Help from mature/grad applicants please....

[newtomed]

Hey guys,

There is like two weeks to go and everyday my choices keep changing, and I just cant seem to get a grip on all this....

I am 23 yrs old, and have a 2:1 in Sport Science, but have pretty bad a-levels in:
P.E (c) Business (c)
As's in:
Maths (e) and Accounting (b)...

I am an A2M student at Lambeth college at the moment, and got a 565 average for my UKCAT...

I start volunteering in a london hospital in a months time, have 6 months work exp. with cerebal palsy students, and have volunteered abroad with various charities as an outdoor educator for the lat 3 years...
I also have an HCA interview this week....

I have phoned the universities I am interested in, spent hours doing research on their websites and this one, but still keep getting new information all the time, which changes my mind...

I know the university choices are totally my own but based on my background, I was just hoping for a little suggestion or a few ideas from you guys....

Due to my UKCAT score and 2:1 not being in a science field (it has no bio or chem in it) I am not going to apply for any GEP's...think my chances would be better elsewhere..any thoughts?

I therefore am aiming for:

BSMS (5yr)
Southampton (5yr)
Aberdeen (5yr) - still waiting on a email reply regarding my A2M course...

I like the above courses alot, but my favourites would be:

Cardiff (6yr) - but there is only 16 places and im not eliglble for their 5yr
St. Andrews (6yr) - quoata for Grads is only 5 places!!! and with my degree think the competition is way to fierce...
Dundee (6yr) - only eligible for this course and has a very low quota for grads of only 12 places!!!
Kings (5yr) - competition is crazy...would love to study here though...and it has reputed good links with Lambeth college....

Therefore, am thinking I apply for the 3 from the top group as they seem to be the best odds/favourites for my position and then my favourite from the bottom group...

Uni's i had in the 'wings' were UEA and HYMS but would prefer the others...

Again, all I am asking for is advice based on my specific situation, and I totally understand the choice is my decision....if you have anything it would be a massive help....
thanks

[hodiurnal]

try your luck with where you want to go most, if it doesnt happen this year, sit GAMSAT then your options grow next year.

[newtomed]

hay,

thanks for the reply...I actually would like to steer away from the GEP's where possible, not that I dont like graduates but just that I would like that extra year so things go at a steady (if thats possible) pace to learn....
but perhaps the GAMSAT will be inevitable one day..i hope not

[domi_stewart]

ure ukcat score isnt competitive at all. maybe u shud think about applying to uni based more on how they use the ukcat score rather then ure favourite unis. maybe u dont agree, but id rather study somewhere i wasnt too keen on then get 4 rejections and hav to do the whole thing again.

if the rest of ure application is really good then u can still get in somewhere; but ud have to be very selective in where u apply, rather then picking places u like. some unis like newcastle do their interviews 100% on ukcat scores whereas others use is far less.

[newtomed]

hey domi_stewart,

thanks for the reply...yeah I totally agree with you on the UKCAT score...so the reason I am looking at BSMS and Southampton is because they have less weighting on UKCAT and no supposed cut-off and as you say i have stayed away from uni's like newcastle etc that place a heavy regard on UKCAT....

any ideas on other uni's that dont look at UKCAT so much...realise bristol is one, and possibly UEA or HYMS...?

thanks again

[domi_stewart]

Originally Posted by newtomed

hey domi_stewart,

thanks for the reply...yeah I totally agree with you on the UKCAT score...so the reason I am looking at BSMS and Southampton is because they have less weighting on UKCAT and no supposed cut-off and as you say i have stayed away from uni's like newcastle etc that place a heavy regard on UKCAT....

any ideas on other uni's that dont look at UKCAT so much...realise bristol is one, and possibly UEA or HYMS...?

thanks again

hyms is a good one. southampton do hav a cut off. i applied there last yr.

best to ring and ask directly though tbh; nmm is good for general advice, but not to base ure final decisions on. the only way ure gonna know for sure bout the unis and ukcat is to ring

[latestarter]

Soton do not have a cut-off this year, one was published at 2200 last year but was later removed. Even with the 565 you would have met the 2200 cut-off anyway, so may give you some guide.

But, Soton don't interview grads so once you pass the academics of 2:1 degree and AS bio & chem or equiv there's just the ps and reference to set you apart.

good luck whatever you decide!

[newtomed]

hey guys,
thanks for the replies...
yeah southampton were pretty adimant on the phone that they dont have a cut off, but thats things regarding the UKCAT were being 'reviewed'...whatever that means....but either way I think your right 'latestarter', that the PS and reference will be the decider...

I did think that they do not interview normal school leavers but do interview grads at southampton....have i got that mixed up?

thanks again

[Neil H]

Deffinatly apply to UEA - they look very favourably at A2M students, and they also have a foundation year, should you not get in they will offer a place on it then you have a second bite of the apple.

[newtomed]

hey neil,

yeah, going to phone tm and speak to admissions at UEA and check if they accept A2M's from lambeth , if so then i think i'll go for it...
when you say they have a foundation course, do you mean their A2M course?
thanks for the advice