HELP - need your advice Big time! ! Help me live my dream . . .

[Keroni]

Hey Guys,

I am well in need of advice as my title says! I am new to this so take it easy on me!

Basically this is the prob/scenario . . .

I'm 19yrs, live in Wales and current studying a BSc (Hons) Psychology degree with The Open University.My only other prev HE b4 this was on a com/youth work found degree/course at Newport Col/Uni, Wales.

My Further Edu past or history if you want has been quiet non traditional, meaning I studied nvq's, nocn certs, and 'subject' based awards and topics usually related to care, education, special educational needs etc.

Before that I studied 8 Gcses and pass 6 of em, (OK grades) had no grade on 2 of em - (Didnt fail em lik! Was ill).

So far so good...

However, I have burning interest, passion an ambition for entry to the many subjects in relation to medicine and nursing and or science. I have done for ages, but I also hold an interest in soc science, community dev, pscyh (hence the Bsc!) etc. I currently hold a very good job an wel paid - which think has also made me dev and realise my potential and interest more. I hav also made the FIRM decision if i was ever to go in to any of this sort of work (nursing, science, med, etc) I would hav to become a doctor. (It is a influence and ability thing i think... to hav more opps too)

But this is the BIG QUESTION ....

Do I continue with my degree in psychology, and see it through to the end (theres 3.5yrs left of 5yr course) or stop and jump on to some science training/access course and work towards my med degree in 2006?

No matter what it is certainly somethin I want to try an enter straight after my degree if I see it to the end or as soon as. However, I also the benefit in seeing my bsc to the end an becomin a debt free grad thanks to the ou, but also see the worth in stopping and diving to my dream to get in to med. Other BIG two issues are I am dyslexic and I aint got super science history. - GOT ADVICE??

HELP ME! I am sure someone has had similar experience, thinks something, anythin . . . Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks in advance for any help, advice or support I receive. Good luck to you all in you studies. K x

[exms]

My suggestion is that you consider dumping your day job and becoming a full time student (assuming the OU course allows you to do the degree in the normal three years if you want to); you're going to get shed-loads of debt if you go into med school anyway, so (in my opinion) it's not worth spending another couple of years pre-med school just to save some dosh.

Another reason behind this is that you say you have a poor academic background previously... so I wouldn't have thought that taking five years to get a BSc degree isn't going to help sell you well. Won't stop you going via the GEP/entrance exam route, but I could see it *possibly* (as in 'I am a med student and not an admissions tutor') counting against you for a 5 year application. I think dropping out of this degree will also count against you, because, combined with your previous academic record, it'll make it look like you're unlikely to stay the course for the 5 years of medicine.

It's also not clear to me that you really have researched what it means to become a doctor. You say you're interested in lots of health-related areas ... maybe you should reconsider them. If you haven't already done some work experience as a ward volunteer in a hospital / hospice, I'd recommend that as a good way to see how much plain drudgery is involved in being a doctor.

HTH

-- A.

[Keroni]

Thanks for your advice, I totally understand where you are point this one. Some of your points make complete sence, and I dont want to sound lazy, but hearing it from someone else actually makes you realise, you know - so you can see the wood from the trees. Thanks again. Take Care Kx