Universities resit policies for medicine

WRITTEN SUMMER 2012 - ALWAYS CHECK POLICIES
Good evening,
I hope everyone's exams are going well / have gone well (depending on where you are in your life) and that you feel confident you've got the grades you need.

I realise this post comes with some unfortunate timing as it is exam results day tomorrow, but I'm seriously rooting for everybody to have got the grades they need to get in, and if you miss them, well that's a post for tomorrow I suppose.

Universities policies on re-sits change quite frequently, for example, Sheffield used to be well known as a "resit University" and changed this status due to the high number of resit applications they received. So if you are reading this after 2012 and it hasn't been updated, check for yourself.

Let's begin!

Aberdeen: does not accept resit applicants.
Barts: does not accept resit applicants.
Birmingham: accepts resit applications when there have been extenuating circumstances, and the required grades have been narrowly missed. However they will not accept applications from people who have been previously rejected. I don't know if this means that only people who have previously been offered a place can apply, or anyone who hasn't previously applied...
Brighton: accept resit applicants. The applicant must have only narrowly missed one grade, and must have achieved at least a B. You've got to get an A* in the re-sat subject.
Cardiff: accept resit applicants. You must have achieved at least a B in Biology to apply.
Dundee: does not accept resit applicants.
Durham: does not accept resit applicants.
UEA: accept resit applicants. You must have achieved BBB or ABC. If you resit all 3 A-Levels you need to get A*AA, if just re-sitting one subject, you must achieve an A* in it.
Edinburgh: accepts resit applicants who have extenuating circumstances, however you must provide evidence of these circumstances before you apply in the next UCAS cycle.
Glasgow: accepts resit applicants who have extenuating circumstances, and have narrowly missed a grade, however you must provide evidence of these circumstances before you apply in the next UCAS cycle.
Hull York: accepts resit applicants who have extenuating circumstances with documented evidence.
Imperial: accepts resit applicants who have previously had an offer from Imperial, and who have acceptable extenuating circumstances to explain missing their grades, these circumstances must be included in the referee statement and the candidate should write directly to the school. You have to achieve at least CCC, and be predicted AAA in WINTER exams (not Summer!).
Keele: only accepts applications from re-sitters who have already achieved their re-sit grades (essentially you can't apply till the year after).
Kings: I couldn't actually find the information! If anyone knows please comment below and I will edit it in.
Lancaster: accepts resit applicants. You have to meet their minimum GCSE requirements and discuss it in your personal statement.
Leeds: accepts resit applications from people who have previously held an offer from Leeds, and have well documented extenuating circumstances. You must provide the information and contact the admissions office before applying in the next UCAS cycle.
Leicester: do not accept resit applicants. However they MIGHT accept a resit candidate who has previously held an offer and has strong mitigating circumstances (always worth asking if you fit this criteria!)
Liverpool: resit applicants CAN be considered. You must reflect about re-sitting on your personal statement, and meet the GCSE grades.
Manchester: considers resit applications, however candidates must perform very well at interview to be considered for a place, play to your strong suits if you know you are good / bad at interviews.
Newcastle: does not accept resit applicants.
Oxford: re-sit applicants considered with extenuating circumstances and evidence given.
Peninsula: accepts resit applications, you must have achieved AAB in the first sitting.
Sheffield: resit applicants not accepted.
Southampton: resit applications are considered, you must reflect on your personal statement.
St Andrews: consider resit applicants with extenuating circumstances, you must send evidence to the admissions office before the next UCAS cycle.
St. Georges: resit applicants not accepted.

To some this up, for those of you without extenuating circumstances, and only missing one grade, you can apply to:

• Brighton
• Cardiff
• UEA
• Keele (in a year)
• Lancaster
• Liverpool
• Manchester
• Peninsula 
• Southampton

I hope this has been helpful. I probably won't  be able to answer many questions on the subject, so anyone with queries is best of contacting admissions offices.

Good good good luck with exam results tomorrow, all the best! 

A-Level requirements for Medicine

UPDATED: 08/05/2012

Hola chicas!

It's been a while since I've done an application friendly post, so here is a post all about the A-levels and grades required by Universities, enjoy my darlings.
Note: Essentially no Universities accept General Studies or Critical Thinking as an A-level, and most Universities require Chemistry A-Level. Any exceptions to this rule will be underlined below.

Some general tid-bits:

• Take A-Level Chemistry, unless you are okay with a slightly restricted choice.
• Avoid taking subjects with similar content (Maths/Further Maths, Biology/Human Biology, Biology/Sports Science) because Universities seem to disregard the extra subject slightly.
• Research my friends! 

Aberdeen: AAA in 2 years of study. Chemistry + one of Bio, Maths or Physics.
Barts&London: Possibly the only University not requiring A-level Chemistry! AAAb in 2 years of study. Your A-Levels much include one of Chemistry or Biology. If Chemistry or Biology are dropped at AS, you must have achieved at least a B in them. Further Maths is not accepted if A-Level Maths has been taken.
Birmingham: AAA or A*AA (must be predicted AAA)You need Chemistry and another science. If you third A-Level is an Arts subject, or if you are doing Psychology, Sports or PE with Biology, you must have achieved AAAA at AS.General Studies
Brighton and Sussex: AAA including Chemistry and Biology . However they "reserve the right to make alternative offers where appropriate".
Bristol:  AAA or A*AB in Chemistry and one other lab based science subject (I'm guessing this excludes Maths). These should be completed in 2 years. Biology and sports, Biology and PE, and Maths and Further Maths are not accepted.
Cambridge: A*AA, most applicants (97%) have 3 or more sciences to A-Level. It is stated on the website that applicants with only 2 science A-Levels have a much lower success rate (21%).
Cardiff: Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAAc including 2 science subjects. If Chemistry or Biology are only taken to AS, you must achieve an A in them.
Dundee: AAA including Chemistry and one other science, taken in 2 years and at first sitting.
Durham: Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAA including Biology or Chemistry. Biology and Chemistry must be A at AS.
East Anglia (Norwich Medical School): Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAAb which must include Biology.
Edinburgh: AAAb including Chemistry and another science, completed at first sitting. Biology AS is required. For both AS and A-Level, only one of Maths and Further Maths will be considered.
Glasgow: AAA including Chemistry + one other science subject. If Biology is not taken to A-Level, you must achieve an A at AS. Maths and Further Maths are not considered separate subjects.
Hull-York: AAAb including Biology and Chemistry, must be taken in a single sitting (you must be predicted AAB to be considered). A-levels taken in Y11 and earlier will not be accepted. If you take an A-Level in Y12, you will still be expected to take 3 A-Levels in Y13. Further Maths is not accepted.
Imperial: AAAb including Chemistry and/OR Biology with one other science. If you are offering 4 A-Levels, the would be AAAC. If Biology is dropped it must have had at AS grade B. Vocational subjects are excluded.
Keele: Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAAb or A*ABb including Chemistry and / or Biology, with another science subject and another rigorous subject. Only one subject from Maths and Further Maths will be considered, along with only one subject from these combinations; Biology/Human Biology and PE. They have a massive list of subjects which aren't accepted on their website. It basically covers vocational and applied subjects.
Kings College London: Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAAb or AAaab including Chemistry or Biology, if one of these subjects is not taken to A-Level, it must be taken to AS.
Lancaster: AAAb including Chemistry AND Biology. Only one subject out of the combination from Maths and Further Maths are considered. The extended project can sometimes be used to replace a 4th A-Level.
Leeds: AAA including Chemistry. A 4th A-Level is not seen as an advantage.
Leicester: AAA including Chemistry. You must study 4 AS levels including Biology and Chemistry. Taking 4 A-Levels is no advantage, and only one of Maths and Further Maths is considered in the offer.
Liverpool:  AAAb including Chemistry AND Biology. General studies and Critical Thinking can be considered as a 4th subject.
Manchester: AAA including Chemistry and another science. It is expected that you take 4 AS-Levels, however if your school only lets you take 3, if you contact the Medical school and provide evidence, your application will still be considered.
Newcastle: Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAA including Chemistry and/or Biology. If only one offered at AS, must be achieved at A grade.
Nottingham: AAA including Biology AND Chemistry. 3rd A-Level can be any academic subject.
Oxford: A*AA including Chemistry and another science. If you take more than 3 A-Levels you may have an offer including these, you cannot drop theses extra A-Levels after application.
Peninsula: A*AAc-AAAc including Chemistry and Biology or Physics.
Queens Belfast: AAAa including Chemistry and another science. If not offered at A2, AS Biology must be offered at grade B.
Sheffield: AAA including Chemistry and another science subject.
Southampton: AAA including Chemistry and Biology. If Chemistry or Biology are not taken to A2, they must be achieved to A grade at AS (this is a bit confusing on their website, you may want to check it). Subjects with similar material may not be considered in the offer: maths/further maths, biology/sports science.
St. Andrews: AAA including Chemistry and another science. Only one of Maths and Further Maths will be considered as a 3rd subject.
St. Georges: AAAb including Chemistry and Biology.
UCL: AAA including Chemistry and Biology. General studies and critical thinking are only available as a 4th A-Level subject. Applicants who offer a contrasting subject will be given some preference, such as a language or art rather than a traditional science subject.

Good luck with choosing! I will do a post on resit policies soon.

A2 results 8th March 2012

I GOT AN A!

I GOT A FUCKING A!!

I AM NOW DEFINITELY GOING OFF TO STUDY MEDICINE IN SEPTEMBER

YAYAYAYAYYAYAYAY.

(Back story for blog stumblers: I am a medicine re-applicant and re-sat chem5 in February - already have an offer so just needed an A in Chemistry, now as long as I get my GCSE certificates etc off I should definitely be attending med school this September, but as a medic this time)

I really hope everyone has the grades they wanted / needed today, and good luck people with interviews and those still waiting.

Never give up bambinis!

Week in the life of a biomed student

For anyone stumbling across this blog who actually wants to do Biomed, or for medics thinking of accepting a reserve offer, here is a week in my life (well Monday til Wednesday anyways).

We don't have a set timetable (very annoyingly) so this is by no means representative.

Monday

Morning: The usual 9am start with a presentation tutorial - 4 hours sitting through everyone nervously giving presentations on lab techniques such as immunofluorescence, PCR and electrophoresis. Very boring - I think the more technical side of this degree is the worst aspect for a wannabe doctor.

Afternoon: An essay is due at 2pm, this means fighting for a computer in the med school / harassing your medic friends for their computers as all the biomed students bumble about trying to print their essays last minute.

Evening: 5pm finish after some cardiovascular lectures. I cannot work at all back in halls because of all the distractions so I (in a weird moment of keenness) stayed at med school til 7:30pm working. A lot of people do this, especially students in their clinical years.

Go back to halls and eat / socialise / spend too long on the internet.

Tuesday

Morning: 9am start (as per) this is term has been really bad for them, I can count the number of later starts on one hand. Lectures on an infection module we're doing at the moment - it's pretty interesting stuff and I'm enjoying it. But once you're getting to the third lecture in a row it's pretty hard to keep your eyes open, this is where pod-casts come in. Us students love pod-casts.

Afternoon: A few periods free, because we're at med school 9-4 most days, everyone on the course is really good friends, or at least amicable, so frees tend to be spent socialising. Had a 2 hour practical - I strongly dislike practicals, it's like a slap in the face that you are doing a course designed to make you a researcher. But this isn't just me, no-one seems to like practicals? Maybe we're all too lazy / don't understand what's going enough to appreciate them.

Evening: Food, kayaking training, socialise in the bar underneath my halls, SLEEEEEEPPPPPP. I promise you that despite all the 9am starts, you do not learn to go to bed before 3am like all your Humanities friends, most people solve this problem with the wonderful concept of afternoon naps. University campus' are actually pretty dead places 4-6pm.

Wednesday

Morning: Lectures on gene mutations - kind of like A-Level but a bit harder, and highlighting how many lies they told you :) You experience this feeling a lot.
Afternoon: 9-1 lectures on a Wednesday and then FREE AFTERNOON YAY. I spend my time training for sports and then volunteering at an elderly peoples home. It was an open day today so there was lots of negotiating between crowds of fresh faced school children and anxious parents.

Evening: Was once again super kee-heen and spent a few slow hours in med school working; I sometimes don't know why I bother when it's so likely I'll be leaving, but I guess it will give me a head start next year. Then back to halls, food, and pre-drinking / getting ready for SPORTS NIGHT. I'm pretty sure this is universal around UK universities - Wednesday is sports night, everyone who does any kind of sport, gets dressed up and goes out.

Cool beans! Have fun weeks everyone and good luck for applicants

Lady Gaga...

I had my interview last Thursday, thought it went pretty well but as per I was sickly nervous. Luckily mine was a morning interview so I didn't have to endure it for too long, I have so much sympathy for those people who have to wait till the afternoon.

I had to sign a confidentiality agreement at the beginning (lol!) so I can't tell you any questions or anything but the ethical question involved Lady Gaga, threw me a little bit :S

Otherwise they were fairly standard and oriented around my personal statement, which was quite nice because I know about that!

Although, instead of asking me "Why do you want to do Medicine?" which is a nice question, a question I know the answer to, a questions I have practised, they asked me "Why do you want to be a doctor over other healthcare professionals?" :/ Throwing me into the landmine-filled zone of not offending everyone else who works in hospitals, whilst still making sure they know you think medicine is AWESOME

Interestingly, this year I had to submit a form beforehand with contact details for all my work experience / volunteering placements, didn't have to do that last year! I guess it's to weed out people who are lying, but I really can't imagine them ringing around all the placements for every applicant. It seems Universities are tightening their belts though, so any prospective applicants, think before lying!!

I saw my friend doing medicine at the same place, it was nice to see him, but I was also a bit sad when I thought I could have been with him, being a first year medic, ach.

Oh well, MUST TRY AND MOVE ON (haha) the tour of the uni and meeting all the current students made me SO EXCITED

But, I'm now finding it really hard to concentrate on my biomed course :S It's so so hard to motivate myself to go to lectures and do work, because I know that (hopefully) I should be leaving soon

Anyways, as usual I'm wishing every whos waiting for offers/rejections and going to interviews THE BEST OF LUCK!

Medicine Interviews

I have an interview tomorrow!

Argh, nervous :S But I feel pretty prepared, also, isn't everything easier the second time round? :P

For advice you can see my incredibly comphrensive, and possibly a bit intimidating, posts on interview preparation:

http://youngwannabedoctor.blogspot.com/2010/09/interview-preparation.html

http://youngwannabedoctor.blogspot.com/2011/02/interview-prep-2.html

http://youngwannabedoctor.blogspot.com/2010/11/useful-links.html

But please don't let these scare you, a friend told me that it was slightly worrying how much preparation there seemed to be, BUT PLEASE DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO DO ALL OF THIS

Every Medical school has different expectations and interview techniques, and at some places you won't even get asked a question about current medical news, whereas at others you will be expected to know big headlines from that week.

So, as usual, research is the key.

I had an interview at the same place last year, and managed to get an offer, so hoping for the same!

Best luck for everyone with interviews and those who are waiting to hear, if you have any questions about particular universities, post below and I will try my best to answer

My story

I felt like getting all up close and personal today after a commenter asked me about my own offers etc... If you really do just want to know what GCSE's you need - LOOK AT POSTS BELOW
If you want to know about my little life, well read on

I've gone about getting into Medicine a bit of weird route, so I shall bullet point:

• Last year, when I was in A2, I got offers YAY
• August rolled on, missed my A in Chemistry by a few UMS - got A*AB overall
• Begged and pleaded down the phone, but nope they were having none of it
• After a few agonising weeks of shittyness, I decided to take my reserve offer of Biomed
• Got to Uni and decided that, whilst the course was fascinating, I still wanted to do Medicine
• Re-applied in October 2011 as a re-sit applicant at University (there really aren't many places you can apply)
• Continued on my biomed course, really enjoying it - great teaching, great Uni, wonderful friends, societies etc - I genuinely thought I would get straight rejections, the chances of an offer seemed so slim
• AN INTERVIEW - January 2012 - so shocked, literally couldn't believe it
• AN OFFER - January 2012, from a different Uni - I almost started crying on the phone to my Mum
• Really kicked Chemistry revision into high gear
• Resat Chem5 (today 1St Feb 2012)

So that's my story really! I'm still on my Biomed course here at Uni, I'm going to ask for a transfer to Medicine at the end of the year, but if I don't get that (and get my A in Chemistry) I will be off

Please don't miss your grades haha, it was horrific, probably one of the worst months of my life. You will feel embarrassed, like you have let everyone down (Mum) and mostly you hate yourself a little bit, because what kind of f*cking IDIOT gives up the chance to do what they desperately want to do.

I tried to put on a front for my friends etc who didn't really understand what it means to give up Medicine when you have put so much hard work into getting there. They thought Biomed was the same and didn't get the fuss, I never explained.

It has taken me a longer time (and I mean months) to come to terms with the fact I missed my grades, I KNOW this sounds ridiculous and melodramatic, but just 3 years of hard work wasted on one exam. I spent ages feeling confused and lost and sad.

ANYHOW, at the moment I feel super positive about everything, it's kind of all turned out to be a silver lining situation.

I've had all the greatness of being a fresher at Uni; the friends, the independence, the nights out, the societies instead of being stuck at home on a Gap Yah missing all my friends and not making many new ones, stalking their photos while I'm working full time with my whole LIFE being about Medicine.

And now I have an offer!! :D

I think I'm going to take my student loan for 3rd term, drop out, and bugger off travelling.

Essentially meaning, I'm going to have the experience of freshers at uni (on a less demanding course), a gap year with all the travelling and none of the work, AND get to do medicine at the end of it!

Despite this, PLEASE DON'T TAKE THE ROUTE I TOOK hahaha

I'm still making sacrifices: I'm going to have leave all my friends, sports etc behind, and go through the whole "getting to know" people process again :S I'm loosing all my security

I've also already signed for a house, meaning I'm losing a hefty deposit

I feel like I've grown up a lot, my perspective on life has changed a lot, and ultimately while it was a slightly unpleasant experience, it was probably one of the most important ones I've had so far (well educationally anyway...)

Anyways, enough poignant stuff, back to analysing all of your GCSE grades.....

Good luck my bambinis!

If you have any questions, post below and I will try my best to answer them

Bad GCSE results and getting into Medicine

*WRITTEN IN JANUARY 2012 - POLICIES MAY HAVE CHANGED, ALWAYS CHECK*

One of the most common questions I get asked on my most popular post - GCSE requirements for Medicine - is "are my GCSE results good enough?"

So I thought I would write a post covering this area, so maybe I won't have to individually reassure quite as many people!

Universities that like GCSE's:

• Oxford
• Birmingham
• UCL
• Aberdeen (AS's do not form part of their academic requirements)
• Edinburgh
• Bristol
• Manchester
• Newcastle 

Universities which think AS's are more important:

• Cambridge
• Brighton and Sussex (BSMS)

This list is from my personal knowledge, if I become aware of the preferences of more Universities I will post them on here!

People who shouldn't worry: Those with 10A*'s and above, whether you are from a state or independent school, these results are excellent.

People who shouldn't REALLY worry, but if they want to go to Oxbridge, London Unis, Edinburgh or Birmingham should: 6-9A*'s with the rest A's - these grades are GREAT, the the majority of medical schools will look upon them favourably. However the places listed are a bit more fussy, and you made need to up your game during your AS's if you wish to impress them.

People who need to check out the universities their applying to for policies on GCSE's: 4A* / 5A* with the rest A/B - you still have a good chunk of A*'s grades there, so don't worry too much, but do expect to have to have a little bit more work experience etc than your 10A* colleagues. Some Universities won't interview people without a certain number of A*'s at GSCE, so check policy (I'm thinking Birmingham and Newcastle). 

People who need to apply to universities in which the UKCAT (or other admissions tests), work experience, extra-curricular activities and AS's and looked upon favourably: 3A*'s and under, with the rest A/B's - whilst you still have good grades, they really aren't up to par for what you need to get into medicine. You need to make up for this slight downer in your application with great work experience, volunteering, EC activities and of course a stellar personal statement with AAAA at AS to back you up.

DO NOT apply to universities which require higher GCSE's than this - it is stupid. They will not change their admissions policy, even if you have grade 8 in cello, are an Olympic rower and have been a carer for 2 years - the admissions policies are there to weed people out, and reduce the volume of applications they need to look over, and people that need interviewing.

Okay, hopefully this has answered many peoples worried questions, and I am sorry if you fall into the last category of this list.

My last nugget of advice is that preparation is the key - do everything early and do everything well.

Good luck with interviews (especially this time of year) and for anyone who has exams or resits.