Advice for A-level retakes?

[welshytatty]

Hi, just a little advice needed?

I have wanted to do medicine for about 5 years now (since I was in year 9) I did ok in my GCSE's, but they were nothing special and in comparison to most medical students/applicants they were probably rather poor. I suffered a major loss of confidence in my AS year and it effected my motivation and my grades. I gave up on doing medicine for fear of not being good enough. This was carried into my A-levels and I focused on getting onto an art foundation course. I found that I really didn't enjoy it and was very annoyed with myself as id put all my effort into getting a very high A in A-level art, because my chemistry and biology didn't matter for the course.
I have left the course and am now back on my A-levels, starting from scratch (doing the two years again) to get the results I should have got in the first place. Do I stand a chance in getting onto a medical degree? I was also wondering if anyone had any information on which universities are the most forgiving for people that have retaken their A-levels.
I have an A in A-level art and B in as level geography from the first time round and I am currently redoing biology, chemistry and I have taken up geology. I am hoping to get A's this time round and I do feel that im capable if I really work at it, unfortunately im not a natural brainbox!

I gcse's I acheived 9 A's (double science, maths, english, english lit, geography, art, music, french) one B (short course welsh) and an A* (religious studies) I know Birmingham is out of the question because my gcse's are not high enough.

Sorry for it being such a long post.
Any help will be very much appreciated.

[Mamba]

Hi,

If you choose your university wisely, you will be fine. Remember these ppl are human beings, they understand. They were 16 once, doing A levels. I find Cardiff (i am bias) VERY VERY acccomodating to life experience and also to a prrof of change i.e. improving grades over time. I flunked my GCSE's but kicked my A level equivs to shreds, so they took that into account. You will be fine, forget about the chances, forget about pre-conceptions and just focus on your goal and...... achieve it. Its as simple as that my friend. Trust me.

[welshytatty]

Thank you, I was beginning to think no one was going to reply!

I might have a look at Cardiff, I havent read into there too much yet, shall have a look, I live in Wales anyway so I can't believe I havent thought of that before hand

If you don't mind me asking, how do you find the course? What the prospectus says and what an actual student says can sometimes be very different.

Thank you, again.

[fortysixandtwo]

I think there is a misconception about studying medicine i.e. that you have to be super super smart to do it. The grade cut-offs are so high because it's so popular. You obviously need a certain level of intelligence but please don't think that because you didn't get 9A*'s that you're not cut out for it.

The sooner you get to that point in your life where you stop defining yourself and self worth based on grades then the better.

[Mamba]

Cardiff,

The pro's : Its mostly traditional learning, i.e. a lecture theatre and lecturor, instead of just being told to go home and learn from a book (Problem based learning). It has arouns 20% self directed learning, I find this balance excellent. When we qualify we will be expected to remain up to date, there wont be any lecturors to guide us then so its good training. PBL on the other hand is receiveng bad bad reviews...

Cardiff is one of 3 universities that do human dissection of the whole body. Day one at Cardiff you are handed a scalpel. Also placments on the hospital wards and GP's office begin year 1 too. They really encourage hands on experience, they are keen for students to get their hands dirty.

My biggest appreciation for cardiff is the relationship the uni has with its students. Dont get me wrong, we dont go out drinking with the lecturors, also some arent as good as others. However there is a mutual respect that I found missing in other university visits. My interview at cardiff was a frank and VERY friendly discussion. The freindly, affable nature I saw is prevelant throughout the degree.

Cardiff is the biggest mjed school in Europe (ironic that it didnt come to mind) with The Heath being the biggest teaching hospital. Cardiff is ranked around 14th, though when you look at the scores that correlates to being joint third. Some papers had it as first. Cardiff is recognised as a tough Degree, before that scares you, I assume you want to be a good doctor... I'm not the most academic student, yet I think I will cope just fine, also Im learning alot very quickly !

Ok so the Cons:

I want to start by saying funding, however Cardiff is in the process of building brand new lecture theatres and labs etc for medics. They are also renevating the Bio-Science building. The funding will trickle down now. So I guess thats covered.

I find Cardiff are very proactive to feedback, they literally make changes to thge degree every year, I respect them for listening to the students and for their attempts to improve the degree.. however, the dreader words 'this year we will be doing it like this...' leaves us feeling scared and uncomfortable and slightly guinea-pig ish.

Ill be honest I am struggling to find con's.... Last year I would have said that their 6yr degree is annoying as the first year of it is just revision and review of old things learned, however, one year older and wiser, I now see how beneficial it it. (as a mature student i did the 6yr degree, not necessary for everyone, mostly access to medicine students)

So... WELSHtatty, give it a thought. Also, just pop down and have a look around. OPen days are regular events, though if you cant make it on a specific open day, the people here are so friendly they will show you areound, Im confident of this because thats what I did.

Any questions give me a shout, and just incase you are thinking still that its all about grades.... the first words said to me at my interview were...

"So.. you didnt do very well at school did you..."

Mamba

[Mamba]

sorry about the typing, its nearly 3am and I'm half asleep...

[welshytatty]

Thank you mamba,

I know its not all about grades, but because im doing the A-levels the second time round the level theyre all asking for seems to be higher.

After reading youre advice, I went on the big wide wonderful web and the Cardiff site, I'm emailing about 8 different uni's atm. Just to get it straight from the horses mouth really. Need to stop procrastinating.....

thank you

x

[House Jr.]

Brighton and Sussex med school accept resit candidates without extenuating cirumstances so you should probably apply for that. Your GCSEs are great btw. Since you got As in double science/english/maths you don't have to worry about the GCSE requirements for any of the unis besides birmingham since none of them need A*s in specific subjects. Have you considered applying for a foundation course? If you got Cs in chem and bio then most of the foundation courses are open to you and if you get accepted then you just do an extra year at the start and then go straight into the medicine course.

[welshytatty]

Thank you yours are excellent though! I think I look down on mine a little bit because they should have been higher, but I had post viral syndrome and was hardly in school for 3 years. So its not that they're low, just lower than I had wanted. Its self pressure and I feel a lot better after really looking into the GCSE requirements of some uni's

I am currently writing my email to the universities now, Im sending the same basic draft to each one to judge the variation between them and response times etc....

Brighton and sussex looks good, i'm looking forward to them replying (if and when they do)
I should have looked at the foundation years but I would still be as far behind as I am now! We shall see!

thank you
x