Helped i missed my grades - What now?

**Lilac Butterfly** · 20-08-2009, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Little Miss Laura May

Hi,
I needed AAA, but got ABBB so quite naturally I was rejected by Durham

I know that there is about 20 pgs of this i haven't read yet but I really don't no what to do. I'm also sick of people congratulating me that I got good grades lets face it I didn't do good enough, I resat so many modules trying to pull up my grades where I narrowly missed out nd as a result in chem I was 4 ums marks away from the A. I honestly feel that I did my best nd resiting the modules wudn't b in my best interest personally...
So basically this means either a) gap year (which was my original back up) or b) do a degree in sumthing else (my parents favourite)
Id love to do a gap yr but i'd need alot of money, which i dont have nd cudn't get grants cos there gay (not really its just parents earn just above all the thresholds... but I was SO excited about starting uni nd moving out ect. But i have little idea what I want to do now and clearing has given me little inspiration. I do have an insurance offer at edin bio sciences but I really don't want to do it.
I guess there are international universitys but i dont no alot about this???

HELP!
xx

I got ABD in my Alevels first time round, was predicted 3 As, really messed it up.. then i re-took and reapplied, sent off a few letters explaining my mitiating circumstances. I got an offer from leicester without having to do the UKCAT or interview again, and got interviews from keele (offer) and leeds (declined interview, as already had offers and thought somone else deserved the place more). Now i've just finished my first year at leicester, and I feel that the gap year has helped me gain a lot of maturity, as it gave me time to reflect on everything. Yes, it was dificult seeing all my friends at uni while I was stuck retaking, but I definitely made the right choice for myself.

I personally think retaking is a good idea, especially if you're not motivated by another subject. Doing another degree for 3 years and then reapplying as graduate entry is good if you're happy to work for another degree.. i have a lot of respect for people who've managed to get in this way, as I dont think i'd have enough patience to do a whole other degree first.

But whatever you decide, make sure you're 100% sure it's what you want to do, and not what others want. At the ed of the day it's you whose going to be doing the work, and you need to make sure you'll be happy with your decision.

Good luck!

**Gary00** · 20-08-2009, 05:54 PM

i applied to uea, penninsula, leeds and brighton. If u wnt 2 do medicine thn do medicine, i dnt think you should do a course for the sake of it, even if tht means re-sitting

**xylophonefairy** · 21-08-2009, 03:50 AM

Originally Posted by likita I

Im an international student and i just saw my AS level results....ABBC..i would like to apply for medicine but i dont know of any unis thatll accept my grades.....could u suggest any?

Well I got those exact grades at AS and I got into Leicester. I dropped my C and improved my two B's to A's in year 13, but if you work a little bit extra hard this year with a good PS and lots of work experience etc., then you should have as good a shot as any.

**westside** · 21-08-2009, 05:10 AM

hey, i got aabb, qm won't allow me in with these grades since my offer was aaa. I don't know what to do since they don't allow resits unless u have extenuating cirsumstances and they won't allow me in with these grades next year. I don't want to apply out of london but all the london unis don't allow resits and they all want aaa! what shall i do?

**Yixian** · 21-08-2009, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by westside

hey, i got aabb, qm won't allow me in with these grades since my offer was aaa. I don't know what to do since they don't allow resits unless u have extenuating cirsumstances and they won't allow me in with these grades next year. I don't want to apply out of london but all the london unis don't allow resits and they all want aaa! what shall i do?

Apply outside of London..

**Dr_Paul** · 22-08-2009, 01:31 AM

Hey Everyone,

Missing an offer sucks!! But you got to be strong and address your options. So lets begin....

1) Retakes -> Interesting option works for some. But you got to be more adapting and moving out of London isnt really a biggie. Dont let it stand in front of your dream to pursue medicine not an education in London.
(I went to Uni in London its expensive and I found Newcastle, Manchester, Cardiff and Brum jus as fun if not better).

2) Transfer --> Risky, be prepared to do the course as transer unlikely. Some heard of are:
Clinical Sciences Bradford - Leeds Medicine
Biomed St Georges - Medicine St Georges
Biomed Newcastle - Medicine Newcastle

*May be others Im not aware of.

3) Grad Option --> Very difficult, bit of a lotto depending on tests such as GAMSAT and UKCAT. Grads also apply for the 5/6 year entry which just as good. Still harder to get onto then a normal school lever.

If your going to go down this path....
-Biomedical Science -- Do it only at an accredited University. (Check with IBMS...dont assume. for example KCL, QMUL, M'cher are not accredited and you cannot be work)
- Other sciences I would not advise it unless you do a work in industry
- Optometry you can locum while you study med helps the financial side
- Pharmacy same as above
- Osteopathy same as above
- Nursing same as above and excellent way to develop clinical skills which will help later and work experience also. (I wish I done this)

Whatever route you choose, get work experience straight away, from October it will give you an edge. Do community stuff aswell like community police office, join a local youth offending team, hospice etc

Hope this helps anyone.

To " Westside" if you wana study medicine go for it, dont let this little setback stop you from doing what you want...it will make you stronger and you never know even a better doctor.

If you decide you want to turn your hand to something else...still good shows you were going down the wrong route. Draw positives

Good luck and wish all the best

Bye

**Drneuro** · 22-08-2009, 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by Dr_Paul

2) Transfer --> Risky, be prepared to do the course as transer unlikely. Some heard of are:
Clinical Sciences Bradford - Leeds Medicine
Biomed St Georges - Medicine St Georges
Biomed Newcastle - Medicine Newcastle

*May be others Im not aware of.

3) Grad Option --> Very difficult, bit of a lotto depending on tests such as GAMSAT and UKCAT. Grads also apply for the 5/6 year entry which just as good. Still harder to get onto then a normal school lever.

If your going to go down this path....
-Biomedical Science -- Do it only at an accredited University. (Check with IBMS...dont assume. for example KCL, QMUL, M'cher are not accredited and you cannot be work)

I know Leicester has a transfer thing for biomed students!

Also, you don't have to be doing an accredited BMS course to get in... I'm at Leeds atm which isn't accredited, but they do get a lot of graduates into med school.

If medicine's what you want to do don't give up!

**Dr_Paul** · 22-08-2009, 04:11 AM

Thanx Drneuro...good to see people adding to the list

Sorry if I caused a confusion, whilst its not a criteria to have your Biomed accredited, I would advise it as will help financially if you go to uni 2nd time round.

**westside** · 22-08-2009, 05:35 AM

thank you so much dr paul- your advice is really helpful!

thank you dr neuro aswell. lt's really quite an overwhelming situation, i appreciate the help.x

**Drneuro** · 22-08-2009, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by Dr_Paul

Thanx Drneuro...good to see people adding to the list

Sorry if I caused a confusion, whilst its not a criteria to have your Biomed accredited, I would advise it as will help financially if you go to uni 2nd time round.

Ah do you mean because you can work as a biomedical scientist and earn so you have the finances to do medicine? Yes I agree that would help!

I trained as a phlebotomist this summer (I haven't got a job yet though) but you could always try doing one of the lower paid healthcare jobs too.

What Dr_Paul said about doing a course that would lead to professional accreditation is actually an excellent idea. There's also a course called orthoptics, it's not run by many universities but apparently orthoptists are sought after.

Whatever you do, make the right decision for you, and make sure it's an informed one too. I missed my grades for medicine last year, got a changed course offer for biomed at Leeds, and i took it because i was panicking and didn't know what to do. It was probably one of the biggest mistakes of my life!
Look at your options properly. Are you sure you don't want to apply out of London? Medicine out of London is still medicine, you'll still be a doctor at the end of it!

Best wishes!