Is it worth it?
I am really confused and worrying about medicine because I really want to do it but the only way I can get on is through post graduate entry. When I complete a degree and go to medicine will it be worth it ? All the debt and what is the chance that ill get a place?
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The value is going to depend on the person. If you're strictly looking at money, no, there are much easier and cheaper ways to get rich. It all depends on the value you put on being a doctor.
Original post by glfharris
The value is going to depend on the person. If you're strictly looking at money, no, there are much easier and cheaper ways to get rich. It all depends on the value you put on being a doctor.
I want to be a surgeon! Not for the money but I want to help and save people, it's a dream of mine! The money is just a bonus!
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Original post by Brentton
I want to be a surgeon! Not for the money but I want to help and save people, it's a dream of mine! The money is just a bonus!
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Well then the only person who can see if it's worth it is you.
Hey,
If you really want to be a surgeon that badly then you should go for it- its what you want to do. But it will be pretty tough- even once you get onto the postgrad course, thats the easy bit! After the course, you are guaranteed FY1 and FY2 regardless of your honours or university, but when applying for your specialty, those with higher honours (and from higher ranked universities, but this is less important than your honours) have a priority over what they want to choose. And obviously surgery is the favourite choice amongst many, so these spaces (particular cardiovascular,neurosurgery and general surgery) are almost always full up. It depends on what type of surgery you want to specialise in. But ultimately, it will depend on what honours you get- that is the most improtant factor.
Hope that helps in clarifying how it works, but as I said, if you are really motivated and passionate, your character will come through and you will most likely obtain good marks. I would say if you really want to do it, go for it!
Good Luck!
If you really want to be a surgeon that badly then you should go for it- its what you want to do. But it will be pretty tough- even once you get onto the postgrad course, thats the easy bit! After the course, you are guaranteed FY1 and FY2 regardless of your honours or university, but when applying for your specialty, those with higher honours (and from higher ranked universities, but this is less important than your honours) have a priority over what they want to choose. And obviously surgery is the favourite choice amongst many, so these spaces (particular cardiovascular,neurosurgery and general surgery) are almost always full up. It depends on what type of surgery you want to specialise in. But ultimately, it will depend on what honours you get- that is the most improtant factor.
Hope that helps in clarifying how it works, but as I said, if you are really motivated and passionate, your character will come through and you will most likely obtain good marks. I would say if you really want to do it, go for it!
Good Luck!
Original post by Litterbug
Hey,
If you really want to be a surgeon that badly then you should go for it- its what you want to do. But it will be pretty tough- even once you get onto the postgrad course, thats the easy bit! After the course, you are guaranteed FY1 and FY2 regardless of your honours or university, but when applying for your specialty, those with higher honours (and from higher ranked universities, but this is less important than your honours) have a priority over what they want to choose. And obviously surgery is the favourite choice amongst many, so these spaces (particular cardiovascular,neurosurgery and general surgery) are almost always full up. It depends on what type of surgery you want to specialise in. But ultimately, it will depend on what honours you get- that is the most improtant factor.
Hope that helps in clarifying how it works, but as I said, if you are really motivated and passionate, your character will come through and you will most likely obtain good marks. I would say if you really want to do it, go for it!
Good Luck!
If you really want to be a surgeon that badly then you should go for it- its what you want to do. But it will be pretty tough- even once you get onto the postgrad course, thats the easy bit! After the course, you are guaranteed FY1 and FY2 regardless of your honours or university, but when applying for your specialty, those with higher honours (and from higher ranked universities, but this is less important than your honours) have a priority over what they want to choose. And obviously surgery is the favourite choice amongst many, so these spaces (particular cardiovascular,neurosurgery and general surgery) are almost always full up. It depends on what type of surgery you want to specialise in. But ultimately, it will depend on what honours you get- that is the most improtant factor.
Hope that helps in clarifying how it works, but as I said, if you are really motivated and passionate, your character will come through and you will most likely obtain good marks. I would say if you really want to do it, go for it!
Good Luck!
That's very helpful, my concern is that I'm doing a BTEC now cause I messed around at school and ruined my gcses so I couldn't do a levels so I'm going round the back, so studying BTEC, will it give me enough theoretical information I need or will I struggle without a levels?
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Saying that how can I study a levels when I'm already on a BTEC?!
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It's very expensive though, and I'm not from a rich family
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Its expensive but not massively in the grand scheme of things. Exam entries are about £40 so you will probably be looking at £320 in total assuming no retakes for 2 A Levels that will determine your future. Having said that I just realised Biology and Chemistry has coursework, no idea how you would do that 
. There's probably a way though, look into it. There must be some boards that don't have coursework for those 2 subjects.
. There's probably a way though, look into it. There must be some boards that don't have coursework for those 2 subjects.I'll have to have a look then 
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Original post by Brentton
Could your sixth form/college not let you complete the a-level's whilst completing your BTEC, as you obviously sound motivated enough to put the effort in, then maybe you wouldnt have to pay for the a level course, i understand this would be time consuming but i think it would increase your chances significantly
Original post by Litterbug
I think A level biology and chemistry will be required or else the foundation basis of medical school (particularly for you since you are applying for the postgrad course) will be very tough
Barely any of the theoretical content of A levels is needed at medical school. The relevant stuff gets repeated early on in the course anyway.
Original post by Brentton
I'll have to have a look then
A levels are not the only route into Medicine. You could look into Access courses which would give you a solid grounding in the necessary sciences and are designed for people coming into medicine from an atypical academic background. Or, depending on what your BTEC is in and what grades you get, you may be eligible for medicine courses with a foundation year.
Original post by 06shawm
Could your sixth form/college not let you complete the a-level's whilst completing your BTEC, as you obviously sound motivated enough to put the effort in, then maybe you wouldnt have to pay for the a level course, i understand this would be time consuming but i think it would increase your chances significantly
They will not let me otherwise I would be studying a levels now
I didn't have the requirements I wish I was mature in secondary school and actually payed attention the way I do now Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by davekhan
It seems like your only option is grad medicine, do a degree, try and make it in a science field like biomedical science, biology or chemistry so that you get a feel for the subject. Get good grades and then apply and if you get in, then everything will fall into place.
I was looking to complete a degree in biochemistry
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Original post by Becca-Sarah
Barely any of the theoretical content of A levels is needed at medical school. The relevant stuff gets repeated early on in the course anyway.
A levels are not the only route into Medicine. You could look into Access courses which would give you a solid grounding in the necessary sciences and are designed for people coming into medicine from an atypical academic background. Or, depending on what your BTEC is in and what grades you get, you may be eligible for medicine courses with a foundation year.
A levels are not the only route into Medicine. You could look into Access courses which would give you a solid grounding in the necessary sciences and are designed for people coming into medicine from an atypical academic background. Or, depending on what your BTEC is in and what grades you get, you may be eligible for medicine courses with a foundation year.
This was a very helpful post! I have never heard of access courses! They sound very good and only take a year so that is going to be highly considered! Do you have any idea on the UKCAT score universities require?!
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Original post by Brentton
This was a very helpful post! I have never heard of access courses! They sound very good and only take a year so that is going to be highly considered! Do you have any idea on the UKCAT score universities require?!
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It depends on the university. Take a look at this page: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/UKCAT
Original post by Brentton
This was a very helpful post! I have never heard of access courses! They sound very good and only take a year so that is going to be highly considered! Do you have any idea on the UKCAT score universities require?!
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Do bear in mind, however, that not all Access courses are accepted by all medical schools, so you need to research it carefully.
UKCAT score varies each year and by each uni, though there are some which don't use it at all and some that don't put much weighting on it. Check out the link in the post above this for more info.
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