Helped i missed my grades - What now?

**Touche** · 25-11-2007, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by gimperial99

Probably not, because if you have a general surgery number that means you are going to be doing general surgery. I am a bit lost by that point. As it stands those people who got ST1 plastics should progress to ST3 if they pass their competencies.

Most deaneries had ST1 "Surgery in General" with competition for surgical speciality numbers taking place at ST3 level (or for last year only ST2). T&O and Neurosurgery were exceptions with ST1 entry. The guys coming from F2->ST1 with these "Surgery in General" numbers wanting to do plastics at ST3 with only competencies signed off were the ones to which I referred who many have a hard time ahead. They will get an ST3 post in something, but it aint gonna be plastics!

Same goes for acute medicine F2->ST1s wanting to get into cardiology... turn up with a portfolio full of ticked competencies at your ST3 interview? Good luck!

Not quite the same as Paeds and O&G where ST1 RTT posts have been refered to as golden handcuffs

Hope that's clear enough.

**gimperial99** · 25-11-2007, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Touche

Most deaneries had ST1 "Surgery in General" with competition for surgical speciality numbers taking place at ST3 level (or for last year only ST2). T&O and Neurosurgery were exceptions with ST1 entry. The guys coming from F2->ST1 with these "Surgery in General" numbers wanting to do plastics at ST3 with only competencies signed off were the ones to which I referred who many have a hard time ahead. They will get an ST3 post in something, but it aint gonna be plastics!

Same goes for acute medicine F2->ST1s wanting to get into cardiology... turn up with a portfolio full of ticked competencies at your ST3 interview? Good luck!

Not quite the same as Paeds and O&G where ST1 RTT posts have been refered to as golden handcuffs

Hope that's clear enough.

Agreed, surgery in general - generic, sorry I though you were referring to general surgery. There are RTTs in plastics, it will be interesting to see if they are honoured. I think we are going to back to pre-Calman system anyway.

**Dr Noodle** · 28-11-2007, 12:07 AM

Just came across this quote from 2005:

David Hart, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said some schools were already turning their backs on A-levels in favour of alternative exams.

"More and more schools will be looking towards the international baccalaureate and will be abandoning A-levels, particularly for the more able pupils, rather than wait for the government," he said.

**Gizmo says -** · 28-11-2007, 01:58 AM

are you saying we shuld follow our (David) 'art, macca?

**Dr Noodle** · 28-11-2007, 02:00 AM

He seems to be suggesting that the A-levels are being dumbed down but maybe that's just my interpretation.

**thereisnospoon** · 10-12-2007, 11:33 AM

hi does anyone know whether bradford (particularly their clinical sciences programme) is receptive to international students?

btw i did my A levels this year in singapore and will only be receiving my results next year. am exploring all routes to medicine in case my results don't make it.

**Dr Noodle** · 10-12-2007, 03:04 PM

Make a new thread in the A-levels section, I'm not sure if anyone will answer you here...you should e-mail them. Actually I think they'll take international students for the three year degree but I don't think they allow international students to transfer into medicine after the first year so you'll have to go the GEP route. I read this somewhere cos I was checking it out myself.

**risingstar** · 11-03-2008, 01:35 AM

hi,
i'm a re-sit student.
first time i got BCC... anlthough the b was close to an A and the C's were both close to B's....
I studied biology, chemistry and maths.
i got B in sociology AS and D in physics AS, which i didnt carry onto doing at A2 level.
I applied at manchester university last year and got an offer of AAB, but as i didnt get those results, i couldnt go.
i am re-sitting and i'm confident of getting AAA this year.
i applied at:
keele, east anglia, peninsula, sheffield and lancaster university for pre-med.
i have got an interview from lancaster... and rejections from all other universities to study medicine, apart from keele, who have not got back to me.
any advice.. in general..?
what should i do if i get no offers?
please help me!!!
thank you
x

**zenji** · 11-03-2008, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by Dr Noodle

Just came across this quote from 2005:

David Hart, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said some schools were already turning their backs on A-levels in favour of alternative exams.

"More and more schools will be looking towards the international baccalaureate and will be abandoning A-levels, particularly for the more able pupils, rather than wait for the government," he said.

Ahh..the IB rocks!

**algy_lacey** · 11-03-2008, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by risingstar

hi,
i am re-sitting and i'm confident of getting AAA this year.
i have got an interview from lancaster... and rejections from all other universities to study medicine, apart from keele, who have not got back to me.
any advice.. in general..?
what should i do if i get no offers?
please help me!!!
thank you
x

Firstly, don't give up yet - Lancaster could come through for you, and you could get a late interview at Keele

I would recommend re-evaluating your decision if you don't get in this year - is medicine definitely for you? You're going to be a little older and wiser by the time this application/interview cycle finishes, so you may be in a better position to assess your own wishes.

If you do that and are certain that medicine is still the way ahead (and there is no shame in admitting that it isn't), I would recommend reapplying next year, assuming you have got those grades. Applying with the required grades already in the bag will probably give your application a boost, especially if you've suffered previously from having a less than confident reference!

Also make sure that your personal statement is absolutely up to scratch - there are loads of people here who will read it over for you, and see it as strangers will see you, which is undoubtedly helpful. They may also be more willing to tear it apart than your friends or family might be!

How about your work experience? Concentrate on getting the grades for now, but having got them, have a good think about anything else you can do to boost your application. As you'll be over 18, you may stand a better chance of securing hospital based or care-home (paid or unpaid) work during your gap year.

I definitely wouldn't suggest doing another degree first unless you are very unsure about your suitability for medicine. While studying medicine as a mature graduate is definitely a plus in many ways (I would not have been working as hard when I was 18), it comes with an extra financial burden, as well as a sense that you could already be a qualified doctor if you'd gone straight from school!

I hope this helps