Arts degree, A levels, want to become a doctor!

[willberforce]

Hi everyone

Briefly, I'm embarking on work experience this summer, but I'm sure that I want to train to be a doctor.

I'm looking at trying to cram A level Biology and Chemistry this year, working on them full-time as well as doing UKCAT in September.

It all seems daunting at the moment and just hoping that you could offer some advice.

First of all - Maths, its not my strong point and I'd have to work double hard to attain the level I need - should I rethink?

Has anyone tried to do two A levels in one year?

And if I did a months work experience this summer, would that be enough to demonstrate my commitment, I'm confident that I could illustrate this with general life experiences.

I used to be a journalist, working for the BBC etc and have a background in volunteering.

Thanks everyone

[iheartmedicine]

I think you should be fine with the work experience and volunteer work. It is how you convey your understanding of what they are looking for in your PS.

Are you going to be studying only this upcoming year or are you planning on working as well? You may struggle doing two full A-levels if you are also planning on working.

i am an arts graduate and have been spending the past two years doing A-level Chemistry and Biology, so let me know if you want any advice. I am based in London.

[giella]

I'm an arts graduate and I'm starting Access to Medicine in September at the College of West Anglia. I got in on the back of a decent letter of application, scattered work in the health service and some individual stuff that makes me look good on paper. I took a year out to get more experience and I know it was the right thing to do, as my speculative application to medicine with foundation year bottomed out due to the lack of experience.
Access to Medicine is obviously an option and there are plenty of places which will accept any degree - Peninsular, Nottingham etc., as well as foundation courses at various universities. You'll have options when it comes to applying. But you need that experience.
It really has been useful. It's really put straight in my head a lot of the reasons I thought I had for doing medicine and it has been quite thought provoking as well. Looking at what I wrote in a personal statement and what I had to say for myself in terms of experience last time round, I know how much I've improved over the last year. I felt ready to start right away last year. I was raring to go, champing at the bit and everything. Took every ounce of my maturity to stop and tell myself, you need to get ready, not just feel ready. Being ready and feeling it are completely different things. To some extent, without the experience, you're only really attracted to the idea of being a doctor and studying medicine.
However, there are ways of proving that you understand it without actually working the health care assistant route etc. Medical schools look for qualities and skills in graduate applicants and mature applicants; teamwork, leadership, community awareness, personal insight, intellectual curiosity etc. There are ways of proving that you have these things and that you've demonstrated the ability to use these skills in the real world. After graduating, I realised I hadn't used my skills in the real world that much, and much of my motivation for wanting to do medicine was based on personal experiences which had given me great insight into the way medicine works and what being a doctor is about. That was quite possibly what got me into COWA thinking about it. [My application letter showed insight, the admissions person said, but I failed to really bring up particular skills]
Given that you've worked at the BBC and done volunteering, perhaps you could show that you have the necessary skills to become an excellent doctor. It takes all types to run an effective health service remember! If you could articulate your motivations and reasons for wanting to do medicine really well, this might be enough for you. I wrote something completely different for my personal statement than I did for application to COWA, and I don't think I came across as articulately there as I did before. Perhaps therein lies a lesson.
Talk to us. What are your reasons?

[willberforce]

Thanks to you both, I'll reply to you both in turn on this thread, most useful way I think.

Iheartmedicine - sounds like you're in the same boat as me... I'm lucky, I've been working the past few years in order to save, so I won't have to work and can focus on studies. From your experience, does this sound feasible - I'm waiting to hear back, its possible some may only want Chem A and Bio AS?

Could you recommend any colleges at which to do A Levels in Biology and Chemistry - north of the river in London, preferably?

And to Gialla, I hear what you're saying! Desperately trying to lock down a months chunk of work ex as soon as possible to temper my conviction...

The one thread that I can pick out through everything that I've done and enjoyed in work is people, dealing with them, empathy is a massive part of being a successful communicator.

In my personal life, I've had a couple of people close to me suffer depression and I really found it satisfying helping them through, I'd like to think they did too..

I wanted to be a doctor since I was young, but chose the arts route, don't regret it at all but now the time is right.

In the danger of sounding too earnest, I've always wanted to be fulfilled by having a vocation, serving people and thats what I tried to attain through journalism but it fell short of my expectations.

Another element is that my grandfather, two uncles were/ are doctors, my grandmothers and sisters nurses. I suppose I owed it to myself to try an alternative path to what seems a family tradition, but sometimes you can't escape your fate! I don't know if this is something I would put in my PS though! (Should I?)

Any feedback gratefully received, massive thanks to both of you, its a great help

[iheartmedicine]

I studied both of my A-levels as evening classes at Hammersmith College Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College

I think Southwark College also offers these courses, but from what I hear, is not as good. The Chemistry teaching was to a very high standard at Hammersmith. It was such a trek for me (I am in East London), but it has been worth it so far!

I took A-level Chemistry last year (finished that in one year) and then this year I am doing A-level Biology. I applied to Kings (4 and 5 year), Barts and UCL. Are you thinking of applying to a mixture of four and five year programmes? If you do both of those full A-levels, it will open more doors to you. The Kings four year is a very good option, but only if you manage to achieve 700+ on the UKCAT. If you are not working, then you should be able to manage the two full A-levels. Think of it as a job in its own right.

As for work experience, I volunteered at a Soup Kitchen in Tottenham Court Road and shadowed people in A&E and a surgeon. I just emailed around until I got a response.

The PS is the best way to make a good impression. I am more than happy to help in any way I can.

[willberforce]

Thanks iheart,

I'm abroad at the moment, so would move back North London way - Hammersmith wouldn't be too bad..

UKCAT is the most daunting thing at the moment, hope its just going to take a while to warm up the left side of my brain and its just hibernating at the moment.

How did you fair on UKCAT, or are you doing it this September? Any tips? It seems like the type of thing you can self-teach with lots of practice (I hope?)

As for courses, I'm thinking Kings, St Georges, Barts, UCL... I'm wavering to just applying to 5 yr in the hope I'll improve my chances?

Thanks again, you're a lifeline for me at the moment, not being back at home its a little bit more difficult to get all the information/ advice I need! W

[iheartmedicine]

No problem. I am either going to UCL or Kings depending on my A-level Biology mark. For the former I need an A and to meet the conditions of the latter I need a pass. I got offers from Kings (5 year), Barts and UCL. I had only a 673 on the UKCAT, so Kings rejected me for the 4 year without interview (I know they interviewed someone with a 680, but not sure if that may have been some sort of cut-off). When I contacted them, they told me I was rejected because of my UKCAT score.

I think you can definitely work on exam techniques, specifically on the shape section. I think that takes practice (it did for me at least). For UCL, you will also have to take the BMAT (which I found better in some ways because there was an essay section). Georges may be a good idea, but that requires yet another exam the GAMSAT. For that, you would have to get to grips with your sciences.

I bought the KAPLAN book and also some UKCAT study guides. The most important thing is the practice test available on their website. In terms of time (which is the biggest issue with the UKCAT) you should just guess on questions that you have to think about too much. Do not waste time thinking too much. You just have to move quickly through the exam. That is my best advice.
The whole experience is a bit strange because you take it on a computer, rather than on paper (which is how I am most comfortable taking an exam). I will try and help in any way I can. Let me know if you have any more questions.

By the way, in what was your degree?

[willberforce]

Hey Iheart

My degree was English and Philosophy.

To be honest I think I'll end up applying to Kings (twice), Barts and UCL.

I have to be in London but Imperial appears too rigorous to get into in one yr with my background.

I know I'm limiting my options by narrowing the field but there's no way I could complete a GAMSAT, do enough work experience and prepare for UKCAT in time.

Hammersmith looks like a good option, A level Chem, As Bio PLUS Maths Gcse to improve my C to a B in one year, think it's doable full time... do you? Did you hear of any good colleges in N London?

Kings would definitely be my first choice, seems best suited to me.

This is what they say I need:

Kings UKCAT plus 2:1, plus pass AS Level Chem + Bio

UCL UKCAT (unconfirmed) plus 2:1, AAB A Levels to include A at A Level Chem and A at AS Level Bio, GCSE Maths B

Barts UKCAT plus 2:1, B or above in Bio + Chem to AS

Imperial haven't got back to me yet about their specific requirements - they seem a bit intense!

How does all this compute with you?

Thanks again

[iheartmedicine]

For UCL you need the BMAT. You will be applying to the same schools I did. I did not take the GCSE Maths classes, I just sat the exams (my high school degree was received in the US). I received my post-high school education in the UK. You should be fine with Biology and Chemistry, although you may put yourself at an advantage if you do the full A-levels. I would contact admissions to find out specifically. I did not apply to Georges because I could not handle more than two types of exams (Ukcat and Bmat were enough for me!).
I did not apply to Imperial because they wanted me to do a third 'revelant' A-level (Economics?!?!?! was a possible option). I argued with them that economics is no more relevant than history of art (in which I have an MA). I decided to leave it.

[Katharine]

Hello,

Have you thought about doing graduate entry (4year) degrees? You do not need the A-levels for all of these. I am an Arts graduate with no science A-levels and got interviews for all of the places i applied to...
You say you need to be in London- i know for certain that St. Georges and Kings do not require A-levels in sciences for their GEM programs, and there may well be others (though not sure- i applied to Kings and St. G which is why i can speak with certainty about them. ) Kings requires UKCAT, which is not as hard as you may think it is, provided you practice answering questions under a time limit as the timing is quite tight. St. Georges requires the GAMSAT, which needs more preparation. However, i suspect it is a lot easier to study for the GAMSAT than it is for A-levels, and there are books out there that prepare you well for it. I studied for it in one summer, and did well on it.
Just a suggestion in case you had not thought about the graduate programs- you would certainly be qualified to apply for them and would not be disadvantaged by not having a science degree as your first degree.

Also, you say you are thinking of applying to Kings twice- my advice would be not to, as if you apply for the Graduate programme and are not successful, they still consider you for the standard course. As such it would be a waste of a space on the UCAS form, so would be wiser to use it on another Uni.

Good luck!