Does a social science grad have any shot?

[NotADumbBlonde]

Hey I'm just coming out of the shadows as an obsessive forum stalker (we're talking since January...yeah!), biting the bullet and making my first post.

This is my situation: I've had my heart set on medicine ever since I realised halfway through my A levels that I'd chosen the wrong subjects (languages, mainly) despite having A's in Bio and Chem at GCSE. D'oh! I gave no thought to my future career when choosing subjects, and as soon as I started applying to UCAS and realising there was nothing else I wanted to do, I was GUTTED. I kinda thought that was game over for me, so started a Marketing degree at Newcastle University. Hated it, and transferred to Northumbria (mistake numero dos) to study Journalism after first year. THEN I heard about GEM and I've been unable to forget about it, knowing that there's a glimmer of hope for me yet! My grades are good, I generally get firsts in most modules and should hopefully come out with a first, but my main question is whether or not most universities would scoff at a lowly journo? I really, really hate my degree but thought it was worth sticking out so I have something to show for it. Just how much will this work against me on my application?

My grades have been pretty good through my academic career (see my sig), and I'm hoping to do quite well on the UKCAT next summer as I'm usually okay with those kinda things (I was in mensa aged 12 - found it so embarrassing at the time though, I just wanted to be cool!).

The reason I'm not applying this year is lack of work exp. I've organised shadowing a GP for a week, a week of hospital exp, and signed up to volunteer with St Johns Ambulance, and also as a Care in the Home volunteer with BRC over the next year. I know this still isn't enough, however, and my best bet would be to try and get a HCA job or something when I graduate. However, I've been applying for jobs in care homes etc and have had NO LUCK, not even an interview. Do even they laugh at journos? Gah!!

So, yeah. Sorry for the rant, any comments or advice would really, really help. So excited to be part of these forums at last!!

xx

[Zedd]

Well I'm more or less in your position, although I'm likely to graduate with a 2.1. I've arranged some work experience for the end of September and I'll hopefully be signed up and had some volunteering under my belt by the deadline! So I'm going to apply this year just on the off chance that I am given a place.

The only two that I know would accept your application for sure would be Kings College London and Warwick University. There's a more comprehensive list of GEPs on this website though- Medschoolsonline - Medical Course Guide for Graduates - Graduate Entry 4-Year Courses

[NotADumbBlonde]

Hi Zedd

Yeah I have the universities in my signature that I want to apply to, but for some reason it won't show up! How strange! I'm such a NMM noob haha. I'm applying to those two, Newcastle (home turf and I love it) and Nottingham

What do you study, and where? If you don't mind me asking, I'm so nosey! And do you have science A levels? And what work exp have you planned? Sorry I talk a lot and ask a million questions. I'd be good at patient communication if nothing else haha!

Thanks for replying xx

[Zedd]

I think that you have to set your signature to appear in your posts, so maybe take a look at your settings!

I don't mind, I'm studying MA(Hons) Mental Philosophy up in Aberdeen but I don't have Highers or A-Levels at all! Hence why I'm probably only going to be applying to the University of Aberdeen and the University of Dundee (I'd love to apply to KCL or Warwick but I wouldn't get funding for GEPs). I might also apply to St. Andrews but it's not entirely clear if I meet their academic requirements or not and their admissions team hasn't been the most helpful in the matter :/

The work experience that I have planned is at a GP's practice, and I'm hoping to get at least a week or two in a hospital as well. Aside from that I'll be signing up to do volunteering at the hospital and I'm going to join the various medical and first-aid societies at university. Unfortunately I've not had much experience in the way of voluntary or shadowing despite the fact that I came to university to apply to medicine as a graduate so I think that'll work against me big time. With that said I'm not expecting to be offered a place so anything that I do get will be motivation for applying next year with a strong application

[NotADumbBlonde]

How odd - it's set to appear in my posts but now my signature section has disappeared altogether! Maybe because I'm a new member?

Oh wow - an MA in mental philosophy sounds amazing! What kinda things do you study? Hmmm, see what you mean about a confusing situation. Have you sat a UKCAT or GAMSAT yet, if you're applying this year?

Work experience is such a pain in the bum, don't think I'll ever feel like I've done enough. Yours sounds good though, I don't think they place THAT much emphasis on shadowing, hands-on stuff is just as good if not better, right? Do you think it would be a good idea to try and get a HCA job when I graduate?

Can you join medical/first aid societies at uni even if you aren't a med student? I might look into that actually, good idea. Get involved in my final year!

Are you from Scotland originally? I'm from Berwick-upon-Tweed, so a bit of both! No free tuition though

xx

[Zedd]

Well this coming September I'll be doing my dissertation which will be on something within the area of the philosophy of emotion (possibly fear although I wrote a paper on fears of death last semester so perhaps I won't be allowed), I'll be taking courses in scientific methodology, the philosophy of biology, and I'm undecided on what I'll choose as my last course- possibly logical paradoxes, or I might take a huge gamble and do a course on the cultural history of medicine but I'd be risking a bad grade but on the other hand it sounds super interesting... so my fourth course is a bit up in the air right now! What do you study in your degree?

I'm not really sure what's better to be honest. Hands on might show that you're suited to caring in general but I think shadowing a doctor would help you understand what it is you're getting yourself in for. I should hopefully have a bit of both by October 15th though. I've had the same experience as you have with the whole applying to NHS jobs thing- I think the real problem isn't so much that you're doing [x] degree but rather that you're doing any degree at all; I've repeatedly been turned away as soon as they realise that I'm still studying and even getting voluntary experience has been a bit of a struggle. Only once have I been given an interview for an NHS job and unfortunately I wasn't able to attend because I wouldn't be able to take the job due to a change in circumstance. I think taking up a health-care role in the NHS after graduation (or even before) would be a really good idea if your heart is set on medicine.

Yeah you can pretty much join any society as far as I'm aware although some do have to limit your involvement with them (e.g., engineering societies here do this because they compete in competitions etc) but for MedSoc or anything like that it's open to anyone. I'm a Scot yeah, from a small place that holds the declaration of Arbroath (that may be a give-away). I know someone from Berwick-upon-Tweed! Although I'm pretty sure she gets her fees paid for by SAAS?? Even if your tuition isn't free, would you still apply as being Scottish domiciled? Because if you could then you could open yourself up to studying 5 or 6 year medical degrees in Scotland at £1,820 a year for tuition fees.

[Iceman10]

I think you'll be fine to apply as s social science graduate, I'm sort of in a similar position. Your chemistry A-Level opens up a few courses for you so all in all you have 7 universities to pick from (including Cambridge) if you go for GEM only. Work experience and entrance exams are what you have to worry about.

[Martigan]

Well they let me in with an accounting degree...
Looks like your doing all the right stuff. - Good luck

Your signature will show up when you have accumulated enough posts.

[NotADumbBlonde]

Zedd - wow, they all sound SO interesting! What qualifications did you need to get onto that course, if you don't mind me asking? Sounds like something I'd love! Actual Berwick itself is technically English, so the person you know must have lived just on the other side of the border to get fees paid. Who was it? I will probably know them, it's a small place!! Think you're right about the nhs jobs - definitely on my to do list when I graduate but before then if focusing on seeing my first through!

Iceman10 - sorry if I wasn't clear, but I don't have chemistry A level which is a massive problem! I have English lit, French, german, economics :/ leaves about 5/6 places including both gamsat and ukcat unis. What degree did you study/where? And do you have the right A levels? Desperate to find someone in the same situation that's been successful!

Martigan - signature thing makes sense! You be seeing a lot more of me, for sure. Where was your degree from? Interesting career change - I'm through to the final partner interview for the PWC grad scheme which I can hopefully join for a year or two to save some cash for med school. I know they frown on that and try to keep their heads for ever and ever til they have every qualification under the sun, but oh well!

Thanks for your help guys xx

[Zedd]

Zedd - wow, they all sound SO interesting! What qualifications did you need to get onto that course, if you don't mind me asking? Sounds like something I'd love! Actual Berwick itself is technically English, so the person you know must have lived just on the other side of the border to get fees paid. Who was it? I will probably know them, it's a small place!! Think you're right about the nhs jobs - definitely on my to do list when I graduate but before then if focusing on seeing my first through!

It's an undergraduate MA(Hons) as the ancient universities of Scotland give an MA rather than a BA. I was actually studying MChem Chemistry but decided that philosophy was more interesting and more relevant so I transferred. I got into uni via an access to biomedical science course for oldies like me I know that KCL does offer an MA Philosophy of Medicine and MA Medical Humanities, both of which look good but are mucho expensive! Also I don't think either would be of benefit to me since I'll already have an MA in Mental Philosophy.

Maybe she is paying for it? Even if she was she'd be paying the same as she would in England so I suppose I might have got my info mixed up.