Driving myself crazy (Please help me!)

[anon60521]

i'm currently looking at doing medicine and am taking my as levels.

My problem is that looking on this site (which is awsome) I see that everyone else has about 15 straight A*'s!

I only have 4A*'s 3A's 1B

I would really appreciate if you could say what you got for gcse's and what medical school you're applying to.

thanks for listening to my mini-rant
jj

[lil angel]

I got 11A's at GCSE...did biology, chem, maths, french and criticical thinkin at AS..got A's in bio notchem n french, b in the other 2.
A levels i got 2A's, 2B's and a c in general studies.
i wouldnt worry bout ur grades too much its the work experience that counts !!
im now in my first year at liverpool..good luck!

[rjm]

Is the answer to you question going to change your application? I doubt it, so stop worrying about what everyone else got and worry about your own application. A lot of medics are too competitive with each other and if they are not the best they think they are a failure. Med school applications are not about GCSE grades, there is a lot more to it than that and a huge element of pot luck - I have 9A*s and 1 A at GCSE, 4 As at A level and a B at AS level, a 1st class intercalated BSc and a medical degree with honours. I am a doctor. (Does knowing that information help you?) However, I had 2 offers, 1 rejection and withdrew from one medical school application - hence its not about academic acheivements.
Stop worrying. Best of luck.

[clc26]

yes do not worry it goes much more on work experience than GCSEs. i got 2A 1B (resits) 5C 2D 1F at GCSE
2A 1B 1C at A-level but now im in my 4th year of medicine in the top quartile with a 1st class intercalated Bsc under my belt.

GCSEs wont stop you reaching your dreams as as 15 year olds its hard to know what we want and may make mistakes, or get bullied in school and not do too well.

[dr. brown]

I'm so confused!!!!!!!!

Your GCSE's won't make any difference when you are applying for medicine?

I always thought that you have to have a good GCSE's in order to go to medical school, I mean thats what I've been told for the past few years.
What has changed now?
After my hard work, sleepless nights and headaches in order to get the best grades possible, it isn't essential to have good grades.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Thnks

[AimsRJ]

Good grades are going to help. And you will prob need them for the academically minded unis (eg oxbridge etc)
HOWEVER (and someone please correct me on this as I have no direct experience here but am merely giving my opinion as a hopeful mature entrant!) the only thing you have to bear in mind is that you have to differentiate yourself from 1000+ other pretty similar 17 year olds. Its one thing to get your head down and do nothing but get straight A*s as GCSE but if that means you are relatively immature and can show you have done nothing but schoolwork, cant communicate effectively and only want to do medicine because thats what clever people do, I'm guessing they are going to struggle against someone who has proved themselves academically with decent grades (which yours are!) AND can also explain effectively why they want to be a doctor, what they have done to prove that and what qualities they are going to bring to the role.
GCSEs are one thing but NOT the only thing!
Theres my opinion anyway!!!

[Kinkerz]

Originally Posted by dr. brown

I'm so confused!!!!!!!!

Your GCSE's won't make any difference when you are applying for medicine?

I always thought that you have to have a good GCSE's in order to go to medical school, I mean thats what I've been told for the past few years.
What has changed now?
After my hard work, sleepless nights and headaches in order to get the best grades possible, it isn't essential to have good grades.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Thnks

Of course your GCSEs make a difference! That's why there are GCSE requirements.The point is, they are not the be all and end all.

The main point is that how much impact your GCSEs have on your application depends completely on where you apply. If you apply to Birmingham (as an undergratuate) with <5A*s (some say 5, some say 7) at GCSE you won't get an interview... But you could well do at Newcastle.

It is useful to have excellent GCSEs, but not essential. It certainly keeps your options open.

What do you class as good GCSEs? And where do you want to apply?

[dr. brown]

Originally Posted by Kinkerz

Of course your GCSEs make a difference! That's why there are GCSE requirements.The point is, they are not the be all and end all.

The main point is that how much impact your GCSEs have on your application depends completely on where you apply. If you apply to Birmingham (as an undergratuate) with <5A*s (some say 5, some say 7) at GCSE you won't get an interview... But you could well do at Newcastle.

It is useful to have excellent GCSEs, but not essential. It certainly keeps your options open.

What do you class as good GCSEs? And where do you want to apply?

A good GCSEs would be for me straight A*s and As.. I did not do as well as I could and I got 1A* 3Bs and 3Cs...
Do you think I could get in to Oxford with these GCSEs grades and a v.good A-levels?
I went to search for a voluntary placement at a hospital but unfortunately they do not accept under 17ths so I have to wait until I'm 17 which will b next year ... However, my problem is that Next Year I will have to register with UCAS because you register it 1year before going to University and since my GCSEs aren't that Perfect I thought if I volunteer that would give me a better chance of ACCEPTANCE if I ain't wrong because Commitment and Skills is the Most important part...

But it won't happen because that would have been pretty late,
Any suggestions?

Thanks

[smile88egc]

Why so set on Oxford when you haven't even done your a-levels yet?!
You need to take the path to medicine one step at a time so you can focus and you wont stress yourself out.
Put your name down for that hospital work experience- you can mention in your personal statement that you have it organised.
In the mean time, there are plenty other relevant places to get experience. Spend a week at GP surgery or 2, try volunteering for your local hospice. Any voluntary work regardless of whether it's healthcare related or not will look good.
After that spend some time on the things you enjoy and develop any skills you have eg music or sport. This show's you're a well rounded person and can balance your time to fit in the things you enjoy.
Of course work hard for your GCSE's but as long as you can read, write and add up then you'll be fine.
Get out there and experience life if you want to be a medic!!

[dr. brown]

Originally Posted by smile88egc

Why so set on Oxford when you haven't even done your a-levels yet?!
You need to take the path to medicine one step at a time so you can focus and you wont stress yourself out.
Put your name down for that hospital work experience- you can mention in your personal statement that you have it organised.
In the mean time, there are plenty other relevant places to get experience. Spend a week at GP surgery or 2, try volunteering for your local hospice. Any voluntary work regardless of whether it's healthcare related or not will look good.
After that spend some time on the things you enjoy and develop any skills you have eg music or sport. This show's you're a well rounded person and can balance your time to fit in the things you enjoy.
Of course work hard for your GCSE's but as long as you can read, write and add up then you'll be fine.
Get out there and experience life if you want to be a medic!!

I always wanted to study at Oxford university that's why I mentioned it.. But ofcourse I have to take it step by step and focus on my a-levels... hopefully I would get through it with a smile...

Thanks a lot.. that really helped