Stow college - access to medicine

[star_sparkles]

Hi ARTait85,

My first is in Immunology but like i said i only got a 2.2 so that stands against me really.

Oh dont get me wrong, i dont think im any good at the UKCAT puzzles at all and usually get confused during them but i guess i like problem solving...just as well as i work as an analyst for part of my job! I will definitely be putting in a lot pf practice beforehand though.

I have applied for Stow but im still unsure whether its better taking the course this year or next due to finances and work. If i could do it part time over two years that would be ideal but i dont think they allow that. Dont stress about the personal statement too much yet as you have a good 7-8 months to sort that out and you dont want to be stressed for that length of time! Easier said than done though and i guarantee i will be worrying about it as the time gets closer.

Oh i have no clue if Edinburgh accept access courses. I just contacted all the Unis and asked if they would consider me based on my academic and work experience and if not, if they would consider my application if i took more exams or courses. Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen said no and it wouldnt matter if i took my highers again or access course etc. St Andrews said i could just re-take my Chem and Bio highers or do an access course and Glasgow said they would only consider my application if i did the access course (and of course scored highly in the modules). So, the decision was pretty much made for me and if i want to apply to medicine i need to go to Stow college. It really is worth calling up and discussing it with the admissions people at each Uni though.

I know of people who have gone to Stow and got accepted into Glasgow, yes. I think Andrew was just saying there are no guarantees. We wouldnt be guaranteed an interview or to be accepted and like him, i wouldnt expect us to be either. It just should put us hopefully on a level footing with other candidates and therefore the Unis will look at our UKCAT and personal statement. Look at it this way, we have a load of hurdles to overcome to even get to interview. The first is for someone to even look at our applications. For me, i need to go to Stow in order for them to do this but i also need to score highly in my UKCAT. If i do one well and the other poorly my application still wont be looked at. If i do well in both Stow and the UKCAT then and only then will my personal statement be looked at. And then if its still going okay i might get an interview. Thats my main goal...to get to the interview. I feel like once i actually speak to the admissions people and am properly interviewed then I will be happier with any decision thats made because it will be based on me rather than bits of paper.

Hope that makes some sense!

Louise

[Andrew Mooney]

Hello star_sparkles and ARTait85

One question I have is this: if we get onto the Access course at Stow, will we still be expected to have a degree before we apply to Glasgow? I ask this as the mature entry requirements on the Glasgow website say that mature students must have either a first or upper second class honours degree to gain entry. However, I presume we would be considered on an individual basis if we were to gain entry through means of the Stow Access course?

Here is the entry requirements page on the Glasgow website:

University of Glasgow :: Degree programmes A-Z :: Entry requirements :: Professional degrees :: Medicine

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Andrew

[star_sparkles]

Hi Andrew,

Im afraid i dont have the answer to your question about this. Have you tried calling the admissions people at Glasgow to check it with them? I think the access course at Stow is designed for both people with and without degrees so i would hope it wouldnt be an issue but i honestly dont know. I know the Perth access course is specifically for people without degrees and thats why i cant apply to it. Have you tried looking at that one too? Either way, the onle people who can answer your questions are the admissions people at Glasgow so i would try and call them.

Hope that helps!

[craighoisington]

No, if you do the Stow access course you don't need to have a degree. The access course would be all you need to get you in.

All the best with your applications.

[Andrew Mooney]

No, if you do the Stow access course you don't need to have a degree. The access course would be all you need to get you in.

All the best with your applications.

Hello Craig

Thanks for replying. How are you finding medicine at Glasgow? I would do anything to get an offer there, do you think that the Access course at Stow prepared you well for the course?

Regards

Andrew

[ARTait85]

Hi All,

I got my response from Stow saying that interviews would be in March/April, and Ill hear from them soon telling me whether I have an interview or not.

How is everyone coping with the waiting?

And Andrew Mooney: have you considered applying for Perth College? From what I've read, the top in the class are guaranteed a place at St Andrews; plus, the course is specifically people who do not have a degree.

Andrew

[Andrew Mooney]

Hi All,

I got my response from Stow saying that interviews would be in March/April, and Ill hear from them soon telling me whether I have an interview or not.

How is everyone coping with the waiting?

And Andrew Mooney: have you considered applying for Perth College? From what I've read, the top in the class are guaranteed a place at St Andrews; plus, the course is specifically people who do not have a degree.

Andrew

Hi Andrew

I have heard a lot about Perth, the only thing is that I can't afford to move there, and commuting in and out every day isn't really feasible for me. Also, I have previously studied a Diploma of Higher Education, which rules me out of that course according to their entry requirements. I appreciate the suggestion though.

I don't like the waiting around, to be honest. I am just hoping I can at least get an interview for Stow, and take it from there. How about you, Andrew, how are you finding it?

Cheers

Andrew

[star_sparkles]

Ooh thats good you got something back from Stow. I have had nothing! I applied online and its definitely submitted but i havent heard a peep from them. Did you get a letter or did you call and check?

Im trying not to think about the waiting too much as i cant do anything about it for the time being. Not easy though!

[ARTait85]

Hi All,

Star: I submitted my application on the 11th January, and I only got my response from them last week - I know that they have a massive back-log of applications that they are currently working through (I called them after I hadn't received a response 2 weeks from submitting my application).

Andrew Mooney: I'm not enjoying the waiting at all! I'm glad to know that they have my application, and that they will be conducting interviews during March and April, but I just want more information. I want to know how many people have applied; I want to know applicants' backrounds; and I want to know more about the course. I just don't know what to do with myself! Plus, I don't want to start on serious UKCAT and personal statement preparation until I know about Stow.

I am also a bit worried about the fact that I'm going on holiday for 2 weeks on the 26th February, so I may miss any letters that Stow may send me. I'm wondering if I should call and explain...?

Andrew

[craighoisington]

The Stow College course was quite good and I would recommend it to all.

It started off slowly, intermediate/higher level, which was good to get back into the way of studying after a few years. After christmas it was higher work and some HNC modules which gave a good grounding for things like anatomy/physiology.

We also got to come to Glasgow Uni to take a PBL scenario with the staff here. Got given a scenario one week to take away then went back the following to feedback our results. Was a good indicator what is expected of us and was good to drop into conversation during the interview for Glasgow.

Any questions about the Stow or Glasgow course feel free to ask.

All the best.