UCAS 2017

Thanks, we are about a month behind you. Was hoping it might go a little quicker than that.

I submitted my application on 10/26 and have gotten confirmation from four out of five of my choices (Cardiff, Surrey, Nottingham, and Bristol) within three days of applying. I haven’t gotten confirmation from Durham but am not too worried. Surrey accepted me within four hours conditionally (although I already meet all of the conditions besides having my diploma).

Good luck to everyone still waiting.

I submitted my application on 10/14 to Oxford, Imperial College London, King’s College, University of Central Lancashire (med school), and University College London and have received confirmation from all colleges. Some admissions officers have emailed me already, but nothing more than that really.

@cami2017 Durham confirmed receipt 6 days after daughter’s app went in so I’d give them a couple of more days.

DoctorMD, are you taking any Oxford entrance exams? My daughter is taking TSA today.

@DoctorMD I am sorry to say looking at that list is like applying to HPYS and a community college. How did you arrive at that selection? Are you applying to read medicine?

@elguapo1, Lancashire is a med school program specifically for international students (UK/EU students aren’t eligible). and the fees reflect that (£36K). Entry requirements are just AAB, to include chemistry.

Wow, that raises so many red flags it looks like a parade!!

I remember reading about that UCLanc course, which is pretty new (and I think not fully recognised yet). I think they wanted to open it to home students as well but the government/NHS wouldn’t fund any more places; possibly recent political commitments might mean that will change within a few years, but who knows?

There seems to be a discrepancy regarding grades required. Although you can find the stats collegemom cites on their website, another part of their website says AAA or AAAB:
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/medicine-and-surgery-mbchb-a100#entrycriteria

The US requirements are given here:
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/documents/medical-school/mbchb/entry-reqs/A100_non-EU2017.pdf

1950 SAT, and AP scores of 5,5,5,4, including 5s in Chem and Bio.

Thanks for the update, @Conformist1688 - the US requirements are more useful (and more credible for medicine). I was reading from a flyer, which may be out of date.

The course is quite new- the first class was supposed to start Autumn, 2014, but it was pushed back to 2015 b/c the General Medical Council said that it wasn’t ready (‘failed to meet standards’). So, the first cohort (about 35 students) have just started 2nd year. Accreditation won’t be final / official until the first cohort finishes.

@montefiore No I did not take any entrance exams for Oxford. I’m applying from the U.S, so things will be a little different for me.

My daughter also applies from the US, and it’s still a requirement for her subject

@elguapo1 I’m living in the USA, and I wanted to apply to a few medical schools in England, but most of them required certain exams (I believe the UKCAT and BMAT) that aren’t available in my area. I did some research online and came across UCLanc, so I was just like why not.

I applied to all these schools just for fun. I don’t really plan on attending the schools in the UK because it would be much cheaper for me to attend an ivy league or any other top tier school in the US. I’m not too concerned about their decisions, and quite frankly, I don’t think I’ll get accepted any of them.
The UK is very test-score based and wants its students to specialize in one field, but the US is big on creativity and wants its students to take many different classes.

Personally, I will have completed 20 AP courses by the end of my high school career, but I did fairly average on my AP exams. I didn’t take them for the college credit but because my school requires me to (and they pay for them). I really wanted to explore my interests and learn who I am as a person in high school so that I can specialize in college. I basically did the exact opposite any UK school would want their students to do.

Well, if you’re not a serious candidate I suppose it’s moot, but whether Oxford requires a specific test of its own depends on the course, not the location of the prospective student.

E.g. if you are applying for Biomedical Sciences you should have registered to take the BMAT

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses-listing/biomedical-sciences?wssl=1

Whereas a candidate for Biological Sciences doesn’t have an additional test required, regardless of where they are based.

@Conformist1688 @montefiore Ok I just looked into them, and I everything clicked. I remember applying for Bio science at oxford, but when I saw UCAS note that I had to take the BMAT, I switched it to biochem. I don’t think i’m required to take any exams for biochem from what I am aware.

That’s correct, but my point (for the benefit of others on the thread, at least) was that it’s not because you’re American, but because of the course you’re applying for.

I want to send in my application next week. All I need is to pay for the app. I guess I’m getting cold feet. I put in my ACT score which was less than the entry req (got a 24, which is totally okay with my Australian apps) , so I’m hoping for a good SAT score. Should I add an ACT retake? I don’t want to retake it. But now that I know what to expect I think I might.
Also I’ve changed my choices a few times. At the moment I have University of Brighton, University of Edinburgh, University of Sussex, University of Glascow, and Nottingham Trent. I changed a few after I got my score (ex: Nottingham to Nottingham Trent). I just felt I needed ‘safeties’. I was thinking about putting St. Andrews back on my list and taking of Brighten. Or changing NT back to Nottingham.
What do you think?

You need a minimum ACT score of 27 for Edinburgh and 28 for St Andrews.

You do need safeties (unless you’re happy with your Australian options as a fallback if you don’t get in anywhere in the UK), and I would recommend retaking the ACT. I know you’re taking the SAT, but that ACT score will be there on your app and the hoped-for SAT score is still pending. Indicating you expect to improve the ACT will improve your chances a bit.

I guess I’ll retake it. I have the SAT next month, Subject Tests in January. Maybe in January or February.