This is the story of my application to medical school. I don't know how it ends yet, but I'm hoping on a happy ending!
I'm trying to distract myself from revising for my final uni exams (BSc Genetics) at Aberystwyth University. I should have already graduated along with everyone else in my year, but an unexpected stay in hospital in the run up to exams put an end to that, and I've now got my three final exams in the last week of August.
I suppose I should have applied this time last year for entry this autumn, but back then I didn't know whether or not I could face another 4 years of studying. Now I know I'm definitely ready for the commitment, I just hope someone will give me a place! I realised that the only thing holding me back from studying medicine was the length of the course.
So far the possibilities are Bristol, Birmingham, Warwick, Cambridge, Birmingham and Liverpool. I have ruled out Nottingham, Swansea and St Georges due to the GAMSAT, and Oxford due to it's (alleged) bias towards Oxbridge students.
For the next year, once the exams are over, I will be working as a support worker with adults with learning disabilities. I really love this job, but I can't see myself doing it forever. My dad is a team leader and learning disability nurse with the same company, and I see his frustration at the management and the system. I really need to save up some serious money to help me get through the course. I will be means tested for the first two years which means I wont get any of the means tested support, meaning my parents are supposed to help me financially. But my parents supported me through my first degree, and I feel awful having to ask them to cough up again.
Well first thing's first, let's try and get a place first
