[BeckiFlute(:]

Hi

I'm technically in Y12 at the moment, but dropped out in November due to an Eating Disorder which meant I was in and out of hospital for 5 months. I'm now restarting Y12 in September doing Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Maths. I'm also currently doing an OU module in Human Genetics and Health Issues.

I have been volunteering for the past 4 months as a TA at a local primary school, and have done 1 week w/e in a high school for special needs. I am about to start long term volunteering at a nursing home (just having my references taken up), and am harassing practically every doctor in the county for shadowing placements. Am also going to try and get some w/e through the proper channels at another hospital, rather than just being pushy and irritating Also, I do have a fair bit of experience as a patient

I have 6 A*s and 6 As at GCSE, along with FSMQ Additional Maths and Asset Advanced Language qualifications. HOWEVER, all of these exams were taken under "extenuating circumstances" (i.e. I was, at that time, eating less than half the calories the brain alone required to function each day.)
I am predicted 4 A*s in my A levels.

After all that background (sorry :P ) I guess my question is: What more should I do to strengthen my application? Are my GCSEs good enough, and where will NOT accept my GCSEs? Does anyone know of ANY university policy on mental health issues in prospective medics?

Thanks a lot, and sorry for the ridiculously lengthy post!

[stoppy123]

Hey guys, I am looking to apply to either, BSMS, Southampton, Exeter, HYMS, Leicester (not sure about GCSEs) and maybe UEA or nottingham for a foundation year.

I take biology, chemistry and psychology A2 and I am predicted AAA

I also took English literature AS and I am predicted a C/B

My GCSEs are 4 As 4 Bs and 2 Merits (forced by the school)

Extra curricular/work experience:

3 days at a GP, doing clinics, shadowing.
3 days at a hospital in the cardiology/pathology department
2 Weeks at a primary school, working with young children.
Young enterprise program.
Several healthcare science days/lectures attended.
Work in retail.
Part of the medical committee at school.

TO DO:

First aid course with the St John's ambulance

How's my application looking?

[myyrh]

(Original post by stoppy123)
Hey guys, I am looking to apply to either, BSMS, Southampton, Exeter, HYMS, Leicester (not sure about GCSEs) and maybe UEA or nottingham for a foundation year.

I take biology, chemistry and psychology A2 and I am predicted AAA

I also took English literature AS and I am predicted a C/B

My GCSEs are 4 As 4 Bs and 2 Merits (forced by the school)

Extra curricular/work experience:

3 days at a GP, doing clinics, shadowing.
3 days at a hospital in the cardiology/pathology department
2 Weeks at a primary school, working with young children.
Young enterprise program.
Several healthcare science days/lectures attended.
Work in retail.
Part of the medical committee at school.

TO DO:

First aid course with the St John's ambulance

How's my application looking?

Avoid Leicester because your GCSE grades aren't competitive enough for them.
Exeter is a good choice provided you get a UKCAT of around 650+. Personal statement needs to be brilliant for Southampton. BSMS may also be risky with those GCSEs.

[eenu]

what if i do my highers now and then advance highers ??? the qualifications i got from Pakistan are equivalence to the As year or H grade .. what does that mean ?

[abowlofpeaches]

I spoke to one of the admissions tutors of Birmingham University yesterday and she told me that the GCSE entry requirement grade for undergraduate medicine has been lowered from 8A*s to 5A*s

[fallenangel]

(Original post by BeckiFlute(:)
Hi

I'm technically in Y12 at the moment, but dropped out in November due to an Eating Disorder which meant I was in and out of hospital for 5 months. I'm now restarting Y12 in September doing Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Maths. I'm also currently doing an OU module in Human Genetics and Health Issues.

I have been volunteering for the past 4 months as a TA at a local primary school, and have done 1 week w/e in a high school for special needs. I am about to start long term volunteering at a nursing home (just having my references taken up), and am harassing practically every doctor in the county for shadowing placements. Am also going to try and get some w/e through the proper channels at another hospital, rather than just being pushy and irritating Also, I do have a fair bit of experience as a patient

I have 6 A*s and 6 As at GCSE, along with FSMQ Additional Maths and Asset Advanced Language qualifications. HOWEVER, all of these exams were taken under "extenuating circumstances" (i.e. I was, at that time, eating less than half the calories the brain alone required to function each day.)
I am predicted 4 A*s in my A levels.

After all that background (sorry :P ) I guess my question is: What more should I do to strengthen my application? Are my GCSEs good enough, and where will NOT accept my GCSEs? Does anyone know of ANY university policy on mental health issues in prospective medics?

Thanks a lot, and sorry for the ridiculously lengthy post!

Your GCSE's are excellent and won't hinder your application at all. If you got A*'s in Science/Maths/English Language, I'd definitely apply to Leicester. But in all honesty, your UKCAT score will be very important. If you manage a score above 670, with your GCSE's - you'll be in a very good position for a lot of med schools.

With regards to your mental health issues - there are ways you can get around that. Perhaps detail them in your personal statement (moreso overcoming it) it could go in your reference, or you could e-mail each university a letter of support from your GP. I'd go with the last option personally.

All the best

[Ravs101]

(Original post by myyrh)
Avoid Leicester because your GCSE grades aren't competitive enough for them.
Exeter is a good choice provided you get a UKCAT of around 650+. Personal statement needs to be brilliant for Southampton. BSMS may also be risky with those GCSEs.

Would you consider 8 A's and 3 B's at GCSE to be a competitive couple of grades to be considered for BSMS?

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my GT-I9100

[myyrh]

(Original post by Ravs101)
Would you consider 8 A's and 3 B's at GCSE to be a competitive couple of grades to be considered for BSMS?

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my GT-I9100

Taken from their website
When we look at GCSEs, we are primarily interested in the A and A* grades and so the more of these you have the better. However, strong AS grades (where appropriate) will compensate for a weaker GCSE profile.

Judging by that I would say it should be okay but I'm not entirely sure.

[Ravs101]

(Original post by myyrh)
Taken from their website
When we look at GCSEs, we are primarily interested in the A and A* grades and so the more of these you have the better. However, strong AS grades (where appropriate) will compensate for a weaker GCSE profile.

Judging by that I would say it should be okay but I'm not entirely sure.

Alright cheerz for the input!

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my GT-I9100

[stoppy123]

(Original post by Ravs101)
Would you consider 8 A's and 3 B's at GCSE to be a competitive couple of grades to be considered for BSMS?

This was posted from The Student Room's Android App on my GT-I9100

Hey, what other medical schools don't really look at GCSEs?

I was thinking maybe Keele?

[BeckiFlute(:]

(Original post by fallenangel)
Your GCSE's are excellent and won't hinder your application at all. If you got A*'s in Science/Maths/English Language, I'd definitely apply to Leicester. But in all honesty, your UKCAT score will be very important. If you manage a score above 670, with your GCSE's - you'll be in a very good position for a lot of med schools.

With regards to your mental health issues - there are ways you can get around that. Perhaps detail them in your personal statement (moreso overcoming it) it could go in your reference, or you could e-mail each university a letter of support from your GP. I'd go with the last option personally.

All the best

Thank you! Yes I got A*s in Double Science, English and Maths, so I'll have a look at Leicester And I can get all relevant letters from CAMHS (who are very supportive and think that medicine is a very good choice for me) so maybe that'd be a good way to go

[notsurewhattodo]

I've always planned on applying to medicine but am now having doubts about AS results and whether I'm actually suited to medicine or whether I'm only applying as I don't know what else to do. I've got medical work experience and have been to loads of medical school open days but I'm still not sure whether I'm good enough. I'm in the middle of writing my personal statement and having trouble so I've been researching biology courses. Could you give me some advise on other courses I could consider and general advise on what i should do!
Thanks

[Dalek1099]

(Original post by notsurewhattodo)
I've always planned on applying to medicine but am now having doubts about AS results and whether I'm actually suited to medicine or whether I'm only applying as I don't know what else to do. I've got medical work experience and have been to loads of medical school open days but I'm still not sure whether I'm good enough. I'm in the middle of writing my personal statement and having trouble so I've been researching biology courses. Could you give me some advise on other courses I could consider and general advise on what i should do!
Thanks

If you really,really want to do Medicine then do it no matter what your AS results,there are hundreds of universities in the country,with some asking for that good A-Level results and you should also really,really try at your AS.Birmingham probably won't be for you though.

[thegodofgod]

(Original post by Dalek1099)
If you really,really want to do Medicine then do it no matter what your AS results,there are hundreds of universities in the country,with some asking for that good A-Level results and you should also really,really try at your AS.Birmingham probably won't be for you though.

For Medicine?

Do tell me which ones

Try 30.

[science-oliver]

For medical schools who base GCSEs on a point system, when they say they will look at your best 'x' GCSEs including English, Maths and Science, if a person got an A* in English literature but an A in English language would they take in the english literature grade on the point system instead?

[myyrh]

(Original post by science-oliver)
For medical schools who base GCSEs on a point system, when they say they will look at your best 'x' GCSEs including English, Maths and Science, if a person got an A* in English literature but an A in English language would they take in the english literature grade on the point system instead?

Nope it would be the A in English Language which is used.

[notsurewhattodo]

thanks, yeah I've heard about Birmingham relying heavily on academic results

[Democracy]

(Original post by notsurewhattodo)
I've always planned on applying to medicine but am now having doubts about AS results and whether I'm actually suited to medicine or whether I'm only applying as I don't know what else to do. I've got medical work experience and have been to loads of medical school open days but I'm still not sure whether I'm good enough. I'm in the middle of writing my personal statement and having trouble so I've been researching biology courses. Could you give me some advise on other courses I could consider and general advise on what i should do!
Thanks

Well...did you enjoy your work experience or not? Is it the sort of job you'd be interested in doing someday?

As for AS levels...getting good AS levels is not a sign that you're suited to medicine and similarly getting bad AS levels doesn't mean you'd make a bad doctor. So try not to match your life plans to your grades (within reason)...try and work out whether you're interested in medicine independently of that, then you can start making plans.

[science-oliver]

Nope it would be the A in English Language which is used.

Thankyou.
I've heard that birmingham now require only 5A*s in English, Maths and Science. So do you reckon it would be the same, that they would neglect the A* in English literature and would go with the A in English language, thus a person would not be able to get in?

[notsurewhattodo]

that's really helpful thanks, i realise most people probablly have these problems