4 med rejections, should i take a gap year or not?

Yeah I’m in a similar position I also got offered a medical science course at ARU and I got an unconditional offer for it, for me personally I’m considering it as when I spoke to my careers advisor he said that the odds are better doing an internal transfer compared to doing a reapplication and it doesn’t look at A levels if they go badly and you can also apply to other med courses as you do the internal transfer. You also get to know the people there and ask how to improve your answers to interviews for what they’re looking for. Although that does mean an extra year of debt and stuff and doing a gap year can get you more experience elsewhere if you use it productively. Honestly it’s just up to what suits you best.
Hope this helps a little x

Yeah I was considering this but apparently it’s very competitive for an internal transfer. I talked to a biomed student who did their interview in January, and she said there were only 2 spots for internal transfer! Thanks a lot for the advice, though. I really appreciate it. I hope everything works out for you. x

hi,
i’ve been rejected from all 4 unis for medicine and i’ve got a medical sciences offer from ARU and a cellular + molecular medicine offer from bristol. i really don’t know if i should take a gap year and reapply or go through ucas extra for another course.
i’ve decided i’m going to reject the 2 offers i’ve got as i don’t see myself doing those courses.
I’ve received feedback from ARU about my interview which went terribly so at least i know that was my downfall, but my notts rejection was a shock bc i thought that went well.
is it worth it to take a gap year and reapply?

Hi! Just a little advice—never give up. If it’s truly your dream and you keep working at it, it will come to pass.
There were times when people doubted me. My teachers told me I’d never become a doctor, and my chemistry teacher even suggested I drop out. But I never let their words get to me—I knew I would make it. We’re all on different timelines, so don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s.
At first, I felt like taking a gap year meant I was falling behind. But in reality, I was making the best decision for myself. I know what I want—to be a doctor. Meanwhile, some of my friends who went straight to university are still unsure about their path. So if you know what you want, hold on to that and don’t let go, no matter what obstacles come your way—grades, UCAT, or anything else.
Honestly, there was no way I thought I’d get in. But I kept believing, I kept praying, and by some miracle, I received an offer from Bristol Med. If you believe you can, then you can.
This gap year has taught me so much—you are not behind. You are on your own timeline. Keep pushing forward, because when you finally achieve your goal, it will be so much sweeter knowing how determined you were to get there.
I believe in you. You can do this! It’s easy to look at UCAT, GCSEs, and A-levels and start comparing yourself to others, but trust me—take that leap of faith, give it to God, and watch what happens. My prayers were answered, and yours can be too.
Don’t be disheartened! It’s easy to think especially after being rejected to think you’re not going to make it or not good enough. Maybe it’s just not your time yet. Look for lessons it’s building your character shaping you. You will if you keep on believing. Block out circumstances, have faith. Faith is very powerful. And anyways resilience makes a good doctor. I’m genuinely so glad I took a gap year looking back because now I have skills that I can use in med school. Like my character and my mindset is so strong now.
Keep going! You’ve got this.

Hi! Just a little advice—never give up. If it’s truly your dream and you keep working at it, it will come to pass.
There were times when people doubted me. My teachers told me I’d never become a doctor, and my chemistry teacher even suggested I drop out. But I never let their words get to me—I knew I would make it. We’re all on different timelines, so don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s.
At first, I felt like taking a gap year meant I was falling behind. But in reality, I was making the best decision for myself. I know what I want—to be a doctor. Meanwhile, some of my friends who went straight to university are still unsure about their path. So if you know what you want, hold on to that and don’t let go, no matter what obstacles come your way—grades, UCAT, or anything else.
Honestly, there was no way I thought I’d get in. But I kept believing, I kept praying, and by some miracle, I received an offer from Bristol Med. If you believe you can, then you can.
This gap year has taught me so much—you are not behind. You are on your own timeline. Keep pushing forward, because when you finally achieve your goal, it will be so much sweeter knowing how determined you were to get there.
I believe in you. You can do this! It’s easy to look at UCAT, GCSEs, and A-levels and start comparing yourself to others, but trust me—take that leap of faith, give it to God, and watch what happens. My prayers were answered, and yours can be too.
Don’t be disheartened! It’s easy to think especially after being rejected to think you’re not going to make it or not good enough. Maybe it’s just not your time yet. Look for lessons it’s building your character shaping you. You will if you keep on believing. Block out circumstances, have faith. Faith is very powerful. And anyways resilience makes a good doctor. I’m genuinely so glad I took a gap year looking back because now I have skills that I can use in med school. Like my character and my mindset is so strong now.
Keep going! You’ve got this.

Thank you so much this is so sweet, honestly motivated me a lot! I think i’m going to risk it and reapply

I am so proud of you, honestly. What's one year of waiting to apply to your dream compared to a lifetime of doing something you don't love? If you stick with it, you can do it. Don't make the same mistake I did by letting perfectionism hold you back. Be proud of every little thing you do, just show up, and watch what happens. One day, trust me, you'll look back and say, "Wow, imagine if I gave up." I'm so happy I didn't. Don't focus on grades or the UCAT; don't compare yourself to anyone else. Take that leap of faith, just like I did, and see where it takes you. Let go and trust God. You've got this. And look after everything I went through I have a story to inspire others and you will too. You won't just be a doctor but a doctor that has an impact to help others believe that the impossible is possible. That's our jobs and we have a testament that we are capable of that even before we became Doctors.

hi,
i’ve been rejected from all 4 unis for medicine and i’ve got a medical sciences offer from ARU and a cellular + molecular medicine offer from bristol. i really don’t know if i should take a gap year and reapply or go through ucas extra for another course.
i’ve decided i’m going to reject the 2 offers i’ve got as i don’t see myself doing those courses.
I’ve received feedback from ARU about my interview which went terribly so at least i know that was my downfall, but my notts rejection was a shock bc i thought that went well.
is it worth it to take a gap year and reapply?

Older person here applying for GEM this year. I was once in your position and did biomed. 9 years and 2 (mini) careers later here I am going back to university. Take the gap year, do the resits and follow your heart!

Hi There: It is no clear how many interviews you had and your stats mainly UCAT score. If you feel passionately about medicine as your vocation for the rest of your live then by no means take the gap year. My son got 4 rejection the first time of trying before interviews due to his bad UCAT 2480. He then focused to get amazing A levels A*A*A and a massive jump of UCAT 2960 B2. He also had a lot of good preparations and training on interviews etc. and so far he have one full offer and waiting for the rest . He is using his gap year to make money by working in supermarket . My son challenge was may be a bit harder because there are fewer dental schools than medical schools so he needed this higher score of UCAT to secure 3 interviews. Good luck

hi,
i’ve been rejected from all 4 unis for medicine and i’ve got a medical sciences offer from ARU and a cellular + molecular medicine offer from bristol. i really don’t know if i should take a gap year and reapply or go through ucas extra for another course.
i’ve decided i’m going to reject the 2 offers i’ve got as i don’t see myself doing those courses.
I’ve received feedback from ARU about my interview which went terribly so at least i know that was my downfall, but my notts rejection was a shock bc i thought that went well.
is it worth it to take a gap year and reapply?

hi,
i’ve been rejected from all 4 unis for medicine and i’ve got a medical sciences offer from ARU and a cellular + molecular medicine offer from bristol. i really don’t know if i should take a gap year and reapply or go through ucas extra for another course.
i’ve decided i’m going to reject the 2 offers i’ve got as i don’t see myself doing those courses.
I’ve received feedback from ARU about my interview which went terribly so at least i know that was my downfall, but my notts rejection was a shock bc i thought that went well.
is it worth it to take a gap year and reapply?

What was your gcse and a level grades ? What was ur ucat ? What unis did u strategically applied to?

Yeah I’m in a similar position I also got offered a medical science course at ARU and I got an unconditional offer for it, for me personally I’m considering it as when I spoke to my careers advisor he said that the odds are better doing an internal transfer compared to doing a reapplication and it doesn’t look at A levels if they go badly and you can also apply to other med courses as you do the internal transfer. You also get to know the people there and ask how to improve your answers to interviews for what they’re looking for. Although that does mean an extra year of debt and stuff and doing a gap year can get you more experience elsewhere if you use it productively. Honestly it’s just up to what suits you best.
Hope this helps a little x

Older person here applying for GEM this year. I was once in your position and did biomed. 9 years and 2 (mini) careers later here I am going back to university. Take the gap year, do the resits and follow your heart!