Gap Year vs Biomed?

[Raindroppe]

I've actually posted this question on TSR as well, but I thought I'd post here too, since there might be a different population of people here, and a higher concentration of medics, so I might get some different views XD
(Also, I wasn't sure where to post this thread, hope it's ok that I post here ^_^ )

So basically, I have recieved all four rejections for medicine this year. I applied to UCL for Biomedical sciences too though, and they've said everyone must attend a visit day before they give out offers... so I'm going to that... Assuming I DO get a place on that course, I still don't know whether I should take a gap year and reapply for medicine or do the biomedical course and reapply after the three years.

Cardiff have said they'll put me on the waiting list for Medicine if I don't have any other offers, so that would mean I need to decline the Biomed offer, If I get it. But again, It's unlikely that I'll get into Cardiff that way.

So I thought I would post on here to see what people think... Should I take a Gap year or do Biomed? What are the good and bad things about each? What would you do if you were me?

I reckon if I do a Gap year it'll be absolutely AMAZING, if I choose the right things to do, but then there's no guarantee I'll get in anywhere next year either (although this year, all of my unis did seem to like me, i just didn't quite make the cut... I was pooled for Cambridge, UCL encouraged me to reapply next year, Cardiff have put me on the waiting list) But then again, if I reapply after Biomed, there's still no guarantee I'll get in after that either... which path do you think would give me a better chance of getting into medicine?!

Also, if I were to reapply after Biomed, I could either do the normal 5 year med course or do a 4 year grad med course... BUT I've heard that grad med is even harder to get in to and it's a very difficult course because you cram a year's worth of work in to the first term. Is this true? Do a lot of people apply for normal medicine rather than graduate med?

And, if I were to take a gap year, what kind of thing could I do? Well, clearly I'm going to research on the internet, but can anyone direct me to any good sites? I guess I'd do volunteer work, hospital placements, maybe some work abroad... Stuff like that. But yeah, any advice on that?

If it affects anything, I'm predicted 3A's and I should be able to get that this summer. I applied to Cambridge (who pooled me), UCL (who said reapply after a gap year), Cardiff (on the waiting list) and BSMS.

Thank you for any advice you can give!

[Dr Noodle]

There's no guarantee you'll get in with your degree either especially as it would be a biomed one which apparently is a popular one among graduate applicants ie you won't be distinguished. Plus GEM is a lot of money. You're gonna have to sit down and write out the pros and cons yourself-can you afford GEM, could you improve your PS during a gap year, do you need to resit exams, do you really want to do a biomed degree etc.

[eceri]

Just read your post, I don't know if you've already decided but I would say definately go for the gap year. There are loads of people I know who didn't get in first time, and they got in after a gap year. As to what you should do - whatever you want!! Do some travelling, maybe some hospital stuff abroad (I know one person who had her interview on the phone in South Africa!), some work experience in the UK, etc. It'l improve your application so much and they'll love to see your commitment. I don't really know how much a biomed degree will help, it's up to you if you really want to do it, but don't for the sake of it.
Oh and I was on the waiting list for Cardiff and I got in along with loads of others.
Message me if you want to chat about it, Ceri.

[No Future]

Don’t worry about biomedical sciences offer, they are quite plenty and there are usually lots of spaces in clearing.

GAP YEAR, most definitely! Why lose 3 years and be in debt from one degree? Plus, you won’t get much funding for your 4 year med course…IF you get in that is. Postgrad med is much harder to get into and they expect more of you at interview etc.

I wouldn’t worry about the biomed offer, assuming you have decent grades you shouldn’t have a problem. Try Cardiff and if the worst comes to the worst and you still want the biomed course, there are plenty in clearing. Sure, it’s unlikely but you can only try!

(Gap year)
- You get another shot at applying next year
- Doesn’t dent your finances! If you get a job, you’ll be a bit better off at uni
- Can gain great experience to enhance your application
- You don’t lose 3 years straight off!
- Tough to get into med school (always is!), but easier than doing it postgrad

(Postgrad route)
- Lose 3 yrs immediately/delay medical career
- EXPENSIVE! A degree puts you into loads of debt and restricts the amount of student loan you can get for your postgrad med course
- Biomed/bio/biochem graduates do not stand out as so many apply for med, harder to get into med school
- Studying for a course you may not truly want to do/demotivating/hard to do well in course

I didn’t get great AS grades, applied for biochem, got 6 offers (from decent unis), accepted one, retook my ASs with my A2s, got AAA, declined the offer and applied for med in my gap year. Worked in a home for the elderly, traveled, work as an HCA, traveled etc. Oh, and I got into my first choice of med school  It felt like a huge gamble at the time – not knowing if I’d even get in to med school, worrying about ‘wasting’ a year if I didn’t get in and went and did biochem anyway. In any case, it seemed worth it as I’d only be gambling ONE YEAR by taking a gap year as opposed to THREE YEARS of a degree I wasn’t sure about anyway.

Just make sure you get the grades! Do lots of prep for your UCAS and interviews too.

There is so much you can do in a gap year. I avoid ‘gap year’ companies because I have yet to find one which is not out to rip you off! I had a couple of healthcare related jobs, one in a local care home and one in an NHS hospital. I just traveled wherever I fancied and enjoyed the holidays. You can even do non medical jobs to gain experience too. The NHS jobs website is very easy to use and apply for jobs.

PM me if you want to talk about anything. Good luck!

[bpr]

My sisters in the same situation and has opted for biomed.
I've urged her to consider taking a gap year as I think that would be best. But shes younger than me, less certain she wants to do medicine and keen to leave home, but perhaps not ready to take a gap-year-gamble.
If I was in her situation, I'd do a gap year, but accept biomed until I knew what my results were. If I got AAA, or close to it, I'd take a year out and reapply.

[maniki]

gap year! iv got quite a few friends at uni who are biomeds and applied to do medicine... like people have said, you're not guaranteed to get in after that. it is still competitive for graduate entry and it is a long time at uni (consider finances).
make your gap year a productive one with hospital experience, travelling, a job etc and you'll have something to make you stand out and more to you than your average applicant with the grades.
on the other hand, some graduate biomeds on my course do have the advantage that some of the material they've already covered in their first degree!

good luck

[Gizmo says -]

which they could 'ave downloaded from the internet in their gap year, to be fair.

[Kohl]

ooohhh

from where..? =D

[K10F1]

You've probably already made my mind up but i thought i'd put my two penth in. I did biomed and am not on a graduate entry course after getting a high 2.1. I'd say if your A levels are high enough and you can improve on your personal statement take the Gap year as you'll deff get a place because your a safe bet (you have your grades, you've done all the volunteering etc. In short you're the full package and they know that you're going to be there the following year rather than miss your grades and maybe not be). If you don't get high enough A levels do Biomed, it's a hard degree (i'd do as far as to say that i worked harder in my final year of Biomed than i've worked this year on the GEP course - and yes it is 2 years in 1) but i really enjoyed doing it, it gave me a lot of confidence and time to grow up so that when i started this degree i knew what i wanted, i'd proved i was capable of doing it and it was just a case of getting on with it. Financially it's not to bad either because from next year the NHS will pay my tuition fees and give me a bursary which is income assessed and i obviously wont have to pay back, although on this point i will say i did my first degree before top up fees came in. I'm not saying it's great, i've still had to have a student loan for this degree (which sadly is now a top up fee type loan) and i had to take a personal loan to pay my tuition fees and live off this year. Anyway, i'm sure you'll get your A's and none of this will apply for you because with A's at A level a gap year is most deffinitely the best choice, i just thought i'd mention it because as someone who was also predicted 3As, had a place at med school and had no reason to suspect she wouldn't get those As, it was all very shocking to miss my grades, loose my place and not have a clue what to do next. So even if this post isn't useful to you it may be to other people. xx

[Gizmo says -]

Originally Posted by Kohl

ooohhh

from where..? =D

you do the searching, macca.

i aint your nana.