feeling lost... Medicine A100

I've been rejected by 2 unis (though one is Oxbridge). Poor interview performance was the reason for my other rejection (expected because I felt it went terribly). But now I am scared abt whether I will even get any offers to study medicine.

I'm waiting on my other two choices (haven't started giving offers yet) and, in fairness, I felt that these were my two best interviews. Still terrified though. Going insane as I check my email every half an hour, and consequently scroll through r/PreMedUK and r/UCAT...

I want to do medicine more than anything else so I didn't bother putting a 5th option in UCAS.... but is it worth doing so now? I know it won't be given equal consideration.

If I were to put a 5th, what course should I select?
A-Level pred: A*A*A* Bio, Chem, Phys
achieved: EPQ A*; AS Core Maths A
UCAT: 95th percentile
subject-wise I like both Bio and Chem.

I also heard about UCAS Extra and wondering if that is applicable for medicine.

Reply 1

kitty15

Study Forum Helper

Original post

by sk_5557

I've been rejected by 2 unis (though one is Oxbridge). Poor interview performance was the reason for my other rejection (expected because I felt it went terribly). But now I am scared abt whether I will even get any offers to study medicine.
I'm waiting on my other two choices (haven't started giving offers yet) and, in fairness, I felt that these were my two best interviews. Still terrified though. Going insane as I check my email every half an hour, and consequently scroll through r/PreMedUK and r/UCAT...
I want to do medicine more than anything else so I didn't bother putting a 5th option in UCAS.... but is it worth doing so now? I know it won't be given equal consideration.
If I were to put a 5th, what course should I select?
A-Level pred: A*A*A* Bio, Chem, Phys
achieved: EPQ A*; AS Core Maths A
UCAT: 95th percentile
subject-wise I like both Bio and Chem.
I also heard about UCAS Extra and wondering if that is applicable for medicine.

Hi, it can be hard but please try to avoid the Reddit threads as it’s often people mentioning their successes, which can make you feel down if you haven’t heard anything yet and can cause unnecessary stress. Remember not everything you see there may be true. UCAS Extra not sure if it does apply for medicine, I think it only applies if you didn’t get any of your choices? But there is still a chance to put in a 5th choice or go through it via clearing. Biomed is the typical go to, but you could also do something like anatomy and physiology. You also seem to be doing well in all the sciences in general, so maybe natural sciences? It is less about the degree you do and more the experiences you gain, but doing a related degree would of course help.

Reply 2

CardiffUni Rep 2

Official Rep

Original post

by sk_5557

I've been rejected by 2 unis (though one is Oxbridge). Poor interview performance was the reason for my other rejection (expected because I felt it went terribly). But now I am scared abt whether I will even get any offers to study medicine.
I'm waiting on my other two choices (haven't started giving offers yet) and, in fairness, I felt that these were my two best interviews. Still terrified though. Going insane as I check my email every half an hour, and consequently scroll through r/PreMedUK and r/UCAT...
I want to do medicine more than anything else so I didn't bother putting a 5th option in UCAS.... but is it worth doing so now? I know it won't be given equal consideration.
If I were to put a 5th, what course should I select?
A-Level pred: A*A*A* Bio, Chem, Phys
achieved: EPQ A*; AS Core Maths A
UCAT: 95th percentile
subject-wise I like both Bio and Chem.
I also heard about UCAS Extra and wondering if that is applicable for medicine.

Hi,
I’m sorry to hear you’re so stressed about the final 2 decisions you’re waiting for. As someone who was in that position 3 years ago, I completely empathise with you!
The best thing you can do for yourself is try and not worry about these until you know the decision - which I’m sure you are sick of hearing so I’ll give you some other suggestions too.
UCAS extra is great if you are choosing a fifth course to apply for, quite often medicine isn’t listed in this as universities will contact you directly if a space opens up. As said before in this thread, a fifth option doesn’t necessarily mean choosing biomedical science, although that is a common choice among applicants. Any degree that would interest you works for a fifth option. If you decide once completing that degree that you still want to medicine then graduate entry is a great option! What I’ve found is the students who do GEM score well in the science exams due to their previous knowledge.
Another option is to take a gap year, which I know I thought was the end of the world when I applied. However, there are so many people in my cohort who took a year or two out to gain more work experience, life experience and polish their application so they felt more confident when reapplying. There is also a person on my course who already has a PhD who came back to do undergraduate medicine, so the pathway is never closed!
Clearing is always an option too. Not all schools will offer medicine in clearing so it may be worth doing some research on that running up to results day, it is very university dependent.
Try and stay calm as best you can and I really hope the final decisions come through soon for you!
All the best,
Jess - 3rd Year Medical Student

Reply 3

ErasistratusV

Do not read anything on Reddit.

Comparing your medical school journey at any stage, even this one, is both utterly futile and ultimately of no relevance to you. Please do not do it. Maybe your A level friends are all off to do interesting other courses. But they aren't you. They do not apply to your situation.

I wrote a thread specifically about this kind of situation ('So, you didn't get into medical school'). It should be essential reading for anyone even contemplating applying really.

If you're genuinely serious about medical school then not 2 not 3 not 4 rejections in a row would put you off for a nanosecond. Let's hypothetically say an applicant flunks all 4 interviews on the day in one cycle. If that applicant is genuinely in the business of applying to medicine, no they will not be opting to take a 5th option biomedical science degree, because that's not medicine and will not ever provide the kind of juice they want.

No offers this year? That's actually very exciting. That means you've got an entire year to:

•

Prep yourself in mind and soul ready for the next application cycle

•

Find healthcare or similar work and earn pocket money. During which you will obtain far more insight than you can ever get in a week of work experience and this will pay big in interview

•

Hit the gym/run marathon/do amazing stuff or do a gap year backpacking in Asia/wherever

•

Improve your application and yourself in ways that you possibly can't anticipate now but trust me, it will make you a better doctor come the end of it and you'll 100% be glad you did it.

I raged when it happened to me, believe me. But what happens in your journey, happens in your journey and that is what makes your journey different to mine or anyone else's.

Reply 4

Mina1208

Original post

by sk_5557

I've been rejected by 2 unis (though one is Oxbridge). Poor interview performance was the reason for my other rejection (expected because I felt it went terribly). But now I am scared abt whether I will even get any offers to study medicine.
I'm waiting on my other two choices (haven't started giving offers yet) and, in fairness, I felt that these were my two best interviews. Still terrified though. Going insane as I check my email every half an hour, and consequently scroll through r/PreMedUK and r/UCAT...
I want to do medicine more than anything else so I didn't bother putting a 5th option in UCAS.... but is it worth doing so now? I know it won't be given equal consideration.
If I were to put a 5th, what course should I select?
A-Level pred: A*A*A* Bio, Chem, Phys
achieved: EPQ A*; AS Core Maths A
UCAT: 95th percentile
subject-wise I like both Bio and Chem.
I also heard about UCAS Extra and wondering if that is applicable for medicine.

Hi, I applied for medicine, but unfortunately the UCAt was my downfall, I applied anyway due to family pressure, even though I knew it was a long shot, I did end up with 4 pre interview rejections.
And sorry this is very off topic,, but what exam board are you sitting for physics, as I also do Bio Chem Physics, and I do AQA, and whilst Bio and Chem are fine, I struggle with Physics- any tips you have with your A* predicted would be great

Reply 5

sk_5557

Original post

by Mina1208

For me its mostly completing questions under time which I struggle with. I'm pretty good at retaining info so I just make sure I know the content inside and out, which is why I enjoy topics like Particles, Waves, Radioactivity. for the more application topics (Electricity, Mechanics, Fields) I think PPQ is the only way to master them (and I'm still bad at fields-). All the best in your revision!

Reply 6

FiBox

In theory UCAT Extra does apply to medicine but in reality at this stage offer-places on all courses will be full or getting filled by on-time applicants so it is exceedingly unlikely that any would list in Extra. You need to have applied for, and be rejected from, all choices to use Extra so it would not apply until you have been rejected by everywhere for medicine AND have applied for and been rejected from a fifth choice.

At this stage you have little choice but to hang on for your last two options. Hopefully they will both make offers. If they don’t you will have one last go through clearing - a few medical schools were in clearing last year but you need to be quick off the mark on results day as interview places are generally first come first served for those who meet their criteria. I would search and read threads about medicine clearing on here nearer the time if you get all rejections.

In terms of fifth choice - I think you are probably better taking a gap year if it comes to it. You can then consider reapplying for medicine (unfortunately that also means retaking UCAT), perhaps dropping down a notch for some of the places you apply to (eg Lancaster rather than Imperial). But if you decide against reapplying for medicine then you are still better properly considering what alternative career you want to pursue. Don’t just apply for biomed by default. Think through all alternative options. Your academics are great so you should have a good chance with a wide range of highly rated alternative courses. Settling for a fifth choice now is unlikely to be properly thought out or as good a course as you could access if you apply straight in the autumn.

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