Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2020 Entry

I did think about this! Are you self-teaching? And how are you going about taking the practicals?

Hi everyone, this is my first post on TSR, so please be gentle with me.

I know, I'm well in advance here, but I'm a mature student currently partaking in an Open Uni Natural Sciences Degree with a heavy biology part..... My degree title will be BSc Natural Sciences-Biology.

Basically, although academically bright, I didn't do well with my A levels as I was suffering through a huge bout of depression at the time (2007-2008) and went trough a self destructive phase, but my dream has always been medicine.
After having my two children, I decided to try and pursue the dream and started doing the above mentioned degree in 2015....I am expected to graduate in Aug 2020..... I'm aiming for a 1st, and have no reason to suspect I'll get anything less.
So, now, I'm battling through this degree and looking at Med schools for GEM, looking at the current and previous year entry points and have narrowed it down to 5 that will accept students based purely on academic results at degree and don't include A level (obviously interview, work experience, GAMSAT or BMAT or UKCAT withstanding).

After totally botching up my A-levels 10 years ago, I am absolutely determined to flourish as I should have done in order to get a place for GEM, which means I'm studying and planning everything in advance (literally talking 3 year plans now), to try and succeed.

My questions are:
-Will doing a degree with the OU have a negative impact on my application, even if I end up with a 1st? (I know for instance with the Imperial C London, they require a checklist to be completed and signed to say that the required topics have been studied etc)
-When should I be sitting the UKCAT, GAMSAT and BMAT? If I apply by October 2019 deadline, do I sit the exams in the Summer of 2019? Or by the summer of 2019? As I think the GAMSAT/ BMAT results don't come back until after the October 2019 application deadline?
-Is it too early to buy the GAMSAT gold books? Is each edition only relevant to the year you plan to test? Or will I find it beneficial to order previous year textbooks? I'm just cringing at the £200 price tag and will buy it if it helps, but if its pointless until the actual test year, its an awful lot of money to throw away.
-Has anyone else been in a similar situation to me and been successful? Am i doing this OU degree with absolutely zero hope of making it into medicine? Bearing in mind that I'll be 31 by the time my course starts, so haven't exactly got loads of time on my hands, particularly if I choose to go down a surgical route..... It would be nice to make consultant before I'm due to retire


I'm sorry for the complicated post, I'm just feeling a little panicked that I won't make it

Hi everyone, this is my first post on TSR, so please be gentle with me.

I know, I'm well in advance here, but I'm a mature student currently partaking in an Open Uni Natural Sciences Degree with a heavy biology part..... My degree title will be BSc Natural Sciences-Biology.

Basically, although academically bright, I didn't do well with my A levels as I was suffering through a huge bout of depression at the time (2007-2008) and went trough a self destructive phase, but my dream has always been medicine.
After having my two children, I decided to try and pursue the dream and started doing the above mentioned degree in 2015....I am expected to graduate in Aug 2020..... I'm aiming for a 1st, and have no reason to suspect I'll get anything less.
So, now, I'm battling through this degree and looking at Med schools for GEM, looking at the current and previous year entry points and have narrowed it down to 5 that will accept students based purely on academic results at degree and don't include A level (obviously interview, work experience, GAMSAT or BMAT or UKCAT withstanding).

After totally botching up my A-levels 10 years ago, I am absolutely determined to flourish as I should have done in order to get a place for GEM, which means I'm studying and planning everything in advance (literally talking 3 year plans now), to try and succeed.

My questions are:
-Will doing a degree with the OU have a negative impact on my application, even if I end up with a 1st? (I know for instance with the Imperial C London, they require a checklist to be completed and signed to say that the required topics have been studied etc)
-When should I be sitting the UKCAT, GAMSAT and BMAT? If I apply by October 2019 deadline, do I sit the exams in the Summer of 2019? Or by the summer of 2019? As I think the GAMSAT/ BMAT results don't come back until after the October 2019 application deadline?
-Is it too early to buy the GAMSAT gold books? Is each edition only relevant to the year you plan to test? Or will I find it beneficial to order previous year textbooks? I'm just cringing at the £200 price tag and will buy it if it helps, but if its pointless until the actual test year, its an awful lot of money to throw away.
-Has anyone else been in a similar situation to me and been successful? Am i doing this OU degree with absolutely zero hope of making it into medicine? Bearing in mind that I'll be 31 by the time my course starts, so haven't exactly got loads of time on my hands, particularly if I choose to go down a surgical route..... It would be nice to make consultant before I'm due to retire


I'm sorry for the complicated post, I'm just feeling a little panicked that I won't make it

I’ve started planning my 2020 application today! I have no faith in this year’s cycle and am just expecting to get rejected lol

How have you starting planning? Any tips?

Hello everyone,

I'm physiotherapist who's planning to do the GEM in 2020. I was wondering if there are any current health professionals thinking of doing the same and how you're going to tailor your personal statement to match your experience and desire to study medicine.

My main worry is that my examples will be framed from a physio perspective of patient contact even though I work closely with the medical team. Would any of you suggest shadowing the medics or seek to do more work experience in a community setting?

Are there any other medical professionals thinking about doing GEM? What are your hopes, dreams, worries or fears?

Hi, I’m also a physio hoping to apply to GEM in 2020. I’m still not sure how I’m going to tailor my personal statement or where exactly I want to apply yet but I personally would prefer to apply to UKCAT only universities but I think I’m going to do my UKCAT and get the score before I decide 100% as I may end up needing to do GAMSAT too. I’m mainly worried that I won’t get in and about telling my manager that I need a reference, though I’m sure they will be happy to do one... it’s just a bit awkward. I’m also worried that if I don’t get in that I won’t have as many opportunities within my trust as a physio as they will know that Inam trying to get into medical school.

Have you thought about where you might apply yet?

Hey! It's good to meet you. Its difficult breaching that conversation with the rest of the team. I'm hoping to ask a member of my current MDT to write my reference, though it depends if you work with the medical teams in your job.

Regarding opportunities, I agree wih your point. It does feel unfair to lead your team on a false pretence ton vest the time in you with training or whatever. But at the same time, you will need these skills to enhance your practice as a physio or a doctor, even if you are looking to move up a band. I would argue that you would both benefit from giving you more opportunities.

I'm limited to London unis atm so it will be kings (alma mater) and st georges. I haven't got a chemistry a level so im planning on doing it over the next year. That way, it should improve my scope to barts and may allow me to get into the 5 year course, if all fails.

I am looking to try to do medicine in a couple if years but my BSc is not really applicable (Marine Biology). I want to do a MSc to improve my chances, what would be good recommendations? I eventually want to specialise in pathology.