Access Course

Hey

I am just coming to the end of my access medicine course at Glasgow Kelvin College (previously Stow College) and have got a conditional offer from Glasgow uni

It's a good course for mature students who want to be doctors, vets, dentists etc. However, they do only take 3/4 students for vet progression and in general it is a hard course to get on to (took a few of us several attempts to get in). Also, out of the entire medicine class I was the only successful applicant to progress to uni. Although that doesn't sound good, I believe it was due to UKCAT scores being too low from the "Doctors" and not enough experience from the "Vets" - with lots of experience I think the chances of entry are good as Glasgow Uni is partnered with the course.

It is a very demanding course though, fast paced with regular and almost weekly exams, in which you must get over 80% to be considered for medicine/vet medicine. I also believe that no other universities will really recognise the course, despite a couple of them saying that they would. I say this because not one person got an interview outside Glasgow. Probably because like I said, the partnership is with Glasgow Uni.

I think that Nottingham does a pre-vet year which sounds good, perhaps better chances of entry. Also don't forget the new uni opened up at Surrey.

Hope that is helpful

Thanks

Perhaps phone round and ask some universities - and write down the names of the people that u speak to because information can vary person to person i have noticed! We noticed that the college is not really keen to investigate this for you as as far as they are concerned Glasgow is the Uni they prepare you for. They certainly don't mind you applying to others but they certainly won't research it.

Yes, all three of us were granted an interview. Some said that this was a guaranteed interview, however if ur personal statement is terrible they apparently don't give you one.

I am not 100% sure what the other two are going to do, they have back up options of science degrees at university, however i personally think that that would be a lot of money. My back up plan if I didn't get in was going to be to spend the year gaining varied animal experience because they look for LOADS. The Access course is valid for two years so u will receive the UCAS buzzword from them for ur second attempt

I was on to two Universities the other day. Both of them said pretty much the same thing, they have courses they know, i.e. local courses they've had input on, and that's where people have the best chance of getting in.

From your experience and from what they said it's my opinion that you really have to choose where you want to go and then choose the locally recommended college. I know people do get in to Vet. Sc. from access courses considerable distances away but I think you stand a better chance of entry from a local course.

Well you haven't got that problem so lucky you.

Thanks for the help.