Graduate Entry Medicine Experiences

**amk_minus** · 30-10-2007, 10:05 PM

Hi, I graduated the summer just gone with a 1st in psychology and I now plan to attempt to get on to a GEM course and I was wondering if anyone could share their experience(s) of GEM? Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

**amk_minus** · 02-11-2007, 05:58 PM

Thanks for all the responses I am quite overwhelmed by the volume of replies!! ;-)

**469er** · 02-11-2007, 06:10 PM

Hmm. Maybe the A levels forum isn't the ideal place for this thread? Just a thought...

Good luck, anyway.

**amk_minus** · 02-11-2007, 07:55 PM

I've posted it on another forum and still no replies I'm starting to think it is something personal

**Arch_Angel** · 02-11-2007, 08:03 PM

Yea it is....did you miss the "Don't speak to amk_minus" thread?

It'd be nice to have some replies yea, but GEPs seem fairly thin on the ground on this site.....especially oxford ones....

Hopefully someone will give you a big chunky post. Have you hada look through the weblogs to see if there's anything in there?

**algy_lacey** · 02-11-2007, 10:21 PM

I can't really tell you anything about GEMS as I decided not to apply for them (despite being a grad). I would like to advise you not to rule out five year courses though - that extra year may seem like a lot (and they do cost more), but there are a lot of people who are qualified for the GEMS but choose to go for a five year course instead. When I first started thinking about medical school, I was only thinking about GEMS - but the more I read, the more I realised that a five year course would suit me a lot better.

**amk_minus** · 02-11-2007, 10:25 PM

May I just ask why you felt it 'would suit you better'? I am trying to get as much info from other people in a similar position as possible because I know absolutely no one else planning to do this and I'm feeling a bit concerned about taking on another degree especially one which is suggested to be one of the hardest to do. Thanks!

**algy_lacey** · 02-11-2007, 11:41 PM

Four year courses are very intense, and I wanted to be able to take a little more time over my studies to ensure that I really understood everything that I needed to (because I tend to struggle with my memory, and understanding more abstract subjects like biochem). I have been surprised at how much work I am needing to do to stay on top of my five year course (just a few weeks in) so I'm very glad I'm not doing a four year! It also means you don't have to hit the ground running in quite the same way because a lot of people will be newly away from home and learning how to deal with all of that, as well as coping with the work.

I just generally feel that the added time on a five year course will ultimately make me a better doctor with a better understanding of the science, and more opportunity to develop my skills.

But if you learn fast and tend to grasp concepts easily, there's no reason a four year course shouldn't suit you.

(I was also put off by scaremongering about how difficult GEPs are to get into - I'm not sure it's quite as bad as I was led to believe by posts here, but at the time it was enough to make me chicken out...)