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Options for applying to Med with below average GCSE grades?

Some background: I'm currently in y12, studying Biology (predicted A), Chemistry (predicted A) and Maths (predicted A*), and my GCSE grades are 9887765544 (average 6.3), including English Lang (7), English Lit (5), Maths (8), Combined Science (9-8), I also hold a current Level 2 National Pool Lifeguard Qualification at a Pass (the qualification is pass/fail).

My GCSEs are below average as a result of poor / inconsistent teaching, and incorrect class placements in y10 and 11.

I was wondering if my GCSEs will be a major barrier for applying to Med, despite my strong A-level predicted grades (I also do believe that I am capable of raising my predicted grades to 3x A*s). This is due to many med schools I'm looking at (e.g. Southampton) asking for 7x gcses at 6+, whilst I only have 6.

My main questions are,
Is it worth sitting an additional GCSE privately, in order to make up for the missed GCSE?
And is it even worth applying for Med altogether, as I'm not completely confident that my supercurriculars + work experience are strong enough?

Reply 1

GANFYD

Original post by sophcantread

Some background: I'm currently in y12, studying Biology (predicted A), Chemistry (predicted A) and Maths (predicted A*), and my GCSE grades are 9887765544 (average 6.3), including English Lang (7), English Lit (5), Maths (8), Combined Science (9-8), I also hold a current Level 2 National Pool Lifeguard Qualification at a Pass (the qualification is pass/fail).
My GCSEs are below average as a result of poor / inconsistent teaching, and incorrect class placements in y10 and 11.
I was wondering if my GCSEs will be a major barrier for applying to Med, despite my strong A-level predicted grades (I also do believe that I am capable of raising my predicted grades to 3x A*s). This is due to many med schools I'm looking at (e.g. Southampton) asking for 7x gcses at 6+, whilst I only have 6.
My main questions are,
Is it worth sitting an additional GCSE privately, in order to make up for the missed GCSE?
And is it even worth applying for Med altogether, as I'm not completely confident that my supercurriculars + work experience are strong enough?

Whether you are shortlisted or not will primarily depend on your UCAT, and you don't have that yet.
WEx is mostly of use during the interview, but does not need to be shadowing.

You can only apply to 4 med schools, but deciding where you are going to apply without all your stats in hand is a recipe for disappointment. Your GCSEs will give you plenty of options to apply for, with a good UCAT, so I am not sure it is worth resitting them, but if you are determined to apply for med schools with higher requirements or that use GCSEs for shortlisting, then you have no option. Bear in mind some med schools do not accept GCSE resits and some only if they are done max 1yr after the originals

Reply 2

sellos

if you live in a poor area you could receive a contextual offer where I think they might overlook your GCSE grades (I’m not sure) , to apply to medicine in general all you need is bio & chem a level,good UCAT and for work experience they prefer volunteering and / or shadowing, but you don’t need it,there are virtual work experiences you can do .You can still achieve those things now so you still have a chance at doing medicine.
For your GCSE grades,since you are only one grade away I think you should retake one of your subject this year to have the best chance at applying.Perhaos do the subject you got a 5 in bcs youre not that far away from a 6.
Whether you retake your GCSEs or not depends on how badly you wanna do medicine in Southampton , other unis usually just require a 6 in maths and English.