How to get into (UK) Medical School (pre-GCSE)

[wobmatthew]

I've got my gcses this summer and I think that I'll get 6 A*s, 5 As and 1 B. I know that you've said the minimum requirement is 7 A*s usually but what do you reckon my chances would be with those grades? I don't know whether some of them simply don't consider somebody with less than 7 A*.

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@wobmatthew You can get into medical school with less (I did), but what I'm saying is that, being at the stage you're at, you really want to put everything you can into this year cos it'll make your life a lot easier next year. I found it quite difficult.

[wobmatthew]

@NtUrTypicalMedStudnt Ok thanks for the advice

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@wobmatthew no probs :)

[cheatsikeblogspot]

you mentioned have to get 7 A*s and somepeople do more. However in my school we only do 7 subjects ?will this affect my chances of getting into medical school?

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@cheatsikeblogspot No, as long as the uni is aware of that - don't worry your college will sort that out (if you let them know) with the uni when you're applying . But still aim for 7 A*s. Could I ask what subjects they're in?

[cheatsikeblogspot]

@NtUrTypicalMedStudnt Thanks. I do maths,science,english,RE,geogr­aphy,graphics and art.

[Scopps94]

Do alot of medical schoosl really focus on your GCSE results and how many A*s you achieved or is'nt A-levels more important?

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@Scopps94 Varies a lot but if you do well in your GCSEs you give yourself a better chance and have more choice of uni's. Just get straight A*s and you won't go wrong lol :)

[TheOptipessimist]

I've just checked Birmingham's minimum requirements for undergraduate entry on their website, and it does say 7A*'s (it was 8A*'s when we applied for 2011, wasn't it?), but from what I've heard from recent applicants, it seems that 9A*'s will give you a more realistic chance of getting in. Weren't there earlier rumours that they were going to raise the requirements to 9A*'s this year?

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@TheOptipessimist I thought it was 9 A*s as well when I was making the video (and you're right about it being 8 for 2011), and then I checked and it said 7. I don't know whether 9 is an unspoken requirement, it does seem quite high to me.

[TheOptipessimist]

@NtUrTypicalMedStudnt Also, we were frequently advised when we applied that exceptional performance at A-level can balance out poor performance at GCSE (and to a lesser extent, vice versa). Obviously, this isn't the case for Birmingham, but it's something to think about. So for those who were disappointed by their GCSE results, I'd say that focusing A-levels is more important than worrying whether their GCSE's will have let them down (for most universities anyhow).

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@TheOptipessimist Absolutely. But for those in their GCSE year now they have the opportunity to work hard and get good grades. Birmingham is one where GCSEs are important, there may be others, but on the whole your right.

[issahnalzaro1]

hey, Im in Year 9 and Im hoping to get into medicine and do well in my exams, any tips for gcse exams? and 1 more thing, is there any specific subject i should choose for medicine cus i know science is 1 but im not sure if geography is better than history..or i should do catering? and did you get any a* thanks :)

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@issahnalzaro1 Hi, I mention some tips at the end of this video, but really I think you just have to put the effort in and work hard. In terms of what subjects for GCSE, you need Maths, English, Physics, Biology and Chemistry (or Double Award Science depending on your school). The rest is up to you - choose what you are good at and what you enjoy. You should be doing at least eight GCSE subjects but bear in mind that most people will have done 10 or more. Hope this helps - & feel free2message me

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@issahnalzaro1 Hi, I mention some tips at the end of this video, but really I think you just have to put the effort in and work hard. In terms of what subjects for GCSE, you need Maths, English, Physics, Biology and Chemistry (or Double Award Science depending on your school). The rest is up to you - choose what you are good at and what you enjoy. You should be doing at least eight GCSE subjects but bear in mind that most people will have done 10 or more. Hope this helps - message me if u need

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@issahnalzaro1 Hi, I mention some tips at the end of this video, but really I think you just have to put the effort in and work hard. In terms of what subjects for GCSE, you need Maths, English, Physics, Biology and Chemistry (or Double Award Science depending on your school). The rest is up to you - choose what you are good at and what you enjoy. You should be doing at least eight GCSE subjects but bear in mind that most people will have done 10 or more. Hope this helps - message me if u need

[issahnalzaro1]

@NtUrTypicalMedStudnt Hay thanks! Im just really pressurised now because I have to choose them by this friday, ive talked to some teachers and they said, Med school is hard! And I should stay away from "pratical" subjects such as Catering,Media etc..so i I should take more acdemic subjects like Geog..History..plus they also said most uni dont care about your gcse results, they only look at your a levels, Are these subjects any good?French,History,Triple Award(Science) Geography and Media?

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@issahnalzaro1 yes but you need Maths and English as well

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@issahnalzaro1 Hi, I mention some tips at the end of this video, but really I think you just have to put the effort in and work hard. In terms of what subjects for GCSE, you need Maths, English, Physics, Biology and Chemistry (or Double Award Science depending on your school). The rest is up to you - choose what you are good at and what you enjoy. You should be doing at least eight GCSE subjects but bear in mind that most people will have done 10 or more. Hope this helps - message me if u need

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@issahnalzaro1 Hi, I mention some tips at the end of this video, but really I think you just have to put the effort in and work hard. In terms of what subjects for GCSE, you need Maths, English, Physics, Biology and Chemistry (or Double Award Science depending on your school). The rest is up to you - choose what you are good at and what you enjoy. You should be doing at least eight GCSE subjects but bear in mind that most people will have done 10 or more. Hope this helps - message me if u need

[ellieisfit15]

What is higher than an A*?

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@ellieisfit15 Nothing, but 8 or 9 A*s is higher than 7 A*s. Is that what you meant?

[Scopps94]

where were you be4 i finished yr 11 earlier this year??!! ¬¬ but thanks for the information.

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@Scopps94 no probs:)

[toggerrie]

"slogging it out while your non-medic friends are going shopping" oh dude. Medics in Liverpool are WAY more chilled than us dentists! Especially in second year. I think first year is hard for everybody almost equally being that we're not used to that much pressure and that little help. But by second year we're getting into the swing of it. Great video, even for me, being a third year! All the best inshaAllah.

[NtUrTypicalMedStudnt]

@toggerrie apologies - I didn't make it clear but you're right dentists are in the same group in this regard. It's just easier to say non-medics than name all the individual courses in which you have to work really hard!

[jimmystafford100]

This is my problem I kinda like the sound of medicine but I am doing bio chemistry at uni. So this video is useless to me. Can u make a relevant video pls