Can you be too good for a course (A102)?

I really want to study medicine and have been looking at universities. While doing so I stumbled across a course at Southampton that is specifically set up to widen access into medicine and I meet the entry requirements for it. The thing is for the course the entry requirements (grade wise) are really low and I’m wondering whether having good grades (average for A100 entry) would mean that you’re unlikely to get in, because the course just seems to be for those who didn’t try in school?

Here's the course:
http://www.som.soton.ac.uk/undergrad/course/bm6/entry/


(sorry if I sound arrogant )

I really want to study medicine and have been looking at universities. While doing so I stumbled across a course at Southampton that is specifically set up to widen access into medicine and I meet the entry requirements for it. The thing is for the course the entry requirements (grade wise) are really low and I’m wondering whether having good grades (average for A100 entry) would mean that you’re unlikely to get in, because the course just seems to be for those who didn’t try in school?

HAHA!

(sorry if I sound arrogant )

Tbh, if you've got good grades, the idea of the year zero of the 6 year course (once you've passed the year zero, you're allowed straight onto the BM5 course) wouldn't help you much. The first/zero year is about getting students up to the required level (so one would assume those who haven't got the AAA in the Sciences or whatever) in order to then start on the 5 year course. You also have to meet some of the criteria:

You must satisfy two of the eligibility criteria listed below in order to be eligible for the BM6 programme, and you must be expected to provide documentary proof.

First generation applicant to higher education

Parents, guardian or self in receipt of a means-tested benefit

Looked after young people living in supported accommodation

In receipt of an EMA (Education Maintenance Award) of similar grant

Living in an area with a postcode which falls within the lowest 20 per cent of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (authenticated by the University), or a member of a travelling family

Graduate and international applicants are not eligible to apply of this programme.

Hmm true. I easily fulfil the requirements (4/5), but because I’m almost desperate to study medicine this sort of seemed like a “safer/easier” route in then just A100. Thanks for the advice I’ll probably just go for the normal entry route – aside from being a wasted year, it’s pretty greedy to essentially block someone else, who would have benefited from the access course, to make it easier for me.

You can’t deny that to just achieve the minimum grade (BCC at Alevel and 5 A*-Cs at GCSE) you couldn’t have been working that hard at school (and if you were you, most likely, really struggle when it gets to the 5 year med course).

Hmm true. I easily fulfil the requirements (4/5), but because I’m almost desperate to study medicine this sort of seemed like a “safer/easier” route in then just A100. Thanks for the advice I’ll probably just go for the normal entry route – aside from being a wasted year, it’s pretty greedy to essentially block someone else, who would have benefited from the access course, to make it easier for me.

the problem is that you ARE, but you dont believe you are.

enter it if you qualify, that is all.

but even when I look at A level chemistry now, it makes very little sense to me. I'm not stupidd

because your immediate choice of word is 'too good for' - your natural first thought is to consider yourself above it, by proxy, or else you would have used other words as your immediate first choice.
at the moment, you dont have a place there, so you dont even know that you are too good. at least you are asking, mind.

If you bothered to read the OP then you would have seen that it was a problem of whether my grades were to good for that type of course (based on it's requirements/purpose) - why would I want to apply if I considered myself above it? Although it was badly worded


its your stupidity thats the problem, caged away in your little textbook comfortable world. if you were disadvantaged, you would know its not the case you describe.

I really don't know what you mean by this?

nothing irritates me more than 'failed etonians' and their ilk trying to pretend that they are disadvantaged. please dont tell me that you are one.

Okay I really don't see your problem with me!?! I'm amazed that you class me as a "failed etonian", what was the basis for this?

you have no idea what it takes to study medicine, so why the ' you cant deny' crap?
talking about things you know nothing about, as if you know everything about it isnt a good start.
I don't claim I know everything, but the people who I have spoken to/seen on here have all said that medicine is a demanding course.

BM6 isn't aimed at stupid people or for people who don't try at school, rather it's for people who have the POTENTIAL to be good despite their harsh backgrounds. For example they may have had to work part time to support family and study along side, or support a disabled family member while studying and so on.

I'm predicted AAAA (maths,chem,bio, chem) at A/level (I hope I get this). You might be wondering why on earth I'm doing the bm6?
I have very poor GCSEs. I only got CC in GCSE science (due to mitigating circumstances). I self learned the whole bloody GCSE sciences before starting college, I moved a college (from school) so I'd be somewhere with no distractions from past friends. I worked my frikin' socks off for the 2 years at A/level to prove that I'm good enough.
Despite all of this many medical schools did fail to over look my GCSE science. I couldn't apply to bunch of them as I didn't even meet the GCSE requirments and when I contacted them they straight out told me to not apply (for example nottingham - those buggers who needs them anyway

BM6 isn't aimed at stupid people or for people who don't try at school, rather it's for people who have the POTENTIAL to be good despite their harsh backgrounds. For example they may have had to work part time to support family and study along side, or support a disabled family member while studying and so on.

I'm predicted AAAA (maths,chem,bio, chem) at A/level (I hope I get this). You might be wondering why on earth I'm doing the bm6?
I have very poor GCSEs. I only got CC in GCSE science (due to mitigating circumstances). I self learned the whole bloody GCSE sciences before starting college, I moved a college (from school) so I'd be somewhere with no distractions from past friends. I worked my frikin' socks off for the 2 years at A/level to prove that I'm good enough.
Despite all of this many medical schools did fail to over look my GCSE science. I couldn't apply to bunch of them as I didn't even meet the GCSE requirments and when I contacted them they straight out told me to not apply (for example nottingham - those buggers who needs them anyway

I am a final year medical student who did BM6. I acheived over the minimum at GCSE, got around the minimum at A level.

I did work hard at school, very hard.

I have not struggled (academically) with medical school at all. A levels were much harder for me. Granted I had other stuff going on, but even when I look at A level chemistry now, it makes very little sense to me. I'm not stupid, and as long as nothing goes drastically wrong, i'm going to be a doctor next year.

And yes, you do sound arrogant.

I just wanted to apologise to both of you. In my OP I know I came across as rude about the course and I know that good grades =/= a good doctor (for a variety of reasons). I know the sole reason (aside from working hard) I got fairly good grades was because I was lucky enough to go to a good school, but when typing the qu I didn't really think about the reasons for some people getting lower grades.

My main query was whether the course accepted people with grades above the min. requirements

hi connor. sorry if i sounded harsh, but its probably a bit much for me to expect you to see applications in terms of 'best fit'and 'lesser fit' rather than too good when you are young. its clear that you ave buffers in place to set that view right.

i am not at all bothered about being PC - I dont really care if we call all medics geniuses and all biomeds crets, or whatever. I am concerned about your personal development, and the mindset that would allow you to word your title as it is.


this may sound controversial, but if you are from a poor background, and qualify for BM6, then please do go ahead with the application there even if you do ave A grades, it wont affect your application.