Resits

Hi! So as you've read by the title I'm planning on resitting my maths and English language GCSE. Overall I did not do the greatest at GCSE (4s,5s and 6-6 in science) due to mental heath issues but I won't bore you with my sob story. I know I could have done better, but this consequently kind of lead to me not doing my best at alevel either,due to just very poor planning and inconsistency in my work.

I've just sat a couple of my exams and I'm really not sure what I will score in them, I wanted at least a B but I'm slowly starting to realise with my revision that I most definitely could have gotten an A at most in my subjects. I really want to go to UCL , kings or queen Mary's.

On top of that I want to study medicine but I will probably have to take the alternative route of doing a degree prior then doing a medicine degree. So overall I'll probably be resitting at least two of my alevels and GCSEs if i want to do medicine on top of juggling a job as well. I know it is possible with a VERY strict study schedule but I just need some clarity and advice from you lovely people. I know it may sound very ambitious and unrealistic to some but over time I have matured and realised my faults and understand how to handle them now. It's been my dream to study medicine and I understand there are a million other candidates who more intelligent and have far more talents than me, but I have a goal and will do anything thing in my power to achieve it

Any guidance would be much appreciated. Thank you :smile:

Reply 1

21Vee

I can understand how overwhelming your situation must be. I was in a somewhat similar position, as I got ABB in my A levels. I had to weigh taking my clearing offer to study chemistry at KCL or risk it all and take a gap year. These are some options you can look at:

1. Check if you are eligible for foundation years (there is a WP criteria), as they will accept those GCSEs as well as lower A levels which ask for around BBB. That is what I done and now I’m studying med in September :smile:

2. Resit your A levels and GCSEs. This is the second best option. I know it may seem like a lot of time and effort but it will be easier than grad entry medicine. There is a lot of risks with grad entry med, such as self funding, the crazy competition and taking a much more harder admissions test like the GAMSAT. It gets to the point where people with degrees apply for undergrad med (5 years) as it is easier to get into, which is essentially back to square 1 though I do respect it. I promise retaking will be easier AND cheaper than the alternative route. It is 100% doable.
3. Do a degree and apply for grad entry med. It’s hard but people do manage it, although it is an option this will be the most unideal one especially if your main goal is med.

I wish you luck! And if anything feel free to DM me if you want more guidance.

Reply 2

cracked-barrier

Original post by 21Vee

I can understand how overwhelming your situation must be. I was in a somewhat similar position, as I got ABB in my A levels. I had to weigh taking my clearing offer to study chemistry at KCL or risk it all and take a gap year. These are some options you can look at:
1. Check if you are eligible for foundation years (there is a WP criteria), as they will accept those GCSEs as well as lower A levels which ask for around BBB. That is what I done and now I’m studying med in September :smile:

2. Resit your A levels and GCSEs. This is the second best option. I know it may seem like a lot of time and effort but it will be easier than grad entry medicine. There is a lot of risks with grad entry med, such as self funding, the crazy competition and taking a much more harder admissions test like the GAMSAT. It gets to the point where people with degrees apply for undergrad med (5 years) as it is easier to get into, which is essentially back to square 1 though I do respect it. I promise retaking will be easier AND cheaper than the alternative route. It is 100% doable.
3. Do a degree and apply for grad entry med. It’s hard but people do manage it, although it is an option this will be the most unideal one especially if your main goal is med.
I wish you luck! And if anything feel free to DM me if you want more guidance.

Hello! And thank you for your reply! 😀
I'll be most likely picking the second option, however ill only be retaking maths (Grade 5) and english language (Grade 4), this seems to be the the grade i believe universities care for most? Im not really sure but, i guess it would be slightly easier to just do 2 gcses and alevels rather than just all of them at once.
I'll be taking my resit for gcses in november :smile:

Also side note, i haven't ever taken the UCAT either, ill probably be doing it in september time so ive got alot on my plate after year 13 but have no idea how to prepare for it, theres alot of flashy advertisements saying to pick whatever course for £x idk and i dont have a clue on where to get started
I guess i'm just afraid that i'll do just as badly in that like i did at gcses and overall just fail at medicine overall

I keep just constantly telling myself that i'll be fine and a perfect timetable will lead my to my dream but i'm just terrified that i'm not smart enough for medicine and alot of my 20s will be wasted due to me just not being smart enough.

I dont know alot of people if not any people grades like mine and a desire to persue medicine

But do you have any advice as to what my first steps should be?

Reply 3

McGinger

I will probably have to take the alternative route of doing a degree prior then doing a medicine degree

Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is ludicrously competitive - even more that 5-year Med. Not recommended.
Its far better to resit your A levels, get some relevant long-term voluntary or work experience, and reapply for 5-year Med.

Reply 4

21Vee

Original post by cracked-barrier

Also side note, i haven't ever taken the UCAT either, ill probably be doing it in september time so ive got alot on my plate after year 13 but have no idea how to prepare for it, theres alot of flashy advertisements saying to pick whatever course for £x idk and i dont have a clue on where to get started
I guess i'm just afraid that i'll do just as badly in that like i did at gcses and overall just fail at medicine overall
I keep just constantly telling myself that i'll be fine and a perfect timetable will lead my to my dream but i'm just terrified that i'm not smart enough for medicine and alot of my 20s will be wasted due to me just not being smart enough.
I dont know alot of people if not any people grades like mine and a desire to persue medicine
But do you have any advice as to what my first steps should be?

No worries! Your best course is to try your best in your A levels currently, use the summer to revise for the UCAT and GCSEs. You should sit the UCAT in August/September, then afterwards focus on your November GCSEs. Once over you can then focus on your med application and A levels. Alternatively you can take a year out to just resit A levels and GCSEs and then take a second gap year to apply for med. It’s quite common for people to take 2 gap years (still better than grad med). But I know you want to get on ASAP so it is possible to do it all in one gap year.

In terms of the UCAT, start revision ASAP. Take a short break after A levels ofc, but afterwards you should lock in. Medentry or medify, alongside the official UCAT question bank is all you need. Don’t spend money on UCAT or med prep courses, they’re lowk a scam.

There is a possibility of failing, whether in resits or getting in medical school. And that is normal. But if you put in the work and stick to a long term plan/timetable, you will minimise that chance. Even if you do (and hopefully not) at least you know you tried and there are plenty other benefits of taking a gap year.

You definitely can do this, don’t let any thoughts tell you otherwise. I felt the exact same last year, as in my A level mocks I was scraping D’s aswell, and I was so scared that I would fail. I wanted to take the comfortable option of the clearing offer but I knew I wanted to study medicine deep down. It was a massive risk especially as my med school choices were limited but I am so happy I took that risk. The gap year changed my whole perspective on everything.

Reply 5

cracked-barrier

Original post by 21Vee

No worries! Your best course is to try your best in your A levels currently, use the summer to revise for the UCAT and GCSEs. You should sit the UCAT in August/September, then afterwards focus on your November GCSEs. Once over you can then focus on your med application and A levels. Alternatively you can take a year out to just resit A levels and GCSEs and then take a second gap year to apply for med. It’s quite common for people to take 2 gap years (still better than grad med). But I know you want to get on ASAP so it is possible to do it all in one gap year.
In terms of the UCAT, start revision ASAP. Take a short break after A levels ofc, but afterwards you should lock in. Medentry or medify, alongside the official UCAT question bank is all you need. Don’t spend money on UCAT or med prep courses, they’re lowk a scam.
There is a possibility of failing, whether in resits or getting in medical school. And that is normal. But if you put in the work and stick to a long term plan/timetable, you will minimise that chance. Even if you do (and hopefully not) at least you know you tried and there are plenty other benefits of taking a gap year.
You definitely can do this, don’t let any thoughts tell you otherwise. I felt the exact same last year, as in my A level mocks I was scraping D’s aswell, and I was so scared that I would fail. I wanted to take the comfortable option of the clearing offer but I knew I wanted to study medicine deep down. It was a massive risk especially as my med school choices were limited but I am so happy I took that risk. The gap year changed my whole perspective on everything.