Considering Graduate Entry Medicine

Hello all,

I'm currently studying BSc Psychology at Southampton Solent. My Father passed away whilst I was in year 11 so needless to say I didn't put my full heart into my GCSEs. I completed a BTEC ND in Photography at grade distinction, distinction, merit. I didn't want to re sit A levels so applied to universities where I'd be able to do a degree accredited with the British Psychological Society without any prior psychology studies.

Since beginning my course I've found myself more and more interested in human biology (particularly due to learning brief amounts of neuroscience and aetiology of mental disorders). I'm in the process of trying to get work experience working within health services and I have an interview this week for a part time health care assistant role in an NHS hospital.

I've been looking into GEM courses and I'm thinking of going down the UKCAT route as opposed to GAMSAT. Largely because I cannot afford the revision material and test costs. I have emailed numerous universities and they have said my GCSEs and A Levels won't be taken into consideration (excluding those who require certain A Levels such as Chemistry).

Now, my question is whether it would be useful to do AS/A2 in Chem and Bio in order to give myself sufficient grounding for a medicine degree or whether to just apply... or even to look into Access to Medicine courses like the one offered by Sussex Downs College (accepted by Leeds, BSMS and others). Does anyone think it would even be possible to do so whilst studying a degree at the same time?

I would also like any advice on studying a medicine degree with mental health problems. I've suffered from depression and anxiety and been on medication for both. I'm going for a full psychiatric assessment later this month. Part of my depression encompasses compulsive over eating and I am largely overweight. Would any application I put forward be looked down on because of these factors? I am aware you must be pass a health screening and be fit to practise.

Any advice anyone could give me on these subjects would be really appreciated. I have scoured various forums but couldn't find any specific answers relating to these questions. My apologies if they've already been asked.