Graduate Applicants

**BellaGiz** · 07-09-2009, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by oomalooma

Hi BellaGiz

Qualifications wise........I have a 2.1 in a biology/chemistry based degree and my a-levels were B and C grades. I'm assuming that it was my UKCAT score that prevented me from getting onto the graduate course but my degree and experience/personal statement overshadowed my UKCAT to get me a place on the 5 year.

Hi and thanks Oomalooma for your reply and words of wisdom - and well done for getting a place! I also have a 2:1 in biology based degree - with some chemistry included. Am also hopefully starting chemistry AS next week to try and improve my grade and show willing!

What was your UKCAT score (if you don't mind me asking)? I've got a couple of weeks until mine, but so far in practise averaging below 600

so not feeling very confident at the moment.

**BellaGiz** · 07-09-2009, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by McWiseguy

Hey BellaGiz, I'm pretty sure you'd have to put it as two separate choices for Barts. As far as I know, whether or not they look at your A-levels depends on the your degree. If there was sufficient Biology and Chemistry in your first degree they won't look at your A-levels:

Applying for undergraduate study at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry

Hope that helps!

Hi McWiseguy - thanks for the info - I did a fair amount of biochemistry in my degree - not sure if it officially equates to AS level chemistry or how I would get proof fro my uni as I graduated 9 yrs ago? But hopefully starting on AS chemistry course next week anyway (depends on places available) so will definitely consider this as one of my options. Just a bit worried about my UKCAT now...not expecting a great score.

Thanks

**oomalooma** · 07-09-2009, 07:21 PM

I got mixtures of scores in the different parts of my UKCAT; verbal 640, quantitative 730, abstract 530, decision analysis 580. My average overall including the abstract (which unis don't always take into account) was 620, without the abstract 650. So my overall UKCAT wasn't great. Like I said, I think it was the fact I had a decent degree that got me called for interview. From what I heard, Barts didn't interview as many people this year as they did a lot of shortlisting based on applications and UKCAT scores so most of the people called to interview were accepted?????

**georgiegirl** · 07-09-2009, 11:05 PM

Hi there

I got an offer for Barts A100 this year - effectively unconditional - hep B immunity certificate. I got 722.5 in UKCAT. In the 2007/2008 UCAS cycle I got rejected after interview (grounds: insufficient work experience) - that year I had 640 av in UKCAT. This year the admissions policy re interviews was different - they interviewed far fewer candidates. One of the academic staff there I met at the post-offer day, and he told me that for the 2008/9 cycle the interview was basically a weirdo check, everyone who was interviewed was, on paper, going to get an offer.

Hope this helps. Btw, I am 38 with two kids and a degree in English. I did A levels in chem/bio this summer.

George

**McWiseguy** · 08-09-2009, 03:58 AM

Originally Posted by BellaGiz

Hi and thanks Oomalooma for your reply and words of wisdom - and well done for getting a place! I also have a 2:1 in biology based degree - with some chemistry included. Am also hopefully starting chemistry AS next week to try and improve my grade and show willing!

What was your UKCAT score (if you don't mind me asking)? I've got a couple of weeks until mine, but so far in practise averaging below 600

so not feeling very confident at the moment.

Hey Bella. Don't worry about the ukcat. It's a stupid thing that's scaring everybody now and it really frustrates me. I wouldn't go by the score you get in practice tests because the way they work out the scores officially is quite complicated. So, in reality the score you calculate is usually less than what you actually get in the exam. It was often the case with me.

Where else are you thinking of applying Bella, if you don't mind me asking?

**BellaGiz** · 08-09-2009, 02:34 PM

Hi McWiseguy,

I'm still not entirely sure where to apply as seems to be so dependant on the UKCAT result which I don't take for a couple of weeks yet. (I really hope you are right and my score goes up!) If I do ok, given my A-levels (not amazing - History (B), Biology (C) Chem (E), was thinking of Warwick, Leicester, poss Imperial college/Southampton/Newcastle?

For finanacial reasons I really could do with getting on a GEP if possible....I live in Lancashire at the mo, so if I can't stay local (Liverpool have already told me pretty much not to bother, waiting to hear from Manchester), then a move is a move really - so just want to apply to places I have the best chance with - but working that out is soooo tricky!!

Any thoughts?
Bella

**McWiseguy** · 08-09-2009, 03:29 PM

Yeh, it's really tricky. There's so many factors to take into account, especially with admissions criteria as well. I know that you'd be fine to apply to UEA. I've given up on applying to graduate courses, they're far too competitive! I seem to have taken a lack-lustre approach to finance now. I'll have to deal with that problem when I get there, I'd rather get in first - it's easier to get help when you're actually on the course! I should be saving now but instead I'm saving for my project to China first! lol

**Everhopeful** · 12-09-2009, 12:47 PM

Hi guys, just a couple of thoughts for you grad types.. there's a healthy percentage of grads, matures and internationals on the 5 year course to make the experience a good one. Once you hit year 3 you're joined by the GEP course anyhow plus any Oxbridge transfers. The new syllabus in Year 1 and 2 means you get nearly four months off in the summer I think so it gives you plenty of chance to work. There's about 2 months off after Year 3 then it gets smaller each year. You get 2 weeks off at xmas and again at Easter plus every Wed afternoon so there's plenty of chance for a part time job, and many of us do it...

**malevolent_elephant** · 12-09-2009, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by Everhopeful

Hi guys, just a couple of thoughts for you grad types.. there's a healthy percentage of grads, matures and internationals on the 5 year course to make the experience a good one. Once you hit year 3 you're joined by the GEP course anyhow plus any Oxbridge transfers. The new syllabus in Year 1 and 2 means you get nearly four months off in the summer I think so it gives you plenty of chance to work. There's about 2 months off after Year 3 then it gets smaller each year. You get 2 weeks off at xmas and again at Easter plus every Wed afternoon so there's plenty of chance for a part time job, and many of us do it...

That is just the most reassuring post I've ever seen here... Thank you!

**McWiseguy** · 04-10-2009, 12:44 AM

Hi there fivefour. If I were you I wouldn't waste the choice dude. Their cut-off was 612.5 last year and judging by the way the ukcat has been going it'll probably rise again this year. Don't underestimate researching the unis and picking the right ones. It's better to be safe!