Northern Ireland to GB

**lollie22** · 02-02-2010, 11:32 PM

Hi Steve,

I too am from NI and have a similar situation as yourself. I have a degree, A levels and work fulltime as a healthcare scientist. I have a 9 year old child and a long term partner. I held an offer for Queens a few years back but due to circumstances could not attend. As a result I am no longer eligible to reapply!!! They are notoriously stuffy when it comes to certain rules and regulations unfortunately, which as stated above they miss out on excellent candiates.

I want to clarify a few things regarding Queens for u as I was in your situation before.
1. You must have A level chemistry to apply
2. They DO NOT accept a level resits!!! So resiting 3 alevels would be a waste of time
3. As long as u have BBB in your alevels and 2:1 u will get an interview (or BBC and 1st)
4. U must sit the ukcat

I strongly recommend contacting the school of medicine and speaking to a lady called Nicola Swenarton. She is very straight talking and will tell you if u are eligible to apply. If eligible then go for it coz u WILL get an interview if u meet the requirements. I wish I had of taken up my place as I now have to go to England or Scotland (fingers crossed I get a place), which like yourself means commuting or all 3 of us relocating. My partner isn't that keen on moving and he doesnt really want to be moving our child out of school.

Hope that helps. Feel free to ask me anything and I'll help out as much as I can.

**Steve NI** · 03-02-2010, 03:25 PM

Lollie, thanks for this, especially the contact name!

The stall I will set out to the lady at Queens is..

A-level Chem & AS Biology & UKCAT to pass by June 2011
I have not done either of these at A-Level before
My A-Levels are BC (Eng & Politics)
HND Pass with Merit
2:1 Hons Construction
Part Time Lecturer in Quantity Surveying
Football Club Physio/First Aider (voluntary)

The only sticking point....I only passed 2 A-Levels first time round, but if I pass Chem if I do it this year, then i imagine that will count as my 3rd?
I would also appreciate if you could guide me as to funding/loans etc?
I wish you all the best in your own quest, I was originally going to go that route, but to be fair, the travelling over 4 years was the issue and the kids are only 4 & 2 yo.
But you never know, if all else fails at QUB, I could be back that way!

Cheers Loll

Steve

**lollie22** · 03-02-2010, 04:51 PM

It sounds like u might be eligible to apply considering that you initially undertook 2 alevels. Speak to Nicola, she will give u a straight answer. Its probably better doing it now so that you know where u stand and can start the ball rolling. I'l drop u a line later regarding funding etc coz i'm in work at the mo.

**Steve NI** · 03-02-2010, 04:54 PM

in work myself....

thanks

catch up later...i'll contact Nicola forthwith!

**curlysin** · 03-02-2010, 05:55 PM

Steve NI,

You are in a very similar poistion to what I was with queens, for various reasons I only have 2 Alevels also and got good marks in them both, but Queens stated that I would still not meet the admissions criteria even if I completed more A Levels - They said You have to have passed 3 A Levels to begin with in your first sitting and if you have not completed the relevant sciences then you can sit them!!! No resists allowed - mine would not have been a resist as I had never done A Level chemistry. Its crazy thats why I can't go to queens totally ridiculous. I have a good 2:1 in a very relevant Degree, with 7 years experience in a Clinical role and also have an MSc and they still would not take my application into consideration.

Its really important you contact the school regarding your circumnstances and be sure you are completely honest with them are you could go through all the work and you where never able to apply for queens anyway. Im quite bitter about the whole thing as you can imagine what type of stupid rule is that anyway, its completely crazy! Now I have to go over the water, leave my Fiance and our home that we have built together over the last 5 years.

Finance wise, you will be entitled to a maintance loan of a Max 4950 a year. Thats it, you have to pay your own fee's etc. I have no idea about childcare etc so sorry i couldnt help out more there.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you have better joy with Queens than what I did

**Steve NI** · 03-02-2010, 09:29 PM

See below...........

'Stephen,
Thank you for your email. I have asked a colleague in Admissions for advice. I am not sure if you meet the BBB at A-Level at first sitting requirement and have therefore passed the message on. We will get back to you as soon as we can.'

**lollie22** · 05-02-2010, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by curlysin

Steve NI,

Im quite bitter about the whole thing as you can imagine what type of stupid rule is that anyway, its completely crazy! Now I have to go over the water, leave my Fiance and our home that we have built together over the last 5 years.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you have better joy with Queens than what I did

OMG....this is EXACTLY how I feel!!! I have been in endless talks with Queens the last few years and its like bashing my head against a brickwall. They wont let me apply but they'll let in the people that I tutor AND students who have scrapped a 2:1 by predominance just because they have BBB in their A levels!!! The irony!!!

I thought I was the only person!!!lol!!

I know exactly how u feel, I have to either relocate with my child and partner or go on my own! Its so crap.

**curlysin** · 05-02-2010, 12:47 AM

Lollie22, I'm there with ya - what a total joke its clear queens only look for one thing and that's academia and nothing else!! Everybody know's that a good Doctor needs to be more than just Brains (well except queens apparently) They pride themselves on the fact they are a traditional medical school - like a lot of things in NI they just can't seem to move with times at all!! I really hope you manage to get a place elsewhere - but as far as queens go we will never be able to apply there!!

**Steve NI** · 05-02-2010, 01:42 PM

The signs don't look good at all.

I have not heard back yet, so will reserve comment unitl then !!

**fortysixandtwo** · 05-02-2010, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by Steve NI

The signs don't look good at all.

I have not heard back yet, so will reserve comment unitl then !!

Like I said in my PM Queens didn't get back to me at all when I was enquiring last September. I emailed them twice and phoned them a couple of times too and they didn't seem to know what was going on.

Although because I live in NI I wanted to give myself the possible option of studying at home. Other than that I wouldn't have applied because there were plenty of other uni's who were far friendlier towards my application enquiries.