So basically im currently doing my final year in sixth form and in a couple of weeks im about to sit my final exams. I am currently doing chemistry, biology and maths at A2 and im on course for at least AAA but hopefully ill be able to get A*A*A (thats my aim). I have applied for biochemistry and received 5 offers of AAB, which in the end i accepted Nottingham as my firm and Sheffield as my insurance.
Im in a situation where i have not applied to do medicine and when i look back on it i slightly regret that decision. The reason i didn't apply for medicine was:
1)I didn't think ill be able to get the required minimum of AAA at A2 whilst i was in year 12!
2)Our head of sixth form discouraged students to apply for medicine if they didn't get like 7-9A* at GCSE level!
3) I really didn't know what i wanted to do at uni. So in the end i decided best not to apply for medicine if i knew i wasn't going to get in.
But after the January results i realised i had a good chance of getting in and regret not at least applying.
So the past few months ive been thinking about doing graduate entry for medicine. I've shared this idea with some of my friends and a fair few of them think im crazy! they believe with the grades i should get i should drop out of biochem and do a gap year and apply for medicine!
Now heres my dilemma
, i really want to go uni now and experience the "uni life". Also i am still enthusiastic about biochemistry and i would still like to do the degree before applying for med. But i also know that grad entry is extremely competitive, requires a lot of work and this route could cost a lot! Also if i did do grad entry id only apply for Warwick and Birmingham so it rules out living costs (Id live with my parents in Rugby which is basically in Coventry), preferably Warwick as its extremely close!
I personally don't really want to take a year out due to the fact id need to sort out all work experience and volunteering work (i havnt done any work exp or volunteering), id need to do a UKCAT/BMAT and im really scared ive wasted a year if i get rejections! But i know this is a much easier route, i should have the required grades (as long as my final exams go well) to apply and also it saves time and money.
You guys will all think im crazy but im 85% sure that ill do the biochem degree and try grad entry! I just want a little advice from people who have done grad entry/gap year and applied or just a general opinion from anyone as to what you think of my plans for the next 6-7 years of my life!
Thank you very much if you took your time to read this and reply, it is much appreciated