Ex-Forces request advice

[linksdeg]

Hello,

Im a 25 yr old ex Royal Navy Officer who is considering a career in medicine. I have a pretty naff 2:2 degree and my A levels and GCSEs arent good either. However my service in the RN was largely science based, plenty of medicine, plenty of mangement, lots of academically tough courses, and plenty of work and tight deadlines. I currently undertaking work experience in a surgery and Im shortly of to sunny climes for three months to work for a well known youth development charity, where I will be doing plenty of cv/ucas good stuff and keeping well in with the medic crowd (plaster groupie).

The path im looking at is Kings Lynn then UEA (I really like the idea of PBL, very similar to the training i have done over the past three and a half years).

This post is for three reasons;

1. Advice and experience of Kings Lynn UEA route.

2. Advice on 2.2 at Peninsula (guz is a crackin run, and it would be a groovy place to study).

3. Advice on good UCAS apps to ensure my academics dont send me to the green boxed file marked 'recycle'.

Many thanks in advance to all advice, what a crackin' forum,

tom

[Cymro]

Welcome to the Forum!

You don't mention which A-Levels and degree you have. If you have an appropriate biomedical degree you may be accepted on a four-year course. If you're A-Levels include two sciences, particularly chemistry, at ABB or better you could apply to any five-year course. Lacking this, you could pursue a pre-med foundation course before a normal medical degree.

My mate left the forces with poor qualifications and did pre-med and is now halfway through his MBBCh.

Admissions tutors will be looking for diverse mature students to meet their quota and it sounds like you have a very rich experience which would make your application really stand out.

Good luck!!!

Cymro.

[exms]

I agree with Cymro, you've got a nice varied background.

If you're interested in Peninsula, you're going to have to sit the GAMSAT (or take three new A-levels, which somehow I doubt you're going to want to do). Have a look at the FAQ in my sig for more details, and have a look at the GAMSAT forum.

If your bad A-levels are not in the sciences, you might want to consider taking Chem and Bio A-levels rather than going the Access to Med route.

The usual advice to people with a 2:2 is to write to every uni you're interested in to see if you'd be considered, including a CV.

HTH

-- A.

[linksdeg]

Cyrmo, Exms - Many thanks for swift replies, very grateful.

So with my two poor A-levels (Business Stud, Geography) you think the best action might be to avoid the access to medicine course and go for two a-levels instead? ... gutsy, I'll look into it. Obviously the access to medicine attracts me because it is a structured work environment similar to PBL at UEA - and at least Im 'promised' an interview at UEA.

Secondly, write to med schools ... like it. I have spoken to as many admissions tutors as possible and the common theme is good, but get yourself academically sorted out. The problem is however that Im in Malaysia till middle of september and as its an eco/trekking project we essentially only see civilisation three times, so not that conducive to heavy bouts of correspondence.

In your opinon what four schools do you think I should apply to ... the list is looking UEA (numero uno), Leicester, Brighton and .... perhaps peninsula.

Once again many thanks for all the interest, it warms the cockles

The saga continues ....

[bigdaikon]

Oh, and any correspondence you send should be structured to elicit a specific response...not one that simply states they are "graduate friendly and welcome applications from mature candidates". State exactly what your grades are etc. Don't rely on a simple phone call either. If you do call, make sure you speak to the admissions tutor, rather than an office doppleganger who doesn't know their arse from their elbow.

[craig222]

Im a 25 yr old ex Royal Navy Officer who is considering a career in medicine. I have a pretty naff 2:2 degree and my A levels and GCSEs arent good either. However my service in the RN was largely science based, plenty of medicine, plenty of mangement, lots of academically tough courses, and plenty of work and tight deadlines. I currently undertaking work experience in a surgery and Im shortly of to sunny climes for three months to work for a well known youth development charity, where I will be doing plenty of cv/ucas good stuff and keeping well in with the medic crowd (plaster groupie).

2. Advice on 2.2 at Peninsula (guz is a crackin run, and it would be a groovy place to study).

tom

Hi there,
I just thought you might to hear from a fellow ex forces person who has applied to medical school.

I am 30 and I start at Peninsula this September. I am still currently serving but leave in time to start medicine. I also have a 2:2 (Physics from Bristol Uni). So I think we share quite a lot in terms of the start state.

I found that I had to undertake the GAMSAT exam - there was no other way due to only having a 2:2 (I found this by contacting universities and finding out what my chances were).

I applied for a place last year - but just missed out. I applied again this year after a bit of swotting up and I got a place. So if you want it you can get it even with a 2:2. I think that your chances of getting on the 4 year cse are probably slim unless you perform superbly on GAMSAT. I found Peninsula to be very mature friendly and they are very keen on your compassion and want to be a doctor.

You are doing the right thing with the work experience. Get as much as you can. When you go to interview, do not overplay the military side.

Peninsula for me - the cse looks superb (think its very mature friendly being a v practical cse with a lot of pbl and self-directed study), I am a v keen scuba diver so Plymouth is just excellent for the odd dip and its a cheaper part of the country so your finances last that little bit longer.

On a final point if you qualify remember your Enhanced Learning Credits - you can use them to offset your tuition fees!

All the best and if you have any questions just give me a shout.

C

[exms]

So with my two poor A-levels (Business Stud, Geography) you think the best action might be to avoid the access to medicine course and go for two a-levels instead? ... gutsy, I'll look into it.

I think it's worth thinking about. The other side of it is - what happens if you don't get into medicine and decide you're not going to spend more years trying? An Access to Med qualification makes it a bit obvious that you've shifted direction wildly, fresh A-levels are less likely to attract comment. But that's just my opinion - there are pros and cons to both.

In your opinon what four schools do you think I should apply to ... the list is looking UEA (numero uno), Leicester, Brighton and .... perhaps peninsula.

Well, you do really need to get the good word from the med schools themselves as to whether they'd consider you.

PMS is OK, but means the dreaded GAMSAT.

Have a look at some sample GAMSATesque questions on http://www.medprep.com.au/asp/gamsat.asp. PMS use a cutoff to determine who to interview, but in recent years this has been either the same as, or a few points away from, the cutoff used by Notts and SGHMS to select people for interview for their GEP courses. So if you're going to go GAMSAT, you may as well put down one of them as well.

-- A.

[linksdeg]

Thanks all, good general info much appreciated.

Access to med course ... spoke to UEA (again) today, in reference to merits of access to medicine. Firstly gurantee of interview, with my poor academic record its very important that I get the chance to reach interview stage. Secondly, it demonstrates commitment to medicine, and the teaching method is very similar to PBL at UEA. Negatives, as stated in previous threads - the rapid career shift profile, however I have taken a rapid career shift leaving the RN (which being Aviation wasnt to job specific), the truth is If I fail to reach med school for 2006, I'll probably sit A levels in chem and biology and then go into youth work.

UEA was also very positive when it came to giving recognition to the experience of its mature graduates. Thanks for the advice on playing down the Forces connection - I agree, the last thing they want is Jack knows best/civvies no nothing attitude which is surprisingly prevalent in ex forces. Hopefully working as a Staff member for the Youth charity will enable me to recognise and cherry pick the relevant skills I have gained in service and bring those across in interview.

Thanks very much for all the replys - its awesome, and advice on career paths, UCAS application forms, work experience please keep it coming its all very useful.

Many thanks to all.

the saga continues ...

[DH2005]

Hello Tom

I'm beginning Access to Medicine at King's Lynn this September with Aemms, a former Medical Corps ODP – drop him a private message.

I, too, am 25 years old with an existing degree (2.1 in law) and I considered Access to Medicine to be the best route for someone in my position.

I initially considered taking Chemistry and Biology A levels but, unless I was willing to pay £2,500 per A level to attend a private college, I was going to have to study with 16 and 17-year olds at a generic Sixth Form. A man of your age and Worldly experience would, I think, find this unbearably frustrating. In addition, if you're looking to take these A levels in one year, you'll have the added problem of learning AS and A2 modules side-by-side. This can be difficult, as some A2-level material requires existing AS-level knowledge.

I've read before that taking Access to Medicine carries the risk that it will look conspicuous on your CV in the event that medicine doesn't work out for you. I really wonder how much of a risk this is, in reality. I mean, I would not be leaving legal practice if I was entertaining returning to it, and having decided that I want to devote my life to healthcare I don't foresee any possibility that I will ever have to "explain myself" for taking Access to Medicine.

However, there certainly are risks - principally, there's no guarantee that you'll make it to med school thereafter. Although success rates for the King's Lynn course have been incredible (90% plus) over the past few years, increased competition from newly-established Access courses is starting to pinch - this year around 80% of the intake have been made offers. However, 2.2 or not, as a graduate with distinguished military experience I doubt that you'll not succeed.

There is also the issue of finance. Although there are no course fees for home students, Access to Medicine does not attract funding support from the Student Loan Company - nor could I get my bank to lend me any money, either. I'm very fortunate that my parents are willing to pay for me to study the Access course. Derek Holmes, the King’s Lynn course director, estimates that studying the course costs around £5000, so you should keep that figure in mind when considering your options.

[linksdeg]

Hello ... access to medicine fees £5000? I hope thats living expenses!! Are there any fees to be paid?

Many thanks for PM, I sincerley hope that I will be in Kings Lynn for sept this year. And as for distinguished mil career I dont think so!! Im afraid no medals, no war stories but plenty of laughs ...

cheers to all in the forum ...

the saga continues ... (and I beleive the forsyth saga continues on UK Gold)