Maths GCSE D - 15 years ago - retake?

[little miss grumpy]

Any advice on the following:

15 years ago I took my gcse´s. I got a grade A English but flunked my maths.

I am enrolled on a distance learning maths gcse, the exam´s in June 2010.

I was going to apply to medicine next September once I got the result from my maths but decided to contact admissions now and enquire if it would be possible for me to apply now, and if selected to interview if there is a possibility of a conditional waiting on the results of the maths gcse exam in June.

I was simply told that resits can not apply.

The only entry req I´m missing is my maths.

I am gutted.

Because of this D will I never have a future in medicine?

Does anyone know if any flexibility exists on this matter?

For example extenuating circumstances?

Would it be worth explaining that during the time of my gcse´s I experienced serious family illness (my dad was sectioned & attempted suicide) He is still receiving treatment, so it shouldn´t be too difficult for the med school to verify.

I know I can ask admissions to clarify this, but I´m hoping a public post will gain a quicker response and help put me out of my misery : (


fingers crossed

[rob09]

Any advice on the following:

15 years ago I took my gcse´s. I got a grade A English but flunked my maths.

I am enrolled on a distance learning maths gcse, the exam´s in June 2010.

I was going to apply to medicine next September once I got the result from my maths but decided to contact admissions now and enquire if it would be possible for me to apply now, and if selected to interview if there is a possibility of a conditional waiting on the results of the maths gcse exam in June.

I was simply told that resits can not apply.

The only entry req I´m missing is my maths.

I am gutted.

Because of this D will I never have a future in medicine?

Does anyone know if any flexibility exists on this matter?

For example extenuating circumstances?

Would it be worth explaining that during the time of my gcse´s I experienced serious family illness (my dad was sectioned & attempted suicide) He is still receiving treatment, so it shouldn´t be too difficult for the med school to verify.

I know I can ask admissions to clarify this, but I´m hoping a public post will gain a quicker response and help put me out of my misery : (


fingers crossed

Hi,

I would guess that it should be OK for a resit of GCSE maths. I know many medical schools do allow you to retake GCSE's to bump them up to the necessary grade, however, perhaps this varies depending on the individual medical school.

Can I ask what medical school you had contacted?

[Reaver]

If it's any comfort, I had a C in maths from high school. I re-took the GCSE at night school during my access course and I've just started at med school - so it's definitely possible to get in regardless of past results!

Having said that, I was told (specifically by Liverpool) that they do use past results as part of their selection criteria and they stated that I was rejected last year because of the overall standard of my high school GCSEs (despite a good access course outcome).

I guess it depends, as Rob09 said, on which medical school you asked.

You probably have age on your side in this situation also - modern day equality and diversity means that all organisations should have a complement of people from various backgrounds (i.e. older, younger, different ethnicities, etc, etc) - several schools run 'widening participation' programmes to encourage people from 'unusual' backgrounds (e.g. mature students applying via access courses) to apply.

Whatever happens, keep trying and good luck!

[Jolt]

Afternoon Miss Grumpy,

I'm currently on an Access to Medicine course and there are a number of people re-sitting GCSEs due to having grades which are below that accepted university entry level (which is generally B). Our course has a proven record of people getting places on medicine courses after having done resits in GCSE Maths and English. It's also worth noting that the entry criteria vary massively from university to university. In addition, the fact that you are a mature student would mean that the people dealing with your application would hopefully be more flexible with their requirements.

When emailing into universities for advice, bear in mind that you never really know much about the person that is replying, and how much involvement and influence they have in the selection process. If you're ambition is to do medicine, which is a long and expensive process, you shouldn't be so easily dissuaded!

Hope this helps,

Jolt

[Mamba]

Mate thats nonsence !!!

Mature students can apply with resits in anything. Seriously. Access to medicine may be an option for you and resit your maths during it. I assure you mate , when you fill in the application form all you do is put your grade in the box and the agency that certified you, on interview you bring the certificate. They dont care how and when you got it.

Trust me, just do it mate. Go get it.