MSc or Access Course?

[PrideandPower86]

Hi, im studying biology now... last year, applied for medical schools thi syear but got rejections... do you think doing a MSc in a relevant subject area will help my application more than say a Access Course...

[medschoolsonline.co.uk]

As long as you get a 2.1 and have reasonable A levels (including chemistry) neither an MSc or access course will help your application as you will already meet the entry requirements for almost every 4/5 year course. If you are graduating this year the best thing you can do to help your application is to get full time work in healthcare - healthcare assistant / hospital porter etc. Get as much work experience as possible - that's the most important thing.

For most universities, either you meet their academic criteria or you don't - it isn't worth spending a year doing extra qualifications if you already meet their criteria.

Hope that helps!

[elz]

alot of unis say having an MSC wont makee a difference, u just have to have the 2:1. there were alot of people on our access course who had degrees-2:1's or even firsts. the course helped them get interviews and some then got uncondtionals and so could leave the course. some unis wanted them to finish the course so they had the science basis-if their degree wasnt science based.

if i were you i would have a crack at applying without either. u do have the requirements needed. if u dont then get in u could think about this option? id say it would be more worthwhile getting as much work experience as u can, making sure ur p.s and interview techniques are good enough.

[PrideandPower86]

See thats part of the problem, I don't have a Chemistry A-Level, only biology and its a bad grade...

however, when i applied when i was 18 with just biology, politics and english i got offers from all 4 uni's i applied to....

also, someone said they like to see evidence of continuing study...if i had known about COWA i defininently would have done it...

what other Access courses are there at diff unis?

[elz]

yea some dont mind bad old a level grades if u meet requirements in a more recent course like degree. manchester and brighton have been of this opinion, although manchester dont take u if uv done science a levels so be careful with the biology, and brightons so competitive anyways they might now have to take those who have good grades throughout.

COWAs linked to UEA but UEA now have norwich access course too.
Brighton has the south downs/lewes access course which they give up to 10ish places to.
theres access at MANCAT. i know someone who did some foundation yr in london and then got into imperial so could try asking them-though imperials 6 yrs.

by the way u would probably still get into COWA now, or even up to september, if u should want to! then if u do get a uncond offer u could drop out?

[PrideandPower86]

im reading around the forum elz and people seem to be in two minds whether or not COWA helps you enter med school, any opinions?

u know of anyhting london based aswell?

tbh my question in this thread, should have been what is the best way to use the upcoming year to better my chances for 2009 entry

[elz]

it does or can help, but what i was saying is a lot of people 20% of people get all rejections on the COWA course. however the course does tend to get you the interviews, its then up to u whether u shine or not. but as i said people who already had the grades at degree level were the ones who seemed to more easily get offers. is your degree a science degree?

well i know most people might say its more worthwhile to get more work experience. however im in two minds about this. the first yr i applied i had as much experience as this yr, which was alot. iv worked in theatre, on different wards and in antenatal clinic for 2/3 yrs, and had alot of voluntary experience with children and stuff.
its more making sure u get this across and what you got out of it, which i cant have done as well first time round.
if youv got that experience then id say its worth practising interview technique-i applied for random jobs i didnt even want to practice interviews and keeping the nerves down lol.
then u need the statement to get the interviews. and also a reasonable reference-these werent great at COWA are yr.

there are alot of posts on people reapplying and how to use the yr.
as i said there is something in london for getting into imperial, but this might be only for people who live in london iv no idea ud have to ring them and find out, or google.

[PrideandPower86]

thank alot for all this input Elz... yea my degree right now is in Biology BSc Hons (2:1) most probable outcome.

to be honest, i think what im going to end up doing is spending the year working as a HCA in london or something similar....

im gonna ring imperial 2moro and ask about the course your talking about elz....

cheers

[elz]

no probs, from what i can gather the access course in london is only for people living in inner london to widen access.

o well uv got the science basis. id give it a go with what uv got, uv got the entry requirements that u need. and concentrate on the writing the ps etc. maybe get chummy with some SHOs at work, mine were very helpful.

[medschoolsonline.co.uk]

Hiya, you could also think about doing chemistry at night school - try Hammersmith college if you're in London...
Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College

Where did you apply last year? It could be that your qualifications didn't meet the requirements - a lot of courses ask for chemistry, even as a grad. Also, if you were only in your 1st or 2nd year of your degree you might have had a problem as you wouldn't have graduated in time for the course to start.

It sounds like you managed to get offers without meeting the entrance criteria in the past - so well done there!! But generally, getting chemistry A level will open up most courses to you, and you can do it in the evenings without having to give up a whole year (without pay) to do an access course - which would be less widely accepted than an A level anyway.

I reckon get that HCA job, go to night school and reapply. Good luck!