READ BEFORE POSTING - "whar are my chances with given grades and UKCAT?"

[Kensei]

We're getting 1 new question each day re: 'what are my chances of getting an interview with so-and-so grades and UKCAT score of X ? ' - as Keeno suggested, it might be helpful to post a definite answer for people concerned about not having a good enough application. Please read all the information provided before asking the same question as dozens of people before you.

I. Here's what our admissions staff have to say about how important UKCAT is:

How we use UKCAT scores

Candidates' UKCAT scores are considered in our selection for interview but are not the sole indicator for selection. In particular they are balanced against actual and predicted academic achievement. All indicators are considered together in deciding who will be selected for interview. Those invited to interview offer a broad range of UKCAT scores. For 2008 entry, the lowest average score for an applicant invited to interview was 513 and the highest 776.

(i.e. don't worry if you're below average - ukcat score makes up only approx 4% of your total point count. Low UKCAT does not necessarily disqualify your application)

II. UK applicants: entry requirements (for school leavers)

III. Entry requirements for graduates

And now for a condensed piece of knowledge from one of our elders, Keeno:

if you have the minimum grades you are at no disadvantage unless the applications are so tight they have to choose between little things to decide between applications.... but a reasonable UKCAT and a good PS are probably worth more in terms of importance. IE A GOOD ALL ROUND APPLICATION IS BEST plus write a kick ass PS saying how you will discover the cure for cancer cos you are so awesome

So if you have better grades than the mimimum requirements... why are you fretting?

EDIT///

Here's a webpage which provides statistics based on previous admission cycles, so it'll come useful e.g. if u want to know how many applicants are there per place on the course:

Med Schools On-line: Aberdeen Med School

(it's got a section which applies specifically to grad applicants, too)

I hope this helps.. good luck to all of you

[Baby doctor]

Thanks for the information.

[Rippy]

I am totally baffed by that "condensed piece of knowledge". Aberdeen say Academics are worth around 25% and UKCAT is worth 4%. So how on earth is the UKCAT worth more in importance?

Also... if they allocate 25% for grades........ if being above the minimum gives you basically no advantage, do they give everyone either 0% or 25%? Seems a bit odd to me...

[Kensei]

hey Rippy

The take home message was: if you meet the minimal academic requirements, you and someone who's got better grades overall are BOTH likely to be invited for an interview, assuming your personal statements receive similar (i.e. good) marks.

I don't fully agree with Keeno re: the importance of UKCAT, but I think what he meant is - if u've got the grades (even if you just meet the requirements), u should focus on making your PS as sparkling as possible, and try not to worry about your "low" academic score, cuz it's MUCH more difficult to boost your application from that angle, while writing a good PS is something u can do in few days' time - and it yields immediate rewards, too.

A big part of what you'll learn about the application process is provided on the uni pages, the links to which u'll find above. The admissions staff will certainly not give you a step-by-step guide to producing an impossible-to-reject application (the reason for this is, I hope, clear to you) - and the rest of it is quite frankly just our perceptions and speculations based on the conversations we had with others in our classes. The important thing to remember is that they are, after all, just speculations. This is exactly why it's impossible to clarify each step of the application process and why we can't avoid statements which may cause confusion (such as the one you pointed out).

[Kensei]

(updated the main post with some useful info)

[Kensei]

it looks like it's that time of the year again, so...

*bump*

(this thread is still relevant, but if you found any inconsistencies or out-of-date info, please don't hesitate to post your corrections)

[pinksparkly]

Hey, are AS and A2 module retakes allowed provided they are within the 2 years of A level. The website confuses me. They say 'within the first sitting' which could mean when the first exam is taken excluding retakes, OR it could mean within the first go over the 2 years as a whole. i.e. not allowing those who have taken a gap year and retaken A levels. Someone explain please???

[Kensei]

Hey pinksparkly

If the website is unclear about sth, the best ppl to ask are the admissions staff - on the account of them, u know, running the whole thing Their contact number and email are there for you to use - never b afraid to ask them if you're uncertain about sth as intimate to the selection process as this (many applicants assume the admissions staff are there to make their lives more difficult - quite the contrary, tbh). True, some forum users might give you their opinion here, someone might have even been in a similar situation - but out there, it's all on one-by-one basis, and each application is unique.

This sounds like a serious question, the type which weighs on your whole application, so I'd advise u to call them now and avoid a great big disappointment later on.