GCSEs

[.22 SD]

Don't universities prefer people with better grades to people with the minimum grades? For example, Birmigham - would they necessarily prefer an applicant with 11A*s to another applicant with 7A*s? Hmm. They certainly do not make it clear. This business of 'minimum entry requirements' is a bit vague. Still, as has already been pointed out, avoid Birmingham and Cardiff if you don't have lots of A*s.

[dsn]

Birmigham - would they necessarily prefer an applicant with 11A*s to another applicant with 7A*s?

No. Depending on the number of applicants and what they have they may increases the minimum requirement to 8A*s, but if you have whatever minimum requirement they have at that moment in time, you should be ok.

[.22 SD]

How many did you get? Also, by any chance, were you the guy giving the med school tour at interview? short, curly, black hair?

[dsn]

I don't think how many I had matters - it was more than what they asked for at that point. The answer to the second question is no.