Hi!
I'm hoping you can offer some advice on my med app for 2012/2013.
I am 21 and want nothing more than to study medicine....But I have had quite a long journey leading up to this decision and I am confused on how I should approach my applications and potential interview questions.
I completed the IB in 2009 with 39 points, Bio at higher but no chem, and an A A-level in English lang and lit completed 2 years early. I have GCSE grades of 10A* and 2A. Some taken a year early also...but the work burden I think was balanced out so this shouldn't be a disadvantage to all in one year? GCSE is the highest level of chem that I have certificated studies of.
I had a gap year where I worked, both in the UK and away and also backpacked and did some volunteer placements. the experience really made me grow up quite a lot and taught me more about myself and life options.
I studied liberal arts and sciences at university college maastricht, netherlands for one term but the experience led me to re-evaluate myself and gave me the opportunity to consider my academic needs and interests much more independently....it was a toss up between staying the whole degree and being unhappy/wasting time and money OR owning up to my mistake and preparing myself (getting the relevant work experience etc) for medicine. I chose to come back to the UK, work and spend time volunteering in my local hospital, for Samaritans and St John Ambulance as well as continuing self development in extra-curricular interests and some more travelling.
During the year, however, we had a family tragedy that hit me quite hard and has taken me a little while to recover my confidence from. In this time I became desperate just to go to university and could not wait for medicine any longer. In a panic I decided to follow another of my passions and got a place to study Chinese and Economics at Leeds. I began the course and quickly realised the huge mistake that I had made.
This leads me to my dilemma.....I think have the grades, work experience and life experience to apply for medicine with a pre-med year but I am obviously worried about the mess that led me to the decision.
I want to reassure the admissions teams that I am able to commit and know exactly what I want to study.......I need to use my messy experiences to show that this has all been part of my careful consideration (and elimination of other options!?).
My big question right now, however, is do you think I should mention liberal arts and sciences in Maastricht in my applications? Or just leeds...which I obviously have to address because it will show up on UCAS. I don't want to shoot myself in the foot but also I want to be honest.
How do you think I should address this?!
I want to send universities an email to double check that they will consider me seriously for pre-med and if there is anything more i should be doing to get experience....and I am unsure if i should include both leeds and maas in my background here. i know that they will look back at this email when it comes to apps and interviews so it all has to match up.
Thank you in advance for any help!