Im currently in year 13 and would like to take a gap year before applying for Medicine due to not getting the prediction needed this year (our school only predicted what we got at AS and not a grade up). Ive been putting so much more effort into my work (idk what happened last year tbh) and my teachers say I'm finally working to my potential and should be on track to getting 3A*'s at the end of this year - but with my other grades would medicine at oxbridge be an alright goal for next year aha.
If i apply with achieved grades of A*A*A*b ( the B in my maths AS which i dropped) GCSE's: 3A*'s 9A's 1B (french ffs) And a strong BMAT score and PS
would medicine at oxford or cambridge be realistic or have i screwed up too badly
Im currently in year 13 and would like to take a gap year before applying for Medicine due to not getting the prediction needed this year (our school only predicted what we got at AS and not a grade up). Ive been putting so much more effort into my work (idk what happened last year tbh) and my teachers say I'm finally working to my potential and should be on track to getting 3A*'s at the end of this year - but with my other grades would medicine at oxbridge be an alright goal for next year aha.
If i apply with achieved grades of A*A*A*b ( the B in my maths AS which i dropped) GCSE's: 3A*'s 9A's 1B (french ffs) And a strong BMAT score and PS
would medicine at oxford or cambridge be realistic or have i screwed up too badly
thanks so much
No. I think you'll be fine as long as you are going to do something productive during the gap year. I'm basically in the same position as you but i still applied to foundation med just in case.
Btw, if i were u i'd apply to cambridge since you don't really have enough A*'s at GCSE to be able to be a competitive applicant at Oxford since they weigh more on gcse's than a levels.
You wouldn't even get an interview at Oxford with those GSCEs (sorry - don't want to be harsh but that's the truth.) If you get those results at A2 I think you would have a good chance at Cambridge though. best of luck!
You wouldn't even get an interview at Oxford with those GSCEs (sorry - don't want to be harsh but that's the truth.) If you get those results at A2 I think you would have a good chance at Cambridge though. best of luck!
Yeah aha its cool! even though I have a B in my dropped AS would that be overlooked with the 3 A*s? Thanks so much
No. I think you'll be fine as long as you are going to do something productive during the gap year. I'm basically in the same position as you but i still applied to foundation med just in case.
Btw, if i were u i'd apply to cambridge since you don't really have enough A*'s at GCSE to be able to be a competitive applicant at Oxford since they weigh more on gcse's than a levels.
Thanks same to you ahah Ive already volunteered in Zambia, so I'm not sure if I should do something else abroad hmm What are you planning on doing during your gap year?
Edit: As pointed out below, Cambridge would want 3 sciences realistically. I think you might have to give both a pass.
But the importance of that pales in terms of significance versus your desire to undertake an entire career for the rest of your life i.e. becoming a doctor. This should not be a major setback for you.
Yeah aha its cool! even though I have a B in my dropped AS would that be overlooked with the 3 A*s? Thanks so much
I think it would. I'm not completely sure but I remember reading somewhere that they mainly care about your three best sciences so I think you should be fine.
I think it would. I'm not completely sure but I remember reading somewhere that they mainly care about your three best sciences so I think you should be fine.
Ah my A2's are in Bio Chem and History ahah is that a problem Ill have a look at their website
Thanks same to you ahah Ive already volunteered in Zambia, so I'm not sure if I should do something else abroad hmm What are you planning on doing during your gap year?
Work as HCA so that i can afford to go on GapMedics
Why bother with gap medics? Being an HCA is far more valuable for medicine than paying for 'work experience' abroad. Why not use the money you save to just have a holiday, or travel, or as a safety net for uni.
Ah my A2's are in Bio Chem and History ahah is that a problem Ill have a look at their website
Yeah, to be honest, Cambridge would want 3 science/maths subjects to full A2. Whilst it's technically possible to get in with only 2, I'm not sure it ever really happens.
Why bother with gap medics? Being an HCA is far more valuable for medicine than paying for 'work experience' abroad. Why not use the money you save to just have a holiday, or travel, or as a safety net for uni.
Making a competitive application without three strong science/maths A levels is not very likely, I'm afraid. You know that Oxbridge isn't the be all and end all - there's plenty of other medical schools to choose from, though I think the general caveat about 3 science/maths A levels still stands.
Making a competitive application without three strong science/maths A levels is not very likely, I'm afraid. You know that Oxbridge isn't the be all and end all - there's plenty of other medical schools to choose from, though I think the general caveat about 3 science/maths A levels still stands.
Cambridge is the only med school to ask for 3 sciences.
Notwithstanding that, I wonder how many successful applicants there are with only 2 science A levels and how, if at all, having only 2 science/maths A levels affects your chances of receiving an offer. Someone on TSR will know, I"m sure.
Notwithstanding that, I wonder how many successful applicants there are with only 2 science A levels and how, if at all, having only 2 science/maths A levels affects your chances of receiving an offer. Someone on TSR will know, I"m sure.
Unfortunately, non-Oxbridge unis are substantially less transparent and I am not aware of any FOI requests. However, we do have data from Oxford.
2016: "12% of applicants were studying Chemistry plus just one more science or maths subject. This compares with 7% of short-listed applicants and 7% of those offered places."
2015: "10% of applicants were studying Chemistry plus just one more science or maths subject. This compares with 8% of short-listed applicants and 7% of those offered places"
So some correlation (mainly with BMAT score) at a uni notorious for its science focus. Correlation and causation are also difficult to establish.
There is one uni that wants 3 sciences (Cambridge) and one uni that specifically asks for a contrasting, non-science subject (UCL). Given not a single one other university even states a mild preference either way, I am inclined to take their word at that: that two sciences is just fine.