i did bad in my gcses can i still go to a top university for medicine??

i didnt pay attention during my gcses and ended up with a 8877776664 im getting some remarked so i could go up however if i try my best and get a/a* in my alevels and do well in my ucat is kcl,ucl,icl,edinburgh,manchester etc still a possibilty for me? im currently in y12 and ive done bronze and silver dofe (will be doing gold) and ill be doing an epq and core maths too.i am doing bio,chem and history a levels and i want to do medicine or biology at university i also don't think im eligible for any sort of widening participation scheme or contexualised offers .thanks xx

Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

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

The Medicine forum gets a high volume of questions being posted, and some of these are already answered by the resources and Megathreads that members of the community and volunteers have created. This is an automatic post which is designed to highlight these resources. Below is a list of threads and articles that could answer your question (you should be looking in the original post of the megathreads). If one of the below threads is a more relevant place to ask your question, please post a reply in that thread to ask your question. If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked below, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.

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The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work

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Official Undergraduate Medicine 2023 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2023 Entry
Medicine 2023 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2023 Entry
Medicine Interview discussion 2023 Entry
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Index of Individual Medical School Applicants' threads 2023 Entry

2024 Applicants :
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2024 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2024 Entry
GAMSAT 2024 / 2025 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2024 Entry Discussions Megathread
Medicine 2024 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2024 Entry
Medicine Interview Discussion 2024 Entry
2024 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2024 Entry

2025 Applicants :
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2025 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2025 Entry
GAMSAT 2025 / 2026 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2025 Entry Discussions Megathread

Other application years:
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2026 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2026 Entry

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
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application
Funding medicine as a second degree

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Reply 2

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

There’s no such thing as a top university for med. They all leave you with the same qualification.

Plenty of med schools don’t use GCSE’s for their selection process. As long as you meet the minimum requirements you’ll be fine.

Have a look at the info in the med sub forum here on TSR. The key is to apply strategically and not get fixated on a particular uni.

Reply 3

Tay_Ti

Original post by Admit-One

There’s no such thing as a top university for med. They all leave you with the same qualification.
Plenty of med schools don’t use GCSE’s for their selection process. As long as you meet the minimum requirements you’ll be fine.
Have a look at the info in the med sub forum here on TSR. The key is to apply strategically and not get fixated on a particular uni.

How do you apply strategically

Reply 4

totallyfine

By applying to some options that are less prestigious and therefore slightly less competitive. Most I have known will get perhaps one or two offers in total from an application for medicine so you have to pick a range of institutions to increase your chances,
In the end, though, medicine is medicine.

Reply 5

Sallylin

Some med school focus on UCAT score rather than GCSE, so study hard for your A level now and start preparing for your UCAT around June time next year and you will be fine!

Reply 6

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Tay_Ti

How do you apply strategically

By researching the selection process that each med school uses, and applying to those which best suit your profile, e.g. in your case those that weight GCSE's less heavily.

Have a read of the "Which med school should I apply to?" threads, (latest one). The guidance there will give you an idea of the thought process between choosing one option over another. Remember, you only have 4 med choices so there is no point picking one because it's nearby or you perceive it to be prestigious.

Reply 7

kwi9e

Original post by Admit-One

There’s no such thing as a top university for med. They all leave you with the same qualification.
Plenty of med schools don’t use GCSE’s for their selection process. As long as you meet the minimum requirements you’ll be fine.
Have a look at the info in the med sub forum here on TSR. The key is to apply strategically and not get fixated on a particular uni.

which med school specifically dont look at gcse much or at all? i have 6s in my gcse's and want to apply for med

Reply 8

totallyfine

You can find this out by reading the course descriptions on their websites.

I have ranked the medical courses here, by entry standards, to give you a guide of where to look
https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/medicine?sortby=entry-standards

(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 9

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by kwi9e

which med school specifically dont look at gcse much or at all? i have 6s in my gcse's and want to apply for med

The last list on TSR was only updated in 2020 so might be misleading.

As above, you need to research this yourself via:

•

Uni websites, specifically any mention of the scoring/selection process (not just minimum requirements)

•

By emailing and asking unis you are interested in whether they score your GCSE profile, or part of it

•

By reading the previous "What med school should I apply to threads?" - latest one linked above

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