Southampton and GCSE grades.

[Fonzie]

Hello there.

Can anyone tell me (whether a Southampton medic or not), how closely do Southampton look at GCSEs?

I would assume that seeing as Southampton don't interview the vast majority of applicants, that GCSE grades would be a significant factor.

Southampton state that they require 7 GCSEs at A*/A/B grades and that anything lower than B is not favourable. But I have heard stories about 5A* and above being the threshold. However I read somewhere (possibly on the student room forum) of a student with hardly any A* grades at GCSE getting an offer for medicine. But then again one of my friends had 11A* at GCSE and got rejected (although he did get offers from Cambridge and Edinburgh).

I know that the grades are not the only deciding factor in a medical application. But I would like to perhaps know your thoughts on Southampton's policy towards GCSE grades. Also if you are an applicant or a Southampton medic, would you be kind enough to state your GCSE grades?

My GCSEs were 6A* 3A 1B btw which I wouldn't say are rubbish at all.

I just want to paint some sort of a picture of the typical student that is admitted to the course at Southampton and perhaps asess my chances of obtaining a place.

Thanks for any info.

[rozzy]

well if you heard that 5 A*s is the threshold and you have 6, plus another 3 A's....i don't see how thats a problem! and i don't think southampton are THAT concerned with grades like say maybe birmingham!

you'll be fine don't worry!

good luck!

[Fonzie]

you'll be fine don't worry!

good luck!

I hope so, I really hope so Rozzy my sweet.

Good luck to you to.

p.s. the 5A* thingy was something a person who works for a consultancy firm told me and not an official criteria etc. But like I said I've heard of people with much less than that getting offers. I guess it really is impossible to second guess Southampton.

Birmingham are just crazy with their GCSE requirements

[Med Student's Dad]

Don't get hung up on the GCSE thing...your GCSE results look perfectably acceptable.

Your academic performance is only one of the criteria Soton takes into account.

Focus on your PS and work/life experiences too...

My son gave up his fourth A2 (Maths) to broaden his work experience.

His A2's were Chem, Bio and French - demonstrating that he can think on a non-science based plain too.

Med Schools like that...

He was offered a place at Soton, as well as Manchester & Newcastle.

My younger son's A2's are Chem, Bio and Russian, he too has dropped Maths in favour of work experience.

Let's see if it works for him!

He has applied to Soton, Birmingham, Notts & Cardiff.

[Gizmo says -]

I hope so, I really hope so Rozzy my sweet.
.s. the 5A* thingy was something a person who works for a consultancy firm told me and not an official criteria etc. But like I said I've heard of people with much less than that getting offers. I guess it really is impossible to second guess Southampton.

macca, u dont need to second guess them.
look at their website and go wif that, and anyone who tells you different is a bullshit source. that is all.

out of interest which consultancy firm is this you are referrig to? i'm inclined to give em a ring and find out who, although the chances of them listening to me are sub minimal hehe

[Fonzie]

macca, u dont need to second guess them.
look at their website and go wif that, and anyone who tells you different is a bullshit source. that is all.

out of interest which consultancy firm is this you are referrig to? i'm inclined to give em a ring and find out who, although the chances of them listening to me are sub minimal hehe

I can't remember which company they were exactly. I think I followed a link either form this website and/or google. But I never paid any money to this consultancy firm because as far as I remember, the service they offered was expensive and certainly not value for money (I won't divulge into details).

Times like that I'm grateful I have friends at medical school and an excellent referee.

Thanks for the reassurance and yeah, I'll stick to the website (Southampton's that is). TBH if I thought my GCSEs were really going to drag me down, why did I bother applying to Southampton at all?

Good luck everyone.

[forum]

The minimum threshold is 5A*s, you have 6A*s what are you worried about? Go ahead and apply, southampton is definitely one of the best medical schools in UK.

[Fonzie]

The minimum threshold is 5A*s, you have 6A*s what are you worried about? Go ahead and apply, southampton is definitely one of the best medical schools in UK.

Let's wait and hope for the best.

So there is actually a threshold?

[Gizmo says -]

nooooo, macca, noooo there isnt such a threshold. its jus the minimal amount stated. do not listen to the bumfluffers.

[Fonzie]

nooooo, macca, noooo there isnt such a threshold. its jus the minimal amount stated. do not listen to the bumfluffers.

The thing is a guy from my school got in with much less than 5A* (at Southampton) but he ended up going somewhere else.

So I was confused when the consultancy guy told me they wanted 5A*. I even asked Southampton upfront and they said what's in their prospectus is what they want and that they ahd made offers to people with less even much less than 5A* at GCSE.

Birmingham and Edinburgh say one thing in their prospectuses, but when asked on the phone they said another thing. Birmingham told me about only calling people to interview who had 6A* (although they said post A-level students would need 4A* to get called for an interview). Edinburgh told me that the vast majority of the people they gave offers to had 8A* to 12A* at GCSE.

So you see, doing a bit of research can go a long way.

So are we concluding that there is no "threshold" and I can stop worrying and even if there was one and if it asks for 5A*, I don't need to worry?

LOL I'm Fonzie, I'm supposed to be "cool". ATM I'm like a bottle of hot sauce!