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New Media Medicine Forums - Medical News

Access to Medicine Course help - please!

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 01:39 PM PDT

Hello!

This is my first message on here and I was wondering whether anyone could advise me on a couple of questions I have?

I have applied for an Access to Medicine course twice already, and unfortunately I did not get in. I am wanting to apply for a third time, and wanted to know whether taking an Anataomy and Physiology course (from home) could help? Or whether a biology course or anything else would be advantageous?

Background info -I am 23. I have no previous experience in a clinical setting which is why I believe I did not get in to the course previously. I have however, cared for my partner for the last 2 years after he became seriously ill and have consequently spent a lot of time in hospital. To increase my chances of getting into next years Access to Medicine course I have recently started volunteering at the local hospital on the pediatric intensive care ward. I have good GCSE's but no A Levels.

Is there anything else I can do - Courses etc? My current job is not related to health and I am also therefore trying to change this also.

I want to increasy my chances as best I can, and so any suggestions/advice would be extremely appreciated.

Thank you :-)

Natalie

Which Medical School will be best for me??

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 12:34 PM PDT

I'm new here so if this is in the wrong place sorry!

As my application date is looming i'm trying to think about which medical schools are most likely to interview me according to my stats and if anyone could give advice i would be really grateful

GCSE: 10A*s
AS: 4 As in Biology, Chemistry, Maths & Textiles as well as further maths AS (a)
UKCAT: 685 average (VR:720 QR:780 AR:540 DA:700)
BMAT: started practicing but can't tell how it'll go

I'd rather go for a uni which stresses less on personal statements as i can't tell if mine is really good and i think i would do better showing my personality in an interview

Medical schools i've been drawn to and visited are : Oxbridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, UCL, Kings, St Georges & Queen Mary but other suggestions welcome!

Thank-you for any help :)

Advice on retaking a levels or do a degree

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 12:03 PM PDT

I achieved ABBB respectively in math's, physics, chem and bio.
Unfortunately, these grades are not good enough for medicine (A100) so I can't decide whether to retake the exams for 1 year or quickly go through clearing and enroll on a science related degree. I know if I retook some exams, my potential unis which would consider me are very limited. I was also wondering if an applicant holding a degree applying for A100 would be at an advantage then a school leaver applying for the same course.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Help! Last minute doubts!

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 11:54 AM PDT

Firstly I'd like to apologize if this is in the wrong section as it's not directly related to A-levels but medicine as a whole.

A little about me firstly: I've completed my A-levels this year, managing to achieve an A* in Biology, A* in History, A in Chemistry (and an A in English Literature AS). I planned on applying for 2013 entry to medicine, as last year when faced with applying I, annoyingly, felt similar to how I do now. Through the academic year, I've always been relatively certain that Medicine is for me, but when the time comes to apply I find myself filled with tremendous doubts about my suitability for the course and whether or not it is for me.

These doubts are difficult to explain because more than two years worth of thinking has gone into this, but I'll try and make myself as clear as possible.

Reasons why I want to study medicine:
- I do genuinely find the human body intriguing. If I didn't take medicine, I would probably take Biomedicine.
- For me, there is very little else that provides the same degree of satisfaction as being able to help someone else.
- The older I get, the more I seem to feel a very deep and profound feeling of sympathy for the sick, and a desire to help them.
- I'm aware that in every career, one must make great sacrifices if they want to do well, being a doctor is no exception. Also, medicine is supposedly one of the most gratifying and interesting careers.
- I'm always been more interested in how science can be put to use - I gain more satisfaction from this than research for it's own sake.
- I can no longer picture myself in any other career - considering a career in biomedicine or Psychology seems absurd (almost heretical!) when for three or more years I've branded myself as 'future doctor'.


Reasons for my doubts:
- On my work experience, I met very few doctors who seemed satisfied with their careers. They either seemed stressed, disillusioned or just plain bored. I was told on a number of occasions to not apply because 'medicine isn't what it once was'. Honestly, I went home most days feeling completely depressed by the environment I was in. The trouble is, this atmosphere seems to go beyond the department I visited - perhaps I'm just looking in the wrong places on the internet, but it would seem that doctors who are content and fulfilled are the minority.
- I love science and like studying, but if I'm completely honest I don't have the burning passion that others talk of in personal statements that I've viewed. Motivation and a strong work ethic have never been a problem, but I can't figure out if other applicants genuinely do fill their time with studying anatomy or whether exaggeration is just the status quo among medicine applicants.
- Selfish though it may sound for a medicine applicant, I feel as if I have so much more to get from life. I know that most of medical students' (particularly in clinical years and residency) time is consumed by their careers. I can make sacrifices, and I enjoy having a busy schedule, but the prospect of having a schedule so busy that it begins to endanger my health (lack of sleep and exercise, poor nutrition, the high rates of depression/anxiety among doctors etc) is something that terrifies me, because I value my health so highly.
- I'm aware of how competitive medicine is. I doubt if I applied, an admissions tutor would have the time or the energy to deal with someone who is unsure if medicine is for them when they have thousands of others banging on their door, desperate for the opportunity to get in.

This is becoming very lengthy (and probably tedious!) so I'll leave it here. I know this ultimately a decision I'll have to make myself, but I would still value the advice of those from the other side, so to speak. It is however a decision that I need to make very soon. I feel as I'm destined for Medicine and yet at the same time all of my experience with the field seems to tell me to back out whilst I have the opportunity. Would it be foolish to apply for medicine when I'm not certain it's for me?

Chances?

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 11:44 AM PDT

Hello, there.

Another "chances" thread. I really like the look, course, and location of East Anglia University and I would like to know any tips on getting in.

I would post all my results out, but they're in my signature. :P

I've done months of volunteering at the local hospice, work experience in the Hospital, weeks of work in a nursery, and I am a representative of a befriending association for home care.

How am I looking?
Thanks in advance.

Athena Admissions Conference - 23/10

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 09:27 AM PDT

Guys - all those people who said they were going to the Athena Admissions Conference on the 23rd, who's up for meeting the night before?

I'm coming on Saturday evening so if any one else is PM me and we'll meet up in Leicester.


Will