Grads on 5yr course

[fivefour]

Have any graduate applicants received any updates on their 5yr course applications?

[jubzy]

Hey!I'm a 2nd year thinking of applying to Birmingham, but would like to know whether I shouldn't bother becuase I took my A levels over 3 years, I'll be at a disadvantage.

I got:
A-Chemistry
A- Media Studies
B- Biology
B- Mathematics

also I'm on 59 for my average in Biochem at the moment but I'm predicted a 2:1 and certain I can achieve this.

I was going to call up, but I doubted they'd be open today??

Any info would be much appreciated

THIS IS FOR ALL THOSE GRADUATES WHO ARE SEEKING ADVISE:

hey there ppl, im jubzy, one of the many candidates on this steep and tricky business of getting into med school.
i am currently in the throes of the process as bham have offered me an interview...my merits include:

1)1st in Biological Sciences
2) BBDD alevels in chem, bio, psych, design tech
3) 4 As 5Bs gcse
4) work experience in hospitals (collectively 3 years), as a scientist working on swine flu (9 months)

this is my second time applying to medicine at bham for the grad course (out of a total of 4 applications throughout my life). the first time admissons told me by email that a first class degree and maths and english gcse B+, is really what you should be aiming for to comfortably get over the entry requirements. a 2.1 is the minimum, but to be comfortable, a first is desirable. i forgot to enter my gcse details on this application and that was the sole reason i was rejected. i kicked myself again and again for the rest of the year.
MORALE: check everything before you submit.

Anyway, then they told me that they expected significant changes on the PS to show that i have done something worthwhile if i applied again. (i know that warwick only take graduates who have had some experience post graduation, but i think bham operate the same way in some cases;just a hunch though, not written in stone so existing grads, DO NOT BITE MY HEAD OFF).

so this time around, i re-re-re-checked my gcse's were there on the form before i submitted. Prof Chris Lote (admissions tutor) also told me that since there are no entrance tests, to differentiate two identically outstanding candidates, would they refer to alevels and gcse's? he said, with a resounding, YES.

so i thought i'd apply cos i got a 1st, ok alevels and good gcse's (for my school background anyway).

the next important step i felt was the PS. the first time applied, i knew my PS was weak and i realised too late. i asked Prof Lote if he would give me feedback on it; he said he didnt even read it cos it didnt get passed the entry req. level (i forgot to enter my gcse results!!!)
this time around i knew i had a winner. like i said, i had hospital experience and scientific exposure POST GRADUATION that i talked about to show my maturity; afterall, i am a graduate applicant.

it is very difficult if you have a 59 or even 2.1 prediction, cos you never know what will happen in the 3rd year.
rule of thumb: med school - admissions test + popularity^2 x selectivity = STRINGENT ENTRY REQUIREMENTS.
my lecturers at uni told me that a 1st really makes things a lot easier. but not all is lost. like Rick so rightly said, the top 10% are firsts, and i think that the next 60% are 2.1's and the remaining are 2.2's.

just try ur absolute best to get that 2.1 (or first, if there are enough points that you can mathematically get in the 2nd and 3rd years), then get quality experience, and i would say to wait a year and do some paid employment, then think hard about how to show that u r mature (in the PS) and you have a chance. remember, it all depends on the PS once the entry requirements are met.

anything ive said is my opinion and not those of the Bham uni; what Prof Lote said was correct advice that can be found on the website.

i hope this rambling anecdote helps.

keep faith.

[fivefour]

THIS IS FOR ALL THOSE GRADUATES WHO ARE SEEKING ADVISE:

hey there ppl, im jubzy, one of the many candidates on this steep and tricky business of getting into med school.
i am currently in the throes of the process as bham have offered me an interview...my merits include:

1)1st in Biological Sciences
2) BBDD alevels in chem, bio, psych, design tech
3) 4 As 5Bs gcse
4) work experience in hospitals (collectively 3 years), as a scientist working on swine flu (9 months)

this is my second time applying to medicine at bham for the grad course (out of a total of 4 applications throughout my life). the first time admissons told me by email that a first class degree and maths and english gcse B+, is really what you should be aiming for to comfortably get over the entry requirements. a 2.1 is the minimum, but to be comfortable, a first is desirable. i forgot to enter my gcse details on this application and that was the sole reason i was rejected. i kicked myself again and again for the rest of the year.
MORALE: check everything before you submit.

Anyway, then they told me that they expected significant changes on the PS to show that i have done something worthwhile if i applied again. (i know that warwick only take graduates who have had some experience post graduation, but i think bham operate the same way in some cases;just a hunch though, not written in stone so existing grads, DO NOT BITE MY HEAD OFF).

so this time around, i re-re-re-checked my gcse's were there on the form before i submitted. Prof Chris Lote (admissions tutor) also told me that since there are no entrance tests, to differentiate two identically outstanding candidates, would they refer to alevels and gcse's? he said, with a resounding, YES.

so i thought i'd apply cos i got a 1st, ok alevels and good gcse's (for my school background anyway).

the next important step i felt was the PS. the first time applied, i knew my PS was weak and i realised too late. i asked Prof Lote if he would give me feedback on it; he said he didnt even read it cos it didnt get passed the entry req. level (i forgot to enter my gcse results!!!)
this time around i knew i had a winner. like i said, i had hospital experience and scientific exposure POST GRADUATION that i talked about to show my maturity; afterall, i am a graduate applicant.

it is very difficult if you have a 59 or even 2.1 prediction, cos you never know what will happen in the 3rd year.
rule of thumb: med school - admissions test + popularity^2 x selectivity = STRINGENT ENTRY REQUIREMENTS.
my lecturers at uni told me that a 1st really makes things a lot easier. but not all is lost. like Rick so rightly said, the top 10% are firsts, and i think that the next 60% are 2.1's and the remaining are 2.2's.

just try ur absolute best to get that 2.1 (or first, if there are enough points that you can mathematically get in the 2nd and 3rd years), then get quality experience, and i would say to wait a year and do some paid employment, then think hard about how to show that u r mature (in the PS) and you have a chance. remember, it all depends on the PS once the entry requirements are met.

anything ive said is my opinion and not those of the Bham uni; what Prof Lote said was correct advice that can be found on the website.

i hope this rambling anecdote helps.

keep faith.

Thanks Jubzy...but I am talking for applying for the five year course at Birmingham, not the four year - I know I dont stand a chance in that department lol! But year are they really that strngent for grads applying to the 5 yr course!??

[gemidge]

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Gemma