Should I apply to Imperial or Oxford for Medicine 2018 entry
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clockwork30
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Hi guys...
So I’m doing the BMAT in November and I’m only picking one bmat university because i know it’s really risky if I don’t do well enough, which would mean 2 out of 4 choices could be gone.
I’m not sure whether to apply to Oxford or Imperial! I love both universities but I’ve been a bit sceptical about Oxford because it is so competitive, especially because their interview format and shortlisting technique is so different to Imperial and UCL, although equally difficult. Do I stand a chance and which university would be better?
I got 10A* and 2As at GCSE
I’m taking Bio, Chem, English Lit and EPQ. I dropped Physics at AS, and i got a B in that.
I like Both the universities course structures equally but I don’t know which is a wiser choice. Also, I’m aware that IMPERIAL have a cutoff every year so... what kind of BMAT scores should I be aiming for both universities?
So I’m doing the BMAT in November and I’m only picking one bmat university because i know it’s really risky if I don’t do well enough, which would mean 2 out of 4 choices could be gone.
I’m not sure whether to apply to Oxford or Imperial! I love both universities but I’ve been a bit sceptical about Oxford because it is so competitive, especially because their interview format and shortlisting technique is so different to Imperial and UCL, although equally difficult. Do I stand a chance and which university would be better?
I got 10A* and 2As at GCSE
I’m taking Bio, Chem, English Lit and EPQ. I dropped Physics at AS, and i got a B in that.
I like Both the universities course structures equally but I don’t know which is a wiser choice. Also, I’m aware that IMPERIAL have a cutoff every year so... what kind of BMAT scores should I be aiming for both universities?
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DvsAmjed
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#2
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#2
(Original post by clockwork30)
Hi guys...
So I’m doing the BMAT in November and I’m only picking one bmat university because i know it’s really risky if I don’t do well enough, which would mean 2 out of 4 choices could be gone.
I’m not sure whether to apply to Oxford or Imperial! I love both universities but I’ve been a bit sceptical about Oxford because it is so competitive, especially because their interview format and shortlisting technique is so different to Imperial and UCL, although equally difficult. Do I stand a chance and which university would be better?
I got 10A* and 2As at GCSE
I’m taking Bio, Chem, English Lit and EPQ. I dropped Physics at AS, and i got a B in that.
I like Both the universities course structures equally but I don’t know which is a wiser choice. Also, I’m aware that IMPERIAL have a cutoff every year so... what kind of BMAT scores should I be aiming for both universities?
Hi guys...
So I’m doing the BMAT in November and I’m only picking one bmat university because i know it’s really risky if I don’t do well enough, which would mean 2 out of 4 choices could be gone.
I’m not sure whether to apply to Oxford or Imperial! I love both universities but I’ve been a bit sceptical about Oxford because it is so competitive, especially because their interview format and shortlisting technique is so different to Imperial and UCL, although equally difficult. Do I stand a chance and which university would be better?
I got 10A* and 2As at GCSE
I’m taking Bio, Chem, English Lit and EPQ. I dropped Physics at AS, and i got a B in that.
I like Both the universities course structures equally but I don’t know which is a wiser choice. Also, I’m aware that IMPERIAL have a cutoff every year so... what kind of BMAT scores should I be aiming for both universities?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education...s-performance/
Mine had 51% 5A*-C, what was yours?
Imperial mainly uses the BMAT when shortlisting so its up to you...
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pixiefuller
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#3
If you think you can do well at the BMAT, it's not too risky to apply for 2 BMAT unis - that is what I'm doing!
Applying to more than 2 BMAT unis is most likely risky, though.
For Imperial, you can look at last year's cut-off score as a guide (it was 4.5 for sections 1 and 2). Oxford would probably expect higher with an average score of 5.5-6.0 for sections 1 and 2.
Hope that helps, it is ultimately your decision
Applying to more than 2 BMAT unis is most likely risky, though.
For Imperial, you can look at last year's cut-off score as a guide (it was 4.5 for sections 1 and 2). Oxford would probably expect higher with an average score of 5.5-6.0 for sections 1 and 2.
Hope that helps, it is ultimately your decision

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Attempt2
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(Original post by DvsAmjed)
I have the same GCSE grades as you and I'm considering Oxford and UCL. You can check what %5A*-C your school had for Oxford, to see how contextualised your GCSE score will be using this link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education...s-performance/
Mine had 51% 5A*-C, what was yours?
Imperial mainly uses the BMAT when shortlisting so its up to you...
I have the same GCSE grades as you and I'm considering Oxford and UCL. You can check what %5A*-C your school had for Oxford, to see how contextualised your GCSE score will be using this link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education...s-performance/
Mine had 51% 5A*-C, what was yours?
Imperial mainly uses the BMAT when shortlisting so its up to you...
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Kibser
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DvsAmjed
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(Original post by Attempt2)
What do you mean, to see *how* contextualized, then just posting a link to the league tables?
What do you mean, to see *how* contextualized, then just posting a link to the league tables?
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Wolfram Alpha
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#7
(Original post by WillPhillips)
GCSEs are irrelevant
GCSEs are irrelevant
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nexttime
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#8
(Original post by clockwork30)
Hi guys...
So I’m doing the BMAT in November and I’m only picking one bmat university because i know it’s really risky if I don’t do well enough, which would mean 2 out of 4 choices could be gone.
I’m not sure whether to apply to Oxford or Imperial! I love both universities but I’ve been a bit sceptical about Oxford because it is so competitive, especially because their interview format and shortlisting technique is so different to Imperial and UCL, although equally difficult. Do I stand a chance and which university would be better?
I got 10A* and 2As at GCSE
I’m taking Bio, Chem, English Lit and EPQ. I dropped Physics at AS, and i got a B in that.
I like Both the universities course structures equally but I don’t know which is a wiser choice. Also, I’m aware that IMPERIAL have a cutoff every year so... what kind of BMAT scores should I be aiming for both universities?
Hi guys...
So I’m doing the BMAT in November and I’m only picking one bmat university because i know it’s really risky if I don’t do well enough, which would mean 2 out of 4 choices could be gone.
I’m not sure whether to apply to Oxford or Imperial! I love both universities but I’ve been a bit sceptical about Oxford because it is so competitive, especially because their interview format and shortlisting technique is so different to Imperial and UCL, although equally difficult. Do I stand a chance and which university would be better?
I got 10A* and 2As at GCSE
I’m taking Bio, Chem, English Lit and EPQ. I dropped Physics at AS, and i got a B in that.
I like Both the universities course structures equally but I don’t know which is a wiser choice. Also, I’m aware that IMPERIAL have a cutoff every year so... what kind of BMAT scores should I be aiming for both universities?
Do you want to be in London or not? That's a pretty huge difference to consider.
(Original post by WillPhillips)
GCSEs are irrelevant
GCSEs are irrelevant
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DvsAmjed
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(Original post by nexttime)
For Oxford medicine?! They are extremely relevant.
For Oxford medicine?! They are extremely relevant.
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username3118454
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#10
If you're happy at your 2nd choice med school if you don't get an Oxford offer - apply Oxford.
Otherwise, imperial since it's easier to get in.
Otherwise, imperial since it's easier to get in.
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Dornishman'sWife
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#11
(Original post by clockwork30)
Hi guys...
So I’m doing the BMAT in November and I’m only picking one bmat university because i know it’s really risky if I don’t do well enough, which would mean 2 out of 4 choices could be gone.
I’m not sure whether to apply to Oxford or Imperial! I love both universities but I’ve been a bit sceptical about Oxford because it is so competitive, especially because their interview format and shortlisting technique is so different to Imperial and UCL, although equally difficult. Do I stand a chance and which university would be better?
I got 10A* and 2As at GCSE
I’m taking Bio, Chem, English Lit and EPQ. I dropped Physics at AS, and i got a B in that.
I like Both the universities course structures equally but I don’t know which is a wiser choice. Also, I’m aware that IMPERIAL have a cutoff every year so... what kind of BMAT scores should I be aiming for both universities?
Hi guys...
So I’m doing the BMAT in November and I’m only picking one bmat university because i know it’s really risky if I don’t do well enough, which would mean 2 out of 4 choices could be gone.
I’m not sure whether to apply to Oxford or Imperial! I love both universities but I’ve been a bit sceptical about Oxford because it is so competitive, especially because their interview format and shortlisting technique is so different to Imperial and UCL, although equally difficult. Do I stand a chance and which university would be better?
I got 10A* and 2As at GCSE
I’m taking Bio, Chem, English Lit and EPQ. I dropped Physics at AS, and i got a B in that.
I like Both the universities course structures equally but I don’t know which is a wiser choice. Also, I’m aware that IMPERIAL have a cutoff every year so... what kind of BMAT scores should I be aiming for both universities?
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nexttime
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#12
(Original post by DvsAmjed)
Hi nexttime, how does one choose which to apply to between Oxford and Cambridge?
Hi nexttime, how does one choose which to apply to between Oxford and Cambridge?
- Cities - I'd suggest visiting both. Oxford's a more active city.
- Accommodation - more available at Cambridge - though most students at both can get accommodation for the first 3 years at least.
- Size - Oxford med school is half the size. There is only 4-8 medics per year at each college (whereas at cambridge it can be up to 25 or so)
- Transfers - at Oxford some students can go to London after 3 years (essentially any university you choose) although equally, some who may have wanted to stay at Oxford may have to go to London. At Cambridge you're there for all 6.
- 3rd year options are more limited at Oxford - theoretically at Cambridge you don't even have to do something medicine related, though this is becoming rarer.
- Cambridge has more focus on anatomy, including dissection rather than prosection. Oxford focuses on other aspects of medicine instead.
- Oxford gets much higher student satisfaction
With the new reforms they are likely to both take account GCSEs quite heavily.
They also both use the BMAT heavily although one before the interview and one after.
So fundamentally what strengths/ weaknesses would a candidate have in their application to choose between the 2 if they like them both equally? I have 9/10A* 2A at gcse and AAAA at AS and I really like the idea of studying at Oxbridge but I am torn between the two!
(Original post by Dornishman'sWife)
Imperial, as most people have 100% A* for oxford at GCSE and take 3 sciences and maths.
Imperial, as most people have 100% A* for oxford at GCSE and take 3 sciences and maths.

The first one actually isn't too far off - about 50% of those accepted have 100%A*s. But obviously that means that about 50% don't so.
Just 20% have 3 sciences and maths.
https://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/study/me...cal/statistics
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