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medicine with a foundation year after a gap year?

I'm in Year 12 right now, about to start Year 13, and I'm thinking about applying for Medicine with a foundation year. But I've also been considering taking a gap year. The thing is, I don’t know anyone who's gotten into this course after taking a gap year, and I'm finding it really hard to convince my ethnic mum to let me take one. any tips?

Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum. :biggrin:

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Work Experience and Voluntary Work

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Official Undergraduate Medicine 2023 Entry
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Medical Schools Index 2024 Entry

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Useful Articles:
GCSE Requirements for Medicine
Everything you need to know about the BMAT
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do after an unsuccessful first application
Funding medicine as a second degree

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Reply 2

bea_murray0

Original post by driven-origin

Hey, I don't have experience with foundation years so unfortunately can't comment on that, but I did take a gap year, and have now finished my first year of medical school. One slight difference is that I applied while in year 13 for deferred entry and so already had the offer when I embarked on my gap year (as opposed to applying during my gap year). I know the stereotype is that gap years are for travelling and 'finding yourself' etc, but I spent the year working full-time as a healthcare assistant in the NHS, which I loved and would absolutely recommend for prospective medical students not sure about a gap year. This also meant my parents were very much onboard, since I was doing something useful and relevant to my future. I developed a ton of really useful skills - clinical skills like taking blood, but more importantly 'soft skills' like good communication and teamwork, dealing with conflict etc, and as a result I feel I'm much more confident in clinical environments at uni compared to most of my peers, and so I'm able to get more out of my placements.
I think a few key things to think about would be what a gap year would do for you, and what it would do to strengthen your application. I would say though: it would probably be best to apply in year 13 (even if that's for deferred entry), while you have support from the school, rather than wait until the gap year to apply, particularly because (as I'm sure you know) medicine is so competitive and there's no guarantee you'll get in on your first application cycle. Hope this helps, happy to answer any questions about my gap year and journey in medicine so far!