Increase chances of being accepted for medcine at Edinburgh?

[kazaam]

What qualities do Edinbur
gh mainly look out for?

I have read a lot about Edinburgh mostly taking English and foreign students, and many with straight A's being refused a place.(I know there's a lot of competition)



I will be doing:

volunteering weekly , I enjoy walking, going to the gym, and cycling. I play the piano

Is it risky to apply to both Edinburgh & Glasgow for medicine?

[nikusm]

It depends on your UKCAT score (as this matters a lot).
If you have low 600s then it's risky and I suggest you shouldn't apply as you'd most probably waste one precious application.
If you have high 600s however you'll likely get an interview while if you have over 700 you should get in in 99% of cases.

[edinburghanon]

1. Actually, UKCAT score is relatively trivial: only 8% of the overall application score which Edinburgh use to rank you. But if you feel that you're lacking in grades, work experience, etc. then that 8% can make a big difference. Unlike some other unis (including much worse ones like QMUL/Bart's), Edinburgh does not use UKCAT to shortlist applicants. This means that even if you get 500, you still stand a chance of being accepted if you are over and above your competitors in everything else.

2. Edinburgh does not typically interview school leavers. You will be accepted or rejected without interview. They do interview graduates, however.

3. The high proportion of private-school-educated students at elite universities is an artefact of inherent advantage, not bias. No university is overtly biased towards either state or private schools. Nonetheless, those who can afford a private education are also able to enjoy advantages like connections for work experience, tutoring for UKCAT/BMAT and guidance on how to prepare the best applications (and interview training too, though that's not relevant to Edinburgh). Either their school will offer such services or their parents will pay extra for them.

Good luck! I can reassure you that the people in the admissions office are really nice, not the faceless, ruthless automatons which you might imagine them to be

[nikusm]

What were your scores, edinburghanon?

[edinburghanon]

What were your scores, edinburghanon?

Ok, they were not low: 780 average. But then, I barely had any work or healthcare experience, unlike some people who went to Africa in their gap year and took care of AIDS patients... I'm lazy as hell, so I only have my brain and a bit of luck to save me.

[nikusm]

Oh yeah, tell me about it!
I just hate doing ECs (haven't done any yet).
My healthcare exp so far is watching surgeries on OR-Live. Probably I will add to that going with my father to watch some of his surgeries).

[TCIgirl]

I know that they say they arent biased if u come from a family where both parents are doctors.... but does it not give u an advantage, because it shows that u have had quite an insight, alot more than others can ever really get as they dont really experience it at home. and also does it not show that u must b smart lol if both your parents made it through medical school??!?!

[The P]

I know that they say they arent biased if u come from a family where both parents are doctors.... but does it not give u an advantage, because it shows that u have had quite an insight, alot more than others can ever really get as they dont really experience it at home. and also does it not show that u must b smart lol if both your parents made it through medical school??!?!

Yeah, you're smart because both of your parents made it through medical school, made loads of money practising and then spoiled you rotten as you're their only child, meaning you never had to think or fend for yourself.

See where I'm coming from?

[TCIgirl]

Yeah, you're smart because both of your parents made it through medical school, made loads of money practising and then spoiled you rotten as you're their only child, meaning you never had to think or fend for yourself.

See where I'm coming from?

haha... yea they could totally look at it that way.
good thing my PS shows that that is not the case...
that is just wat the teachers at my school told me, so i was hoping its true...

after reading this whole thread i am so worried i will b rejected!!!
AS: AAA
IGCSE: 7A*, 1A, 1B
UKCAT average 623 only got 500 on VR as english is my second language so hope they will put that into consideration...

[The P]

haha... yea they could totally look at it that way.
good thing my PS shows that that is not the case...
that is just wat the teachers at my school told me, so i was hoping its true...

after reading this whole thread i am so worried i will b rejected!!!
AS: AAA
IGCSE: 7A*, 1A, 1B
UKCAT average 623 only got 500 on VR as english is my second language so hope they will put that into consideration...

Cool, well I hope that is true. Please try not to get supercilious about your parentage as on the first day of medical school, everyone is on a level playing field. Obviously people have different experience such as degrees/medical family/previous work experience that they can use to help them, but overall it's back to square one.

ps: I had almost equal grades + UKCAT to you and I got accepted to Glasgow, so good luck