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Help deciding on which medical school!

I've got med offers from Bangor (AAB) and Keele (AAA) and I'm not sure which to go with for firming.
I liked Bangor a lot when I went for an offer day and I haven't yet been to Keele for an offer day but as I live close I went to nose around a while ago and I wasn't a massive fan in terms of just aesthetics, but obviously that's not even half of it. Bangor was a super pretty place and the staff and other offer holders were all super kind.

I'm just worried that at Bangor it's a new course whereas at Keele the course has been established for a bit longer. I'm also aware Keele allows you to intercalate whereas I don't know what Bangor's views on intercalation are.

I'm not a big 'party' and clubbing type person so I'm not bothered about night life or anything, in fact I prefer quieter environments.

Both of them are similar lengths of distance away from where my family will be.

I'm just worried I'm going to make the wrong decision, so if anyone has any idea please do help! :smile:

Reply 1

Grade wise: keele firm, Bangor insure.

Location: equal?

Intercalation: check with admissions teams!

Course structure/style: ?

Student support services: ?

Contact hours: ?

Placement locations/distance: ?

Clubs/activities/facilities: ?

Living/rental/travel costs: ?

Dissection/prosection/anatomage tables: ?

Extras specific to you: (additional needs/scholarships/research opportunities etc) ?

Do a bit more research into the finer details of each course, university and town and definitely go to Keeles offer holders day or open day. Ask loads of questions to staff and current students. Any questions you think of that you forgot to ask to Bangor, email or phone their admissions team. Think about the points above. What is going to suit you more? There’s no urgency to make the decision yet so don’t rush into it. Research. It’s 5/6 years of your life!

Reply 2

Original post
by Songbird19
Grade wise: keele firm, Bangor insure.
Location: equal?
Intercalation: check with admissions teams!
Course structure/style: ?
Student support services: ?
Contact hours: ?
Placement locations/distance: ?
Clubs/activities/facilities: ?
Living/rental/travel costs: ?
Dissection/prosection/anatomage tables: ?
Extras specific to you: (additional needs/scholarships/research opportunities etc) ?
Do a bit more research into the finer details of each course, university and town and definitely go to Keeles offer holders day or open day. Ask loads of questions to staff and current students. Any questions you think of that you forgot to ask to Bangor, email or phone their admissions team. Think about the points above. What is going to suit you more? There’s no urgency to make the decision yet so don’t rush into it. Research. It’s 5/6 years of your life!


Thanks this was helpful! I'll make a list of pros and cons about each one based on the points you've said and go from there :smile:

Reply 3

Original post
by Lotlaxo
I've got med offers from Bangor (AAB) and Keele (AAA) and I'm not sure which to go with for firming.
I liked Bangor a lot when I went for an offer day and I haven't yet been to Keele for an offer day but as I live close I went to nose around a while ago and I wasn't a massive fan in terms of just aesthetics, but obviously that's not even half of it. Bangor was a super pretty place and the staff and other offer holders were all super kind.
I'm just worried that at Bangor it's a new course whereas at Keele the course has been established for a bit longer. I'm also aware Keele allows you to intercalate whereas I don't know what Bangor's views on intercalation are.
I'm not a big 'party' and clubbing type person so I'm not bothered about night life or anything, in fact I prefer quieter environments.
Both of them are similar lengths of distance away from where my family will be.
I'm just worried I'm going to make the wrong decision, so if anyone has any idea please do help! :smile:

Omg saaaame! I've gone for keele as my firm just because I really loved bangor and the interactive screens seemed great but I don't think they will give as accurate a representation as the dissections at keele. Also, bc the medical course is rural, I am a bit apprehensive of the language barrier and during my medical studies I don't think I'd have the time to learn welsh. Saying that though the views were absolutely amazing and I wish keele had a beach!!! 😂 Bangor is my insurance so still very happy to go there. Also accommodation at bangor is incredible. So much cheaper than most places! Well done on getting in! X

Reply 4

Hi can you please help?… does Bangor University medicine look for predicted grades?… thanks

Reply 5

Original post
by Lotlaxo
Thanks this was helpful! I'll make a list of pros and cons about each one based on the points you've said and go from there :smile:


Hi I’m 3rd year finance and banking student at Bangor university. Although I’m not doing medicine, I will say that Bangor medicine is quite new and from when I last heard about it it’s joint with Wrexham (North Wales school of medicine). I could be totally wrong but that’s what I heard like 2 years ago. However, I’m more commenting on here due to I think I can offer some insight on what’s it is like to study here, social life, communities, societies, and just overall accommodation/housing. If u do wish to hear about this pls comment to this, I’ll do my best to answer it :smile:

Reply 6

Original post
by Lotlaxo
I've got med offers from Bangor (AAB) and Keele (AAA) and I'm not sure which to go with for firming.
I liked Bangor a lot when I went for an offer day and I haven't yet been to Keele for an offer day but as I live close I went to nose around a while ago and I wasn't a massive fan in terms of just aesthetics, but obviously that's not even half of it. Bangor was a super pretty place and the staff and other offer holders were all super kind.
I'm just worried that at Bangor it's a new course whereas at Keele the course has been established for a bit longer. I'm also aware Keele allows you to intercalate whereas I don't know what Bangor's views on intercalation are.
I'm not a big 'party' and clubbing type person so I'm not bothered about night life or anything, in fact I prefer quieter environments.
Both of them are similar lengths of distance away from where my family will be.
I'm just worried I'm going to make the wrong decision, so if anyone has any idea please do help! :smile:


Hi, Is it a contextual offer? I generally heard Bangor offer is AAA hence checking.

Reply 7

Original post
by AVIN32
Hi, Is it a contextual offer? I generally heard Bangor offer is AAA hence checking.

Hi AVIN32,

An AAB offer for medicine will be a contextual offer, any other offer for medicine will be AAA.

This is what the website has to say about contextual offers for medicine:

We carefully consider your contextual data (the circumstances in which you've been studying) upon application. We will be considering this in the offers that are made, which may be lower than advertised.
A contextual offer of AAB may be made to those who meet our contextual offer requirements. A-levels must include Biology OR Chemistry and an additional science from: Physics, Economics, Maths / Further Maths / Statistics, Biology, Chemistry. Biology/Chemistry and one other Science (as specified) must be at grade A (or above).
First- or second-language Welsh speakers may also be eligible for a contextual offer of AAB if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

Welsh (first or second language) at GCSE and/or

A-Level (first or second language)

Important: Compulsory A-Level sciences, as specified above, must be at grade A or higher. For further information, please visit our contextual offers page.

This is a link to the contextual offers page.

Hope this helps

Ffi 🙂

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