The Student Room Group

Heart broken, Cambridge Medcine

Hi everyone,

I just received a rejection email from Cambridge - heart broken.

Any chance to appeal?

UKAT: 2210 band 1

Scotland Higher: Maths A band1, Chemistry A band2, Physics A band 2, Biology A band2

Scotland Advanced Higher (predicted grades): Maths A band1, Chemistry A band2, Physics A band 2, Biology A band2

Contextual

State school

Extra-curricular: hospital volunteering, university research project, maths, physics and biology competitions (gold or silver)

Any advice would be appreciated.

Reply 1

Really sorry. Can tell you are upset.

I think it is unlikely an appeal will be successful. They will have considered your application carefully and are unlikely to have overlooked anything.

However, it might be helpful to request feedback on your application, as this could help shape how you present yourself at interviews at other med schools.

Hopefully one of your other choices will snap you up and it will be Cambridge’s loss.

I am a hospital consultant and can tell you that the medical school experience does not vary much from university to university, as the General Medical Council standardises training requirements. You will get great training wherever you go.

Furthermore, most medics do at least one Masters or other higher degree a few years after graduating from med school, so you could apply to Cambridge to do one of these degrees in the future and have a ‘Cambridge experience’ that way.

Stay strong.

Reply 2

Are you 18? I think Cambridge only accepts you if you are 18 when you apply.

Reply 3

Go somewhere else. Cambridge/Oxford, it means nothing in the scheme of things.

Reply 4

Original post
by Anonymous
Are you 18? I think Cambridge only accepts you if you are 18 when you apply.


Yes, I will be 18 in April.
No chance to appeal I’m afraid. Disappointing for sure, but ultimately you end up with the same qualification regardless of where you go.

Reply 6

I thought I could at least have a chance to be invited for an interview.

Reply 7

If you dm me asking, what is your GCSE and A level in England equivalent grades? As someone with similar UCAT I was wondering if I should apply too but wasn’t sure if the UCAT is important or the grades from school/sixth form.

Reply 8

Original post
by bartleli
Yes, I will be 18 in April.

I think you have to be 18 in November the year before you start. I think you have just been rejected because you are too young. So sorry - good luck with the rest of your applications. You can try again next year if you really want Cambridge.

Reply 9

Original post
by Anonymous
I think you have to be 18 in November the year before you start. I think you have just been rejected because you are too young. So sorry - good luck with the rest of your applications. You can try again next year if you really want Cambridge.


The website says: you can’t apply this course if you’ll not be 18 on 1 Nov of year 1.

So, I don’t think I am too young,

Reply 10

Original post
by Anonymous
If you dm me asking, what is your GCSE and A level in England equivalent grades? As someone with similar UCAT I was wondering if I should apply too but wasn’t sure if the UCAT is important or the grades from school/sixth form.


My understanding is that Scottish Higher is equivalent to GCSE, and Advanced Higher is equivalent to A level.

Reply 11

Original post
by Anonymous
Really sorry. Can tell you are upset.
I think it is unlikely an appeal will be successful. They will have considered your application carefully and are unlikely to have overlooked anything.
However, it might be helpful to request feedback on your application, as this could help shape how you present yourself at interviews at other med schools.
Hopefully one of your other choices will snap you up and it will be Cambridge’s loss.
I am a hospital consultant and can tell you that the medical school experience does not vary much from university to university, as the General Medical Council standardises training requirements. You will get great training wherever you go.
Furthermore, most medics do at least one Masters or other higher degree a few years after graduating from med school, so you could apply to Cambridge to do one of these degrees in the future and have a ‘Cambridge experience’ that way.
Stay strong.


Thank you. You make me feel better.

Reply 12

It doesn't matter where you train as a doctor - the NHS wont care and your future patients won't ask.
If you really want to be a doctor, then just take a deep breath, and focus on your other 3 choices - that is what matters now.

Reply 13

Original post
by McGinger
It doesn't matter where you train as a doctor - the NHS wont care and your future patients won't ask.
If you really want to be a doctor, then just take a deep breath, and focus on your other 3 choices - that is what matters now.


Thank you.

Quick Reply

How The Student Room is moderated

To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.