What's the best option under the circumstances?
I arrived in the UK soon after completing my International A-Levels in the summer of 2023. I nailed my IGCSE's with 8 '9' grades, but didn't replicate this effort in my ALs, having got a solitary B and three Cs in Physics, Math, Chemistry and ICT respectively.
This issue is coupled with the fact that I can't apply as a home student until 2028. I'll be 23 by then. Furthermore, my indecisiveness caused by multiple interests hasn't helped one bit, but I did aspire to be an engineer, though I couldn't place a finger on a specific field. I also did enjoy the idea of a career in medicine, although I did not do biology on both qualifications.
That being said, given my grades and my age by the time I apply for university, do I pursue medicine or engineering? Given that medicine offers a foundation year and the fact that I could use the gap between now and the day I apply to volunteer for the NHS or complete any med based course that could boost my application. Taking my grades into consideration, is it a no brainer? Or do I re sit my ALs within the 3 years in between to open up more options?
This issue is coupled with the fact that I can't apply as a home student until 2028. I'll be 23 by then. Furthermore, my indecisiveness caused by multiple interests hasn't helped one bit, but I did aspire to be an engineer, though I couldn't place a finger on a specific field. I also did enjoy the idea of a career in medicine, although I did not do biology on both qualifications.
That being said, given my grades and my age by the time I apply for university, do I pursue medicine or engineering? Given that medicine offers a foundation year and the fact that I could use the gap between now and the day I apply to volunteer for the NHS or complete any med based course that could boost my application. Taking my grades into consideration, is it a no brainer? Or do I re sit my ALs within the 3 years in between to open up more options?
Reply 1
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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
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
Medicine 2025 entry for resit/ retake/ gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2025 Entry
Medicine Interview Discussion 2025 Entry
2025 entry A100/ A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2025 Entry
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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