How can I give up on my dream

[Jolt]

yup, the comment about 650 being a low ukcat was, to put it bluntly, utter bollocks.

[transformersgirl]

Thanks for all your replies, it's really appreciated.

Gamsat...i did that...I was 2 points off from the overall average they required.

I haven't put my life on hold...but doing what i'm doing hasn't given me full satisfaction as I keep thinking i want to be elsewhere. Also going through the process every year is stressful as it is for everyone.

If I could have given up pursuing this, I 'm sure I would have already.

I think as yazoo mentioned I need to contact someone within the system and overall my application completely. I don't mind doing that..putting in an application and getting on with my life (i.e pursue another career) and see what happens.

It is like masochism though...it literally pains to see rejections. I've also cried way too much over it, and let it take over like a disease. I need to stop seeing it as the only option I suppose.

The only thing that makes it bittersweet is that I did get an interview and offer once...at least i know im not completely useless. I did try talking to someone at my old uni about what to do, they said get a good masters...i did that. 7 years work experience, hospital, etc...

[Medicine Woman:)]

Only you know if it's time to battle on or let it go and go down a different career path. If you do what to really want either way you'll be happy even if that's bashing away at this process for a fifth time. On a practical note, I would pick four medical schools and contact them. Explain your situation and see what they want from you. Good luck and rem you'd be pleasantly surprised that many of us are facing very similar scenarios.. the trick is how you deal with them. All the best and ignore the risers on this thread they may not be genuine x

[zhangyuzhi]

Don't give up it's hard to find something you like.

[Medicine Woman:)]

PS... if I don't get into medicine I might quit my daytime job, become an agony aunt for a local newspaper and sit on my couch all day with my laptop eating maltesers and drink espressos ... just kidding obviously but I just realised if I don't get in anywhere what reason will I have to surf NMM??

The joys of being a medical school applicant ...

PPS: Yazoo I wouldn't be too quick to give away my location .. I wouldn't fancy having Traumatised on my door step at 9 a.m. on a Monday morning!!! (with all due respect Traumatised I fear you chose your username carefully!!)

[beebopdelux]

PS... if I don't get into medicine I might quit my daytime job, become an agony aunt for a local newspaper and sit on my couch all day with my laptop eating maltesers and drink espressos ... just kidding obviously but I just realised if I don't get in anywhere what reason will I have to surf NMM??

The joys of being a medical school applicant ...

PPS: Yazoo I wouldn't be too quick to give away my location .. I wouldn't fancy having Traumatised on my door step at 9 a.m. on a Monday morning!!! (with all due respect Traumatised I fear you chose your username carefully!!)

lol medicine woman! decked at your PPS!

[lollie22]

Traumatised

Do not give up on your dream if its the only thing u want to do. My situation is similar to yours. This is my 4th time applying and I have got an interview and on the reserve list for another uni. I too met the entry requirements etc etc but found it difficult to get an interview in the past. What I did was do A LOT of psychometric tests on line and read as many UKCAT books as possible. I looked at my personal statement with fresh eyes and re-evaulated everything in it. From that I then wrote it from scratch.

I know there comes a point when u just want to give up but the only advice I can give u is DONT let it take over your life. Medicine is the ONLY thing I want to do but at the minute I'm working as a healthcare scientist and no1 know's that I'm applying to Medicine. So its best if you focus on a career in the mean time. Use it as a stepping stone for medicine. Thats what I did!!

Oh btw.... if you have BBB (at least one being chemistry) and a 2:1, you will get into Queens in Belfast. Thats all they look from grads and your ukcat doesn't even need to be over 600!!!! Think further a field and doors will open!

Good luck!!

[biomed12]

To transformersgirls

I would tell you not to give up on your dream, Im going to reapply to medicine as soon as i can, currently im in my 1st year of PhD.. though at teh end of it there is still a Dr. but to me it is no way the same. Actually to be honest with you... i am not enjoying what i am doing now. Research is interesting, but only medicine gives me that happiness and rewarding feeling. If you feel the same, then why give it up? But that doesnt mean you shouldnt think of a back up plan... but dont give up your ultimate dream.

Listen to thers advice, but ask your self whether you will regret giving up? Ive heard this quote from someone ''life is your diary, you wouldnt want someone else writing it for you would you?'' advice is good, but at the end of the day, it is up to you what you do..

Sorry if this is no help. I hope you feel better. Never think never.... Always have hope. And dont loose faith. Fate is there to support us.. and when it doesnt, it only makes us stronger.

[lexipower]

Well i did focus on london unis for a while, then i moved a lot further out and still got rejected.

I got a 2.1 in my degree, a-level all b's and missed out on a top 3 uni because of it. that hurts the most.

But then i've seen so many people with not as good educational attainments and/or ukcat...still at least get interviews.

My spirit is close to breaking. I really wish i had never got into this cycle in the 1st place. but i feel like i would be a good doctor, my intentions are good, and after doing my closely related 1st degree and taking notes from my medic friends confirmed it is something that would really fulfil me and i would enjoy...but i guess not everyone gets what they want.

the hardest thing is moving on.

Hey,
I can only half understand how you feel - only because I want medicine about as much as you sound like you do - and I've so far not been successful (I expect I'll be taking a gap year and reapplying - and my boyfriend has got straight in even though he's only wanted to be a doctor for a few months, and i have for years)
I think that since you did get an offer to a top 3 uni first time you must be a good applicant - and therefore your personal statements must be good or you wouldn't have got that offer
As someone else asked, have you been rejected or have you just not heard back yet?
I personally don't think you should move on because it is so obvious its what you really want and you won't be satisfied with something else. I guess it comes down to whether you think you have it in you to try again

xx

[ipsiLoquitor]

Today I read a story about an oscar nominee who was rejected I think 3 times after auditioning before the 'professionals'. She had to find an entry route that was capable of assessing her possibility of contributing. She did it by seeking the advice of a man in his 40s who told her to skip the education and approach an agent. The agent was able to move in ways which the 'professional assessors' were not. Oscar winner or just a runner up, either way the assessment process clearly was inadequate.

The number of factors involved in a decision to apply for medical school varies amongst applicants as do motivations, potential, ability to protect patients and common sense.
I know nothing about you and therefore cannot advise you. However, if you have access to funding, there will be a way.

By way of an aside, my experience is that 'helpful' people tend to have a bias towards excreting on dreams rather than facilitating them. This has been documented.

Make any choice you like, just make it your own.