Your reference (and whether you can do anything about it)

[whiskers]

I’m aware of the fact that it’s absolutely essential to have a brilliant reference, when applying for Medicine, which is why I’m a bit worried. My referee will be my head of year, and I’m not exactly in her good books at the moment, cause although I know I will do well, I haven’t been putting a lot of effort in, throughout the year. Yesterday she told me that even if I get 100% in every single paper I sit, she won’t be able to write that I’ve been working hard CONSISTENLY, which is what she needs to say. So she won’t say that I’m hardworking, even if I get good grades, cos it’ll mean I only started working towards the end of the year! So…what do I do now? Is there anything that I can do??? If I beg and plead, will it make a difference? I go to a private school, do they should give me a good reference, grrrr!

[exms]

Well, do you have to have her as your referee?

As for whether you can do anything about it, certainly. If you can find someone else to act as your referee then you can look into applying as an independent candidate and not go through your school at all.

Really, though, I think she's just trying to scare you into buckling down and working. I suspect that as long as she sees you working hard, she'll be happy. So make her happy

-- A.

[whiskers]

I thought the referee has to be someone from school, who knows you well academically, etc?

Hmm, do you think I should have a talk with her after the Easter holidays, and beg..and keep telling her that Medicine is the only thing I wanna do? Do you think it'll help?! I'm REALLY desperate here!!!

[exms]

The referee has to be someone who can write an academic reference... so I think you could send an application in independently and get one of your teachers to write the reference.

I wouldn't recommend it though, since you are likely to get people's backs up doing that. Obviously, I don't know your head of year, but I very much doubt that she's an ogre - I suspect that she has your best interests at heart and just doesn't feel you're working hard enough.

I think it certainly couldn't hurt to talk to her, letting her know how strongly you feel about medicine, and how you're doing academically. The 'not working consistently' stuff makes me think that she thinks you're not serious enough about your work. Ask her what you need to do to demonstrate that you're serious about your work and your medicine application.

Just my 2.5p,

-- A.

[whiskers]

Ok. Thanks for the advice!

[Varied A]

Don't do what I did and make the mistake of letting the reference be sent off without seeing it - make sure you read it, that it comments on everything you need it to (even if you give teachers a set of guidelines like those produced by Manchester apparently they still can't do it!), and that there is nothing in there that is untrue.

If your school refuse to let you see it then remind them of their responsibilities under the data protection act.

Make sure they start reference writing SOON, or you may not have time to fit in all the arguing before the deadline for applications.


Good luck

[LothGwenn]

*breathes life into deceased thread* I'm possibly facing my fourth medicine rejection this year, and I only got one interview so my application can't have been stellar. I'll worry about the larger problem of my personal statement for reapplication later, but just wondered what sort of format other people's references were written in. My school has a few lines from each of four subject teachers, with a covering paragraph form the form tutor. Thry do this as standard for all applicants, medicine applicants don't tend to get special treatment (I was the first to submit my application to the school but it got sidelined til they sent off all the Oxbridge applications). Obviously this made it hard for them to include all the stuff from the Manchester guidelines which I showed them, as space was limited.

Does anyone have any tips for a change in format if I end up reapplying?

[ALOHA]

Don't let somebody who is not going to write a positive reference send it! Ask a former teacher who really likes you. Anyway, he or she knows you well academically.
And I agree with Varied A. Ask to see it before. You can probably ask couple teachers for a reference, and then, whan you have seen what they wrote, just ask the teacher who wrote the best reference to send it! I did that. The two references for my UCAs application were pretty good, but one was more convincing.

[Ice]

They can't rele give a negative reference and yes LothGwenn thats the same format mine was done in. My form tutor totally forgot to mention the fact that I did RS and enjoyed debating and stuff but only our Head of Careers Advice (who checks all the Medicine applications) realised this and rejected the reference and told my form tutor to redo it....references can be changed in good time

[Makey]

Hey lothgwenn, why not send your PS onto me or one of the other people offering to review statements
http://www.medschoolguide.co.uk/foru...ead.php?t=5659
We could take a look at it and give our opinion to its strengths and weaknesses? It might help with your application for next year if you are unsuccessful this year...