The Whole Application

So, I thought that since now my whole UCAS experience is over, I would tell you my whole story, just to give you some information about where I applied and how I went about it.

So, my 'stats' are:

GCSEs: 8A*s, 5As (I actually got a B in English Language which I retook in year 12 to get an A - it wasn't worth it, I wouldn't recommend it!) with A*s in all the sciences and Maths.

AS Levels: AAAA in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and French

UKCAT: 817.5

Work experience: 1 week working with disabled children on a trip to Lourdes, 1 week working at a school for disabled children, volunteering every other weekend during the summer in the kitchen at a hospice, 1 day at a hospital (after I submitted my UCAS!)

Universities I applied to:
Newcastle - Offer
Nottingham - Offer
Leeds - Rejection pre-interview
Cardiff - Rejection pre-interview

I genuinely never even thought that I would get one offer for medicine, so two was absolutely amazing and I'm still so happy about it! Especially since Newcastle and Nottingham were always my top choices.

So, my experience.

My whole decision to apply for Medicine was made last January, and I've talked about how I came to that decision here. As I didn't have much time, there was a frantic rush for work experience, and although as you can see I didn't manage to get any in a hospital - really, it's what you make of it!

After I'd received my AS results I began to work for my UKCAT which I took in mid-September (some people don't advise taking it once you're back at school, but I actually thought that it was good because I was in the frame of mind to work!). My university choices were completely dependent on my UKCAT, so I'll show you my lists to give you some ideas of where you could apply depending on you score/grades.

Bad UKCAT:
Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Cardiff

Medium UKCAT:
Nottingham, Bristol, Leeds, Cardiff

Good UKCAT:
Nottingham, Newcastle, Leeds, Cardiff

My advice for choosing where to apply to is have one or two in your list that are 'tactical' i.e. you're pretty sure you'll get an interview there. For me, this was Newcastle, but I honestly loved it there anyway!

Anyway! So, I sent off my UCAS and then did my work experience at the hospital in October half term and got my interview at Newcastle in mid-November. I was absolutely ecstatic! So I began to work for my interview and my tips for interviews can be found here.

The interview went quite well, and I came out of it smiling which is always a good sign! I got to speak to other applicants which was really nice too, as they understand what you're going through.

Then, in December - the day before my birthday - I received an interview for Nottingham! I was literally sooo happy because at this point Nottingham was my first choice. So throughout my Christmas holidays I worked for my interview there and when it came around I was naturally sooo nervous! But it went well too, and I was happy when I left.

Then in January, I found out that I hadn't got into Leeds. I had to admit that I was really upset at first because I had like it there, and it was my first real taste of rejection! However, I soon picked up myself up and reminded myself that I was lucky to have two interviews.

Obviously, the next few months were absolutely horrible. I was so worried about not getting into Medicine and having to take a gap year, I wanted it so much that I couldn't even sleep some nights because I was just worrying all the time. If I could offer any advice I'd really say, you're going to find out when you find out, just focus on your school work because you still need your grades whether you get in or not. I know it's really difficult, and easier said than done, but you will know eventually!

So, I carried on working and kind of started losing hope for Cardiff. I had a feeling that my GCSEs were below the cut off because of that B in English Language, and lo and behold I got a rejection at the end of February! To be honest, I was expecting it, so although I felt disappointed it didn't affect me dramatically as I felt as though I was in a good position.

So now I knew that my next two track updates would be from universities where I'd actually got an interview! It was back to the constant email checking, and as soon as March hit the checking increased and increased. And then Newcastle started giving out offers. Panic mode.

Literally, every 10 seconds I was checking for emails, looking for that track update and every time I was disappointed until... two days after they gave out their first batch of offers I was out shopping with my sister and I got the track update. My hands were shaking madly and it felt as if it took an hour for the page to load, but then the page popped up. And I saw that I'd got an offer! I literally couldn't believe it and all I could say was "oh my god, oh my god" *cue tweet about offer*. I was on cloud nine and so so happy.

And then about a week later, Nottingham started giving out their offers. Although I was starting to worry slightly, I was just pleased to have one offer so I wasn't panicking as much as I would have been otherwise. They gave out one batch and that was it - slightly strange, but I resigned myself to thinking that I wouldn't get an offer/rejection until after the last interview which was about a week and a half away.

So, about 5 days after that first batch, I saw that I had an email from track. Ahhhhhh! I was at the bus stop with my friend, and so I opened it and logged in (which as usual took forever) and there it was! "The University of Nottingham has offered you a place to study Medicine". Two offers?!?! Whaaaaaat!

So then came the decision making. I have to admit, it's so so difficult to pick, because every medical school is so good, and they all teach you the same thing! So how do you distinguish? And you may think that you have your top choice sorted out, but if you get an offer from another place it just suddenly confuses everything.

I've decided to pick Newcastle though, because the way the course is structured, I think, is really good. You have a year of clinical placements in third year, where you're actually based at a hospital. And then in fourth year you come back to Newcastle to do SSCs and your elective, and kind of reinforce everything you've learnt on placement. And then in fifth year you're back on your clinical placements for an entire year. You also do a family study in first year, which is where you are assigned a pregnant woman and ask her questions to see how having a baby/pregnancy has affected her life. And then in second year you do a study on a chronically ill patient. And the town and university itself is just so lovely, and my interviewers there were so kind, I just think the whole atmosphere of the university and medical school is great.

As much as I absolutely love Nottingham, I just feel like Newcastle is the place for me! I've heard so many great things about it from everybody that I've met, I just can't say no.

I hope my story has helped you even a little bit! If I can give you any advice, it's work hard and stay positive, and it'll all be worth it in the end.

Bye!xxx

Firming

Soooo I think I've decided where I'm going to firm!

I received offers from Newcastle and Nottingham medical schools, but I think I'm going to firm Newcastle.

I went to the Newcastle post-offer day on Wednesday and absolutely loved it - we got to go into the dissection room and hold dissected hearts and lungs, and learn about the thorax. Then, after that, we went into the clinical skills room and attempted to make a heart out of plasticine (very difficult), and then got to see their SimMan and listen to his heart, which they had made sound like it had a defect. After the SimMan, we got to see an F2 demonstrate ultrasound on a student's neck, and we identified a vein and an artery. It was so interesting, and it's made me so excited to start now (as long as I get my grades)! I met some lovely people, and there was a girl there who I'd met at my other interview so that was really good!

I got to speak with loads of students as well, and I could just tell that they all loved the course and the university. I also noticed how well they all knew their stuff - I was so impressed with how they just knew all of their anatomy and observations, and what they could tell us. I'm so excited to know all of that too! And everyone seemed so clever, I could feel my competitive edge coming out as some people knew the answers and I didn't. It's so bad, I need to learn not to be so competitive, especially at medical school. Everyone's going to be so clever so it'll be difficult!

It's motivated me more to start revising, as it all just feels so real now!

Bye!xxx