1000 UKCAT book today. But every time I actually times myself using the score higher in medicine and mastering the UKCAT. I can not complete the given Qs within the time and Qs i do answer are wrong, because im thinking 30 seconds and just miss the key words when scanning. Im completely stressing myself, which isn't helping ::::-(.

im a very mature student, I'm good at organising my time, but because I am doing so bad i lose focus. I've also completed distant learning courses from home, but UKCAT is making me think how i managed to succeed in anything.

(Original post by hopefuldoctor)
I've done the UKCAT like twice before so I understand the format and stuff BUT to really try and get a high score I'm going to the Kaplan course in Manchester, it's expensive but I really do wanna do better on the UKCAT to be considered for interview. I'm not really involved with the healthcare stuff right now either because I have a part time job in retail atm but I might try looking into volunteering at a care home or something because that'll add to work experience hours AND volunteering. I used to volunteer at the hospital for over a year and then when uni came round I didn't have as much time plus I was also working at the same time I was volunteering and going to uni.
I hope you do well on the UKCAT and get to apply this year. PM if you wanna talk more about the unis and stuff, hopefully we see each other at interview

I cant afford the Kaplan Course :::-(.*

(Original post by 123ash)
Hello UK Admissions,*

It's booked for 20th August. I have been preparing for at least two weeks, spending a few hours a day. I've covered the techniques through the books i bought. I have not yet attempted any online tests or resources and will start the 1000 UKCAT book today. But every time I actually times myself using the score higher in medicine and mastering the UKCAT. I can not complete the given Qs within the time and Qs i do answer are wrong, because im thinking 30 seconds and just miss the key words when scanning. Im completely stressing myself, which isn't helping ::::-(.

im a very mature student, I'm good at organising my time, but because I am doing so bad i lose focus. I've also completed distant learning courses from home, but UKCAT is making me think how i managed to succeed in anything.

Hi 123ash

Firstly, please don't be disheartened and try not to allow yourself to get stressed... as you quite rightly say, that won't help you. You still have plenty of time before your test date.

It is great that you are spending plenty of time preparing, you are doing all the right things. To me, it sounds as though what you are missing is some techniques and strategies for saving time and helping you to succeed.

Have you thought about a UKCAT course either in person or online? These techniques are exactly the sort of thing you would learn on one of these courses so I think it would really benefit you.

If you are not sure why taking a course would benefit you, you should have a read of this blog and watch this video.

I hope that has helped... do give me a shout if you have any more questions.

UniAdmissions

(Original post by AdamCW)
Just after a little help if anyone can advise

Would you guys recommend choosing 4 schools and sitting the UKCAT and GAMSAT, thus ignoring the likes of ICL and UCL but being able to apply for GEM at St Georges (a good insurance med school due to its 2:2 requirement, incase I mess up) or sit UKCAT and BMAT and 'dream big'?

Thanks for any advise you guys have,

Adam

Also just to let you know, St Georges have increased their requirement to a minimum of a 2:1 now. It should say so on their website. I think only Notts requires a 2:2, not sure but its best to double check

(Original post by UniAdmissions)
Hi 123ash

Firstly, please don't be disheartened and try not to allow yourself to get stressed... as you quite rightly say, that won't help you. You still have plenty of time before your test date.

It is great that you are spending plenty of time preparing, you are doing all the right things. To me, it sounds as though what you are missing is some techniques and strategies for saving time and helping you to succeed.

Have you thought about a UKCAT course either in person or online? These techniques are exactly the sort of thing you would learn on one of these courses so I think it would really benefit you.

If you are not sure why taking a course would benefit you, you should have a read of this blog and watch this video.

I hope that has helped... do give me a shout if you have any more questions.

UniAdmissions

Firstly sorry for the UK Admissions, and nit Uni Admissions. I'm going to blame the stress of UKCAT!. *There is no spaces left up to my test day on the intensive courses which i think I would have benefitted from. Regards the online course, I feel as though learning online will be the same as I am now. However, I am thinking of ordering the book.*

Thanks

Yeah you're right. I only considered St Georges as a good backup because of location, and the fact the St Barts requires a B in Chem at AS. But yes, St Georges is a minimum of a 2:1 now.

I guess I'll sit my UKCAT around 25th September and go from there. If it's a good result, i can not worry as much and apply to more 'heavy' weighted UKCAT schools. Otherwise I'll sit BMAT too in November and try my luck there.

(Original post by AdamCW)
Yeah you're right. I only considered St Georges as a good backup because of location, and the fact the St Barts requires a B in Chem at AS. But yes, St Georges is a minimum of a 2:1 now.

I guess I'll sit my UKCAT around 25th September and go from there. If it's a good result, i can not worry as much and apply to more 'heavy' weighted UKCAT schools. Otherwise I'll sit BMAT too in November and try my luck there.

Is the deadline application not October 15th, how can you be trying BMAT in November?

Sorry if that's a silly Question.*

Not a silly question at all. I'm still educating myself on these processes.

It's my understanding that your results for GAMSAT (14th Sep) and UKCAT (4th Oct latest) will both be on your UCAS application to the relevant universities.

But, If you're applying to a medical school that requires BMAT (ICL, UCL, Brighton), you will need to apply and then hope that you perform well in the BMAT test. It basically is a bit of a bugger because if you mess up your BMAT, you have wasted some of your choices. Make sense? Basically, don't apply to 4 medical schools that all require BMAT

And yes sorry, forgot to write it... The BMAT test is on the 2nd Nov I think, with UCAS applications submitted on the 15th October.

(Original post by Medici103)
When I started as an HCA, I was offered the job in August but then didn't start til September. It's normal for NHS apparently. As for the two sources, Warwick did indeed say that a maximum of 50 hours could come from one source and that the remaining 20 should be from something else. They were also quite prescriptive regarding what they would and wouldn't accept. A list is on their website, or so they said, I haven't checked.

That's only a 1 month wait. I've been waiting a lot longer.

I was meant to start 2 weeks ago.

Ah that sucks. I've emailed them to ask whether working in an opticians would count but I don't really want to include that since my manager hated me and the entire store was inept and incompetent. I'll be dead by the time someone provides the reference.

(Original post by koolkat95)
Well I called them today and the lady in HR said they hadn't received an application request or something, from the department that hired. And then all she said was I've sent an email and that's it. She didn't say whether she'd call me back or anything like that.

This is stressing me out, I wanna join you on the journey of being a kid again when all I cared about was ice-cream :'(

Huh that's weird. Did you apply through the NHS site?

That's the great thing about childhood. All you cared about was something insignificant but it meant to much to you.

Guysss ?
Should i take any ukcat courses ? !are they useful? Kaplan or medicportal? Like do they give tips and ideas?

(Original post by AdamCW)
Not a silly question at all. I'm still educating myself on these processes.

It's my understanding that your results for GAMSAT (14th Sep) and UKCAT (4th Oct latest) will both be on your UCAS application to the relevant universities.

But, If you're applying to a medical school that requires BMAT (ICL, UCL, Brighton), you will need to apply and then hope that you perform well in the BMAT test. It basically is a bit of a bugger because if you mess up your BMAT, you have wasted some of your choices. Make sense? Basically, don't apply to 4 medical schools that all require BMAT

Thank you for that information. Thats really helpful. I guess if you get your GAMSAT and UKCAT results before you apply and miss the cut off, then you could apply to BMAT universities and hope for the best.

So thank you for that information. I wasn't aware of that.*