[tshah1]

I am 24 years old and have achieved 2 A levels in biology and chemistry through private study with work commitments and really want to do medicine for long time.I would like to know tht would it possible for me to gain entry in sep 2009 medicine and wot else i can do to improve my application in terms of academic.
I see most medical schools require strings of gcse so do you think i shuld retake my gcse and get predictions or do you think i do more A levels?
I sat the Bmat = 27 and ukcat 750 so i am very confident regarding the admission tests and personal statement.please also advise me which univeristies could i be accepted at taking in consideration of my academic and test marks.I am planning to start college to do either gcse or A levels or both but not sure if it will make any difference for 2009 entry.

Any advise would be really appreciated.

[Renal]

More A-levels or a degree.

To be honest, I suspect your situation is pretty unique, you might benefit from specific advice from the medical schools you're interested in.

[tshah1]

I would prefer not to go down the degree route because it will take 3 years of time and money and at the end i will still be in doubt if i get the place or not so thts not an option for me

[arpeggio]

Do you have anything in the way of GCSEs? Have you sat these A Levels in Bio and Chem already? I think if you wanted to go for 2009 entry you'd have to sit the UKCAT and BMAT for this session (I'm assuming you sat them last year?) As Renal said it's probably best to ask admissions directly.

[tshah1]

I have acheived A grades in A level biology and chem in jan 08 and i dont have any gcse's because i left school without any qualifications.yes i am fully aware that i have to take bmat and ukcat dis year and i am very confident about the tests coz i know how to tackle them.

[Aaron_1507]

its not a football match

[Asclepius]

Originally Posted by tshah1

I have acheived A grades in A level biology and chem in jan 08 and i dont have any gcse's because i left school without any qualifications.yes i am fully aware that i have to take bmat and ukcat dis year and i am very confident about the tests coz i know how to tackle them.

Do you have any work experience? Because this forms quite a major part of the application. And as Renal said, you'd probably be better off getting in touch with the medical schools you are interested in, and finding out what their policy is regarding your situation. Also, for future reference, text speak isn't allowed on these forums

[icapturethecastle]

work experience would be good
what are u currently doing? maybe u could get a HCA job or something medical related?...that's what i'm doing in my gap year
or some voluntary work at somewhere like an elderly care home?

also, maybe another A level too since they're asking for AAA in 09 :|

good luck

[Sam_ire]

You can always go abroad.. (I say it every time )

[aster100]

Originally Posted by tshah1

I am 24 years old and have achieved 2 A levels in biology and chemistry through private study with work commitments and really want to do medicine for long time.I would like to know tht would it possible for me to gain entry in sep 2009 medicine and wot else i can do to improve my application in terms of academic.
I see most medical schools require strings of gcse so do you think i shuld retake my gcse and get predictions or do you think i do more A levels?
I sat the Bmat = 27 and ukcat 750 so i am very confident regarding the admission tests and personal statement.please also advise me which univeristies could i be accepted at taking in consideration of my academic and test marks.I am planning to start college to do either gcse or A levels or both but not sure if it will make any difference for 2009 entry.

Any advise would be really appreciated.

what caused you to be rejected this time round? (assuming you took the BMAT last Oct)

[FFCrusader]

I'd agree, work experience would be ideal and probably another A Level.

Your best bet is to ask the places you plan to apply to.

[Asclepius]

Originally Posted by Sam_ire

You can always go abroad.. (I say it every time )

And you get slated for it every time, so what's the point.

[Purple_monkey]

Well Tshah if you apply to UCL your likely to get an interview because your BMAT last time was above 19.
And it would be wise to take another A lvl because most uni's are looking for AAB to get into medicine.
Just a note, as of 2009 the requirements of Kings, St Georges and QM and another one i forgot xD has gone up to AAA.

[Sam_ire]

Originally Posted by Alex L

And you get slated for it every time, so what's the point.

Well, I'm sorry for trying to help the OP.

[tshah1]

I didnt apply last year and yes i am thinking of doing 1 or 2 more A levels.I have worked in eldery home,hospice and also got some experience in gp practise and hospital.The most thing i m worried about is gcse's.if i get predictions for gcse would tht be enough to prove for the general entry requirements.I have emailed uni but still havnt heard back from them.wot else i can do to improve my chances for 2009 entry either it could be doing 5 more A levels or 10 more gcses etc coz i think i am academically very able but just didnt have the opportunity 5 years ago.Is there any universities which are less concerned about gcse and if yes then plz let me know and i m not too bothered abut which medical school i go to except 2.

[isi333]

Originally Posted by Purple_monkey

Just a note, as of 2009 the requirements of Kings, St Georges and QM and another one i forgot xD has gone up to AAA.

UCL, but not until 2010.

OP, I can only reiterate what everyone else has said about contacting individual medical schools. You might be treated differently as a mature student, but it seems quite likely they would want you to have 3 A-Levels, and, of course, work experience/voluntary work.

[isi333]

Oops sorry, missed your latest post by taking too long to post

Which uni did you email and when? There's really no need to do more than 4 A-levels, in my opinion. You'd probably be better off doing the GCSEs, but only individual medical schools can really tell you what they want. They might be willing to let you get away with very few GCSEs (maths, english, foreign language, science) or even none at all.

[tshah1]

I have emailed about 20 universities and still havnt received any reply back apart from auto email.

But if i send my application without gcse,wont they just reject me straight away by because of the entry requirements.

[Custer]

Did you have any extenuating circumstances?

[tshah1]

yes but i dont have any proof of tht