2012 entry into 5 year for grads

[metachic]

Hi all,

So Barts has implemented a new screening process for entry into their 5 year course..

Grads are no longer being screened as part of the general pool of applicants but are ranked according to other grads who have applied.

Does anyone know if there's a limit to the number of grad places on offer on the undergrad course?

My UKCAT is 655 which I thought was ok to apply to Barts. But when ranked against other grads, i'm a tad uneasy.

Does anyone have any info about it?

Many thanks.

[Arnold Layne]

I think the number of grads taken each year varies. Some years it's 30% of the total, but in 2010 it was 60% of the cohort.

655 is a decent score for most five year degrees tbh, and the number of grads applying to five year courses might go down, you never know.

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

There are three assumptions that, if true, could result in the UKCAT cut off for graduates being higher than that for school leavers.

1. Graduates score higher than school leavers in the UKCAT.
2. Competition between graduates applying for the 5 year course is higher than competition between school leavers. (but don't forget most of the grads with a science background will go for the 4 year)
3. Barts are deliberately trying to limit the proportion of grads on their course and set a deliberately high cut off.

I don't believe any of these assumptions are true and my guess (and hope) is that the grad cut off and the school leaver cut off end up being pretty much the same (600).

I asked the admissions team at open day whether the separate cut offs had been introduced to effectively create a graduate quota. They told me that this was not the case and the different scores were merely being introduced to ensure candidates were competing on an even footing. But in order to set the cut off they must have an idea of how many grads they want to give places, right?

Nonetheless I have 653 and am hopeful for Barts.

[Trip37]

Hi Kaiser
i think i agree with you but i also would like to say that the amount of people who have applied for 5 year courses is ridiculous considering there's no finance loan at all. I've also applied to KCL 5 year as a graduate tho. Just wondering any idea that you might have on how the process is for grads. I have this funny feeling they rank by UKCAT.

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

Hi Trip,
How do you know how many people have applied? This is what KCL say about UKCAT.

"Your UKCAT scores will be considered in our selection for interview. They will not be the sole indicator for selection. They will be balanced against achievement in other areas, in particular your academic performance to date. All indicators will be considered together in deciding who will be selected for interview. It is therefore important to understand that there is no universal 'cut off' score for the UKCAT when applying for 2011 entry. For example, if an applicant has an excellent academic background then the test scores will play a less significant part in selection. For those with weaker academic backgrounds (relative to our overall applicant pool), the scores will become more important."

So yes, UKCAT is part of their ranking but looks like its got a weighted rank against academic achievement. So for example if you have 3+ A's at A level, a 1:1 degree and other postgraduate qualifications, the UKCAT counts for a much lower % of your ranking points in selection. The UKCAT is mainly used to give people who haven't necessarily excelled academically another chance to prove themselves to the admissions panel, as well as a way of separating otherwise identical candidates in some cases.

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

Btw I checked with them and this also applies to 2012 entry

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

Speak of the devil. Looks like Kings have already started notifying people of interviews for 2012 entry! Seem to be a real mix of UKCAT scores as well.

You may find this interesting!

Medicine Applicants Stalking Page 2012 Entry - The Student Room

[Trip37]

I think those people are purely for the high GCSE's school leaver candidates. I'm predicted a first in engineering but got BBB and UKCAT of 672.5. You think there's a chance? I'm assuming less people would have applied for the 5 year because there's no tuition fee loan so either their are a lot people who don't know or a lot of millionaires. Have to say though that Barts 5 year would be better suited for me. So i'm guessing that KCL don't really look at PS. Seriously their admissions are so vague.

[baybaymonkey]

Speak of the devil. Looks like Kings have already started notifying people of interviews for 2012 entry! Seem to be a real mix of UKCAT scores as well.

You may find this interesting!

Medicine Applicants Stalking Page 2012 Entry - The Student Room

Well done on getting an interview for KCL already! I rang up the other day and they told me they ususally consider graduates for 5 year towards the end of the admissions cycle (march). Though, I'm in my final year of biomedical sciences ie: no overall classification just yet.

I'm curious why you didn't apply to KCL or QMUL 4year with that UKCAT score?!

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

Thanks!

I'm fairly sure the UKCAT scores required for QMUL and KCL 4 year courses are upwards of 675 so thought it would be risky to apply with 653.

I see you want to redo GAMSAT. I think GAMSAT Ireland have a test centre in London. You could take GAMSAT Ireland in March 2012 and GAMSAT UK in Sept 2012 and give yourself two attempts for SGUL 2013 entry? If not then worth a trip to Dublin?

Best of luck with Swansea, BSMS and KCL!