Is it worth applying to Oxford for medicine?

**AmberB** · 08-01-2011, 05:43 AM

Hello... I know that these are the most awful posts which every one does, but it's really distressing me. I want to go to Oxford more than anything else, but after work experience at a hospital and Medlink I found that I loved it so much I now have an ambition to do medicine. However, I do not know whether it would be worth applying for medicine AT Oxford, because I'm not exactly top of my year. I could do biomedical sciences. but then regret not doing medicine, or I could do medicine, but regret not having a chance at Oxbridge!!

Here's a little about me...

Qualifications
GCSEs:
10 A*, 1 A (

I was supposedly "gifted and talented" at this subject so really disappointing- business studies. Would I be at a disadvantage for not getting straight A*s?)
CREST awards:
1 Bronze, 1 Silver
AS Predicted:
Biology- A
Chemistry- A
Physics- A
Maths- A
Further maths- A
A2
Most of my teachers think I should be able to get A*s

Interests & Extra-curriculars
Animation (currently working on one on embryonic development and another on mitosis)
Selected to be on school leadership team
Academic mentoring
Writing letters for Amnesty International
Judo (but only a beginner!)

Work experience
I have some idea of what the job entails from Medlink and a Medical Careers day. I've had work experience at a vet when I was too young to do medical, and at a Hospital which was one of the best weeks of my life! I'll be spending a week at a different hospital in October, starting volunteer work in a care home next week and a biomedical engineering company invited me to see what they do for a day. I also want to apply for a Nuffield Science bursary.

ALSO after Medlink I'm writing a research paper on applications of Nanotechnology in medicine. I saw a lecture on nanotechnology at a g&t day last year and it blew me away! I'm also quite interested in embryology.

Ok, so tell me, is it worth applying? I only know one other girl who wants to apply for medicine at Oxford, and she got 12 A*s and 2 As at GCSE!! I go to a grammar school too, so I don't know how that might affect things. My other concern is that because I'm so busy, I only have a small amount of time a day to do extra reading.

Also, everyone I hear of who went to do medicine at Oxford for medicine did 6 A levels and got straight A's, whereas I'm doing 5 and dropping to 4! What's also put me off is all the other aspiring medics in my year are really popular pretty girls who I find a bit... yeah, whereas I'm a more introverted sort of person. Do you think there's a way I could edit my personal statement so I can apply for something less competitive at Oxford?

**House Jr.** · 08-01-2011, 04:31 PM

This may have been unintentional but your post does sound quite vain indeed. I don't see how you could think that 10 A*s at GCSE isn't good enough for Oxford. Also, if your teachers are already predicting you A*s for A2 before your January AS modules, I would be very worried about who is teaching you.

Ok, so your GCSEs are more than good enough for Oxford, and in terms of getting an interview, everything that you wrote after your predicted AS levels should be deleted because they mean almost nothing. Get a good BMAT and you'll get an interview, get a bad BMAT and you'll get a rejection, simple as, if you want to take this risk then apply to Oxford, if not then you should apply to medicine elsewhere. Choosing your course based on the uni is ludicrous, it should be the other way around.

**gravymister** · 08-01-2011, 07:40 PM

I don't see why you have your heart so set on Oxbridge... as far as medicine goes when you've graduated it makes literally no difference whether you went to a prestigious university or not. Also the course style is very traditional which may not be that well suited to you.

You should to go to some medicine open days at other Uni's to see which you prefer and perhaps think about putting less emphasis on Oxford.

**House Jr.** · 08-01-2011, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by gravymister

I don't see why you have your heart so set on Oxbridge... as far as medicine goes when you've graduated it makes literally no difference whether you went to a prestigious university or not. Also the course style is very traditional which may not be that well suited to you.

You should to go to some medicine open days at other Uni's to see which you prefer and perhaps think about putting less emphasis on Oxford.

Because Oxbridge is the "best" and if you don't study there then obviously you can't become a doctor

**AmberB** · 09-01-2011, 05:38 AM

Okay, I'm sorry about coming off as vain. It's nice to know that it might be worth applying though! Thank you! I'd like to go because I love the city and see myself enjoying living there, the grounds are beautiful, and I prefer the idea of learning all the theory and then doing clinical work; I don't want to cause any accidents in a hospital before I know all I need to!

**lia** · 18-01-2011, 01:10 AM

WOW! you have amazing GCSEs! You definatley should apply!

**tatowen** · 21-01-2011, 05:50 PM

Hi, I am thinking of applying to Oxford for medicine next year - bbut I was wondering if there is much benefit.
My friend who got in got extra training from oxbridge medicine interview preparation, but if I have to go through all of that extra work, I want to know if there is actually added benefit of going there?

**House Jr.** · 21-01-2011, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by tatowen

Hi, I am thinking of applying to Oxford for medicine next year - bbut I was wondering if there is much benefit.
My friend who got in got extra training from oxbridge medicine interview preparation, but if I have to go through all of that extra work, I want to know if there is actually added benefit of going there?

Nope, no benefit. The sorts of questions they ask are very difficult to prepare for, so I doubt this course will be of much use to be honest.

**hodiurnal** · 21-01-2011, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by House Jr.

Nope, no benefit. The sorts of questions they ask are very difficult to prepare for, so I doubt this course will be of much use to be honest.

Hear hear, like ALL rip off courses that promise to get you in!

Apply to oxford and 3 other med schools. Simple! And yes your application's good enough (as I suspect you know), but try and get some more work experience and a job in another hospital based service at weekends like housekeeping etc etc.

**poisonivy** · 25-01-2011, 11:12 PM

Hi, I'm a current med student at Oxford. I'll try and go through and answer your questions. 1) yes its definitely worth applying but remember a lot is based on interview - the grades simply get you there. 2) DON'T go on those courses - they are a waste of money and I know some people think they actually did worse in their UKCAT/ BMAT / interviews as a result. Most people here did 4 A levels (everyone gets straight A's) - all the stuff about 6 A-levels is.. well not true! Your school won't affect whether you get in or not - don't even think about it. the BIGGEST thing is that you have to go somewhere where you are going to be happy - go a medical school in the top 10 and your laughing. You need to decide what kind of course you want (trad. PBL etc), where in the country you want to go, what kind of work load you want (Oxford work load is a lot, definitely copable but much higher than most other medical schools) and also come visit, decide whether you like the place, the feel, the students, the clubs and societies, the college organisation. Its not like any other medical school.

By the way, I got 7 A*, 4 A at GCSE and 4A at A level. They're good results but not everything is based on them.