The Medics Gap Year Megathread

Thanks for the reply. I'll post the ward details as soon as I find out. I already have 6 months experience as a carer which I'll put down when I apply. I'm applying for graduate entry btw. I think my current job as a carer will be very similar to a HCA in a normal ward. Just wondering will choosing the mental health HCA role hinder my application or experience... as its still commitment to a caring role. I'll make a firm decision on Monday. Whatever role gives me the best experience really in Medicine.

Due to various reasons, I recently found out my application to Medicine for 2013 entry was unsuccessful... I admit I hadn't really prepared for this situation ( It was a sort of "ignore it and hopefully it won't happen" thing) but now I am faced with the reality of taking a year out of education I think I'm looking forward to it. Just wondering if there's anyone out there in the same position or anyone with suggestions on how to fill it in order to be a bit more successful next year?

In all honesty, you cannot apply through UCAS Extra / Clearing & realistically get into medicine.

Best options are:

1. Take a gap year & re-apply for medicine

2. A 5th choice of e.g. biomedical sciences

3. Apply abroad (but it's a bit late now)

The main problem is, most applicants smash their A-levels, so that is not what differentiates you. They treat the academics as a given....It's all down to extra-curricular (to a lesser extent) / work experience / personal statement / interviews

And you can work on all those if you take a gap year - which would be my overall recommendation

Good luck whatever you decide to do

He said apply to something else through clearing not Medicine.

I received 4 rejections this year for medicine

What are my options now?

I don't really want to take a gap year, nor do I 'really' want to do my 5th choice

What if I smash A-levels, and apply to something different through UCAS extra or clearing? (Something completely different like econ, law or finance)

Any help would be great!

I understand you don't want to take a gap year (I would feel the same!) but it could be the best option for you. Perfect your personal statement, work experience and interview questions over that time, maybe even become an HCA for a year!
It's NEVER too late! I'm going into biomedical science at the age of 20, and I want to apply to graduate medicine.
I felt the same about not getting in but believe me, if you want to be a doctor that badly, what's a year? You may benefit from it.
Medicine is incredibly over subscribed so down beat yourself up... Please!

Also, perhaps try and apply to Clinical Sciences at Leeds through clearing or extra. They have space every year. It has a possible transfer to Leeds.

Best of luck!

Got 4 rejections, and will go on a gap year!

I know a doctor in a hospital, more specifically a surgeon, and I asked him if I could in any way get work experience in that hospital. He said that he was willing and could take me there everyday I wanted, and shadow him when he is operating other people.

I am seeing many people applying for HCA, but there's no such thing as gap year students working in such jobs in my country...

So my doubt is that is shadowing a doctor as relevant as being a HCA, or does being a HCA bring more advantages in terms of work experience?

I do think that it all comes to what you can reflect from those two roles, but university's mind can sometimes be very picky in what they want...

Hi,

I am in the same situation!

I've decided to get a job in a care home, been interviewing already actually and I am doing a medical training placement with Pulse Asia.

I was absolutely gutted, but I'm determined so I just have to pick myself up and try again. I'm hoping going on a placement will give me a boost and I think they really like a decent amount of work experience, so the care home work should help!

What have you decided to do?

Don't bother with bradford it would be safer to reapply, everybody on that course is fighting for those spots.

Hi,

I would like some advice about getting into medical school second time round and what is the best course of action after rejections:

I am in year 13 and have applied to medicine this year. I have had 3 rejections (Exeter, Sheffield and Nottingham) and BSMS have put me on the PREinterview reserve list where they have emphasised that any chance with this is low. The good news is that I have offers for Clinical science at Exeter (AAB) and Medical Pharamcology at Cardiff (AAB).

I am faced with dilema, (as I am sure many others are)of what to do next year: Gap year or take my insurance. I was wondering people's opinions and what did you choose? what did you do in the gap year? What would you reccomend? How was applying second time round etc? Really would love some advice.

Thank youxxx

Here is just a general brief background on results etc on application:
GCSEs- 4A* 7A
AS levels- aaaab
A2 predicted - AAA
UKCAT - 625
Experience: work every sat at mencap (disabled persons charity), 4 week research project, 1 week at kings college hospital, deputy head girl....

Your in the same position as alot of people and as I was last year I wrote a long post about this on my blog have a look in the end the decisions your and mostly its down to your grades.