UKCAT/A level/GCSE Results

[Rippy]

The above post is incorrect. Oxford does look at GCSEs for medicine; in fact, they're a very VERY important factor in being shortlisted for interview. I have absolutely no idea why the poster above assumed that the Oxford admissions process for Biological Science is the same as for medicine. (And of course, medicine will also be more competitive.)

I have other issues with the post as well. I agree with the general sentiment that for medicine, GCSEs are not the be all and end all. That is correct. However, for medicine 3 A*s isn't "really strong". Sure, it's alright, pretty good, but it's not going to be above average, so I wouldn't say they're "really strong". Also, with those GCSEs, there are more places to avoid than the couple you just mentioned. It'd be pretty risky applying to Birmingham, QUB, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Leeds, Cardiff, Oxford, and Cambridge with those. Most would still technically be possible to get into, but it'd be rather unlikely for some of them.

All of the above is in my opinion, could be wrong etc.

[Ryan118120]

The above post is incorrect. Oxford does look at GCSEs for medicine; in fact, they're a very VERY important factor in being shortlisted for interview. I have absolutely no idea why the poster above assumed that the Oxford admissions process for Biological Science is the same as for medicine. (And of course, medicine will also be more competitive.)

I have other issues with the post as well. I agree with the general sentiment that for medicine, GCSEs are not the be all and end all. That is correct. However, for medicine 3 A*s isn't "really strong". Sure, it's alright, pretty good, but it's not going to be above average, so I wouldn't say they're "really strong". Also, with those GCSEs, there are more places to avoid than the couple you just mentioned. It'd be pretty risky applying to Birmingham, QUB, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Leeds, Cardiff, Oxford, and Cambridge with those. Most would still technically be possible to get into, but it'd be rather unlikely for some of them.

All of the above is in my opinion, could be wrong etc.

Completely disagree, getting into oxford for one course is just as hard as getting into oxford for any other course, and when you speak to oxford about GCSE's they only ever say the average A*'s that a person gets in with, but as a lot of people from private school go thier its completely bias anyway. Also the fact that everyone who has every got into oxford and cambridge from my college averages around 3A*'s. Another fact is that if you get 5A*'s your put staright through to interview at oxford, thus it shows GCSE's arent the main factor at all.
I also disagree with cardiff as he has the points of 24 when all you need is 21 to get through to interview.
Well done on the offers though!!! But out of curiosity did you go to private school.
Which brings me to another point that a lot of the people that seem to get the amazing grades like 10A*'s go to private school so people cant compare themselves to that when they come from state school, because those types of grades are rarely achieved.

Sorry if it seems like im having a go, im not trying to.

[House Jr.]

Completely disagree, getting into oxford for one course is just as hard as getting into oxford for any other course, and when you speak to oxford about GCSE's they only ever say the average A*'s that a person gets in with, but as a lot of people from private school go thier its completely bias anyway. Also the fact that everyone who has every got into oxford and cambridge from my college averages around 3A*'s. Another fact is that if you get 5A*'s your put staright through to interview at oxford, thus it shows GCSE's arent the main factor at all.
I also disagree with cardiff as he has the points of 24 when all you need is 21 to get through to interview.
Well done on the offers though!!! But out of curiosity did you go to private school.
Which brings me to another point that a lot of the people that seem to get the amazing grades like 10A*'s go to private school so people cant compare themselves to that when they come from state school, because those types of grades are rarely achieved.

Sorry if it seems like im having a go, im not trying to.

care to rethink that bolded point?

btw, you can't just assume that most who get 10A*s or something come from private schools, sure, private schools can basically spoonfeed their students but they can't turn everyone into exam destroying machines if they are incapable of doing so in the first place. Similarly, someone who is capable of getting 10 A*s and is from a state school can get extra resources and still get those grades. Finally, if you factor in selective state schools, your point becomes pretty much invalid.

[Rippy]

Completely disagree, getting into oxford for one course is just as hard as getting into oxford for any other course, and when you speak to oxford about GCSE's they only ever say the average A*'s that a person gets in with, but as a lot of people from private school go thier its completely bias anyway. Also the fact that everyone who has every got into oxford and cambridge from my college averages around 3A*'s. Another fact is that if you get 5A*'s your put staright through to interview at oxford, thus it shows GCSE's arent the main factor at all.
I also disagree with cardiff as he has the points of 24 when all you need is 21 to get through to interview.
Well done on the offers though!!! But out of curiosity did you go to private school.
Which brings me to another point that a lot of the people that seem to get the amazing grades like 10A*'s go to private school so people cant compare themselves to that when they come from state school, because those types of grades are rarely achieved.

Sorry if it seems like im having a go, im not trying to.

no doesn't look like you're having a go, don't worry.

However, I do disagree. Getting into OXford won't be just as hard for every course.that's pretty much inevitable. IMO, medicine will be one of the more competitive ones, but even if it isn't, some will still be harder than others. I mean, come on, who honestly dreams of studying Materials Science at Oxford? OK, some people will, but not as many as for other courses, and they therefore probbably won't need to be as good to get in. Medicine, however, will attrack a very high standard. Indeed, on the Cambridge website, the medicine section says something like "medicine is arguably the most competiive course to gain entry to". (Something like that, I just wrote that from memory).

Also, 5 A*s doesn't guarantee interview. Interview for medicine at Oxford is based solely on percentage of A*s at GCSE, and BMAT scores, on a sliding scale. Each carries 50% of the weighting.

[R2010]

You seem to have got a lot of offers and so i was wondering what additional stuff you did outside of college to get offers