Urgent Help for Vet Medicine- Can I actually be a vet or is it never going to happen?

Have you tried contacting the UCLan vet school team directly for feedback? They’re usually quite helpful. Or going to an open day?
You could also be a good candidate for their Foundation course - have you applied to that - it closes at the end of January.
Other foundation or gateway courses might still be accepting applications too

I wouldn't do a degree with the intention of then studying veterinary because, as you said, that's a massive financial burden.
Not all universities want grade 7 at GCSE. Bristol require grade 4/C Maths and English, though they do require A-level Chemistry.
If it doesn't happen now, that doesn't mean it never will! An Access to HE course could, depending on the university, be an option in the future.

SRUC does not require A level chemistry but does require a science (you’ve got biology!) maybe apply there for next year if you aren’t up for doing the chemistry?!

Hey,
I'm a year 13 student who applied for Uclan Vet medicine and recently got rejected, with my other university applications being for vet nursing. I'm taking A level biology, psychology and Religious studies. I was thinking about taking an accelerated A level Chemistry course in a gap year- but most vet universities ask for a grade 6 or 7 in chemistry, and some with a higher grade for maths. (I got a 5 in both GCSE maths and chemistry due to personal circumstances at the time, which meant I couldn't take chem A level at my school). So that would mean that there's no point in me taking A level Chemistry without retaking those GCSEs. Can I do vet medicine without retaking those GCSEs? Do certain vet medicine Universities not accept retakes?
Is anything about this plausable? I need someone to tell me if this is irrational and that unfortunately I can't be a vet. I could always take these additional steps and apply in 2 years- but then I may still be rejected. I can take a gap year and reapply for Uclan vet medicine next year as I can get into that one- but once again this is all based on chance.
I could do a university course and then apply for the graduate vet medicine programmes but that is a huge financial burden.
I need some advice!! Someone please help. This has always been my dream but I don't want to grasp at straws that aren't really there. Thank you so much!

Hey, So... my advice would be whatever you do don't do an undergraduate course and then apply to vet med because it is like you rightly recognised a huge financial burden. I will share my experience but of course this may not be applicable to your financial situation. I know first hand how difficult the financial burden being a second degree student is because this is what I'm currently doing! I do receive a means tested yearly maintenance loan of £10,447 from Student Finance England (SFE) but due to being a second degree student I am not eligible for tuition fee funding. The £10,447 is spent on tuition fees (£9,250 per year - which I know has increased for future applicants) and then have to pay rent due to my university not being in my hometown which equates to roughly £3,500. This leaves me a shortfall of just over £2000 which I have to make up from part time work alongside a 40 hour uni timetable (mon-fri 9-5), not factoring in study/ revision time. Then factor in all the EMS requirements and you soon realise how difficult working alongside the vet med degree is. I left school aged 16 with a C in lower math and lower science and was told a career in veterinary medicine would be unrealistic and unachievable for me. I pursued modern languages instead (which I did enjoy) achieving a first class honours and aged 26 post-graduation whilst working with horses and greyhounds in Spain I decided to return to the UK to pursue vet med. I completed an Access to HE in Biochemical Science and gained all 45 credits at distinction whilst working part time as a veterinary receptionist. I undertook lots of work experience in a variety of animal settings which combined with my life skills and work experience in customer service sectors helped to strengthen my application. I received offers from Bristol and UCLan, also attended an interview for RVC but was rejected, and a rejection from Nottingham. I am currently in 2nd year at UCLan. Believe me, if I can do it - anyone can! Don't give up on your dreams and don't let people tell you it can't be achieved. It took me 10 years to build up the courage to give it a go. There are several universities that accept the Access to HE course and it is government funded. My advice would be to get as much hands on experience as you can working with animals and also experience working within customer-facing roles to showcase your interpersonal skills as working with people is a vital part of the profession. I haven't posted on here in a long time but saw your post and couldn't help but reach out. I used the student room back when I was unsure how to proceed into veterinary medicine and was thankful to receive fantastic advice and support that helped me. Happy for you to send me a dm and it's good that you have reached out to the UCLan team for feedback on your application. Good luck!

Hey,
I'm a year 13 student who applied for Uclan Vet medicine and recently got rejected, with my other university applications being for vet nursing. I'm taking A level biology, psychology and Religious studies. I was thinking about taking an accelerated A level Chemistry course in a gap year- but most vet universities ask for a grade 6 or 7 in chemistry, and some with a higher grade for maths. (I got a 5 in both GCSE maths and chemistry due to personal circumstances at the time, which meant I couldn't take chem A level at my school). So that would mean that there's no point in me taking A level Chemistry without retaking those GCSEs. Can I do vet medicine without retaking those GCSEs? Do certain vet medicine Universities not accept retakes?
Is anything about this plausable? I need someone to tell me if this is irrational and that unfortunately I can't be a vet. I could always take these additional steps and apply in 2 years- but then I may still be rejected. I can take a gap year and reapply for Uclan vet medicine next year as I can get into that one- but once again this is all based on chance.
I could do a university course and then apply for the graduate vet medicine programmes but that is a huge financial burden.
I need some advice!! Someone please help. This has always been my dream but I don't want to grasp at straws that aren't really there. Thank you so much!

Hey,
I'm a year 13 student who applied for Uclan Vet medicine and recently got rejected, with my other university applications being for vet nursing. I'm taking A level biology, psychology and Religious studies. I was thinking about taking an accelerated A level Chemistry course in a gap year- but most vet universities ask for a grade 6 or 7 in chemistry, and some with a higher grade for maths. (I got a 5 in both GCSE maths and chemistry due to personal circumstances at the time, which meant I couldn't take chem A level at my school). So that would mean that there's no point in me taking A level Chemistry without retaking those GCSEs. Can I do vet medicine without retaking those GCSEs? Do certain vet medicine Universities not accept retakes?
Is anything about this plausable? I need someone to tell me if this is irrational and that unfortunately I can't be a vet. I could always take these additional steps and apply in 2 years- but then I may still be rejected. I can take a gap year and reapply for Uclan vet medicine next year as I can get into that one- but once again this is all based on chance.
I could do a university course and then apply for the graduate vet medicine programmes but that is a huge financial burden.
I need some advice!! Someone please help. This has always been my dream but I don't want to grasp at straws that aren't really there. Thank you so much!

Hey, So... my advice would be whatever you do don't do an undergraduate course and then apply to vet med because it is like you rightly recognised a huge financial burden. I will share my experience but of course this may not be applicable to your financial situation. I know first hand how difficult the financial burden being a second degree student is because this is what I'm currently doing! I do receive a means tested yearly maintenance loan of £10,447 from Student Finance England (SFE) but due to being a second degree student I am not eligible for tuition fee funding. The £10,447 is spent on tuition fees (£9,250 per year - which I know has increased for future applicants) and then have to pay rent due to my university not being in my hometown which equates to roughly £3,500. This leaves me a shortfall of just over £2000 which I have to make up from part time work alongside a 40 hour uni timetable (mon-fri 9-5), not factoring in study/ revision time. Then factor in all the EMS requirements and you soon realise how difficult working alongside the vet med degree is. I left school aged 16 with a C in lower math and lower science and was told a career in veterinary medicine would be unrealistic and unachievable for me. I pursued modern languages instead (which I did enjoy) achieving a first class honours and aged 26 post-graduation whilst working with horses and greyhounds in Spain I decided to return to the UK to pursue vet med. I completed an Access to HE in Biochemical Science and gained all 45 credits at distinction whilst working part time as a veterinary receptionist. I undertook lots of work experience in a variety of animal settings which combined with my life skills and work experience in customer service sectors helped to strengthen my application. I received offers from Bristol and UCLan, also attended an interview for RVC but was rejected, and a rejection from Nottingham. I am currently in 2nd year at UCLan. Believe me, if I can do it - anyone can! Don't give up on your dreams and don't let people tell you it can't be achieved. It took me 10 years to build up the courage to give it a go. There are several universities that accept the Access to HE course and it is government funded. My advice would be to get as much hands on experience as you can working with animals and also experience working within customer-facing roles to showcase your interpersonal skills as working with people is a vital part of the profession. I haven't posted on here in a long time but saw your post and couldn't help but reach out. I used the student room back when I was unsure how to proceed into veterinary medicine and was thankful to receive fantastic advice and support that helped me. Happy for you to send me a dm and it's good that you have reached out to the UCLan team for feedback on your application. Good luck!

hey girl.
yes it is !!! i was in a similar situation to you and also had to resit gcse’s for vet school. i had to redo maths and combined science whilst in year 12.
Since you’re in year 13 now i would suggest taking a gap year maybe to resit gcse’s and then do all the work experience for your application during this year 13 summer so you don’t have to worry about it in october when you apply.
And yes most vet schools accept resits, i think the only ones that don’t are the scottish vet schools but i wouldn’t reccomend applying to them anyway.
i took a gap year before starting uni and i promise that you won’t feel behind or older than everyone else, and it’ll be so worth it to get onto your dream course ! ❤️❤️

this is really inspiring to read, you’re incredible and you’ll make such a brilliant vet ! ❤️

Hey, thanks so much for your reply
I did ask my careers advisor about resits at the beginning of year 12 and she said no ☹️
The only thing I'm concerned about with resits in a gap year is that I don't think I'm not able to apply until 2026 and then start in 2027? I was hoping I could apply again this year in October- but while doing resits I don’t necessarily have an achieved GCSE grade in chemistry and maths to apply with. I don't think it works with predicted grades?
Its nice to see someone in a similar situation as me 🙂 Thank you!!

Hey, So... my advice would be whatever you do don't do an undergraduate course and then apply to vet med because it is like you rightly recognised a huge financial burden. I will share my experience but of course this may not be applicable to your financial situation. I know first hand how difficult the financial burden being a second degree student is because this is what I'm currently doing! I do receive a means tested yearly maintenance loan of £10,447 from Student Finance England (SFE) but due to being a second degree student I am not eligible for tuition fee funding. The £10,447 is spent on tuition fees (£9,250 per year - which I know has increased for future applicants) and then have to pay rent due to my university not being in my hometown which equates to roughly £3,500. This leaves me a shortfall of just over £2000 which I have to make up from part time work alongside a 40 hour uni timetable (mon-fri 9-5), not factoring in study/ revision time. Then factor in all the EMS requirements and you soon realise how difficult working alongside the vet med degree is. I left school aged 16 with a C in lower math and lower science and was told a career in veterinary medicine would be unrealistic and unachievable for me. I pursued modern languages instead (which I did enjoy) achieving a first class honours and aged 26 post-graduation whilst working with horses and greyhounds in Spain I decided to return to the UK to pursue vet med. I completed an Access to HE in Biochemical Science and gained all 45 credits at distinction whilst working part time as a veterinary receptionist. I undertook lots of work experience in a variety of animal settings which combined with my life skills and work experience in customer service sectors helped to strengthen my application. I received offers from Bristol and UCLan, also attended an interview for RVC but was rejected, and a rejection from Nottingham. I am currently in 2nd year at UCLan. Believe me, if I can do it - anyone can! Don't give up on your dreams and don't let people tell you it can't be achieved. It took me 10 years to build up the courage to give it a go. There are several universities that accept the Access to HE course and it is government funded. My advice would be to get as much hands on experience as you can working with animals and also experience working within customer-facing roles to showcase your interpersonal skills as working with people is a vital part of the profession. I haven't posted on here in a long time but saw your post and couldn't help but reach out. I used the student room back when I was unsure how to proceed into veterinary medicine and was thankful to receive fantastic advice and support that helped me. Happy for you to send me a dm and it's good that you have reached out to the UCLan team for feedback on your application. Good luck!

Hey, what access course did you take? x

hey girl.
yes it is !!! i was in a similar situation to you and also had to resit gcse’s for vet school. i had to redo maths and combined science whilst in year 12.
Since you’re in year 13 now i would suggest taking a gap year maybe to resit gcse’s and then do all the work experience for your application during this year 13 summer so you don’t have to worry about it in october when you apply.
And yes most vet schools accept resits, i think the only ones that don’t are the scottish vet schools but i wouldn’t reccomend applying to them anyway.
i took a gap year before starting uni and i promise that you won’t feel behind or older than everyone else, and it’ll be so worth it to get onto your dream course ! ❤️❤️

Hey!!
I know this was a couple of months back but I was hoping if you could offer some advice again?
I finished year 13 with an A* in Religious Studies, an A in Psychology and a B in biology.
I have an offer for veterinary nursing currently at RVC for late September (which I haven't withdrawn yet because I'm really stuck!)
I'm planning on taking a gap year. With those A levels and my GCSE grades currently at a 5 in maths and a 5 in chemistry I can apply to Uclan's 5 year veterinary medicine course, and their foundation year?
I've considered resitting both Chemistry and maths GCSE in order to apply to Nottinghams Preliminary year. But I can't apply anywhere else. So I'd be solely resitting for Nottingham and to give me an extra University place.
I'm just worried that I'm going to take a gap year AND still not get a place somehow. I've considered taking an access to HE course alongside resitting GCSEs so that I can apply to Bristol for my 4th choice. But I think that's alot to do for an extra uni place.
I've also considered doing A level Chemistry as well as GCSE chem and maths- but I kind of think GCSE and A level chem will clash massively. And it might be difficult to cover all three in a year. Also- I haven't really looked at if vet schools would take me if I only have a B in A level biology & with the resits.
I know that this is alot- but if you can offer any advice at all it would be super helpful. I'm not sure what the best course to take is. I really want to do veterinary medicine- I know I will enjoy vet nursing- but medicine is my passion. And I don't think I want to give up on it just yet.
Thank you so much!!