Forum Advice for A2M Medics:

[Mamba]

I owe so much to this Forum,

Its important to realise though, that along with months of fantastic advice their can also be bouts of less helpfull advice and debate. I must tell you that there was alot of incorrect information and bias judgment as well as the sound qualified advice.

The people here are great. They are friendly and helpfull. I feel everyone's opinion is genuine. However, not everyone checks the facts. This is not a small matter! People are here asking questions that will change their life. For those answering them, think hard before replying. For those reading the replies, think hard on how to consider what is written. Who wrote it? Why? Are they bias? Ask simple questions like, Have you got into Medicine yet? Have you done Access to Medicine yet ?

Its not that these people have ill will or malice. Far from it, it is just the nature of medicine. So much myth and misinformation gets passed around. There is an element of bias too. I will always favour my A2M course. I will always favour my Med School. I will always grumble about the university that turned me down. We are human.

Medicine by its very nature is indeed very competitive. I refuse to run that race, silly though, as it doesnt mean that I'm not in one! Or that the people around me are not lookingfor me to trip. Beware the competitive spirit that may wish to hold you back because they are held back. Beware the privelaged that get in with ease too.

This is neither directed, personal or intended for a specific target. This advice is legitimate in any medical forum.

We are making life changing decisions here people. Lets make sure our advice is sound in mind. Lets double check all the advice we are given. I wish us all the best in out careers in medicine. We can all get in, we will all get in. Persevere.

[Mamba]

One more thing, when you speak to people like myself that have ACTUALLY done access to medicine, you will find that some people including me, did it alongside sitting GCSE's. I did it alongside 6hr daily communte. Some students do it whilst learning English, doing GCSE exams and A2M full time. Its a very flexible and acheivable course. Some of these students had children or were single parents.

I have noticed some people, paticulary ones that have been on this forum for a few years now, (despite not attending an access course or attending medical school). Giving advice that simply isnt true. Whatever the reason for their pace or defferal, I feel it is wrong of them to consistently encourage people to either resit GCSE's seperatley to the A2M course, and in some posts suggest A levels.

This is an ACCESS TO MEDICINE forum, dont advise people if you have no experience in the area concerned. I have seen people give heresay or pure blind conjecture nonsense in advise. Obviously if you know better in the areas of A levels and A2M fine, but by the fact you are yet to attend these, you are probably not.

Please stop doing this. Having read a few posts now, you are rendering a valuble service at newmedia useless with your incorrect advice. If it continues I will seriously ask the moderators to monitor your posts.

Access To Medicine Works. It changes peoples lives yearly. If you want medicine it is the golden ticket, if you have bad Gcse's its the golden ticket, if you have a family its a golden ticket. If you are financially strapped, its the golden ticket. If you are old enough to remember Going Live, its the Golden ticket.

Its an inexpensive, flexible, year long course. If you get the grades that 99% of students do u are eligible to apply for medicine. It is that simple !

Ignore the people yet to have appreciated the course.