Cambridge Medicine Students and Applicants

Thank you everyone for the advice I will take it on board! I'll lave the job now as my week is pretty clogged up... I'm more set on medicine than going to Cambridge, so I ill attain all the relevant experience Eric, however I'm still going to apply to Cambridge if I get sufficient UMS because of personal reasons :biggrin:

(not just because of its prestige!)

Reply 1641

joyie

Original post by Medicine1234

Thank you everyone for the advice I will take it on board! I'll lave the job now as my week is pretty clogged up... I'm more set on medicine than going to Cambridge, so I ill attain all the relevant experience Eric, however I'm still going to apply to Cambridge if I get sufficient UMS because of personal reasons :biggrin:

(not just because of its prestige!)

apply if you get all As (even if your UMS is in the 80s) cos otherwise you'll regret not applying and always wonder "what might have happened if..."

Reply 1642

Ferret604

I dislike the attitude shown by people above. It is completely wrong to attempt to discourage you. I got in with 5 A*s 3As and 2Bs. A friend got 11A*s and was rejected. GCSE results alone will not get you an offer at Cambridge. Do your best at AS and then reevaluate once you have the results. Please remember that for medicine most applicants do not get a full house of offers and it is important to consider which other universities you apply to. Any more questions please feel free to message me.

Reply 1643

Onee-chan

1

Hi guys!

I was just wondering if anyone can give some advice on an upcoming first year medicine mock exam (next next Monday) and ultimately the exam? :biggrin:

Thanks!

I find it impossible to keep the essays to within the time limits and still include enough detail - I guess it boils down to not knowing which are the strictly relevant parts! Any tips? :tongue:

For FAB, I've heard that the dissection manual and lecture notes are not enough, but it seems pretty much identical to information in Gray's? Also, how likely is it for the MCQs to bring up your grade? As I heard that they get massively scaled down.

Any fellow first year medics, feel free to discuss! Where are you guys in terms of revision? :tongue:

Many thanks,

Onee-chan

Reply 1644

tomkeys

2

I've got mocks the same day. I'd say your supervisors would probably be very helpful in answering some your questions. For revision, I've used the lecture notes and textbooks, etc. I think the notes from supervisions will come in really handy, too. And I've found simply writing essays is good for getting you used to the time discipline, etc.

I've procrastinated too much, so I returned to college today to try to get some work done in the time left. One positive from the Christmas holiday (aside from the fact I did get some work done) is that I have realised how much time I waste!

Edit: I see you are at Caius. In that case, you're meant to be the one answering questions of this kind, not posing them :tongue:

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 1645

Helenia

20

Original post by Onee-chan

Hi guys!

I was just wondering if anyone can give some advice on an upcoming first year medicine mock exam (next next Monday) and ultimately the exam? :biggrin:

Thanks!

I find it impossible to keep the essays to within the time limits and still include enough detail - I guess it boils down to not knowing which are the strictly relevant parts! Any tips? :tongue:

For FAB, I've heard that the dissection manual and lecture notes are not enough, but it seems pretty much identical to information in Gray's? Also, how likely is it for the MCQs to bring up your grade? As I heard that they get massively scaled down.

Any fellow first year medics, feel free to discuss! Where are you guys in terms of revision? :tongue:

Many thanks,

Onee-chan

For your essays, you can use bullet points and diagrams wherever possible. You don't get marks for nice prose! I actually missed my first year mocks because I was ill, but in my actual 1A exams in the summer, my MCQ and steeplechase marks were a LOT higher than my essay ones, no idea exactly how they weight it.

Reply 1646

WenlockRhys

Hi all,
Ive just received a conditional offer from Downing for medicine! (was very shocked).
But i'm just wondering how you all have found the course? I know its quite alot more difficult and taxing than other places, but do you believe its manageable?

Reply 1647

Katie00111

2

What is your secret? I'm really worried. I'm hoping for an A* in Biology and Chemistry - not sure whether to study Mathematics/History at A2, what do you recommend? I'm sure I could attain an A/A* in History but I'm worried that I won't be able to get that in Maths...HELP?

I'm planning on applying for Medicine. Very competitive, I know.

I've gotten into a very good sixth form (currently in year 11 still) - thinking ahead I suppose. Is there anything I can do now that would make my application stand out/enhance it at all? Apart from work experience - I've got that covered. Another qualification? A study outside of school?

I'm on my way to 8 A*s at GCSE. Should be fine - they're easy enough compared to A levels (I'm study Chemistry, Biology and Maths early as I have finished these GCSEs a long time ago).

Please? I'm on my knees begging for advice here. I want the best education I can, as you guys do and are going to get... congratulations to all of you!

Reply 1648

Helenia

20

Original post by katiemcswiney

What is your secret? I'm really worried. I'm hoping for an A* in Biology and Chemistry - not sure whether to study Mathematics/History at A2, what do you recommend? I'm sure I could attain an A/A* in History but I'm worried that I won't be able to get that in Maths...HELP?

I'm planning on applying for Medicine. Very competitive, I know.

I've gotten into a very good sixth form (currently in year 11 still) - thinking ahead I suppose. Is there anything I can do now that would make my application stand out/enhance it at all? Apart from work experience - I've got that covered. Another qualification? A study outside of school?

I'm on my way to 8 A*s at GCSE. Should be fine - they're easy enough compared to A levels (I'm study Chemistry, Biology and Maths early as I have finished these GCSEs a long time ago).

Please? I'm on my knees begging for advice here. I want the best education I can, as you guys do and are going to get... congratulations to all of you!

First things first, CALM DOWN. You are only in year 11, so university applications are a long way off. Yes, it's good to be prepared, but you don't want to spend the next two years in a perpetual state of panic.

Next, subject choices. If you want to apply to Cambridge then you definitely need three sciences (this includes Maths) to at least AS level, so the four subjects you've listed there will be absolutely fine. There are a handful of colleges who require 3 sciences to full A2, for the rest of them 2 is fine as long as one is Chemistry, but it is worth noting that the vast majority of successful Cambridge applicants have 3 sciences to A2 level. Obviously you don't have to make any decisions right now, because you've not even started your A-level courses, and from experience A-level Maths (and bits of the other subjects!) is very different from GCSE, but it's worth bearing in mind.

You said that you have already started your A-level courses in Chemistry, Biology and Maths. I would be careful with when you take your exams, as some medical schools will not accept A-levels taken early as part of their offers; they want them all to be done within the two year 6th form period.

As for what else you can do - get good grades in your GCSEs, get >90% UMS in your AS levels, and nail the BMAT. That is what really matters for Cambridge, plus of course a good interview! For other medical schools, you need to think about voluntary work as well as work experience, and having some kind of extra-curricular activity. Remember that your personal statement is really very short though, so you can't fit loads and loads of activities on there - quality over quantity.

Good luck. :smile:

Reply 1649

Katie00111

2

How many hours/week per subject did you revise for AS and A2 to attain the grades you guys did?

Reply 1650

Helenia

20

Original post by katiemcswiney

How many hours/week per subject did you revise for AS and A2 to attain the grades you guys did?

I didn't "revise" continuously. I did my homework as it was set and made sure I understood everything I was being taught at the time. I only really started revising in the few weeks before exams - a mixture of past papers and reading over all my notes/textbooks. I've never been one for crazy hours of revision.

Reply 1651

Chief Wiggum

20

Original post by Onee-chan

Hi guys!

I was just wondering if anyone can give some advice on an upcoming first year medicine mock exam (next next Monday) and ultimately the exam? :biggrin:

Thanks!

I find it impossible to keep the essays to within the time limits and still include enough detail - I guess it boils down to not knowing which are the strictly relevant parts! Any tips? :tongue:

For FAB, I've heard that the dissection manual and lecture notes are not enough, but it seems pretty much identical to information in Gray's? Also, how likely is it for the MCQs to bring up your grade? As I heard that they get massively scaled down.

Any fellow first year medics, feel free to discuss! Where are you guys in terms of revision? :tongue:

Many thanks,

Onee-chan

MCQs are scaled down, but they probably vary a lot more than essay marks tbh. MCQs are likely to bring up your grade (if you do well in them, of course).

Reply 1652

Onee-chan

1

Original post by tomkeys

I've got mocks the same day. I'd say your supervisors would probably be very helpful in answering some your questions. For revision, I've used the lecture notes and textbooks, etc. I think the notes from supervisions will come in really handy, too. And I've found simply writing essays is good for getting you used to the time discipline, etc.

I've procrastinated too much, so I returned to college today to try to get some work done in the time left. One positive from the Christmas holiday (aside from the fact I did get some work done) is that I have realised how much time I waste!

Edit: I see you are at Caius. In that case, you're meant to be the one answering questions of this kind, not posing them :tongue:

Thanks! Oh haha I wish! If only we lived up to the reputation :tongue:

! What college are you from? :biggrin:

I definitely agree with the part about supervision notes, the lectures can sometimes ramble on for a little too long, and your supervisor just summarises it so nicely (as well as adding interesting new facts)! :biggrin:

I think next term I'm just not going make notes! They were the same as the hand outs and wasted so much time! :O

Original post by Helenia

For your essays, you can use bullet points and diagrams wherever possible. You don't get marks for nice prose! I actually missed my first year mocks because I was ill, but in my actual 1A exams in the summer, my MCQ and steeplechase marks were a LOT higher than my essay ones, no idea exactly how they weight it.

Thanks so much! Can we write in bullet points? That would be immensely helpful!!! Ah okay I can resume my dream of getting a high mark via MCQs then :tongue:

!

Original post by Chief Wiggum

MCQs are scaled down, but they probably vary a lot more than essay marks tbh. MCQs are likely to bring up your grade (if you do well in them, of course).

Thanks Chief Wiggum! :biggrin:

Oh btw I was wondering about the practicals as well. For Hom is it just MCQs and histology? Apparently MIMS practical paper is terrifyingly difficult? :O

Thanks again guys! :biggrin:

This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 1653

Chief Wiggum

20

Original post by Onee-chan

Thanks so much! Can we write in bullet points? That would be immensely helpful!!! Ah okay I can resume my dream of getting a high mark via MCQs then :tongue:

!

I wouldn't write in bullet points to be honest. You can use headings etc, but I would write in proper paragraphs. I don't really see what would be gained from using bullet points anyway.

Oh btw I was wondering about the practicals as well. For Hom is it just MCQs and histology? Apparently MIMS practical paper is terrifyingly difficult? :O

HOM is: theory MCQs, practical MCQs, histology MCQs, essay paper. So that's 4 papers in total.

Reply 1654

Helenia

20

Original post by Chief Wiggum

I wouldn't write in bullet points to be honest. You can use headings etc, but I would write in proper paragraphs. I don't really see what would be gained from using bullet points anyway.

HOM is: theory MCQs, practical MCQs, histology MCQs, essay paper. So that's 4 papers in total.

If you can summarise something more succinctly in bullet points than in prose, then that's what I'd do, if time is of the essence. You can't write a whole essay in bullet points, but you can use them (and paragraphs and headings) effectively.

Reply 1655

xxfieryangelxx

Hey everyone!

So from the offer holders chat, a lot of people have been asking about a facebook group/ thread for the Medics since there are quite a few of us :smile:

Soooooo I set this up so we could all chat etc. And maybe once we get to know each other a little better, we could create a facebook group or something?

Anyway congrats on your offers, guys! I'm looking forward to meeting you guys in October.

Just to introduce myself, I'm Ash and I'm going to be a Sidneyite (hopefully) this October :awesome: