I'd browsed the first two pages. Couldn't find a thread similar to this so I thought I'd make one c:

Post below which universities you applied to previously, and any reasons why you didn't get it. Then perhaps write about how this year is going to be the year you succeed in getting a place!

To applicants who succeeded in getting a place, congratulations ^_^ please share your own experiences and tell us why you think you succeeded.

Perhaps people could share thoughts on gap years, what you did or are planning to do?


I'll start us off: I applied to Bristol, Southampton, Leeds, and Nottingham. No offers, no interviews. Most likely because of poor AS grades (family problems at the time). Since then I've straightened things out, did a few summer resits and now I'm back on course for 3A's

However I have not managed to straighten out my D in Maths which to be quite honest I'm embarrassed about. My GCSE grades weren't stellar compared to most medical applicants (6A*'s 5A's) and my ukcat was low (600 average).

My volunteering experience wasn't amazing either, but without my driving license til last summer and the worst public transport for miles around I think I managed to do okay. I've spent the last two years volunteering in a carehome and have had with work experience placements at a alcoholic's agency, GP surgery and hospital in Wales ( I had to stay with my grandparents for that one! ) but it was worth it, getting four full days observing various hospital staff (including the surgeons). Although the remaining 3rd of my p.s was "stacked" full of extra circular activities.

I'm on course for a gap year and currently competing for a part time job in healthcare at a local hospital. That one is not going to well to be honest (I received an email telling me they had to sort though +220 other applicants for 1 or 2 jobs?. It was very unspecific how many they intended to employ). I'll be looking to get in as much voluntary work as I can around any employment I can get.

In order to get my AS grade up to something suitable I've decided to take up an extra AS level in Physics starting this september with some private tutoring, and If money permits it, I will be looking for some tutoring so I can retake my appalling Maths AS level.

I've decided not to take any chances with my UKCAT and although it may be deemed unnecessary to some, I've signed up to my local KAPLAN course to help me improve my score. I'll also be investing significantly more time and effort into scoring well for this exam to make sure the course costs do not go to waste.

It's arguable that i'm not academic enough for medicine, but I'm going to put my heart into this because I believe it's worth it and it's something I really want to dedicate my life to, I just hope the medical schools see that. The odds are heavily stacked against me, but I have not lost faith yet Either way I'm really looking forward to my gap year and i'm going to get the most out of it that I possibly can!


Now you?