Would I qualify for higher entry requirements due to mental health struggles

Throughout year 12, I was with CAHMS this definitely impacted my grades in my mocks and I ended up getting predicted AAB in maths, chem, bio respectively. I am considering applying for biomed at kings, ucl and biochem at Durham however they all have AAA entry requirements. Would I stand a chance at any of these if I have the mental health stuff as a part of my reference. I also got really good GCSEs if that “proves” my academic capability.

Reply 1

CatQueenie

Consider GEM, I don't know your personal circumstances - but if you struggle with stress and this worsens your MH it might be better to go a slower route - although you have amazing grades! The brain is rewiring a heck tonne until your 25 later if you are neurospicy... it might be better to give your brain time to settle, work out triggers, coping strategies, and get good work experience as a HCA around a different degree. (although this is only one option). MH stuff shouldn't necessarily rule you out from mediciene as long as you are aware of yourself, if you are sweeping it under a mental rug...without really looking at whatever it is - trauma, stress systems... then medicine or stress from studying may well make it worse. It could then be a fitness to practise issue, or really cause you harm. Healthcare can have heartwretchingly horrible situations with lots of death, have lovely but also abusive patients, and very high pressure environments; plus you have access to lethal drugs (on yourself or others), and knowledge on how to heal or do great damage - it can be a really bad combo.

Other options - I would read very carefully the support policy at different uni's, you want to be a place that will help not kick you out!! Some uni's might be more supportive liverpool, Newcastle over Cambridge (but read their websites, and try to get the vibe)

I have been reading deferral policies for GEM uni's; Swansea seems like it would be a supportive uni, but refers you to fitness to practice if you defer automatically! Scotgem has exit policies so if you leave in second year you achieve something - many Scottish universities have this as an in built thing. [Not that I am planning to! But it's good to know!]

So in your case I might take a look at Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow, St Andrews... as possibly more supportive in that they have exit policies (which might take the pressure off psychologically). Other uni's have foundation years and are more supportive that way ...I think Newcastle, and some of the scottish ones. But! I have been looking at GEM courses so don't know for the five year courses.

My UCAS referee referred to my sports injury in a negative way... perhaps predicting things as I have found out this week I'll need an op, that will take between 6 months to a year to recover from, but it's also really annoying as I've worked well in very physically jobs despite a chronic sports injury for years! - and I think having experience of injuries and the knock on effects on life is a positive if I made it to becoming a GP...

I'm still applying even with my bad reference... I would encourage you to do the same, but make back up plans. Next year if I have to apply again, I'll ask different people, will have had more time to get experience, and recover - so it's not the end of the world!

Good luck and take care of yourself! Remember oxygen masks in falling planes - it's yourself first then you have the ability to help other people around you.

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