Hello.
I'm 23 years old and a few years ago, I found out I was illegally in the UK. This was hidden from me by my parents, who ignorantly thought that 'everything would be fine' after I finished University, naively thinking my qualifications would become some sort of tether for the UK to 'want' me.
I'd been in the UK from the age of 9. I had no idea anything was amiss.
I found out the truth after my sixth form asked for my passport in order to apply to UCAS, a step my mother did not anticipate, and she had to come clean. Needless to say, I was unable to apply to University, and my dreams - I had thought, were shattered.
In the last week I finally won my lengthy case and I have been granted leave to remain.
I am ecstatic, honestly, beyond words, and now I need some advice into getting back on the road to education.
I got straight A's for my GCSEs, so I know I am academically capable for Medicine (with a LOT of hard work, of course), but unfortunately, finding out about my situation caused me to lose focus, in addition to re-igniting teenage issues with depression, and as a result, my A2 results were not satisfactory, to say the least.
My AS results were okay: an A for Biology, a B for Chemistry, a B for Psychology and a C for Mathematics.
I know that for some people, dreams are only meant to be dreams, especially with the competitiveness in my subject of choice and I am asking advice from you all humbly: I want to at least give it a try. The damned hardest try I've ever given!
But I don't know what my next step should be.
There is only one University in the UK which accepts Medicine applicants who re-take without any need for an explanation, so long as the applicant meets the grades.
My current Plan A is to re-take my A-Levels, apply to the aforementioned University and at the same time, apply to other Universities' far-less-competitive courses such as Biomedical Science (or any other course that will help land me in the healthcare sector - I haven't fully done my research). That way, in the highly likely chance I am rejected for Medicine, the option to take it up as a postgraduate is still open to me in the future once I finish my undergraduate in whatever course I end up choosing.
Does this plan sound viable? Could there be any other possible route for me to take?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all.
Edit:
I guess since I've already bore it all here, my final A-Level grades are: B for Psychology, B for Biology, E for Chemistry and E for Maths. Would I be able to take on any science-based undergraduate courses that could lead towards Medicine in the future with these results and save myself a couple of years? Or would re-takes be absolutely necessary?