Is it possible?

[.DM esuoH]

Excuse me if I ramble here. I ramble when I'm nervous/worried.

Hey, this is my first post. I found the forum after doing some research, because I recently realised that doing Medicine is actually possible to do, for people like me, not just those kids who went to private schools and such, and I want to dedicate myself to that.

I'm 19, I've pretty much wasted my last 3 years doing absolutely nothing, which was incredibly immature of me, and I regret it now.
My GCSE results aren't to be sneezed at, but not fantastic either (4 A, 3 B, 2 C and a D. This was due to a lot of bullying and similar stuff I had going on at school, I had around 70% attendance.)
I'm currently planning to go for A levels in Biology, Chemistry, English Language and Psychology (Eng. Lang. because my GCSE result was a C and some high-brow Uni's require a B+), whilst this is happening, I'm going to be trying to get a part-time job and work on some volunteer work/shadowing GPs and hospital doctors to get experience in a relevant area.

Once I start my second year, I plan to fire up the old Application process and begin researching into eligibility for Universities, etc. I know that I can either apply for a 6-year Foundation Medical Degree or the standard 5-year, depending on my grades.
If I do end up failing to hit my grades, would it be advised to re-sit or to attempt a Foundation degree? Or even sign up to an Access to Medicine course?

Will Universities want anything to do with me, considering that I haven't got anything really to show for my last 3 years? I never got a job, I basically did some college courses I'm not really interested in and ignored them, I failed the first one, and I'm fairly sure I'm going to fail the second one too (Although I do have extenuating circumstances for that one, I've suffered from depression recently. Ironically the depression's been because I feel my life isn't getting me anywhere right now).
Also, anyone have any recommendations for getting work experience in Nottingham? I don't have a driver's license yet so I can't do much travel, and I can't afford to move home unless it's into Student Accomodation, which I won't be able to do until Uni... so that's no help, because I'd need the experience to get IN to Uni.

I'm hoping that in my personal statement I can turn around my lack of progress in the last few years into more of a "I've recently done a lot of growing up, and realised that it's time to stop doing things because they might be more entertaining in the short term. I feel that I have overcome the problems in my life and am now ready to take action to achieve my goals." as opposed to a "I'm a lazy-ass bum who didn't care enough to get off his backside and do something."

I'm just so scared of dedicating my life to this and failing.

[Nasher and Basher]

Your GCSE grades are better than mine, although I have more and I went to college when I was 18 for medicine. I first got Unspeakable grades, and then great grades.

I know what you mean, but you put in life what you get out. You will not succeed if you do not try.

I also feel stuck and that everything is passing me by, but the truth of the matters is that when you start to compare yourself to veryone, you realise that you are never that prepared or have teh grades or the work experience. But it whats you learnt from them, that will count.

Grades arent everything, if there was they wouldnt have created the UKCAT or the BMAT, their aware that it takes more than just the ability to memorise books to be a doctor, you have to know how to think etc.

I wish you all the best, I think now that you know what you want- it will make a hell of a difference.

[.DM esuoH]

Aye, I'm really hoping that they'll see that even despite the bullying in my earlier years and outright depression in recent years, that I've worked through that and am now taking control of my life, to focus on something I'm really passionate about.
Of course, I have my doubts about med school, but doesn't everyone? It's a big undertaking, and anyone who DOESN'T have doubts must be crazy, right? :P

[agneishd]

i'd say reapply if you don't get the grades

thing is if you show dedication and explain your circumstances to the unis, they may even admire your turning over a new leaf in life (i'd ring and ask in case, before applying though(!))

sounds cliched, but if you put in the work, you will achieve what you want
i like your attitiude personally, and hard work at the A-levels will put you in a good position for the med application (IMO)

[Rosebot]

i think that your circumstances can be considered to be extenuating which generally gives more leniency with GCSE grades etc
but really and honestly just give it all youve got enthusiam will help get you a place and will give you a better frame of mind to help you study harder for your alevels

depression is not something to be taken lightly but it is something you can recover from and often people who have are far stronger than they previously were. it also often means they have empathy skills which others who have not suffered from depression may not have.

good luck with everything

ps
id also reccomend being sensible with university application choices ie. try for UEA and peninsula etc rather than Edinburgh and some of the london ones
at the end of the day you end up with a fantastic degree no matter where you go but some admissions policies are kinder to those of us that were not born with the knowledge medicine was what we wanted to do!

[doormat]

Rosebot is right, do your research and find the medical schools that are most likely to admit you, i.e. the new ones.

You need to be careful though, as there are many misconceptions about the foundation 6 year degrees. People often think that they are for those that get poor results at A levels, but they are actually for people with non science subjects.

If you intend to take Biology, Chemistry and whatever then you would not be eligible and get some automatic rejections, which helps nobody.

An access course would be a last resort as you are still quite young, and I don't think that they would like that, plus a lot of the access courses are filled with graduates who either have arts degrees or were too disorganised to get in straight off the back of their science degree.

Hope this helps,

[simisims]

6 year course - 2 different types

Some 6 year courses are for people who have the right grades (AAB/AAA) but have studied the wrong A Levels eg KCL, Bristol,Manchester,Sheffield.
The other 6 year courses usually require chemistry and biology but at lower grades (eg BCC/CCC) and you would need to fulfil the socio-economic criteria before they will even consider your application.eg.Southampton BM6, UEA, Lincoln/Nottingham and Imperial/Thames Valley.

Hope that clears up any confusion

[Sticks]

Look at the nottingham universities hospital trust page under jobs, then under volunteers. There's a PDF form for volunteering. If you're under 18
you can't do 'clinical' things which would involve tiptoeing around health and safety regulations, but any experience is good.

[Rosebot]

some hospitals are much more lax than others
when i was just 16 i went into surgery and intensive care.. so some places arent as bothered as others
good luck!
xx

[agneishd]

i got in at 17, but was chucked out on my arse a few times before...