The Student Room Group

3 A level resits for medicine / dentistry

I'm currently 20 years old. I still haven't gone to university as my dream courses or medicine/dentistry and I don't want to study anything else. Im getting older now so I really need to go university so I can build a successful career.

At GCSE I achieved 7,6 in science, 7 in math and 7 in English language 6 in literature 6 in geography and l2 D* in Health and social and business.

At A levels I achieved BED the first and second time (I didn't retake the B I got in business the second time). This was due to undergoing some thing which counted as extenuating circumstances. I want to give my A levels one last try now that I feel prepared but I want to ask is there any universities for med or dentist that will consider me?

Reply 1

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Reply 2

Original post by Rohan007best
I'm currently 20 years old. I still haven't gone to university as my dream courses or medicine/dentistry and I don't want to study anything else. Im getting older now so I really need to go university so I can build a successful career.
At GCSE I achieved 7,6 in science, 7 in math and 7 in English language 6 in literature 6 in geography and l2 D* in Health and social and business.
At A levels I achieved BED the first and second time (I didn't retake the B I got in business the second time). This was due to undergoing some thing which counted as extenuating circumstances. I want to give my A levels one last try now that I feel prepared but I want to ask is there any universities for med or dentist that will consider me?

Have a look at
Aston
Bristol
Exeter
Sheffield
Southampton
Kings
Edge Hill
Newcastle

But some will want A*s in resat subjects which is going some.
Your GCSEs may also mean you are not competitive at most of those, unfortunately.

If you think your ExCircs would be accepted, you can contact med schools and ask, as they may then ignore first sit.
You can also ask whether any of them would consider you if you did an Access to Medicine course instead of repeating A levels. They may not, as usually they do not accept alternative qualification at the same level, unless significant time has passed

Exeter and Plymouth may also consider you to be a mature non grad, meaning they would want GAMSAT and this may overrule your A level results, so contact them and ask.

So Bristol, Exeter, Edge Hill and possibly Plymouth are where you should be looking. Southampton are an option if they accept your GCSE alternatives. This would mean a high UCAT would be needed for shortlisting.

Have you sat the UCAT before? What sort of score did you get? You may be one of the few where an alternative degree and GEM is actually the more sensible option

Reply 3

Original post by GANFYD
Have a look at
Aston
Bristol
Exeter
Sheffield
Southampton
Kings
Edge Hill
Newcastle
But some will want A*s in resat subjects which is going some.
Your GCSEs may also mean you are not competitive at most of those, unfortunately.
If you think your ExCircs would be accepted, you can contact med schools and ask, as they may then ignore first sit.
You can also ask whether any of them would consider you if you did an Access to Medicine course instead of repeating A levels. They may not, as usually they do not accept alternative qualification at the same level, unless significant time has passed
Exeter and Plymouth may also consider you to be a mature non grad, meaning they would want GAMSAT and this may overrule your A level results, so contact them and ask.
So Bristol, Exeter, Edge Hill and possibly Plymouth are where you should be looking. Southampton are an option if they accept your GCSE alternatives. This would mean a high UCAT would be needed for shortlisting.
Have you sat the UCAT before? What sort of score did you get? You may be one of the few where an alternative degree and GEM is actually the more sensible option

I did the ucat once in 2022 I think and I got 2500 band 2. if I do GEM would they take into account my a level grades which are disgustingly low?

Reply 4

Original post by Rohan007best
I'm currently 20 years old. I still haven't gone to university as my dream courses or medicine/dentistry and I don't want to study anything else. Im getting older now so I really need to go university so I can build a successful career.
At GCSE I achieved 7,6 in science, 7 in math and 7 in English language 6 in literature 6 in geography and l2 D* in Health and social and business.
At A levels I achieved BED the first and second time (I didn't retake the B I got in business the second time). This was due to undergoing some thing which counted as extenuating circumstances. I want to give my A levels one last try now that I feel prepared but I want to ask is there any universities for med or dentist that will consider me?

no bro no chance.

Reply 5

Original post by Rohan007best
I did the ucat once in 2022 I think and I got 2500 band 2. if I do GEM would they take into account my a level grades which are disgustingly low?

Many GEM courses do not look at A levels if you have done a life sciences degree, but they do generally need a higher UCAT or the GAMSAT. 2500 would not have made the shortlist for many, if any, GEM courses, so you need to see if you think you canimprove things

Reply 6

Original post by GANFYD
Many GEM courses do not look at A levels if you have done a life sciences degree, but they do generally need a higher UCAT or the GAMSAT. 2500 would not have made the shortlist for many, if any, GEM courses, so you need to see if you think you canimprove things

What would u say a good ucat for gem would be. Also I plan on studying Mpharm as I know a lot of med students do biomed as it's quicker but I feel if I don't get into med school at least the career of a pharmacist is also decent with lots of jobs out there what do U think?

Reply 7

Original post by Rohan007best
What would u say a good ucat for gem would be. Also I plan on studying Mpharm as I know a lot of med students do biomed as it's quicker but I feel if I don't get into med school at least the career of a pharmacist is also decent with lots of jobs out there what do U think?

You really want to be 2800 or better.
I always advise to study something you can see yourself having a career in if medicine does not work out, as GEM is even tougher than standard entry. So if a being a Pharmacist would interest you, it would be a good choice

Reply 8

Original post by GANFYD
You really want to be 2800 or better.
I always advise to study something you can see yourself having a career in if medicine does not work out, as GEM is even tougher than standard entry. So if a being a Pharmacist would interest you, it would be a good choice

Is there a limit to how many times u can apply for gem

Reply 9

Original post by Rohan007best
Is there a limit to how many times u can apply for gem

Not that I am aware of, but some may only interview you a certain number of times

Reply 10

Original post by GANFYD
Not that I am aware of, but some may only interview you a certain number of times

Hi ganfyd thanks so much for Ur support. Will the uni I get my degree from make a difference to med schools? I'm considering going to Birmingham city university as it's close to home but it isn't a Russel group.

Reply 11

Original post by Rohan007best
Hi ganfyd thanks so much for Ur support. Will the uni I get my degree from make a difference to med schools? I'm considering going to Birmingham city university as it's close to home but it isn't a Russel group.

Nope, where you graduate from makes no difference, except for the few places that prioritise their own grads, eg Soton, Cardiff, HYMS (for A100)

Reply 12

Original post by GANFYD
Nope, where you graduate from makes no difference, except for the few places that prioritise their own grads, eg Soton, Cardiff, HYMS (for A100)

Sorry to be a pain but based on my A levels of BED and weaker GCSES assuming I get a 2:1 in my degree and like 2700-2800 in UCAT can u name some examples of unis I can apply to?

Reply 13

Original post by Rohan007best
Sorry to be a pain but based on my A levels of BED and weaker GCSES assuming I get a 2:1 in my degree and like 2700-2800 in UCAT can u name some examples of unis I can apply to?

Assuming a life sciences degree that each accepts (so check)
Kings
Newcastle
Nottingham
Southampton
Swansea
Chester
Worcester
Warwick
Barts
SGUL
Ulster
Liverpool (though need 2yrs healthcare experience, I think)
Plus more courses coming online soon - eg Carlisle, not sure what their requirements will be.

But bear in mind, some of these are going to need very high UCAT or GAMSAT scores to be shortlisted, so there is no easy option

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