AMBITION Medicine BUT how.

**adan** · 30-12-2009, 11:29 PM

I’m really interested in doing medicine and this is my qualifications. I took my A levels 1 year ago with

B in A level Bio
A in A level Psycho
A in AS sociology
A in AS geography

I don’t have chemistry which is my biggest problem , I’m on my second gap year and I applied for courses at some good unis, courses such as biomed and Human Biology to start 2010 September with the intention that I apply to medicine through the grad route and apply to GEP courses.

Only recently I’ve been getting thoughts about the grad route being a long shot and I’ve been getting thoughts that I wouldn't want to think about at all only a few months ago, which is to return to A level and do chemistry A level next year than Apply for medicine the following year by that time I’ll be 21 I’m 19 now.

I was wondering and wanted to get some good advice , which route do you think is better. Do I do A level chemistry for a year and concentrate on it and try get an A which I think I can do and maybe work part time while I’m at it, or do I enter the courses that are ready for me to enter since some unis have accepted me already and hope I get on a GEP course.???

**House Jr.** · 30-12-2009, 11:35 PM

IMO you should do A level chemistry instead of the graduate route, since the rest of you A level grades are good for medicine. Also, the graduate root is more competitive since fewer unis offer graduate medicine and there are much less spaces, so it seems you'll stand a better chance doing that.

**adan** · 30-12-2009, 11:48 PM

Thanks for the encouraging comment House.jr .

Question:
Is doing Chemistry A level not at the same sitting as my other A levels, practically 2 years after a disadvantage.

**House Jr.** · 30-12-2009, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by adan

Thanks for the encouraging comment House.jr .

Question:
Is doing Chemistry A level not at the same sitting as my other A levels, practically 2 years after a disadvantage.

I wouldn't say so, no. If you complete an A level within the 2 years it normally takes then it should be fine. Some unis may give you an advantage for that since that shows that you're determined enough to take 2 gap years and do another A level to get into medicine. I believe Kinkerz took his physics A level after his other a levels and got into Keele. But then again, different unis have different policies so it's best to phone thm just in case.

**Rippy** · 31-12-2009, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by House Jr.

I wouldn't say so, no. If you complete an A level within the 2 years it normally takes then it should be fine. Some unis may give you an advantage for that since that shows that you're determined enough to take 2 gap years and do another A level to get into medicine. I believe Kinkerz took his physics A level after his other a levels and got into Keele. But then again, different unis have different policies so it's best to phone thm just in case.

No he didn't, he took it at the same time AFAIK.

But anyway, I think basically all medical schools say you have to complete your A Levels within a 2 year period. So I don't know if that affects the Chemistry thing or not, since you are effectively studying an extra A Level outside a 2 year period. So yeah, contacting unis is probably the best option.

**Spin doctor** · 31-12-2009, 01:49 AM

Do the chemistry a level but contact all the uni's you would want to apply to so you can be sure you're not disadvantaged. It'll take less time, far less work and you wouldn't end up with 15k+ worth of debt by the end of it. Plus get lots of work experience in the meantime to, with no other a levels to worry about you'll be able to ace the exam and have plenty of time left over for a job and/or voluntary work