Entering Med - A year 13's Journey

Shadowing an orthopaedic surgeon but istg I’m so happy like they hadn’t remolied for 2 weeks so I thought I was rejected but THEN TODYA LIKE YAYYY

Well this is my gyg thingy ig
someone said it would be a good idea to make one so i did

PROBABLY GONNA DO 1 POST A DAY I USE THIS A LOT HOPING TO BE ENCOURAGED TO REVISE

Year 12- HALF TERM 1 PROBABLY DAY 15 OF ACTUAL REVISION BUT DAY 0 FOR REVISION IN HOLDAYS

(unserious school 3 diff exam boards)
Subjects- AQA PSYCHOLOGY
EDEXCEL CHEMISTRY
OCR A BIOLOGY

I plan to go into... MEDICINE (such a big shock)

I have a bunch of WEX/ EXTRACURRICULARS
literally doing work experience rn and the first week back i have a placement in a hospital so missing a week of school gonna do catchup next week so im not behind (2 weeks of holiday)
Currently contemplating doing an EPQ - but its not going to be useful to my life so IDK (anyone know any positive that arent lower offer cause for medicine its literally one school)

my gcses were somewhat of a realisation call
not too bad but not amazing or that competitive for medicine

GRADES
2 LOW A*
2 A
5 HIGH B
1 LOW B/HIGH C
(found around 15 med schools 14 5 year courses and 1 6 year course aka foundation year so yay)
+ I am contextual (POSTCODE ONLY) (IK way too much about the application process)

I'd 1000000% recommend an EPQ if you want to do medicine....I know it doesn't seem like much use but it's a way of showing passion. After you sit the UCAT next year, you will have 4 interviews (if the 4 universities get back to you saying that they want you to sit an interview). Often times, they use the EPQ topic as a talking point and it is a huge plus to do it so I'd recommend it .

Also, not sure whether you were aware of this but if you are applying for medicine, you are only allowed to apply for 4 MBBS courses because if you mess up the UCAT, you have absolutely no chance of getting a medicine offer. So think of one other course that interests you to keep as your insurance 5th option.

Final message: Do as much as you can but STAY ON TOP OF SCHOOL WORK!! At the end of the day, grades are the most important thing.

I am aware but thanks for the info I dont Think ill apply for a 5th option but I have a guaranteed offer from bath if I want to use that at that point of the application however I would rather take a gap year but I would probably apply to to bio med in hopes if doing grad med but defo gap year first

I feel an epq is a distracting and in terms of things ive done a lot and have written some articles which I feel I could talk about in the same way as an epq in My personal statement but I appreciate the advice

No problem! Good luck!

Just started Break aiming to take a break today, Christmas and new years
want to average around 15 hours weekly during holiday and also take out 1 hour a day so i can finish the book i was reading

Take the entirety of Christmas holidays off.....enjoy the festive season with your family and friends. Your personal statement is only 4000 characters including spaces which comes to around 600 words, which seems like a lot but is roughly one side of A4 paper and isn't that much. I know that the system is changing next year but there won't be a significant change in the amount of space you have to answer each question on your application. Doing this much stuff will only harm you in the long run and you will approach a phase where you lose the motivation to do any work. Not recommended at all...

We are still using the personal statement.
Its just an aim for me as i feel as though im beginning to procrastinate as i have been quite sick lately and havent done as much as i could i also cant slip up as my gcses arent that competitive for medicine so i just want to make sure im doing as much as i can but i actually quite enjoy reading so i see that more as a way to relax rather than work

ok fair enough....just try not to burn yourself out too much. you still have to go to school from Jan and soon, you will have your mocks which will determine predicted grades.

As for the personal statement, we go told that at some point, they are substituting the personal statement for a questionnaire in which you are supposed to mention similar sort of content but in a slightly different format. I assumed it was for next year's applicants so that's why I talked about it.

Also, I'd say around March April, start to prepare for UCAT. It will mean a more relaxing summer when it comes around.

IM BACKKKKKK
took time off for holiday did some revision not too much thou

I got a job volunteering for a medical company which gives out advice loving the job rn
Did 3 hours revision today mostly made revision material
1 hour bio chem and psych

Yeah I think I spent something like 75 hours+ on my NEA during this holiday. I then spent about 30 hours on my EPQ. I did too much work over the holidays.

Oh what year are you in I thought you were a uni student you are very insightful

I am a year 13 student who has done far too much research. 😂😂