GEM Entry for 2025/2026 - What are my options?

Hi guys, I'm new to this so bear with me! I have just graduated from Biomedical Science and have managed to SCRAPE a 2:1. I was pleasantly surprised at this as I've had quite a tough past two years and thought I was going to either drop out or end up with a 2:2.
For the past two years I have been set on going into Physician Associate MSc however achieving a 2:1 has reignited my passion for medicine- a dream I thought I had pushed aside due to me not getting the required a-level grades and feeling like I wasn't capable. I have booked my UCAT for September as some PA courses require it now as well but I thought I could maybe also use it to apply for graduate entry medicine. I'm just wondering, do you guys think its worth me applying to GEM? And if so, what universities accept only UCAT as I don't believe I have enough to revise for the GAMSAT? Is this just an unrealistic dream that I should let go of?
Don't get me wrong, PA is a great alternative and I am very interested in it but I feel like if there's a chance I can do an extra two years and get the medical degree and a title, then I should go for it!

Congrats on your degree results! Something to be proud of and has definitely opened up some options for you, which is great.
It's certainly not an unrealistic dream, but... make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. It's a very different career path to PA, in terms of training, the day-to-day, and pros/cons. Ask yourself if you didn't get in the first time, would you try again. If so...
If you get through to interview, you'll be tested on what you've learned from your experience that has made you want to be a doctor, so make sure you can say more than you did better than expected in your degree and you want the title.
You're too late to register for GAMSAT for September. If you're applying for 2026 entry, definitely give it a go for March next year, it will open up more options and you have a head start from Biomed.
Good luck

Hey there, Physician Associate here!
Just to add to the information that's been given above one piece of advice I'd say is to not settle. I decided to just go for the MSc in PA after receiving pre-interview rejections for my low UCAT score (2510). However I wish I just reapplied in the following cycle. I would also like to reaffirm some of the things you mentioned - you don't get a title as a PA, you are restricted in your autonomy and at the moment there are many stipulations which have affected recruitment in the PA job market mainly to do with concerns from the British Medical Association and alot of dignatories from the board of PA's including the President resigning. It may not seem that deep to someone that is extremely passionate about the role but the truth of the matter is I always setlled for this as my contingency plan.
I am now planning on applying for Graduate Entry Medicine for 2025 entry

Hey, Im really glad I can get your views on this as you've been through this process! I am wondering, would you say you regret doing PA? Or do you think it has given you a solid foundation to do GEM?
My thoughts on this is that even if I don't get into GEM this time round, ofc I would be a bit disappointed, but I think I will also be happy to go on to do PA. Surely it will give me a good (or BASIC...I don't want to get attacked by all the medics) understanding of what medicine and patient care is all about. And if I feel too restricted in this role/still wish to apply to GEM then I can in my first year or after I complete the PA course. Maybe I'm a bit naïve in thinking this way?

Hey! I don’t regret studying to be a PA. However I do wish that I was more decisive. There is a huge financial burden to study the course which essentially I could have avoided. Studying the course really put things into perspective for me and made me certain that I wanted to pursue GEM.
The job market for PAs is not so good at the moment. As I mentioned before the course is extremely financially burdening and I hear GEM is also tight financially. If you could avoid doing PA and know you’re set on GEM I would just do that. That’s the advice I received and I decided to ignore it. There is a lot going on with the PA profession atm and a lot of my coursemates have still yet to find PA jobs almost 9 months since we completed the course.
There are other things that can broaden your understanding of delivering patient care such as jobs and work experience. If you’re willing to take on that financial load by starting the PA course and still applying to GEM sure but ultimately you have to make the decision yourself to see if it’s really worth it.

Hey
I am a year late to this thread but I completely agree with you, I have been a PA for 7 years now. I initially ignored the advice about applying to GEM and decided to go with my PA studies and I was initially happy with it but as you can see in the current media climate on PA as been less than ideal and has further ignited me to apply to GEM.
I wondered did you get into Medicine in the end or did you eventually find a PA job?

I hope you get into it this year.
I also glanced at dentistry, generally pay progression and working hours seems better, so I definitely think it's worth pursuing.
When I graduated in 2018 there wasn't as much hostility against the role and I've been working since but I haven't had much progression. I had applied to medicine twice before but my UCAT let me down due to lack of practice. Finding it difficult to do enough questions while's working full time.