Should I attempt undergraduate medicine again or aim for GEM?

I first tried to get into medicine after A levels and I failed at getting the grades (achieved AAB). I then took a gap year, retook an A level to get an A and applied again. I again failed but this time at the interview stage. My 5th option was as an MPAS physician associate which I gladly took and I've been enjoying it but I can't help thinking about medicine. I have 2 options. 1st option is to apply this coming year for undergraduate medicine for a 3rd time. 2nd is waiting until my course is over, work a few years with a good wage to afford GEM and then apply.
I know being a doctor is what I want, I don't care about the money I'd earn, I don't care about the prestige or the title, I am in this for the right reasons. GEM might be the best financially (I'm unsure of the finances) but if I can afford it then I'd like to start as soon as possible.
Please can anyone give me advice on what to do in this situation. Any help is very appreciated.

If I were in your position, I'd apply to undergrad as it is so much easier to get into, now you have the grades and experience. Since you have gotten interviews before, it means now it shouldn't be anything new to you sitting the ucat etc. so you already know what to do.
Many people in undergraduate medicine have applied more times than 3 and are in their mid 20s so your position isn't entirely uncommon.
Best of luck!

I first tried to get into medicine after A levels and I failed at getting the grades (achieved AAB). I then took a gap year, retook an A level to get an A and applied again. I again failed but this time at the interview stage. My 5th option was as an MPAS physician associate which I gladly took and I've been enjoying it but I can't help thinking about medicine. I have 2 options. 1st option is to apply this coming year for undergraduate medicine for a 3rd time. 2nd is waiting until my course is over, work a few years with a good wage to afford GEM and then apply.
I know being a doctor is what I want, I don't care about the money I'd earn, I don't care about the prestige or the title, I am in this for the right reasons. GEM might be the best financially (I'm unsure of the finances) but if I can afford it then I'd like to start as soon as possible.
Please can anyone give me advice on what to do in this situation. Any help is very appreciated.

I first tried to get into medicine after A levels and I failed at getting the grades (achieved AAB). I then took a gap year, retook an A level to get an A and applied again. I again failed but this time at the interview stage. My 5th option was as an MPAS physician associate which I gladly took and I've been enjoying it but I can't help thinking about medicine. I have 2 options. 1st option is to apply this coming year for undergraduate medicine for a 3rd time. 2nd is waiting until my course is over, work a few years with a good wage to afford GEM and then apply.
I know being a doctor is what I want, I don't care about the money I'd earn, I don't care about the prestige or the title, I am in this for the right reasons. GEM might be the best financially (I'm unsure of the finances) but if I can afford it then I'd like to start as soon as possible.
Please can anyone give me advice on what to do in this situation. Any help is very appreciated.

hello, i am also in a similar situation to you, am i able to ask what are your future plans and what did you end up choosing?

I have decided to go for it. I am currently revising the UCAT medical exam in preparation to apply for undergraduate medicine this year coming so I will hopefully be starting in 2026. During this coming year I will be continuing my current course (just in case I don’t get in) and if I get into medicine I will drop out. What is your situation if you don’t mind me asking?

I am currently in undergraduate PA and just finsihed my first year and I wanted to do medicine but i got AAB. I didn’t resist my B in biology but I might be able to apply for some contextual offers and am currently studying to do my UCAT to apply through UCAS for 2026 entry but I’m just unsure whether I should continue PA due to the backlash right now or if I should switch courses as my backup if medicine doesn’t work out. Are you considering on staying on the PA course even If medicine doesn’t work out?

Pretty similar situation then, where are you studying if you don't mind me asking? I am choosing to stay on the course (if medicine doesn't work out) because it'll put me on £40k a year which will be enough to help me save to do GEM if I choose. At the end of the day there isn't much of an alternative, it's either get into medicine or continue what I'm doing.
If I was you I would definitely research unis that would take those grades (if you haven't already). From my memory Lancaster med school took AAB but it might have been with an EPQ.

im studying in UCLan, what about you if you dont mind me asking? i agree that the pay is good with PA but with everything going on at the moment, I am just a bit worried as people have mentioned that being able to get a job after graduate, if you do want to talk about it, if you dont mind me asking what is it that is making you continue to stay in PA and what are your thoughts on the current situation, do you believe, there will be more jobs available once we graduate?

Ah cool, I'm down in reading, I thought maybe you were one of my classmates lol. The only thing making me continue the course is the fact that there is a job at the end of it. All I can do is try to get into medicine and then if it doesn't work out, do the best with what I've got. Hopefully there will be jobs available though I agree nothing is certain. The future isn't as bleak as it seems. Physician associates do have a role in healthcare, it's just changing a lot at the moment. I think you should try the best you can with the UCAT, and make sure there are universities that would take your grades for medicine. Are there are other professions you'd be interesting in?

Pretty similar situation then, where are you studying if you don't mind me asking? I am choosing to stay on the course (if medicine doesn't work out) because it'll put me on £40k a year which will be enough to help me save to do GEM if I choose. At the end of the day there isn't much of an alternative, it's either get into medicine or continue what I'm doing.
If I was you I would definitely research unis that would take those grades (if you haven't already). From my memory Lancaster med school took AAB but it might have been with an EPQ.

What makes you think there will be any jobs for PAs by the time you finished the PA degree? Doctors who have done F2 cost hospitals less then a PA and nearly 50% of F2s have failed to get a training number this year.

I was thinking of switching to pharmacy right now from PA as pharmacy had good job security but I know I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as I enjoy PA. I’m just really confused what to do even though I am trying hard for the UCAT I just know it’s hard to get into medicine so I want a good backup option so I’m not sure whether to apply for pharmacy during clearing or stick to PA. I rlly do enjoy PA thought but the unemployment is scaring me because if I decide to do GEM as you were saying. If I am u able to get a job then how will I be able to fund it. What is giving you motivation about the current job situation?

I think it'll start to smooth over soon now that the job has been properly labelled. I think that more jobs will be available by the time your course is finished. If I was you I wouldn't jump into any course that you are unsure about. If you don't feel right about pharmacy then don't do it. Don't make any brash decisions, keep thinking about what you want to do and put everything into working for medicine. My motivation is driven by my desire to get into medicine, if it doesn't work out so be it

Thank you for your advice and I really hope all works out well for you and that you get the place at the course ur working so hard towards. I know there’s a lot of hate online but honestly focus on your motivation and keep working hard, you will get to do what you truly want to do in the end hopefully

Thank you very much mate it means a lot. We’ll both get to where we need to be. Just take it one step at a time. Good luck with your medicine application, I know you can get it.

"Four universities have suspended or closed their physician associate programmes in the wake of the Gillian Leng’s review of medical associates and dwindling “opportunities” for students, The BMJ can reveal" see https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj.r1612?utm_campaign=usage&utm_content=tbmj_sprout&utm_id=BMJ005&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter