Radiography or Biomedical Science for Medicine Graduate Entry?

Basically I have offers for...


Bio-medical Science at Ulster is meant to be a really good research school and has the highest rating in the UK. Plus Bio-medical science is a common route into medicine. Plus the knowledge you get from Bio-Med would obviously make a degree in medicine a bit easier.

Radiography is meant to be just as good for entry into medicine. In this instance, because I'm in Northern Ireland, I get a bursary and don't have to pay any tuition fees. Therefore no debt, which wold make it easier in the long run.

What degree would you recommend for medicine? I'm leaning more towards Diagnostic Radiography because there's no tuition fees, I get a bursary, close to the big city and it's a full BSc (Hons) in just 3 years.

Your opinions? Thanks

Hi there , I have just gotten into medical school and I have a few freinds who are medics/doctors and doing a biomedical sciences degree does not help at all whatsoever. The truth is that with some schools even non-science grads can get in if they get the right A levels. I think that doing diagnostic radiography would better suit you due to the exposure of patient contact, communication and diagnosis, which by all means is the centre of medicine. I think this would make you stand out and will better prepare you for medical school. Also even if you don't get into medicine staright away you are guaranteed a job as a radiographer and can work for a year and make some money to save up and reapply again. I know some biomeds who are working as waitressess now, its hard to find a job in that sector. You would have to do a PhD to get a good job as a biomed scientist. Also you can potentially work in the summer and part time at med school as a radiographer.

And you won't pay any tuition fees and you get a bursary, graduate med is EXPENSIVE , you probabaly wont get into a 4 year one but a 5 year one as thats how competitive it is. I am not tryna scare you , i am telling you the TRUTH.

Why dont you do medicine straight away instead though?

Thanks so much that was really useful!

Truth be told I haven't studied Chem or Biology past GCSE so I couldn't apply for medicine. However I was able to apply for the above since I have maths and physics at A Level. So graduate entry is really my only option, I think Malta would be a nice place for graduate medicine.

Yeah it's unfortunate how expensive and competitive the 4 year option is! I know a few taking the GAMSAT this year and they've explained this to me. :P

What medical school are you going to?Congrats on getting in!

Thanks

Any other opinions? I very much leaning to diagnostic radiography then medicine right now!

Basically I have offers for...

I still have to interview for...


Bio-medical Science at Ulster is meant to be a really good research school and has the highest rating in the UK. Plus Bio-medical science is a common route into medicine. Plus the knowledge you get from Bio-Med would obviously make a degree in medicine a bit easier.

Radiography is meant to be just as good for entry into medicine. In this instance, because I'm in Northern Ireland, I get a bursary and don't have to pay any tuition fees. Therefore no debt, which wold make it easier in the long run.

The foundation in medicine teaches chem, bio and ethics in one year. The top 20/80-120 go to Leeds Medical school the following year, if you're unsuccessful you can join Clinical Sciences and then apply the top 20 in the first year go to Leeds, if unsuccessful again you finish your clinical sciences degree then go for GEM. I don't know if I'm good enough to get into medical school that way.

What degree would you recommend for medicine? I'm leaning more towards Diagnostic Radiography because there's no tuition fees, I get a bursary, close to the big city and it's a full BSc (Hons) in just 3 years.

Your opinions? Thanks

Diagnostic Radiography is fantastic, and if you are unsure, perhaps that would be the best option for you.

Some medical schools allow any degree, however other prefer Science degrees or outright demand them. A degree in biomedical science will put you in excellent stead for Medicine. All science-only universities list it directly as acceptable; Birmingham, Bristol, Imperial and Liverpool for example.

In my opinion, you put yourself at a disadvantage if you are studying radiography. Similarly, those with nursing degrees must work for 2 years before thy can apply to Medicine. I believe this is to do with the career change.

Take a look at this for a heads up;

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Graduate_Entry_Medicine_-_a_guide

Also, yes, clinical sciences is notorious for a lot of competitive students, but if you want it enough, you'll get there. Don't let anyone out you off.

I see what you mean, however the reason i suggested radiography is because the prob with OP is that even if he did biomed he probably still wouldnt be able to apply to Bristol, liverpool and Birmingham because in addition to a 2.1 or above in a science degree they ask for 3 A levels at ABB-AAA to include both chemistry and biology, i had phoned these unis up myself when i was applying and the reason was that they don't use the UKCAT so they have to use something else to distiniguish amongts applicants. So unless the OP would want to do two A levels again then it doesnt really matter. In terms of imperial , they are just CRAZY hard to get into probbaly harder then oxbridge IMO. I know of people who applied for med and got rejected for imperial and got offers from either oxford or cambridge and yes they had met the entry requirements of imperial. I am not saying that OP won't have a chance if he works really hard i'me just going with what ive read and what people have told me.

On the other hand, OP can still apply to unis such as kings, leiscter ( both 5 year and graduate if you work in a paid healthcare setting for 1 year which radiography will allow you to do), warwick , st. goerges, south hampton, newcastle and notts and also hull-york med. So yeah still have loads of options OP.

But in the end you gotta do whats right for you, go with what your guts say. Talk to some med students and call up some med schools to ask for advice. In the end i think its best to do something that you enjoy and go on to get a high score in rather than something you feel obligated to do at some point you might lose motivation. Don't worry there are loads of non- science students who still got into medicine. So if this is something you really want go for it and do your best and you''ll get there

Good luck OP xx

That's a good point, lilmiss. The OP has an excellent backup of radiography. Perhaps this is indeed the best option as OP has something soft to fall back on, should he not succeed.
I think the best way to look at it, is OP has 2 and a half years to become that perfect candidate that he needs to be (me included).
Perhaps universities such as Warwick or Nottingham would be the best option. southhampton included. They'll be my options, even though imperial or barts would be lovely, I just wouldn't dare. However, they are very understanding with work experience opportunities - so perhaps the difficulty lies in the interview skill?

Congrats on your offer by the way, lilmiss!

Ill be doing biomedical science at Bradford this September. I'm terribly worried about the future.

Indeed, best of luck, OP