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Cambridge Medicine Students and Applicants

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Original post by beinlondon
Don't know, to me spreading too thinly is when doing 20 A levels. But yeah, I agree with everything else you said.

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This is going to sound harsh, I'm afraid, but if you have only achieved Bs at GCSE, what makes you think that you can so easily jump to very high As at AS/A*s at A2? You currently have no experience or evidence that you can work and perform to that level, so why push your luck even further by taking on more subjects than is necessary? Yes, some people do pull off amazing feats of improvement, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Don't get cocky too early.

For medicine, they're only really interested in the science subjects, so 4 is the max that would be relevant anyway. Perhaps 5 if you include FM, but most other medical schools don't consider it a separate subject so it's really not worth bothering with.
....


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Original post by Helenia
This is going to sound harsh, I'm afraid, but if you have only achieved Bs at GCSE, what makes you think that you can so easily jump to very high As at AS/A*s at A2? You currently have no experience or evidence that you can work and perform to that level, so why push your luck even further by taking on more subjects than is necessary? Yes, some people do pull off amazing feats of improvement, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Don't get cocky too early.

For medicine, they're only really interested in the science subjects, so 4 is the max that would be relevant anyway. Perhaps 5 if you include FM, but most other medical schools don't consider it a separate subject so it's really not worth bothering with.


Hey I wanted to ask, are u doing a levels or ur in a med school ?


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Original post by beinlondon
Hey I wanted to ask, are u doing a levels or ur in a med school ?


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I'm a doctor - I graduated from Cambridge in 2009. I've been around on TSR doing admissions advice for a very long time.
Ahh just read the winter pool handbook PDF thing..
So there is no winter pool for medics/maths people? Or just no auto-pooling? How/why is it different for medic /maths applicants?

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Original post by Razer_M
Ahh just read the winter pool handbook PDF thing..
So there is no winter pool for medics/maths people? Or just no auto-pooling? How/why is it different for medic /maths applicants?

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As I understand it, there is still a winter pool, but there are no "auto-pooling" criteria like there are for other subjects. Admissions for medicine are strictly limited by the GMC, and there are structures in place to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance (so that nobody is disadvantaged by applying to a more popular college, for example). They also have the BMAT to use as a decision making tool alongside AS UMS etc, which not all other subjects have. Because their numbers are so very strictly defined, they just don't have room to take more from the pool than they currently do, so by slightly limiting the number entering the pool they give those within it a fairer chance.

For maths I think it's more to do with everyone having high AS UMS for maths and that not necessarily correlating with ability to do well on the Cambridge maths course. I got 96% UMS at A-level Maths and I wouldn't last five minutes on the Cambridge course.
Original post by Helenia
*Lots of incredibly useful and helpful answers*.


Thank you! Makes perfect sense..unfortunately :frown:
It's already hard enough fro Med students -.-
Reply 2127
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Bomb
Original post by beinlondon
Don't know, to me spreading too thinly is when doing 20 A levels. But yeah, I agree with everything else you said.




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It won't take more than 5 A levels to spread someone thin.

I myself would not be considered as bright when compared to those on TSR as I achieved 4A*2B in IGCSE which is certainly on the low end of medical students/applicants.

I however fully understand your feeling to redeem yourself through A levels, which is exactly what I felt and did after IGCSEs one or two years ago.

Answering your question in the pm,

Academic info...



My average UMS for my early entry A levels is 97%, and I am a Cambridge medicine applicant for 2014 entry, whether I would get in though after my interview is another story. Therefore, it is certainly possible for you to get a high average UMS if you work hard in your A levels, and certainly possible to do more subjects. In fact I did more A levels than I did IGCSEs.

However, don't get complacent on how challenging A levels can be and certainly don't think it is easy. Don't think anything under 20 A levels would not stretch you thin, that would certainly be cocky and arrogant, from my prospective 5 A levels would be challenging enough and as other had said, getting a high average UMS in 4 subjects would better than doing 6 or 7 A levels with a mediocre UMS if you are hoping to get into Cambridge.
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by beinlondon
Might I be delighted to know, how did you increase your science knowledge ?


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What do you mean by this?

Yes I got a low score in the second part of my BMAT but seeing as I had a high AS UMS average the admissions tutor said it was clear I was good at the sciences, and the BMAT was just a blip!
Reply 2129
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MrJosh
How'd everyone get on?

I've been pooled by Trinity.
Reply 2130
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lulib
Any Caius offer?


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Robinson offer! A*A*A...speechless! Omg ahhhhhhhhhh. Good luck everyone else! And congrats to everyone who has their offers :smile:

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I got pooled by Christ's so fingers crossed - so glad that they think I'm good enough to go to Cambridge and didn't just reject me!!
Original post by Lemony13
I got pooled by Christ's so fingers crossed - so glad that they think I'm good enough to go to Cambridge and didn't just reject me!!


Might I ask what were your grades in Gcse and AS. What subjects you took in AS.


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Got an offer from Trinity Hall!!! Was told via email surprisingly enough; I'm still waiting for the post so I can find out what grades I actually need..... :redface:
Reply 2135
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lulib
Original post by Ceryni
Got an offer from Trinity Hall!!! Was told via email surprisingly enough; I'm still waiting for the post so I can find out what grades I actually need..... :redface:


Congratulations! You deserve it!
Can you please share your stats and BMAT?


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Original post by Ceryni
Got an offer from Trinity Hall!!! Was told via email surprisingly enough; I'm still waiting for the post so I can find out what grades I actually need..... :redface:


Well done!!! I'm happier for you than I am for myself lololol hopefully see you next year! Congrats!

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My son got an offer to study medicine at Jesus college.
His stats are
7 A*s and 4 As at GCSE
6 As at A/S UMS 89.1%
And BMAT 7.5, 7.9, 2A

His offer is A* A A inc biology and chemistry


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Original post by lulib
Congratulations! You deserve it!
Can you please share your stats and BMAT?

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Sure :smile:

GCSEs: 10A*s, 2As
AS: AAAA(a), in Bio, Chem, Phys, Maths and Further Maths. Average of 97.21% across all subjects (SUMS average)
A2 (predictions): A*A*A*A*A*
BMAT: 6.5, 6.4, 3.5A
Reply 2139
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lulib
Original post by Ceryni
Sure :smile:

GCSEs: 10A*s, 2As
AS: AAAA(a), in Bio, Chem, Phys, Maths and Further Maths. Average of 97.21% across all subjects (SUMS average)
A2 (predictions): A*A*A*A*A*
BMAT: 6.5, 6.4, 3.5A


Well done mate!


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