oxbridge med??

I’m still undecided about applying to oxbridge for Medicine this year.
I have no clue which university, let alone which college I would prefer as the 8% success rate made me disregard it as an option.

I got almost straight 9s at GCSE in 2022 and have 3A*s for predicted grades. I’ve done many super curriculars and I would say my personal statement is promising.

Oxford seems to have a lower admissions rate but only requires 1 A*- I’m aiming for three but the pressure of 2 wouldn’t do me any favours.

Would you say I have a chance and am not wasting a choice? The lack of clinical exposure in the first few years may bother me, but also might be better in terms of adjusting.

Thanks !!

I’m still undecided about applying to oxbridge for Medicine this year.
I have no clue which university, let alone which college I would prefer as the 8% success rate made me disregard it as an option.

I got almost straight 9s at GCSE in 2022 and have 3A*s for predicted grades. I’ve done many super curriculars and I would say my personal statement is promising.

Oxford seems to have a lower admissions rate but only requires 1 A*- I’m aiming for three but the pressure of 2 wouldn’t do me any favours.

Would you say I have a chance and am not wasting a choice? The lack of clinical exposure in the first few years may bother me, but also might be better in terms of adjusting.

Thanks !!

I mean sure, you've got a chance with those grades. But the main question is: do you actually like the course?

All medical schools are difficult enough to get into as it is, without wasting a chance on Oxbridge just for the prestige factor. If you actually like the way that the course is structured at Oxford or Cambridge, then it's far from being a wasted choice.

But if you're choosing it just because "it's Oxbridge", then I think that's a bit misguided for medicine - when you apply for your FY1, you're ranked against every other medical student in the country, and the university that you've been to is irrelevant.

I think many other unis have 'better' courses if you want to be a doctor rather than an academic.

Very interested in the research aspect of medicine so I am applying to universities which will allow me to explore this. As I said, the lack of clinical exposure I feel may help me gain confidence in the theory before putting it into practice.

To be honest a lot of what you say makes it sound like you probably aren't that keen on them. Particularly that you don't like the lack of clinical exposure - which is a very big difference between Oxbridge and other medicine courses (and one of the major similarities between them)!

Gradewise you are probably a viable candidate for either (if by "almost straight 9s" you mean "straight 8/9 grades" for Oxford's sake, and taking 3 STEM subjects predicted A*A*A or above for Cambridge's sake) and the success rates for them are not significantly out of step for medical schools on average (Oxford a bit more competitive than average, Cambridge about average but higher barrier to entry so fewer applicants to start with). So I wouldn't be necessarily concerned applying there would make you less likely to get a medicine offer at all.

However gelling with the course is probably a big factor so something well worth looking into. The courses are also somewhat different from each other (Cambridge quite anatomy heavy I gather, Oxford much lighter on that from what I've heard; also have quite different intercalated year options/formats), although with some similarities ("traditional" format of quite rigid clinical/preclinical divide, mandatory intercalation, large emphasis on basic sciences, Oxbridge supervision/tutorial format of teaching).

Bear in mind also that which medical school you go to won't directly affect your professional life as a doctor. The GMC accredits all medical schools equally and the NHS is the only provider of graduate medical training posts, and likewise sees all medical schools equal - and to ensure no bias, blinds specialty recruiters from your medical school anyway. So make sure you're deciding on applying there (or not!) on the basis of their merits and your interests and not due to feeling an obligation to, or for "prestige", or because you think you will have a better chance of becoming XYZ specialist.

I mean sure, you've got a chance with those grades. But the main question is: do you actually like the course?

All medical schools are difficult enough to get into as it is, without wasting a chance on Oxbridge just for the prestige factor. If you actually like the way that the course is structured at Oxford or Cambridge, then it's far from being a wasted choice.

But if you're choosing it just because "it's Oxbridge", then I think that's a bit misguided for medicine - when you apply for your FY1, you're ranked against every other medical student in the country, and the university that you've been to is irrelevant.

very true
- although grades are very good, they are not at all unusual among medicine applicants to most medical schools
- one consideration is how well you have done compared to your peers at school and if your results are exceptional compared to them, then your chances will be much stronger
- the outcome of the BMAT will be pivotal to success for @fedora34

I'm not sure it works like that from what students report.

Yes, I know that my grades are very typical of oxbridge applicants. But is it just BMAT which determines success? I’ve done a lot for my personal statement but haven’t cured cancer or saved starving children or anything notable. I’ve seen some personal statements from those who are successful and they did amazing things.

My schools a good school for my area, not private, but we do quite well. I wouldn’t get any contextual help at all.

Thanks for responding! I got six grade 9s and three grade 8s at GCSE and am taking bio, chem and maths.

I know I'm not really showing that i want it but that’s because I don’t want to get my hopes up. The likeminded people, the research facilities and access to some of the best tutors out there. Not to mention the campuses!! I’m a very academic person but ultimately my priority is becoming a doctor. I’ve researched the other Unis I’m applying for and I should get interviews at all of them based on the selection process and stats from previous years. But as I said, I don’t want to waste an option on somewhere which wouldn’t want me anyway.

Side question- with the personal statement, how scientific-focused does it need to be? I have a lot of super curriculars and briefly mention specific areas of medicine (certain diseases) but don’t elaborate in the theory.