Routes into medicine..advice much needed please!!

[Sophia_89]

Hello, could do with some advice!!!

I want to study medicine, but didnt do great in my Irish Leaving Certificate (Im English but was sent to school in Ireland. I wanted to do A Levels over here, but was told I couldn't as I was too old (im 19) and was recommended to to an Access to Higher education course (not the medicine one). I enrolled on the course, applied to universities and was predicted distinctions in my subjects, but got a UKCAT score of about 600...I was rejected from the universities that I applied to (Newcastle, Edinburgh and Hull York). I didnt complete the course after that :S

I was thinking of doing an Access to Medicine course now that im moving to an area that provides it, was wonering if anyone has done one in London and subsequently been accepted to a medicine course?

Alternatively, does anyone know of other routes? Is the Bacalaureat an option?

Help would me mucho apreciated chaps

Sophia x

[giella]

the one in London, I think Birkbeck College may be the one you're thinking of, is only accepted by a limited number of medical schools. It's not regarded as being a very successful course. King's College accepts it but not many others. If London is your base, then doing A levels would probably be your best bet. If you enroll now with the Oxford College of Distance Learning, you would be able to complete the A levels in Chemistry and Biology in a year.

[Sophia_89]

Would the A Levels at the long-distance college be accepted like any other a levels?

cheers

[giella]

Yes they're Edexcel A-levels. They're a year long because the course content is changing and this current syllabus will not be marked after 2009. It's to do with the new grading system that they're introducing. You have to register for the courses before September, otherwise you'll be obliged to do two years, and be subject to the new A* and A distinction. Bear in mind though that A levels are tough to do in a year. Moreover, if you're doing it via distance learning, you've also got to find a college or school which will let you access their lab facilities. There's probably no room for resits either, so you would have to be on top of your game.
Here's the website:
Oxford Distance Learning College
Call them up and explain your situation.

[giella]

Just went and looked at your original post. You say that you dropped out after getting a 600 on UKCAT, despite having been predicted distinctions. You also say that you didn't get any offers or interviews The UKCAT is not the only thing that held you back there. I know someone who got into medical school with her score in the 500s but she was a former nurse. You don't mention what your work experience was. Something lacking in this area may have been the problem.
The access courses are often aimed at those who've already proven themselves in other areas, and are now focusing their efforts towards a career in medicine. Either that, or they're aimed at people who come from deprived backgrounds. You don't really sound like either and you sound a little unfocused right now.
There's no fast tracking towards medicine, as I've found out myself. I've just graduated from university, and I'm now champing at the bit to get into medicine. But I know I'm not ready. I need time to cool off, and concentrate on becoming a strong candidate for medicine. To begin with though, I was looking at all the fast track options I could find, including doing the distance learning college A levels. But that's not good for me, and I might well have ended up tripping myself up and being left with a blight on my record. So I'm taking a year out, and I'm hoping to go to Kings Lynn next year. There's nothing wrong with giving yourself time and scope, and perhaps even enjoying yourself along the way, as opposed to going too fast, getting rejected and frustrated, and it taking as much time or more anyway.

Good luck to you.

[Sophia_89]

Oh no, I dropped out cos I didnt get accepted by the universities, I had half-year placement in a hospital in Ghana, predicted distinctions and a pretty good personal statement, so I can only put it down to my UKCAT score.

Im focused, I know its what I want to do, just lack the guidance, living in Ireland for 10 years got me out of the loop of how things work here.

Thanks for all your advice

[sarahh]

u could do the foundation degree that starts in jan at birkbeck ucl take students and if you dont get in stay do few more modules and get bsc hons in science. think they do bmat

one of the london med schools do not take any students from lambeth college even a level students as they took a student from there a2m and he never passed the course so they wont take anyone from there. lambeth people told me that

i am i hope doing a levles from the oxfordcollge above
there is a college in london that you sit exam and do lab work see a level thread

[sarahh]

it might be a bit late to get into an a2m course in london now
are your a levels ok for irish med schools the only thing that the irish are doing their own ukcat for 2009

[Sophia_89]

No nowhere near as good, or id be there now!
It says on the website u can apply at any time but the exams can only be done in jan and june

[gullie]

I realise I'm asking this again, but no one has answered it- what is 'Access to Medicine'? What does it entail?

Thanks!