Can I still study medicine??!!!

Hi guys, so long story short, I was wanting to become an aeronautical engineer and then progress to commercial piloting, however as I was in the process of applying I realised that i've been lying to myself for the longest time, especially recently as i've been doing THOROUGH research into piloting and comparing the pros and cons of each profession, their industry, the work etc. and decided that it's just not for me.

I've done extensive thinking and decided that there are in fact more things in my life that i value more in one profession than the other(such as time with family, impact on others etc,(I could go into more depth about how both have merits in each but just trust fam).

Basically my older sister always wanted to be a doctor and my family encouraged her and she was a high achiever and I basically didn't want to be in her shadow and everyone thought I was dumb and basically the failure and **** - i won't go further - I then convinced myself(and my dad always wanted to be a pilot so he was also pushin me for it , yes ik never let your parents influence you n stuff but obvs if thats what im surrounded if you get me) that piloting was the way forward. I then achieved the following grades: (which Ik are tailored to engineering)

National 5:

Maths- A
English- A
Geography- A
Physics- A (Best in the year if that matters to university applications)
Chemistry- A
Graphic communication- A (Also Best)
PE- A (Also Best)

Scottish Highers

Maths- A
English- A
Physics A (Also Best)
Chemistry- A (Also Best)
Geography- A

Advanced Highers - Studying this year
Maths
Physics
Geography

and i started the year with only advanced maths and phys and doing higher graph-comm , then switched graph comm to advanced chem, then switched advanced chem to advanced geo two days later,(also we're around 3 months in the curriculum) whilst simultaneously, and vigorously, pissing off the head of science arranging the move and any future moves and and my chem teacher, she's always pissed tho, shes a *****, which is where my problem lies because I dunno if she'd let me back in

And this is where it gets mucky cuz medicine deadline passed two weeks ago, however i just so happened to be applying to universities at that time anyways except for different courses - but same deadline because i applied for engineering at cambridge and its the same deadline (why i needed the switch to the three adv highers cuz cambridge be like get 3 or die so) i then realised i don't wanna go to England at all and i'd rather stay in Scotland cuz i'm better off in scotland - especially cuz im not from a wealthy background- like at all- like proper working class- and it's free tuition so i might aswell take advantage of that and save up student loan, which later leads to my realisation that i want to pursue a career in medicine and i only realised that now - ik legit fml-

And basically the deadline passed and i don't have higher biology and the chances of me switching from geography to bio are slim. So assuming that i can't change any of the stuff I have right now, i.e subjects and university application - unless i can withdraw it or something , i'll have to do more digging - oh and i have no work experience in medicine and i doubt i can still apply for it this year, especially since everything i've done up till now revolves around flight and engineering -
my question is - is there any way i can still get into med school- just assume i'm desperate- can i switch during my first year of university?? or anything i can do this year?? and i know it's harder to change for professional degrees like engineering and medicine - but i've heard of sitting foundation years. - maybe i can apply outwith UCAS - and please assume i can't change any subjects from high school - that i leave with the qualifications above - And also as we speak(or rather as i type) my situation with universities is as follows- right now i've applied to the following

Glasgow uni- aeronautical engineering (most likely where i will go if accepted)
Glasgow uni- aerospace systems (not too keen since more electrical)
Strathclyde- Aero-mechanical (talked to admissions guy on open day said he would most likely offer and unconditional thankfully - same with glasgow for both courses). Also no other decent scottish uni's do aero- related engineering e.g standrews doesn't even do engineering and edinburgh doesn't do aeronautical.
Imperial college London- aeronautical engineering - they already responded and i've got an interview on the 23rd of November.(mon the stress)
Cambridge- Engineering - meant to be studying for their entrance exam in two days but my head is to gone to worry about that rn i need advice.
Rip my soul
Alllllllllllllllllll help would be blessed - much love guys

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 1

Nuttyy

22

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(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 2

Joshua watters

OP

3

Original post by Nuttyy

It seems that you are very undecided. What I'd recommend is that you take a gap year. Think properly about what you want to do. This decision will dictate the majority of the upcoming 35-40 years (maybe more if this cu*t government decides). Taking 1 year off to decide is nothing compared to the years that this decision will affect.

Hope I've helped a little :smile:

Thanks for replying man n you could say that :smile:

) what about my grades tho, lets say i did take a gap year, can i still get into med school with those grades, or is biology a must? Be real with me.
I'll try contacting universities aswell - i just thought to.

Reply 3

Nuttyy

22

..

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 4

AuroraNyx

17

Original post by Joshua watters

Thanks for replying man n you could say that :smile:

) what about my grades tho, lets say i did take a gap year, can i still get into med school with those grades, or is biology a must? Be real with me.
I'll try contacting universities aswell - i just thought to.

Biology isn't a must for some universities, I know Keele is one. You absolutely must have Chemistry though, and to be honest, your Medicine degree with largely use Bio AL as a foundation. There are some universities that do Medicine with a Foundation Year if you find one you particularly like that asks for Biology.

Edit: I see you don't do Higher Bio or Chem, which might be problematic. Some Foundation Years do let you in with 2 science subjects, such as Cardiff, but again, it's better to look through each university to find out.

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 5

Joshua watters

OP

3

Original post by CastCuraga

Biology isn't a must for some universities, I know Keele is one. You absolutely must have Chemistry though, and to be honest, your Medicine degree with largely use Bio AL as a foundation. There are some universities that do Medicine with a Foundation Year if you find one you particularly like that asks for Biology.

Edit: I see you don't do Higher Bio or Chem, which might be problematic. Some Foundation Years do let you in with 2 science subjects, such as Cardiff, but again, it's better to look through each university to find out.

oh no I done Higher Chem and Nat 5 Chem and got A's if that changes things it's just biology ive not done, and i would try to switch to biology but iv'e already applied to university for engineering and the medicine deadline has passed, unless anyone knows if i can call the university and explain or something ? But either way i really doubt my guidance teacher is gunna help :/

Reply 6

AuroraNyx

17

Original post by Joshua watters

oh no I done Higher Chem and Nat 5 Chem and got A's if that changes things it's just biology ive not done, and i would try to switch to biology but iv'e already applied to university for engineering and the medicine deadline has passed, unless anyone knows if i can call the university and explain or something ? But either way i really doubt my guidance teacher is gunna help :/

If you already did Chemistry then you've got everything you need for most universities, like I said some don't ask for Biology and some have a Foundation Year where you make up the difference

As for the medicine deadline you will have to apply next year now, but that's ample time to collect work experience - which you will need to apply for Medicine anywhere.

I'm not entirely sure what an advanced higher is and how it differs from a higher but you'll need to make sure you get the best grades possible in them as well since universities look at every grade you have

If I'm completely honest speaking as someone coming out of Medicine to do Biology I can't emphasise how much you need to be certain you want to do it and be prepared to work ungodly hours. Just because your parents want you to, or you don't want to feel in someone's shadow, won't feel so bad when the pressures of the medical career and curriculum catch up with you.

I'm not saying give up on Medicine, because I don't believe in crushing anyone's dream - I'm saying given you have to wait another year until you can even go for Medicine, make absolutely sure it's right for you and don't throw away the opportunity you've set up to go to very high ranking universities as a result.

Reply 7

Joshua watters

OP

3

Original post by CastCuraga

If you already did Chemistry then you've got everything you need for most universities, like I said some don't ask for Biology and some have a Foundation Year where you make up the difference

As for the medicine deadline you will have to apply next year now, but that's ample time to collect work experience - which you will need to apply for Medicine anywhere.

I'm not entirely sure what an advanced higher is and how it differs from a higher but you'll need to make sure you get the best grades possible in them as well since universities look at every grade you have

If I'm completely honest speaking as someone coming out of Medicine to do Biology I can't emphasise how much you need to be certain you want to do it and be prepared to work ungodly hours. Just because your parents want you to, or you don't want to feel in someone's shadow, won't feel so bad when the pressures of the medical career and curriculum catch up with you.

I'm not saying give up on Medicine, because I don't believe in crushing anyone's dream - I'm saying given you have to wait another year until you can even go for Medicine, make absolutely sure it's right for you and don't throw away the opportunity you've set up to go to very high ranking universities as a result.

Yeah i get that, and i see where you're coming from, thank you so much for the help man

Reply 8

Nurani61105

12

You won't be able to switch from any degree into medicine (only some universities let the top 2% of biomed student switch to the medicine course but I've seen 2 do that). Even if you wanted to do postgrad med after your engineering degree, there's not a lot of universities that consider engineering degree close enough to a medical science degree (such as pharmacy, biomed, biology, neuroscience etc.) Furthermore, statistically for undergrad medicine the applicant to offer ratio is about 1 in 8, for post grad this can instantly rise to 1 in 40. So it's way harder to get in afterwards but I guess people still do it.

Foundation years is usually for those who are eligable for it, you need to live in a deprived/low income post code, go to a comprehensive school etc. Otherwise everyone would apply for the foundation year courses. You're going to have to look outside of Scotland, especially because there's only around 33 medical schools across the UK, and the only ones you can apply to are ones that do not require biology.

I would really weigh up your choices, why do you want to do medicine over engineering? You need to be realistic, medicine is demanding and the pay is quite ****, and you're still in training after you do 5-6 years in uni (you do 2 years of foundation training and then further 5-7 years of specialised training). The only way you can gain a realistic view is by doing work experience in a hospital, and a lot of it. If you can't stand 4 weeks, how can you stand it for the rest of your life? It's very important.

Also check if they want chemistry as an Advanced higher and not just a higher. This is vital because that's the only medicine required subject you have.

What I would suggest is try hard to get into engineering and secure your offers, you can always reject them later if you do decide you definitely want to medicine. If you do decide to, you'll have to reject your offers and take a gap year. It's very important you spend the summer revising for the UKCAT, this will require a lot of time out of your summer, typically 4 weeks of preparation, because you need your results for September 2018 to apply again for medicine. Aim for at least the 7th or 8th decile, but usually 700+ is considered quite comfortable to get in. During the time you immediately know you want to take a gap year and September, you really need to build up a portfolio of work experience (in hospitals/GPs), volunteering (many universities look for things like volunteering at an elderly people's home, hospice- in short notice you can probably get away with only doing 2-3 months of it). You'll need it by September in order to write your personal statement.

It sounds lengthy, but medicine is. It's not until you apply that you realise how easy other degrees are to get into, no work experience required, no lengthy volunteering, no interviews, no admissions tests (I mean some degrees have some of these but not of them together, as well as having an A grade minimum at some of the hardest A level subjects) I am trying to be honest though, at the end of the day, this isn't a light decision, this is your life. Good luck x

Reply 9

wl1

8

Original post by Joshua watters

You can still do medicine after an engineering degree but if you want to do medicine take a gap year and reapply next year.

I have a BEng in Aerospace Engineering and now I'm a first year at Newcastle.

Reply 10

Joshua watters

OP

3

Original post by wl1

You can still do medicine after an engineering degree but if you want to do medicine take a gap year and reapply next year.

I have a BEng in Aerospace Engineering and now I'm a first year at Newcastle.