Helped i missed my grades - What now?

**~...arzoo...~** · 21-08-2007, 12:02 PM

Just thought i'd let you guys know that Keele say they accep re-sitters on their website [still waiting for confirmation]. Also, Barts and Leeds have said they need proof of extinuating circumstances but they are willing to re-consider.

Hoope that helps! Good luck with whatever you all decide to do

**kiya** · 22-08-2007, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by Rake

+1 I got ABC; the really gutting thing is that the B and C were just a few marks off the next grade, and I only needed ABB or AAC. I'm not very hopeful about the Politics re-mark bringing me up seven points. On Friday, I rang around the medical schools; hardly any will consider me as a resitter.

Option 1: Resits
My parents have serious misgivings about resitting. They've pointed out that if I couldn't make the grade when I had classes every day (not to mention a tutor in chemistry), how on earth would I manage on my own? They're worried that I'm not disciplined enough to spend the next three months revising for a couple of distant modules - but I want this now more than ever, and I think that with only three modules in two subjects to revise for, I'd be able to be a lot more focussed than last time round. I'd be working from the same notes that almost got me an A and B.

If you are really going to go all out to get higher grades, then resitting is definitely an option. It's not completely correct that if you've missed the grades working on these subjects every day, then you're not going to be able to up the grades. You might not, but you might now be more determined than ever. I tried starting A-level Chem in '95 and couldn't cope. Took it last year, got an A. Took AS Bio whilst working full-time this year, got an A. When your heart is really in it and you work hard, anything is possible. Of course you'd need to check med schools that accept resits to see how viable it is.

Option 2: Biomedical Degree, then apply
I spoke to a friend of my cousin's, who's in fourth year at GKT; she said that if she were in my position, she would clear into a biomedical degree and apply for medicine as a graduate, because there are loads of graduates in her course and she wouldn't want to waste a year on work she'd already covered. On the other hand, my aunt said biomedical degrees don't have much currency, and that I'd be mad to try to re-sit on my own.

Graduate-entry medicine is fiercely competitive. I personally wouldn't recommend it.

Option 3: Healthcare-Professional Degree, so I'll have a profession if grad medicine doesn't work out
My parents want me to clear into an optometry course (because optometry is nearly the same as medicine :? ) or Clinical Sciences at Bradford if I'm still set on medicine. They think I'm being very unreasonable and unrealistic to want to waste a year vainly resitting when I've proved I can fall short even in the most favourable possible circumstances.

This is actually a brilliant idea (not least because it's kind of what I'm doing myself, so possibly I would say that!!). But unlike Biomedical Sciences, you'd be training for a job that actually leads to working with patients and yes, in something like orthoptics, it is very close to medicine in some ways (I've chosen therapeutic radiography because of the science/tech basis and team-working).

BUT... you say you want to do medicine, so I would say (especially considering you must be school-leaver age???) that you resit first. Being 18/19 you have a whole heap of time on your side. I wouldn't recommend rushing into anything. If after resits you still don't make the grade, think of the allied health professions - after all, in certain areas you can just walk into a job because they're short-staffed (I have an offer from my local oncology centre and am currently awaiting an interview for a MSc radiotherapy course, despite having a first degree in History!).

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

**Jon1104** · 01-09-2007, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by noworries

Biomedical science was mt backup but I don't think it's me. Can't get me head around the idea of spending 3 or 4 years doing a degree I don't really have any interest in. No offence meant to biomedical people there.

Biomedicine is the study of the human body in health and disease. If you have no interest in biomedicine you will have very little interest in a medical degree.

**nap** · 02-09-2007, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Steph8552

Univ of Bradford offer a 'clinical sciences' course. Thats conditional upon getting 60% in your first yr exams and subject to interview etc.

Hi just to say this is what i did and i got in. i'm now going to leeds in september. Just so you know the grade boundary is going up to 65%. I'd go for it if i were you. Taking a yr out and resisting is not a good idea as most university's won't take resist candidates, and if they do they'll want 3 A's.
I urge you to go for bradford clin sci, ring them asap, its a fantastic course and if you don't get in, stay on clin sci and do post grad.
good luck

Congratulation on getting a place at Leeds into 2nd year.
Can you please give me some more information about the admissions procedure.
It says that ‘Preference will be given to students from West Yorkshire’

How do they decide if you are choosing it as a backup subject, and also when you apply to Leeds do they also give preference to students coming from W. Yorkshire’

**Meg01** · 02-09-2007, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Jon1104

Biomedicine is the study of the human body in health and disease. If you have no interest in biomedicine you will have very little interest in a medical degree.

Not true - I'd rather eat my own head than do a degree in biomedicine. The hard core biomedical stuff doesn't really interest me actually, yet I'd say I'd have more than a "little" interest in the medical degree I am currently doing. Doing a first degree in English, physics, French, Sociology, whatever ... is just as valid. Do what you will spent 3/4 years enjoying, and what you will do well in!

**Jon1104** · 02-09-2007, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Meg01

Not true - I'd rather eat my own head than do a degree in biomedicine. The hard core biomedical stuff doesn't really interest me actually, yet I'd say I'd have more than a "little" interest in the medical degree I am currently doing. Doing a first degree in English, physics, French, Sociology, whatever ... is just as valid. Do what you will spent 3/4 years enjoying, and what you will do well in!

Everyone is goin to be different, and yes the really hard biomedical stuff may not be as relevant, but most of the science your studying in your medical degree is biomedicine. :s guess you better eat ur own head lol

**Muffin2** · 02-09-2007, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by nap

Congratulation on getting a place at Leeds into 2nd year.
Can you please give me some more information about the admissions procedure.
It says that ‘Preference will be given to students from West Yorkshire’

How do they decide if you are choosing it as a backup subject, and also when you apply to Leeds do they also give preference to students coming from W. Yorkshire’

Hi no Leeds don't give any preference at all. I'm from the Wirral, near liverpool. Also Bradford don't really give preference although a lot of people where from liverpool, manchester, yorkshire. But there were a few from London and one guy came from the Isle of Whight.
What happens about admission to leeds is you do a personal statement and work experience form in about april. then you sit the uni's exams in may, if you get over 65% the forms will be sent to Leeds for them to look at. If they like what they see they'll call for interview. Then they'll offer you a place based on that interview. You'll find out 2-3 days later.
hope this helps

**Meg01** · 02-09-2007, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Jon1104

Everyone is goin to be different, and yes the really hard biomedical stuff may not be as relevant, but most of the science your studying in your medical degree is biomedicine. :s guess you better eat ur own head lol

This is certainly true .. but since it's not a biomedical degree, and I maintain I DO find it boring much of the time ... I'll refrain from eating my head just now

**Clarkey** · 02-09-2007, 06:51 PM

I think i've said this many a time, but i'll say it again. I could never do biomedical sciences or its equivalent. I hate lab work, i'm rubbish at pure science and there is honestly very little that interests me. It goes into too much depth for someone with isn't a natural scientist like me, and i just hate it! I've lived with biomeds and i admire them but i could never ever do it.

**Meg01** · 02-09-2007, 07:28 PM

Ahh, a girl after my own heart. It does turn a few heads when i say I don't really like science (or the bio/chem/physics variety at least!!). I know there will be people reading this now thinking, crazy, but so many med students I know moan about other aspects of medicine (including believe it or not the clinical) too!

The irony of this is i can (although never do!) write BSc(Hons) MSc after my name .. but it's psychology and public health!

Maybe to make this relevant to the thread ... I guess if you need/want to do another degree before medicine, I don't think biomedicine needs to be the first choice. So many biomedical graduates apply (I have it on authority) that it gets a bit dull! Go on, do David Beckham studies, you know you want to