Nurses in medical school -Pls Help

[squeeze]

To all nurses in the medical school, can u please let me know your entry criteria; I mean ur qualification before entry such as diploma, Degree class, UKCAT score and how many years of experience.
I just want to know if my qualification meets up with the requirements and to have an insight into nurses' friendly uni. I learnt some uni consider matures based on personal circumstances.
Need to say that I am a nurse too, Not with a fantastic Ukcat though.

Pleaaaaaaassseeee I need your honest answer as I am confused about which uni to apply and I dont want to waste my UCAS slot.

Prompt response will be highly appreciated
Thanks.

[curlysin]

Hi Squeeze,

Where to start, UKCAT is a pain I know in the end it was the biggest factor for why I couldnt apply to certain uni's. What is your score? I could advise you better if I knew what is was. Mine was 600 so I had to change my choices. I am am RGN with almost 7 years post reg experience in emergency medicine, critical care and anaesthetics. I also have over a decades worth of voluntary work and plenty of additional courses relating to my clinical practice up to MSc level.

If your UKCAT is <640, I wouldnt apply to warwick, newcastle GEP, Kings GEP, Barts GEP. Im unsure where you had in mind so thats just a few to stay clear off as they interview you by your UKCAT score. As regards to nurse friendly uni's I had initially choose all of these because they are nurse friendly but then couldnt apply to them because of UKCAT. Leicester medical school is health care professional friendly but also now accepts any degree as long as the person has >1 year post grad care experience paid work. The more experienced you are the better your chances at getting a spot - apparently!! I applied for the 5 year and GEP last year at Leicester got interviewed for both and got put on waiting list for GEP and got a offer on the 5 year course. GEP is so so competitive so make sure you balance your offers with perhaps 2 GEP's and 2 5year courses to give yourself a better chance at getting a place.

If you need anything else give me a shout. Goodluck

[big2cats]

curlysin, do you have science A levels?

[curlysin]

Big2cats I've pm'd you

[Polldoll]

Hey, with regards to qualification, most uni's require a 2:1 or 1st class degree. I think UEA accepts the diploma, maybe Newcastle 5 year? (might be talking mince!) With the 5 year courses in Scotland, you have to have higher Chemistry B or above in the last 5 years. You dont need higher biology cause the nursing course covers it. UKCAT is generally lower for the 5 year courses too.

Post reg experience.. well nothing official as far as I know, I got offer at Aberdeen with no post reg experience, but have now been working as a nurse for a year and would say that is the best thing to do. 1-2 years post reg experience will only strengthen your application!

I have also done additional work experience with the medics to show I fully understand the different roles etc..

Thats all I know for now!
Px

[louise colette]

Hi squeeze!

Prior to medicine I had a Diploma in Nursing plus a BA (Hons) in Communications and Marketing (2:1). Plus loads of other NHS management related things! I also took and passed GAMSAT and was on the College of West Anglia's Access to Medicine course when I applied. At that time - 2006 - I'd been a qualified nurse for ten years and worked at a senior level. Nurse Specialist and Ward Sister etc.

I took the UKCAT in its first year, when luckily most unis didn't rely on it. My scores ranged from 600-640 in each section; definitely nothing spectacular although there was no way of preparing back then!

I'm afraid I no longer know which unis are best for you as it's been a while since I applied, but if you REALLY want this then there's usually a way!

Very best of luck. Medicine's brilliant! xx

[drbeaumont]

Hi, I'm a first year baby medical student at Leeds. I am a nurse with the Diploma, and had a years A&E experience before applying. I had to do the COWA Access to Medicine course, and I got offers at Leeds, Manchester, UEA (rejected by Keele - ironic as it was my safety net choice - guess I got blown out there lol!). Lots of extenuating circumstances, two children, so lots of life experience as well as the best clinical experience anywhere in the hospital! No A'levels hence the Access course. GCSE's nowhere near most of these 18 year olds, but I have only applied myself in recent years!! UKCAT averaged 635.

[squeeze]

Thank you all for your response but will like more advice please.

I have no preference for a particular uni but I would not mind any uni not too far from London as I live in Essex and I've got young kids.
I'm not too keen about GEP as I did not have my previous training in the UK and I dont mind that extra year; what matters most is getting admission into a medical school. I would not mind if I get a GEP though.
I've got 17years nursing experience, Had a degree in Nursing + Msc in Epidemiology, currently on Independent Nurse prescriber course in a London university for my CPD.

Thanks for your time.

[louise colette]

St George's look favourably on age and experience, as do King's I believe. Didn't apply to London schools myself but I know others who did. Beware Southampton, they're harsh! Or at least they didn't want me... ;-)

[Victoria82]

Hi

I'm new to this forum and just looking for a little advice.

I am currently a second year Nursing student on the BNurs degree at Manchester Uni. and I am interested in applying for a GEP when I graduate. My grades so far have me somewhere between a 1st and a 2.1. My science grades tend to be higher than my social science marks, but all my clinical evaluations have been excellent.

I have all A's and B's in Science, Maths and English at GCSE, but not great A'Levels (A, B, D). I also have a BA degree in English (2.1) and over twelve years experience in both paid and voluntary work in health care and related fields, such as sports therapy, working with terminally ill children, government health schemes, homeless shelters and charities.

I have been researching the Medical Schools and although some will accept any degree, some are very vague as to what they classify as a 'science' degree.

I would be very grateful for any advice fellow nurse graduates might be able to give me in regards to universities that accept nursing degrees (my degree is VERY science based) and if my previous experience will count for anything in the application process.

The idea of the UKCAT and especially the GAMSAT is a little unnerving, I have to admit.

Thank you so much!