advice for a 2nd timer, mature grad applying

[slinky]

Hi all,

Here's my situation (and I apologise in advance for the length!).
I have always, wanted to study medicine. Leaving school I was lucky enough to get straight into med school. HOWEVER, I totally screwed it up. Went out too much, didn't do enough work and totally took my position for granted. Surprise, surprise: Fail. Kicked out of Med school. so stupid.
So...took a year out and went and did a science degree. I still didn't knuckle down enough to get the 2.1 to go for graduate entry. I guess it wasn't what I really wanted to be studying, and it didn't help having medical students intercalating into the 3rd year of my degree. It just made me pretty jealous and instead of motivating me, it did the complete opposite.
I tried to forget about medicine for the last 3 years but I can't. I'm currently working towards the dreaded GAMSAT as with my 2.2 this is going to be my best chance. I'm also working as a HCA to get recent and relevant experience in.
What do you guys think I should do about mentioning my past? I guess it strengthens my argument for how committed I am to study medicine but do you think it would count more against me?? ARGH! dilemma.

Any advice/suggestions/feedback most welcome!
(And thanks for reading to the end if you made it!)

[Katharine]

I think you will have to mention your past if asked about it, but there is no reason that this should prevent you from getting onto a course. I know of a couple of people applying to graduate courses who started studying medicine as a first degree and then dropped out/ got kicked out...
It all depends how you present yourself, i think. You need to acknowledge that your younger self made some mistakes or didnt work as hard as you could have, but try not to 'regret' the choices you made in the past. (if that makes sense)
Obviously your chances will be improved if you do well on the GAMSAT and working as a HCA is great too. To put yourself above the other applicants maybe you should see if you can fit in a bit of volunteering as well- even if it is only occasionally i think that volunteering is a great way to gain experience (it doesnt even have to be specifically health care volunteering- you can do things like man helplines for the samaritans/ local helplines for distressed teenagers, etc...) and i also think that it shows you are willing to give something to the community, which is of course a good attitude to have as a doctor!
I think the fact you still want to do medicine so many years later shows that it is what you really want, and if you stress that point, and that now you have matured enough to learn from your actions in the past and commit, you should be fine.
Good luck!
Katharine