Hi, I’m currently stuck on deciding whether it is worth applying to the 4-year graduate entry medicine programme at Cambridge (A101).
I’m entering my final year of my biomedical sciences programme at a good Russell group uni. Hopefully I can get predicted/achieve a 1st.
My main issue is that Cambridge appears to have changed their requirements to apply to the programme for 2025 entry. It used to be that you did not need to take the UCAT and that if you achieve a 1st, you could apply with 665 in your IB higher level subjects. However for 2025 entry they decided to change it so now you have to take the UCAT but along with scoring a 1st, you need 665 in your higher level subjects AND a total point count of minimum 38 points.
The issue is, I ended up scoring quite average in my IB, getting a total of 36 points, with 765 at higher level (5 in chemistry and a 6 in biology)…
Hence, I do meet the higher level requirements but I don’t meet the newly introduced total point count requirement of 38-40.
So in other words, would it be a lost cause to apply? I’m aware it’s extremely competitive and not meeting the minimum requirements puts me at risk of instant rejection.
Some other background info:
I used to hold a music scholarship at school (I’m a classically trained pianist). I speak multiple languages and have actually completed a short lab internship at the University of Cambridge last year. I have some older clinical work experience but it is a few years back from when I was at school so I am currently in the process of setting up volunteering in the NHS and hopefully do some separate clinical shadowing along with that. I also just completed an exchange year at a top university in Asia.
So putting that together, if I get predicted/achieve a 1st + score well in the UCAT + decent work experience + lab experience in Cambridge… would it be worth applying? Or would I just instantly get rejected for not meeting the IB point count?
I am very keen on this course and it feels a little frustrating because they just introduced these new requirements for the year I was planning on applying.
Sorry for the long post, but any advice would be highly appreciated!