I think my UKCAT score is reasonable - what do you think?

[Daytime]

Hello all

I sat the UKCAT today and my results were a little weird. With hardly any practise I got:

VR-680
QR-640
AR-570
DA-680

Bizarre, as I thought I was doing really well in AR (maybe it just means I can make the wrong decisions quickly...), and in QR I thought I was a goner (I reckon at LEAST half the test was guess-work, madness!).

Anyhoo, my average works out to be 642.5 (or 643 if you're feeling kind). So, what do you seasoned pros think? It sounds like I can sneak in under the much bandied-about cut off point of 640, no? I feel the rest of my application is pretty strong, 2.1 in biological sciences, MSc ditto, lots of varied work experience etc etc.

Any advice would be appreciated

Also, could someone let me know what the selection procedure at the centre was like? What questions were asked of you the tasks you had to do, etc,etc.

Many thanks, 'preciate it!

[Daytime]

I rang up Warwick and was told that they would be 'unlikely' to consider anyone with a total score below 2600. My total is 2570 (damn you AR!) - so please someone tell me if it is worth applying? I am gutted as I genuinely loved the sound of the course!

Also, as the deadline looms I am beginning to feel rather nervous. How much does the UKCAT account for in their consideration? I think I have a good PS, good degree (they do not consider an MSc either, only PhDs I was told! So that won't count for anything on my application, I guess )

If someone could please help me out I'd be really grateful!

Thank yooou.

[FLmedicine20]

I'm in the same boat my friend, I got a 2560! Thing is, I'm an international student, and I don't know how many other international students are applying and how they did! She told me that they are expecting 1,500 applications and will interview just around 400. There are 133 slots, with 17 set aside for internationals. She said theirs a possibility depending on the PS, but is it worth it?! Warwick was my first pick too...now what?!

[Verve]

thanks for this post guys. My average is 2600 so from your comments not sure if this is going to scrape through or not.

[Daytime]

Ah well chaps, looks like we're in the same boat - if any one at Warwick could advise, it'd be great

I reckon the best thing to do is to call/e-mail the other UKCAT unis and see what emphasis they put on the score, if they put less emphasis, take a look at the website etc and see how you like the course etc, and Warwick gets the old heave-ho. If not, I reckon I'll stick with it, as I'm not that far off, and with my references and PS I hope I'll be in with a shot. Maybe. I think it's more important to get a place you're happy with than applying to somewhere where the course really doesn't seem right for you, so I'd rather my application be filled with places I'd love to be, if not, then I guess it's another year out.

What are your strategies, guys?

[FLmedicine20]

I think I'm going to apply....

I've worked for 3 yrs now in a healthcare profession and I've volunteered in Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and next month Guatemala doing medical/mission work. I also volunteer locally with homeless shelters, etc. Warwick requires a 3.25 GPA, I have a 3.415 - so I figure my work/volunteer experience will make up for my UKCAT being 10 points below the average...

BUT: if I change my mind, I'm thinking of applying to Soton GEP, even though I'm applying to their 5 yr. IDK...I really want to go to Warwick or Soton, what a horrible dilemma...I feel my entire application is strong, except this damn UKCAT!

[med20]

Hey i'm really rather concerned about applying to Warwick now. I really liked the place and the fact that they hold the most places for GEP is really appealing but i dont want to apply if my application is immediately disgarded due to poor UKCAT, i got 2580. Does anyone know anymore details about how they use the UKCAT, is it a case of getting above the cut-off and thats it or does your score contribute to every stage of the selection procedure. I heard of someone else who got a score of 640 and got rejected on the basis of their UKCAT result despite it being over what warwick regard as their cut-off point :s

[chiari]

Hi people....

This is a bit of a crazy time, just before the submission deadline. If you really want to come to Warwick (and why wouldn't you, it's the best!) then apply, because as far as I'm aware they will consider your entire application, not just your UKCAT score. I believe that they use the UKCAT just to put people into some kind of order, and then they work through the applications deciding who to invite for interview. Therefore, the higher your UKCAT, the more likely you are to get selected for interview before all the slots are used up. However, if they do not like your PS or some other aspect of your application, then you will not get invited to interview, no matter how amazing your UKCAT is.

You have a better chance odds-wise of getting offered an interview here than at most GEPs because of the sheer size of the intake; this year we started with around 180 people, this compares well with most other courses that only have around 30-40 places. Don't worry about the selection centre, it's designed for you to show all your best attributes to the selectors, and if you get offered an interview people on NMM will give you further info nearer the time.

Medicine is hard work, it's important to be somewhere where you think you will be happy. Also, to FLMedicine20, my advice would be to take a gamble on applying for 2 GEPs and 2 5yrs, this way you could apply for Warwick, Soton 4yr, Soton 5yr and one other: if you really want to go to either Warwick or Soton then focus your application on them. I would have thought it would be to your benefit (esp as an international student) to not have an extra year to pay for!

Dont be afraid to apply because of offer to place ratios or UKCAT scores, you have to believe you are the right candidate and then prove to the selectors that you are what they want. If it helps, my application didnt exactly meet their criteria either, but here I am!

[Daytime]

Chiari - Thanks very much for your reply, it was very insightful. Just out of curiosity, how did your application not exactly meet their criteria?

So as far as I can see the selection procedure is something like this:

-UKCAT is arranged in order from highest to lowest
-Their personal statements/references etc are used to decide who to call for selection.
-Those with high UKCAT and bad applications are removed from the pile
-This means people with slightly lower scores get a look in
-Their applications are analysed and are invited for selection.

May I ask what your UKCAT was chiari?

I really am very enthusiastic about the course, and I love the sound of the large intake as opposed to be being in an absolutely tiny course of 20 people or whatnot, it sounds like you end up with lots of support and friends throughout the year, and just the thought of the possibility of being attached to a consultant sounds exhilarating! So maybe I should give it a shot, as the other UKCAT unis have even more stringent requirements, from a first class degree in a science subject to amazing A-level grades to 6 months paid healthcare employment - hello leicester! - so I suppose that it just makes sense to try for where I really want to be!

Though my MSc won't count for anything at Warwick. Hmph.

[chiari]

Daytime, would love to tell you why my application wasn't up to scratch, but scared someone will notice and realise I don't belong here!

But, seriously, I agree with your description of the selection process. Warwick will say their "cutoff" is around 640ish as that is usually the point where they find they have filled up the selection centres in previous years. However, it is not a hard-and-fast rule, people with high UKCATs don't necessarily get invited, and if you are "borderline" on UKCAT but have a great application I would say it is worth a shot.

Of course it helps if you can get to grips with the UKCAT and get a good score, it saves a lot of worrying in the long run. Since you ask, mine was around 725 I think.

Being in a large cohort is fantastic, this year we have a wide range of ages and people from really diverse backgrounds. It's been 5 weeks and I still haven't met everyone yet! The great thing is that in the groups there is usually one person who has covered the subject before, so we are able to help each other out if we get stuck (Daytime- this is where your MSc will count for something!!). And there is a lot of support from the years above us too.

Come to Warwick! (I'm not getting paid by them for this, honest!)