Do I stand a chance?

**m__thakur** · 13-11-2009, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by MedicineKing

So, have u got in or not? Can u give me some advice, thanks..

well the honest answer to that is i don't know yet.
as advice goes, i think u have got to work really hard to get really good grades, get some work experience - about which - it is better to get something proactive than where you are just watchin e.g. volunteering as a carer for a month is much better than shadowing a doctor around for 2.

basically, if you put work into getting into medicine then you wouldnt be far from success

**Daytime** · 20-11-2009, 09:39 PM

I don't understand, Medicine King - why are you not doing any science A-levels??

**gingergooner** · 22-11-2009, 02:47 AM

its going to be extremely difficult, but if you have the time to work your arse off and get As or A*s at A level biology and chemistry and then get some very convincing work experience then id say your in with a shot

**gingergooner** · 22-11-2009, 02:49 AM

in fact... you could also go for a degree like biomedical sciences and then apply as a graduate, you might have a better chance

**m__thakur** · 22-11-2009, 03:13 AM

Originally Posted by gingergooner

its going to be extremely difficult, but if you have the time to work your arse off and get As or A*s at A level biology and chemistry and then get some very convincing work experience then id say your in with a shot

most definately (Y)

**Daytime** · 22-11-2009, 03:06 PM

MedicineKing, it looks like it's really up to you. If you want to do the school leaver route it's up to you to get good GCSEs for maths and english. (See what universities accept these tho).

Then you need good A level grades (well, GREAT A-level grades) in Biology Chemistry and your other subject, and then you need great work experience, which you should try and get started on now - maybe volunteering at a hospice, something long term as well as the more short term shadowing stuff.

But I do think you are in with a shot. You also could take a look at the 6 year foundation courses if you want.

Last but not least is the graduate applicant route - this is the route I am doing and in a way, while it would have been nice to get in the first time around as a school leaver, it also has a lot of benefits. I have an MSc in an area of science I am passionate about and want to make the focus of my medical career, I have had the chance to build up a larger body of work experience and know this is what I want to do, as I have looked at the alternative careers in research and think medicine is more suited to me, and I am going in with a more mature understanding of research technologies which affect patient care and so on. So it does have its advantages. But I do think you have a shot if you get your head down and work hard.

good luck!

**gingergooner** · 22-11-2009, 07:07 PM

I think your best shot would be to apply as a graduate-you can get into biomedical sciences on 3 Bs I think? and then you can apply to medicine with a biomed degree

**MedicineKing** · 22-11-2009, 07:29 PM

Cool. Well i'm startin my alevels next year.. Thanks for the advice, keep it coming. I'm going to work my @ss off, no matter what....

**ryanl1** · 22-11-2009, 07:58 PM

forget your GCSE's

I got AAABBBBCC in GCSE (and i was born in england)... A's in double science and maths and a B in english

the fact that you don't have the A/B's in the essential GCSE's (maths and english) means that you will need at least a B in english/history and maths at AS... because alot of the universities only apply the minimum GCSE's to people who dont have the same subjects at AS/A level. e.g. if you have a D at GCSE english and then you get an A at AS level english- then your english GCSE doesnt matter any more.

I then did 4 A2's and got AAAA in bio, chem, ict, and maths and loads of work experience and I now have an interview at manchester (after not getting a single interview when i applied first time)

I suggest you get A's in A2 biology and chemistry, and then an A in AS maths and english/history and then you would stand a good chance of getting in.

By the way: a question for other people replying to this thread... what does anyone get out of you pointing out that he has wasted his time with his current AS levels???? i think he's noticed already!

**gingergooner** · 22-11-2009, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by ryanl1

forget your GCSE's

I got AAABBBBCC in GCSE (and i was born in england)... A's in double science and maths and a B in english

I then did 4 A2's and got AAAA in bio, chem, ict, and maths and loads of work experience and I now have an interview at manchester (after not getting a single interview when i applied first time)

Kudos for extreme improvement!