all rejections AGAIN! What do i do?

[qasman91]

my signature explains it all really. This year is my gap year and I just got rejected by St. George's after interview, meaning it's the 2nd time I've had all rejections for medicine. I mean I worked my arse off this year, did so much work experience and interview prep, no idea why I only got one interview and again why I got rejected for that interview.

I've applied to Ireland as a backup and I'll know about offers in August for that, but that'll be pretty much too late to sort an alternative if I don't get in, so I'm trying to find out the best POA right now.

I don't wanna take another gap year, and it's not that I'm not good enough for medicine; I don't wanna brag but I ticked all the boxes, especially this year to at least get one offer.

So at the moment I'm thinking of doing a biomed (or similar) degree and applying for graduate medicine, but I don't know any graduates so how does applying for that compare with undergrad medicine? Is it harder/easier and what criteria are involved?

Also could I be allowed to do Access/Foundation to Medicine? I know it's for people who didn't get the grades but does that mean I'm ineligible?

Last resort I suppose is moving to another country to do medicine, i.e. somewhere in europe, how do you go about doing that??

Thanks in advance

[foxyamy]

Hey. Sorry to hear you've been rejected a second time around. I know it's frustrating because you think you ticked all of the boxes, but unfortunately so do most people, and there are a lot of people in your shoes who still do not get in.
I have gone the graduate route, and got in this year after a second round of applications. I would say though that it is even more competitive as a grad than as an undergrad, with more people per place applying. If you did well on your degree though you should be OK, as long as you apply to the correct types of unis that would play to your particular criteria.
If I can make one suggestion without being rude - the fact that you even got two interviews is better than most and suggests that on paper you have all the right stuff, but perhaps lack in interview technique. It may be helpful to get some interview coaching before you try again, or apply to places that don't interview maybe, like Soton and Edinburgh.

[Jolt]

Have you been getting feedback from your rejections? I think that's going to be a good place to start.

[qasman91]

thanks for being straightforward i really appreciate it, and you're right it could be my interview technique, also ill try and maximise my UKCAT score somehow, just gonna have to go on courses, etc. for these kinda things i suppose.
and jolt, st georges don't give feedback after interview, they specifically said that, and queen mary's said I didn't have a high enuff UKCAT (they wanted 665), with UEA and brighton, I'm not sure but I suppose it definitely would help pin down what the problem is, thanks.

also foxyamy, you got into grad medicine, is biomedical sciences the best degree to take for that? Or do unis not have a preference as long as its medical-related? Also, say if I got a 1st in biomedical sciences, taking into account my grades, etc. what do you think my chances will be, i.e. will I be in the top/bottom half of the candidates applying? If you could give me a general idea of how the application process is for grad med I'd be really grateful

[foxyamy]

also foxyamy, you got into grad medicine, is biomedical sciences the best degree to take for that? Or do unis not have a preference as long as its medical-related? Also, say if I got a 1st in biomedical sciences, taking into account my grades, etc. what do you think my chances will be, i.e. will I be in the top/bottom half of the candidates applying? If you could give me a general idea of how the application process is for grad med I'd be really grateful

It definitely opens up more options if you have a biomedical science or similar degree (something like neuroscience/pharmacy/biochemistry etc.) but there are others that don't give any preference. Also, getting a first only confers you with an advantage at some unis (e.g. Birmingham) while at most as long as you meet the minimum requirement of a 2:1 they don't look at your grades further.

I think for grad med it is more important to most unis that you have a significant amount of work and life experience, both in terms of care and in other interests, as this is the main point in running the grad med courses, to encourage a more diverse group of applicants.

Just to give you an idea of how competitive it is though - I have a 1st class degree in biomed, got a high score on the UKCAT, have five years experience of working in a variety of health care settings including 3 years working in the NHS as an HCA, experience in the last four years of being self-employed (e.g. showing quite a lot of work-related skills) and have lots of other outside interests, and I still got straight out rejected by 2 of my choices. So that just shows how competitive it is. Getting a 1st in your degree will by no means place you anywhere near at the top of the pile I'm afraid, there is just so much more to it than that.

[yellowjellybabyal]

I agree that it may be something to do with your interview technique...but i also think it may be because you are applying to southern uni's, especially in london, which are even "more" competitive ie. more applicants per place. have u thought of places like maybe HYMS, where you get a combined score based on lots of aspects of your application before being called to interview, or maybe uni's in scotland ie. aberdeen. not that im saying these are "easier" to get into but the ratio of applicants to places is slightly lower. check out medschoolsonline for more info, it really helped me secure 4 interviews this year as a first-time applicant. all the best.

[GenericName]

I definitely wouldn't say doing Biomed is the "best" option for doing Medicine. Certainly you will need something related to the field, but actually doing something other than Biomed can be a nice talking point and make you stand out from the crowd. To be honest if your degree is medically related and you get a 2:i most places don't consider it further.

To be 100% honest, a UKCAT below around 660-670 will make it virtually impossible to get a GEP place and it may even make it difficult for some grad places. To be honest, I'm extremely shocked UEA and BSMS rejected you with your UKCAT, although I can't remember what their UKCAT usage is.

Without further knowledge of your work experience and actually seeing how you speak in interviews there's not much anyone can really help you with. I have to say, if you're struggling to get a place at the moment, something has to change I guess, and you could do much worse than doing a good degree at a respectable institution which could give you a tonne of stuff to talk about on your PS and interviews. If you get a first that's a bonus.

[they_call_me_pg]

Do you mind me asking what your GCSE grades were? And the individual section scores in the UKCAT?