Ok.. have I failed before I've had the chance to start?

[Allie247]

Hi all
Ive just left school and got my results yesterday, which are as follows:
History A*
Science A
Additional Science A
English Lang A
RE A
French B
Maths B
Stats B
IT B
Music B
English Lit B
Art C

Even though Im very pleased with these results on a personal level, I still fear that they are going to majorly hold me back if I apply for a medicine course. I've been looking around the site and people with like, 5 A* are worrying.
My A-levels Im going to take are Biology, Chemistry, Maths and English, and I will probably drop maths in the second year.

Im stuck in a rut atm because I don't know whether its worth putting in loads of hard work to persue a medical career (ie getting loads of work experience, trying to get AAA at a level, taking medicine related additional studies), only to be majorly disappointed when I dont get into uni because of my gcse grades.

Its also worth mentioning that I probably would have done better had I not caught malaria and dysentry while on my year 10/11 summer holiday - set me back a bit!

does anyone have any advice? I know only I can decide what to do with my future but Im just so confused right now

[Bakkur]

Those seem like pretty good results to me - I wouldn't worry about them from a university perspective. GCSEs don't tend to be looked at very hard, and as long as you didn't completely mess up (which you didn't) then the medical schools will be unlikely to base any decision on your GCSEs. So, go for it! These won't hold you back.

[Gizmo says -]

clueless....why are they poor?

do you mean they are poor compared to peepl in yor skool?

they are fine for the vast majority of med skools, which you can find out from their websites.

[Allie247]

they are poor compared to the large amount of people on this site that are saying theyre held back because of their results, even though theyre extremely good. (from my point of view)

[dailey]

i got AABBCDDEE at gcse and they let me in

you have nothing to worry about!

[Gizmo says -]

you should read the university websites, Alliee.

dont bother wif claptrap by laymen if you are gonna prescribe a drug like an ucas application, go for the source.


forget this fread, and gomail admissions departments now.

Goo luck!

[Gizmo says -]

by and large those posting on ere are never admissions tutors.

by and large, anyone who meks you fink what you fink is idiots.
sadly, that constitutes a large proportion of med skool applicants.


although to be fair, no one is posting like that right now on this fread, so perhaps you just need to pay attention to WHO you are listening to and YOUR interpretation of what is being said. serious, dont ruin your ambitions by listening to morons.

Goo luck again!

[Allie247]

Ok, thanks everyone, I'm feeling a little more positive, and I guess instead of focusing on the things I can't change (if as you say they wont hold me back) I need to look at what needs to be done in the future.

Ok so, A-levels, the subjects I'm doing are Maths, Bio, Chem and English Literature. Obviously Biology and Chemistry I'm continuing to A2, and was going to continue with English to A2 rather than maths. Would unis still give credit for doing maths for the first year? Or is it not worth taking unless I take it to A2?

Secondly, at the sixth form I'm going to we take an 'additional study'. I've been told the most useful additional study would be 'Pre-clinical' in which you are prepared for a career in medicine, and results in half an A level in Health and Social care as well. However it doesnt help students out with hospital/care based work experience which is also vital for getting a place at uni.- but there is another 'additional study' which focuses solely on gaining experience in health and social care work environments. Which one sounds more useful? Should I take 'pre clinical studies' and try to find my own work experience? Or would it be a waste of time?

thanks, please help!!

[Gizmo says -]

yeah def tek it, macca.

[Dr-Robien]

Yup- take as MANY things as you can clinically related!

Doctors in Hospitals, Doctors as GPs, Nursing Homes, Volunteering..?