AS Level retake-Cannot apply straight to medicine?

**medic1day** · 14-01-2012, 11:25 PM

Hi,

I am retaking my A-levels and I know that i cannot apply to med schools because im retaking.
I have only one medical choice right now and thats the extended medical degree at Kings (im very excited about this).
However, i wanted to know if i apply after my june exams for kings i have nothing else to apply to, i dont want to do a science course and apply as a graduate that would take 3 years of studying something i dont want to do.

I want to know what else i could apply for i mean i cant apply to any of the other 6 year courses they dont accept retakes. so how does these access courses work out ?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.

**TheTool** · 15-01-2012, 05:47 AM

My advise would be to re take your first year again instead of taking retaking your exams in addition to your A2s as it can be quite difficult. Have you tried looking at the Foundation year in Manchester University, I think I read somewhere that they accept resist (not sure though, phone them). You could do an Access course, this would only take a year (but they can be expensive esp if you are over the age of 19). I also think that at some universities like Liverpool, Lancaster they do a pre-med course (which is one year) and after you have finished that, you are pretty much guaranteed a place (I know this because I phoned them up about this) as most of the people who do your interview for the medical course, also teach the pre med courses.

**medic1day** · 15-01-2012, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by TheTool

My advise would be to re take your first year again instead of taking retaking your exams in addition to your A2s as it can be quite difficult. Have you tried looking at the Foundation year in Manchester University, I think I read somewhere that they accept resist (not sure though, phone them). You could do an Access course, this would only take a year (but they can be expensive esp if you are over the age of 19). I also think that at some universities like Liverpool, Lancaster they do a pre-med course (which is one year) and after you have finished that, you are pretty much guaranteed a place (I know this because I phoned them up about this) as most of the people who do your interview for the medical course, also teach the pre med courses.

Thank you. That is what im doing at the moment retaking my whole year.
foundation years except kings do not accept retakes, i shall contact Liverpool and Lancaster. Thank you

**TheTool** · 15-01-2012, 06:07 AM

Your welcome.

Just make sure that you apply to do the pre med courses at universities that you wish to apply to eventually because you would, for ucas, have to obtain letters of recommendation from your lectures or personal tutors at uni and if your lectures make a good recommendation about you, it would obviously be looked at during the admissions process by what could potentially be Colleague of your interviewer(s). Do you get what I mean?

Good Luck

**medic1day** · 15-01-2012, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by TheTool

Your welcome.

Just make sure that you apply to do the pre med courses at universities that you wish to apply to eventually because you would, for ucas, have to obtain letters of recommendation from your lectures or personal tutors at uni and if your lectures make a good recommendation about you, it would obviously be looked at during the admissions process by what could potentially be Colleague of your interviewer(s). Do you get what I mean?

Good Luck

oh right , ive always wanted to go to kings. I see what you mean, you see after i complete one of these year 0 foundation courses what if i don't get into medicine what could i do with that "year 0"? can i apply to other undergraduate courses for medicine or health related course in other universities ? would i be counted as a postgraduate after completion of that year? Thanks!

**TheTool** · 15-01-2012, 06:31 AM

If you do not manage to get in after completing the foundation year, then you would normally have a few options available to you:

A) you could wait a year, gain loads of experience i.e. working in care homes etc and apply again the following year

B) Apply to a science related degree at uni (but these are really expensive nowadays so you would have to seriously think about this) which would take 3 years to complete and costs about £21,000 not including livings etc and apply to GEM in your third year.

C) Find a job in a health related field and apply the following year

D) Retake your A Levels again so that you could obtain better grades. This is a much cheaper option.

E) Do an access course (although this is expensive and typically the same as the foundation course from what I have heard)

F) do an Open University degree in a science subject (expensive but it does not take that long to complete it if you have the time)

To be honest, most people that I have talked to have managed to get into medicine after doing the foundation course. One of my friends managed to get into medicine (5 years + foundation year) at Manchester University after resisting his as levels (like you have done). I think they require you to get AAB which is not too difficult to obtain if you work hard for it. But you will have to the UKCAT (get a decent grade in it) and do well at the interview, same as a normal admission process for the 5 year medicine course.

**medic1day** · 15-01-2012, 06:34 AM

Thank you very much! you have been extremely helpful. thanks

**new2newmedia** · 15-01-2012, 05:31 PM

I'd also research which unis might accept resits.

I was at UEA last week and several of the people I spoke to were doing resits in one or more A level. I'd investigate the newer medical schools e.g. HYMS, BSMS first as they tend to be the most forward looking with these kinds of things.

Good luck!