Is it realistic for me to go for the Pathway To Medicine Course?

[kbo1992]

Hi everyone.This is my first post so i'll tell you a little about myself.My name is Kyle,i'm 19 years old,i live in Falkirk,Scotland.I'm currently at college which was entirely avoidable if i hadnt been seriously ill during the few months leading to my exams,hence why i'm at college getting my Int2/Highers.I have a deep interest in medicine,specifically medicine of the mind and i would love to train to be a Psychiatrist(either General or Criminal).When i finish my college highers programme course (couple of years from now) i would really love to apply for Perth College's Pathway To Medicine.The only issue is i have a few nagging worries.First of all i know training towards becoming a Psychiatrist is a long and lengthy road.My main worry is that what happens if after doing Pathway To Medicine that it isn't enough to compete with other applicants to Medical School.Also i'm worried that in the past i had a brush with depression and anxiety problems which now i have dealt with but will this go against me in terms of the fitness to practice check?Lastly i would just like to know is there anyone of you that maybe chose a specialization too early but changed your mind.

[Iluminari]

Hi there!

Just to clear a few things up. Firstly I am currently on the Pathway to Medicine course and I too have an interest in Psychiatry which is what I would like to specialise in, in the (not too) distant future.

Okay. Basically a little advice.

Pathway to Medicine is going to require you to be of the age of 21 by the start of the course.
It also requires an interview which you will require you to have done some sort of work experience (shadowing a gp, working in a nursing home etc).
Next I would like to advise that you do Chemistry as one of your int 2's / highers because the Chemistry is the divider in the class which really determine whos going and who's not.
And as for your 'not sure if it will be enough' comment. As our student advisor said this year 'Everyone who has completed Pathway to Medicine has been accepted' so as long as you are within the top 5 of your class you will definately be going. No matter what anyone says. Basically as soon as you have been accepted onto Pathway to Medicine you have a spot in Med school. You just have to meet the requirements.
As for competing with other Med Students, feedback from St. Andrews about other applicants are that they are on exactly the same level as other students - no problems so far (there is no significant difference between students). From that I gathered that this course will prepare you perfectly with the neccessary requirements for Med school.

Last thing i'll say is, if you have had problems in the past with Depression etc, I don't know how that will affect your FTP but I would recommend seriously thinking about Psychiatry as a specialisation. You would be dealing with a lot of depressed people in depressing scenarios. Do you feel mentally capable of dealing with these kind of situations?

Anymore questions I'll try my best to help.

P.S. Sorry if this isn't the best constructed message but i'm at work just now and incredibly tired :P

[theo12]

is it advisable to go back down to do access to medicine after doing a HNC in applied science?

[starsmurf]

theo12

The Pathway to Medicine at Perth is an HNC so it's not a step down. If you did have to do an access course, that would be seen in context, as graduates have to do them sometimes too.

I am hoping to get into the Perth course, as I've wanted to do it for years, but didn't fulfill the "no family history of uni" part and couldn't have lied about it as my dad was a GP in Perth!

Anyway, good luck with your application.

[Iluminari]

is it advisable to go back down to do access to medicine after doing a HNC in applied science?

Pathway to Medicine and HNC Applied Sciences is the same course. I am in the same classes as all of the Applied Sciences people except the PTM people have a higher pass rate on exams (70%) and are only allowed 2 resits an exam in the year.

[Iluminari]

theo12

The Pathway to Medicine at Perth is an HNC so it's not a step down. If you did have to do an access course, that would be seen in context, as graduates have to do them sometimes too.

I am hoping to get into the Perth course, as I've wanted to do it for years, but didn't fulfill the "no family history of uni" part and couldn't have lied about it as my dad was a GP in Perth!

Anyway, good luck with your application.

I wouldn't worry about the degree thing too much, I had the same worries due to my mum having a degree in Podiatry. I just explained why I left the box blank in my application during my interview.