Graduate Entry Medicine

[hamzahdabest]

Hi,

Here's my situation simplified:

During my first year of college i studied, AS Law, Economics, Biology, and Psychology. I wasn't sure at this point, where my career aspirations lied, however after a lot of research i realised medicine was my dream.

This year (my second year), i studied A2 Biology, A2 Psychology, and AS Chemistry. I also gained work experience in a hospital, GP, and i did voluntary work at a Hospice for 12 months. I'll soon be doing a sky dive, to collect money for Tommy's Baby Charity, i have various other extra curriculars, and i'v been in paid employment at the same place for 16 months now.

My original plan was to get the grades i need in my A2 subjects; Apply for 2011 entry, while completing A Level Chemistry. However, i achieved 2 B's for A2 Biology, and Psychology.. and an B for AS chemistry, i can get that up to a A hopefully next year with one resit.. But, its ruined my chances of applying to medicine for 2011.

Also, i have AS economics from the first year at a grade B.

So, my new plan is to still complete my A level Chemistry, and i may do A2 economics, and apply for a biomedical science degree.

Is anybody else in the situation where they will be taking the GEM route? I'v researched my options; Sussex and newcastle have programmes in place whereby you can also have a chance of applying to medical school after the first year of the biomed degree, so its an additional chance..

Are there any people, who have gotten in to medical school, through graduate entry, who can give me some advise on the competitiveness of this route, and about the period of time involved.. to be honest, time isnt much of an issue with me, as im willing to do what it takes, if it gets me to my dream career in the end, but, whats it like being in medical school at the age of 21-22? My main questions however, are the chances of securing a place in medical school through graduate entry, and a list of universities that are best for biomedical sciences, with the intention of applying for medicine.

Thank you, and i would appreciate any advise, from current, and prospective students.

Thanks Again !

[Bambi]

How many A levels are you doing?
At this point you would be crazy to give up on the normal route and go straight to GEM. Do whatever subjects you need to this year even if that means doing the full A level in one year for certain subjects. GEM is maybe 10 times more difficult to get into and is an extremely expensive route in the long run. You may think you don't mind about the money but by the time you finish you will be the age where you will be starting to think about buying a house, getting married, having kids etc and you don't want crazy amounts of debt hanging over you at that sort of time.

[hamzahdabest]

Yeah, i'v actually now decided to apply for the medical schools who accept resit applicants, and also a back up course. That way, i can attempt to at least have a go at applying, and if unsuccessful i would do a back up degree, leading on to medicine hopefully.

However, i dont really want to do a biomedical related degree, as its not really a degree that ill enjoy, and considering there is a chance i may not even get a place at a 5/4 year medicine programme after i graduate, i would like to take on a course that ill enjoy, and one that can lead to a career i would consider, and i have been looking at physiotherapy.

However, my concern is, with a personal statement predominantly based on medicine, would there be a likelihood of me being given a place for physiotherapy, considering there will be applicants who actually want to become physiotherapists.

[Bambi]

So you have already done A2? Otherwise you are not a resitter and can apply anywhere you meet the requirements.

You will not get into physiotherapy with a medicine PS.

Also if you are already thinking about wanting to do different careers then are you really sure you want to apply to med school anyway.

Also say you did apply but didn't get any offers but got the grades under no circumstances should you then go straight for the GEM route, just reapply.

[hamzahdabest]

I completed my A levels this year in Biology, and Psychology and received 2 B's. Next year i will be completing my A level Chemistry, as i only did AS this year, and i will hopefully be predicted an A in Chemistry. Medical schools now want AAA-AAB, so i will have to resit alongside doing A2 chemistry. So, ill only be applying to medical schools who accept resit applicants.

And, i do really want to do medicine, or else i wouldn't even consider taking a long route to get where i want. And, if i was unsuccessful did this year, and did a back up degree, i would probably apply to mostly 5 year programmes, due to intense competition from the 4 year courses!

But, i want to do a back up degree, that ill at least enjoy for 3 years of my life!

[Bambi]

Even if you resit I'm not sure you will get in to be honest because of the way you have done things. Why on earth did you only do 2 A levels this year? If you couldn't get As while only doing 2 full A levels schools will probably doubt you can if you resit. Also I know people on this board always tell everyone to go for it no matter what but the truth is not everyone is capable of doing medicine, are you sure you are? Obviously if there were other things going on fine but if you had good circumstances and still didn't make the grades maybe you just can't?

[hamzahdabest]

Have you even read my post?

i did two A Levels, and AS Chemistry this yeah. the reason i only started Chemistry this year, was because when i started college i wasn't sure as to what i wanted to do at university.

I think i am very capable, and there's no way i'm giving up after one set back. Surely sometimes you have to grasp a second chance? and you wouldn't make a very good doctor, if you had no motivation, and gave up after one attempt. to be honest, i'v not even had an attempt yet, i atleast want to apply, and i know my chances are low, however if i'v got a chance to apply, surely im going to take it. i'm not loosing out, as if im unsuccessful i'll take on my original plan of doing a back up degree, so its not even a risk, just an extra chance im 100% going to grasp.

A little motivation from a 5th year medic would be appreciated.

[Bambi]

Yes I have read your post and the answer in some ways is just tough. Most people go into A level not knowing what they want to do but they still do 3 A levels. In your situation most people would have done 3 full A levels and then picked up the AS chem as well or even added the full A2 chem in a year and done 4 A levels. If a uni said to you why should we accept you over someone who did 3 A levels in a year and got the grades what would you say? Or why should we accept you over another re-sitter who did 3 A levels and didn't get the grades? You are at the very bottom of the pile. You really have put yourself in a bad position. I know you can't change that but you need to realise it and try and make up for it. The rest of your academic record isn't really on par with most medics either to be honest so somewhere you need to prove that you are strong academically, maybe you could pick up a new full A2 this year as well as the other stuff. Unis screen applications, some have a specific marking process and you get a score for academics so you need to do as well as possible to bring up that score. Remember you will be up against people that have straight As all the way through school. Even if your ps is perfect if you score low enough on academics you still wouldn't even make it to the interview stage.

I am a realist, I am not going to blindly tell everyone they can do it, like I said, some people can't. I'm not saying you can't but you should question yourself and so should everyone else. If you want any hope of getting in you need to be told what your weak areas are so you can do everything possible to improve them.

[hamzahdabest]

Thankyou, I actually do appreciate your honesty, sometimes it's hard to take at first but I do fully understand, I do know that my chances are very low.. But it's just that, if I have a chance, and it's not a risk, I'm going to go for it and hope for the best..
I would have taken AS & A2 chemistry in one year, but the college don't allow this, because let's face it, it would be verry verry difficult.. I didn't ask to be in this situation, but it's the way it is, and yeah it's made the road more bumpy but I will overcome it.. Not everyone knows what they want to do at university after their GCSEs, it's such a massive decision, requires a lot of research and thinking..

In order to increase my academic score I was thinking of doing A2 chemistry alongside A2 Economics (as I completed AS in year one), and biology and psychology resits.. And I know if I give it my all, I can acheive straight A's. This setback has motivated me highly and I'm staying optimistic

[Abbas I]

hey hamzah,

thought id give my views on the situation. youve got your self into quite a difficult situation but dont stress out too much, try and keep positive.
you pretty much know what you have to do already, do your chem and resit your bio at the very least. anything extra depends on what you think you are capable of (phone the unis up though and ask them if it would make much of a difference). re-apply, if you dont get in then go off to uni. i recommend you stick with biomed, even if you dont like it. im sure there are some who would disagree and say its important you do something that you enjoy... but if you want medicine 100% then you are going to want to maximise your chances for GEP application, and you need biomed/biological science for that. there is always the option of doing a conversion course at the end of your three years at uni if you decide medicine is not for you. biomed/biological science isnt all that bad, the plant and animal stuff suxs real bad, but there will be some overlap with medicine (not clinical medicine, but some of the basic theory).

GEP is simpler, but harder to get into. fewer places, much tougher competition. you need at least a 2.1, you need a (very) strong ukcat score, you may need to sit the GAMSAT exam (longest exam of your life), you need long-term work experience (your two weeks at the GP surgery wont cut it, years are preferred, but you can do this whilst at uni), you need your extra-curicular activities etc. to maximise your chances, you really need to stand out (get involved in student elections etc).

give your alevel exams another go, if you dont get in next year then there is always GEP, but dont slack off because it is tougher. if you dont get in next year, then maybe your not quite ready, but no one can say you wont be 3-4 years from now.