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Cambridge Medicine Students and Applicants

Reply 800

1

Most people have said everything already, so I'll just repeat again... OP you should look at the Cambridge Medics thread.

•

Do Chemistry + at the very minimum one other science (three sciences is definitely highly desirable).

•

Be at a level at which at least one A* is achievable.

•

Get good As at AS level - 90% is a good guideline, though there are no official figures that I'm aware of. The higher, the better, obviously...

•

Try and research what each college specifically is looking for - some have more emphasis on BMAT.

•

Do some BMAT preparation - look at some past questions, critical thinking questions. Getting scores that put you in the top 50% of BMAT candidates is probably a good idea. Some colleges may want more than that.

•

Make sure you understand what a Cambridge medical interview is like. Usually they are not just based around the standard 'why Medicine'/ethics/NHS type questions but focus considerably more on your scientific ability. Revise your AS level Chemistry and AS level Biology.

•

Extracurriculars are *not* as important as you might think, not for Cambridge. One of my friends on the course is an international student and didn't really do any work experience before applying, and Cambridge as I understand it looks at your academic merit above anything else. However ECs and work experience are more important than for other medical schools.

Reply 801

Alex D

8

jeeano

Wont the school check b4 they send off their applications and change them anywayz????

thats ridiculous if they lie and get offers. genuine wannabe medics who have truly earnt their grades may not get offers and thats a disgrace

They should do :yep:

Apparently, the guy posted earlier that they didn't lie on their forms, they just say they've got 10A*'s when people ask them. Either way, it's pathetic :cool:

Reply 802

merribel

"they really want at least 7 A*s ish (figure ive heard flying around)"

I'm not sure that 7 is what they're looking for ... I've been reading up on this and I think they want you to have the average number of GCSEs taken at your school at A and A* grades, including Science. I've also read that the occasional B in a practical subject like DT is OK.

This means that the number of GCSEs (and grades) expected depends on your secondary school.

I hope this helps! :yep:

Reply 803

spacepirate-James

18

Alex D

Like I said, it depends how bad it is :wink:

If someone has a bang on the head and loses consciousness they'd need the hospital. Then according to the doctor's decisions, they made need a scan to rule out blood clots.

Some people (especially old folk where the arteries are more 'worn') have the slightest bump on the head and get an epidural haematoma. Thick skulls like me (who decide to go and stop some trouble at the prom, runs and jumps down a banking and doesn't see the wire fence at the top, catches my foot and I fall 4 feet onto the side of my head :o:

) do stuff like I just mentioned and are fine :p:

Usually it's the side of the head in front of the ear where the bone is thinnest and veins and arteries are more easily torn :smile:

im being stupid, what is that? :p:

how do you learn this? is it done by organ? or done by illness, if that makes sense? just curious :woo:

Reply 804

Alex D

8

spacepirate-James

im being stupid, what is that? :p:

how do you learn this? is it done by organ? or done by illness, if that makes sense? just curious :woo:

Your not stupid, I'm just a neuro geek :teeth:

Epidural Haematoma

I haven't started med school yet, I just have a massive interest in the brain and brain injuries :p:

(wikipedia is my friend :ninja:

) And yeah, at Southampton at least, it's done by bodily system so when we study the nervous system, we'll study it's anatomy, physiology, pathology etc :smile:

Reply 805

spacepirate-James

18

Alex D

Your not stupid, I'm just a neuro geek :teeth:

Epidural Haematoma

I haven't started med school yet, I just have a massive interest in the brain and brain injuries :p:

(wikipedia is my friend :ninja:

) And yeah, at Southampton at least, it's done by bodily system so when we study the nervous system, we'll study it's anatomy, physiology, pathology etc :smile:

oh i love wikipedia :yep:

but im starting to annoy my bio teacher by asking constant under grad questions :ninja:

i dont know what i like........ pathology/immunology/virology...they're all good

Reply 806

Alex D

8

spacepirate-James

oh i love wikipedia :yep:

but im starting to annoy my bio teacher by asking constant under grad questions :ninja:

i dont know what i like........ pathology/immunology/virology...they're all good

Are you a 2010 med applicant?

Reply 807

spacepirate-James

18

Alex D

Are you a 2010 med applicant?

2011 applicant :p:

for deferred entry :ninja:

i think thats right..

Reply 808

Palladium

*Liana*

Most people have said everything already, so I'll just repeat again... OP you should look at the Cambridge Medics thread.

•

Do Chemistry + at the very minimum one other science (three sciences is definitely highly desirable).

•

Be at a level at which at least one A* is achievable.

•

Get good As at AS level - 90% is a good guideline, though there are no official figures that I'm aware of. The higher, the better, obviously...

•

Try and research what each college specifically is looking for - some have more emphasis on BMAT.

•

Do some BMAT preparation - look at some past questions, critical thinking questions. Getting scores that put you in the top 50% of BMAT candidates is probably a good idea. Some colleges may want more than that.

•

Make sure you understand what a Cambridge medical interview is like. Usually they are not just based around the standard 'why Medicine'/ethics/NHS type questions but focus considerably more on your scientific ability. Revise your AS level Chemistry and AS level Biology.

•

Extracurriculars are *not* as important as you might think, not for Cambridge. One of my friends on the course is an international student and didn't really do any work experience before applying, and Cambridge as I understand it looks at your academic merit above anything else. However ECs and work experience are more important than for other medical schools.

Thanks - this is the best advice by far! What sort of extra curricular activities can you do? Also, how do I prepare for the BMAT thanks :biggrin:

Reply 809

Palladium

Alex D

Your not stupid, I'm just a neuro geek :teeth:

Epidural Haematoma

I haven't started med school yet, I just have a massive interest in the brain and brain injuries :p:

(wikipedia is my friend :ninja:

) And yeah, at Southampton at least, it's done by bodily system so when we study the nervous system, we'll study it's anatomy, physiology, pathology etc :smile:

OMG same here! I love the brain - I want to be a neurosurgeon when I grow up :biggrin:

Reply 810

Woody.

12

Hey,

I was wondering if most colleges have a substantial reading list for applicants, after just browsing the Campus' websites, I didn't really see a list other than at Churchill, but I was wondering if anyone knew otherwise.

Thanks

Reply 811

spacepirate-James

18

same here

Reply 812

BreakneckWalrus

So I'm in O3 right now, and I've been thinking I want to go to Cambridge for med school.

That's all very well, but the problem is I only take 5 subjects. I live in Pakistan. I moved here 2 years ago, from America, and decided to forego any extra subjects, and just opted for Bio, Chem, Phys, Maths, and English. Now I've realized that this was a big mistake.

Assuming I get all A's in my final exams, and assuming that in my AS year I take 5-6 subjects and achieve all A's in those as well, and that my BMAT goes well, and my interview and essays, and that I actually have a spread of ECs, do you think I stand a chance at gaining admission? Or am I better off learning those few extra subjects and taking them privately?

Thanks in advance.

Reply 813

spacepirate-James

18

wait im confused, are u meaning GCSE kinda things?

ach, there will be more qualified and smarter people on this thread soon.....

Reply 814

Kinsula

9

???
You only need 3

Reply 815

wer343lit

11

I assume he means he's taking 5 of GCSE equivalents, NOT AS Levels, since he says he's doing those next year.

Reply 816

wer343lit

11

Kinsula

???
You only need 3

"Assuming I get all A's in my final exams, and assuming that in my AS year..."

You only need 3 subjects in your exams the year before you start your AS Levels?

Reply 817

Aphotic Cosmos

17

Oxford and Cambridge don't care as long as you've got your AAA/A*AA and are demonstrably enthusiastic about your subject to the extant that you can have a lengthy conversation on it during your interview.

EDIT: For GCSEs/IGCSEs, the average Oxbridge applicant has typically one or more A*s and mostly As and Bs in other subjects. As long as you have 5 good GCSEs including mathematics, english and, for some subjects, a relevant science, language or other subject, then it's fine, although the average Oxbridge applicant would have typically about 10+ GCSEs.

Reply 818

Kinsula

9

Jonty99

"Assuming I get all A's in my final exams, and assuming that in my AS year..."

You only need 3 subjects in your exams the year before you start your AS Levels?

Ah, no. It sounded like you were talking about A-Level subjects.
GCSEs or whatever courses you're doing shouldn't matter that much as long as you have good grades in them. To be sure, you should contact the admissions department by phone or email

Reply 819

wer343lit

11

Kinsula

Ah, no. It sounded like you were talking about A-Level subjects.
GCSEs or whatever courses you're doing shouldn't matter that much as long as you have good grades in them. To be sure, you should contact the admissions department by phone or email

Heh, you've confused me with the OP. :p:

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