Should I apply to Cambridge Med?

Cambridge is a hard one as it is the first year that it is using UCAT, and nobody really knows where the UCAT cut off will land. Cambridge will also disregard your GCSEs, which are excellent, which might be a bit of a shame.
Oxfords admissions policy however is half GCSE and half UCAT.
Traditionally Cambridge have interviewed a higher number of people than Oxford for med. so easier to get an interview at Cambridge than Oxford, but post interview easier to get an offer at Oxford than Cambridge.
I would post your stats in the “which medical school Megathread” in the format of the first post of that thread and see what the experts say. Say that you are considering Cambridge and get their perspectives. For everybody though, this first year of UCAT is a bit of guesswork as to where the new UCAT unis will end up, so no guarantees.
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7312527
Good luck.

Just out of curiosity, is there any particular reason Cambridge? The course is very different to most other medical schools, and isn't necessarily everyone's ideal course.

I really want to apply to Cambridge for medicine, my predicted grades are A*A*A*A* in physics, maths, chemistry and biology, and my GCSEs are 99999999998 (the 8 is in history). However, I did my ucat today and only got a score of 2910 B1. Do I have a chance, or should I not apply?

Actually it’s because of the course! I initially wanted to study natural sciences (because I’m interested in neuroscience) but then I realised I was more interested in the medical side, so I decided on medicine. However, I am still very interested in stem subjects, and I like the emphasis that the Cambridge course puts on the theory behind medicine, as opposed to a more practical course.
But having said this, I’d honestly be happy to get into any medical school 😅

APPLY just do it your grades are insanely good you have a higher chance than most ppl

agree ( and simply not true that Cam will disregard your GCSEs )

Thank you for that clarification.
My apologies OP.
My understanding has always been that Cambridge disregard GCSEs during their process to select for interview. Happy to have been corrected.

Cambridge look at medicine applications holistically in the round including achieved exam grades with admission test scores when shortlisting for interview
( yes, it is the case that Oxford do select a higher number of top grades at GCSE as part of their shortlisting in order to interview a smaller proportion of applicants, and that they make a higher ratio of offers post interview )
of course, Oxford is a smaller medical school with fewer undergraduate places so it will not necessarily be any ‘easier’ to apply there
-hence cautioning against any suggestion that it is a better option than Cambridge for this applicant
thanks

Cambridge will interview anybody they think realistically has a chance of achieving A*A*A at A level. They don't use GCSEs during shortlisting for interview, unless they have changed it for this year (not looked at any admissions stuff for 2025).
However, they do assess an application holistically after interview when deciding re offers, so at this point, GCSEs would be considered - along with (now) UCAT, extra- and supra-curriculars, A levels and interview performance, etc.
Generally, it is unlikely that those with very low GCSEs will get A*A*A at interview, so many people shortlisted have excellent GCSEs, too, but not having them will not mean you won't get interviewed, but may impact on chances of an offer.
Oxford fairly rigidly score (contextualised) GCSEs and (now) UCAT and interview far fewer people.
So statistically less likely to get an offer after interview at Cambridge than Oxford, but you have to be in it to win it!

Oxford a smaller medical school, fewer places, and suspect they will end up with a higher average UCAT ( effectively) than Cambridge
…but can’t know until next year
Overall, think a medicine applicant, not a medicine interviewee, has a lower chance at one institution than the other
(It’s a guessing game with the UCAT for all of the former BMATs, too!) 🤔

You have better stats than me for everything and I got into cambridge med. Mind you, the switch to BMAT to UCAT is obviously an important factor, but your UCAT is top 10% or so which should be good enough!

I haven't done the ucat yet I am in year 11

I haven't done the ucat yet I am in year 11

I really want to apply to Cambridge for medicine, my predicted grades are A*A*A*A* in physics, maths, chemistry and biology, and my GCSEs are 99999999998 (the 8 is in history). However, I did my ucat today and only got a score of 2910 B1. Do I have a chance, or should I not apply?