GEM Entry 2010

[physjim86]

I started noticing a few people applying for graduate entry medicine saying they have interviews for Newcastle. As of yet I have not heard anything from them, no aknowledgement, no rejection and no interview.

I wondered if people who have been given an interview could say what UKCAT score they got. I scored 687 (I think...been a while)

Cheers

[Jimsta]

I've got an interview for Newcastle in Jan, with 710 for UKCAT. I'm sure 687 is pretty close for interview? I definitely received an acknowledgment a while ago from them, have you checked your spam? maybe worth giving them a call?

[Chwirkytheappleboy]

I got 702.5. Remember that UKCAT score is only one indicator though

[AlaCourt]

I got 702.5. Remember that UKCAT score is only one indicator though

I'm not 100% sure about that, in view of getting an interview. I've seen in two different places that they say two different things, one saying they solely use the UKCAT scores, and the other for UKCAT and application. I THINK they use the UKCAT for interview invites though (because that's what I remember the application office telling me!). They only use the application after the interview to total up your score, I reckon.

[Chwirkytheappleboy]

Wow, that's pretty bad. I think the UKCAT is really quite a poor excuse for a test.

[krazyfish]

Wow, that's pretty bad. I think the UKCAT is really quite a poor excuse for a test.

I disagree with you. The UKCAT is an EXTREMELY poor test

[foxyamy]

I got 692.5 and I think it is based purely on the score from what I have been told, so you may be borderline and you may still get an interview but it may be a little later coming due to being near the borderline. Apparently last year's cut-off was about 670, so you should still be in with a shout.
As for it being a stupid test, you can understand where they are coming from in trying to whittle down the applicants, given they receive 100s of applications for 20 places. At the end of the day, the cut down of applicants has to come from somewhere.

[Chwirkytheappleboy]

Yes, but could they not use something that is actually vaguely representative of people's abilities, rather than a test in which most people guess half the answers to because they don't have time to think properly? Given that it's a graduate entry programme, you'd think that people's degrees could be a fairly useful thing for something like that.

Either way, it doesn't really affect me anyway, I got my interview and that's all that's important. It just annoys me that so many Unis seem to place such a high regard on a 2 hour test that ultimately, doesn't actually properly assess anyone's potential

[krazyfish]

Yes, but could they not use something that is actually vaguely representative of people's abilities, rather than a test in which most people guess half the answers to because they don't have time to think properly? Given that it's a graduate entry programme, you'd think that people's degrees could be a fairly useful thing for something like that.

Either way, it doesn't really affect me anyway, I got my interview and that's all that's important. It just annoys me that so many Unis seem to place such a high regard on a 2 hour test that ultimately, doesn't actually properly assess anyone's potential

Well put appleboy, well put. I couldn't agree more.

[foxyamy]

Given that it's a graduate entry programme, you'd think that people's degrees could be a fairly useful thing for something like that.

True, true. But then there is always the other side of the coin where some people didn't get a first on their degrees and would probably just then get straight out rejected on that basis (as is the case with Birmingham). I think there should be an even better system than that really.

Maybe it's all some big conspiracy with the testing centres to make an absolute mint out of all those hopeful applicants. I'm pretty sure it doesn't cost anywhere near what they charge to actually run those tests.

I'm not sure it's that great for widening participation either - I am fortunate to have a pretty well-paid job and no kids or anything, but I can imagine it's pretty damn hard for some people to find the money for the UKCAT/BMAT/GAMSAT, especially if they have to apply more than one cycle.