Pursuing Medicine whilst studying a different course

Hi guys

Just after peoples opinions regarding what I should do. So to cut a long story short, I'm currently in year 1 of Pharmacy but I am thinking of dropping out.

Firstly its not down the course intensity, currently am hitting at least 60% in all the practicals and assignments alongside one exam that we sat in December too. This is considered decent by university standards, not spectacular, but decent.

Its more to do with the fact that I just dont have a drive for this course. I have been trying to convince myself that medicine is not for me, that I am not cut out for it etc. But I genuinely believe I am. I strongly believe that people who are successful on that course are not exceptionally gifted but just the sort who extremely hard and stay focused.

So as it stands, I am thinking of dropping out of pharmacy and applying to a foundation year course for medicine. It has always been my desired course to study but like I said, I tried to convince myself that it wasnt.

I just want your guys thoughts on this option because essentially its a one way ticket for me. A massive risk. Either am successful on the foundation year course and manage to transfer to year 1 of medicine or I am not and thats when things will go pear shaped I imagine.

I was more set on doing graduate entry medicine but the compettition is very intense and if I am not mistaken, perhaps more intense that standard undegraduate entry, purely down to the fact that it has less places every year.

I am really struggling to decide what I should do?

***** for those who (like myself) dont like reading essays on threads, in a nutshell, I am just after advice on whether I should or should not drop out of year 1 pharmacy for a foundation year course that leads to medicine with the associated risk.*****

Thanks

I don't think you are eligible for any foundation courses
This is because you have already started a degree
I'm not 100% sure but you should check out all the foundation courses you are eligible to.


Additionally, have you checked a normal 5 year medicine course that you may be eligible to rather than a foundation course.




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The course I would be looking at is the Bradford clinical science course that offers a transfer to Leeds medical school. I have rang up the admissions office at Bradford and the woman kindly told me that after consulting with admissions she would get back to me.

Sorry I should have specified this.

It offers a transfer for a small number of students, and is very popular with people thinking it's an easy backdoor into medical school. Would you be happy doing an entire three year clinical science degree in Bradford if you didn't get the transfer?

Dropping out of a degree is generally looked down on by medical schools as it shows a lack of commitment. Can you stick out the pharmacy degree and then go down the GEM route? What makes you think being a doctor is better than being a pharmacist? You could still have a patient-facing role in a hospital as a pharmacist, with lots of specialist knowledge.

That is true but I want a role of responsibility and not just somebody who can be a medicines specialist. You could argue that Pharmacists do have a massive responsbility but it is varying to a doctors, hence why theyre two seperate fields I guess.

GEM is really compettetive thats the only reason really.

When you say its an easy backdoor, am not totally sure what you mean because from what I am aware of the course, you must achieve at least 70% in the first year and only then are you eligible for an application to transfer to Leeds medical school. To add to this, you are then interviewed just like undergraduate applicants are and on that basis would be either given an offer or not. For me personally I dont think id consider this as a backdoor really.


Thank you for taking time in reading my post though, its much appreciated

She didn't say it was an easy back door. She said people apply to it because they (rightly or wrongly) think it's an easy way to get in to medicine.

As you've stated, it's not an easy route at all. Not to mention you've missed this year's entry deadline and would have to have a year out.

At this point, I'd say you'd be better off sticking with pharmacy.

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