Quitting medicine

[beejal]

Hi, I am a third year medical student and I really want to leave. I intercalated, so I will gain a degree at the end of this year in psychology. But psychology really isnt the field I want to go into. If I leave medicine and reapply to do maths, would I still get a student loan? And would I still have to pay full fees?
Has anyone else left medicine after a few years? What have you gone on to do? When did you leave? And why?

[algy_lacey]

I believe that if you want to do a second degree that isn't necessary for certain jobs (nurse, doctor, dentist, radiographer, etc.) then you are pretty much cut off from any funding. You're unlikely to get a student loan, and you'll have to pay full fees (which may be more than the standard top-up fees).

There were news reports not that long ago that suggested there were plans afoot to cut down on funding for second degrees even more (although I'm not sure how much more they could cut...unless they stop letting graduate medical students have anything too...)

I'm hoping for your sake that someone is going to come on here and tell me I'm completely wrong, but if I'm not, you're in a tricky situation. I'd try contacting your LEA's student loans department and see if they can give you some advice.

[Gizmo says -]

u get a maintenance loan but no tuition fee elp.

[auden]

as algy_lacey says, contact your LEA as I think it's now the case that you won't get access to the maintenance loan if you do a second degree - medicine as a second degree (and a couple of other courses) are exempt from this, but maths would fall under it.

also, I would talk to someone about what it is you want to do for your career and whether you really need another degree to do it. Many careers, even those that traditionally only took graduates from certain disciplines, will now look at entrants from other backgrounds and you might be able to get there without doing another degree. Your current uni should have a careers service which can help.

best of luck with it

Libs

[san]

Can I ask you why you want to leave Medicine, Beejal?

[blue]

my ex flatmate left after doing her intercalated in endocrinology. she's now doing work experience in a school and will start her PGCE in sept. she really hated the clinical part of medicine.

[Gizmo says -]

ah, clinical, the best bits. its the reason why a sane person does medicine, surely?

[persianmedic]

I am sorry everyone if my comment is not related.

Giz i tried to send u a PM but your inbox is full. can u empty some space please? thank you

sorry again people


Beejal would u spare a minute and tell us why u want to leave the course? it would be a great insight, especially for those of us who are going to start in the coming months. thank you

[Gizmo says -]

sorri macca, sorri.

i dunno why anyone wuld wanna pm li'l me though hehe!

[Gizmo says -]

are you wanting to complain about me garish signatures, macca?