Regretting uni course choice, want to apply for dentistry

2

Im in y13 and ive submitted my ucas to study biochemistry already. Ive applied to oxford as one of my choices and should be preparing for interviews but i feel stressed with the idea i may have chosen the wrong course. I have 10 grade 9's achieved and a*a*a* predicted in alevel chem bio and maths. I also have a weeks worth of work experience in a dental practice. Im not sure if unis would hold not applying to dentistry in the original application cycle against me. I could apply in the next cycle and take a gap year, im wondering if i should try and defer entry to my courses now and then apply in that gap year, with a space on a biochemistry degree still available if i get rejected. Ive heard some people start a course at uni and apply while already studying something else, idk how this works or of its a viable option. Next option is grad entry which ive heard is more compeititive and has limited locations. Another option is i applied to newcastle biochem and they have a transfer optiom, but its very compeititve so i dont think i should rely on it I would really appreciate some advice on this whole situation!

Reply 1

Aquilegia

12

Original post

by mintls

Im in y13 and ive submitted my ucas to study biochemistry already. Ive applied to oxford as one of my choices and should be preparing for interviews but i feel stressed with the idea i may have chosen the wrong course. I have 10 grade 9's achieved and a*a*a* predicted in alevel chem bio and maths. I also have a weeks worth of work experience in a dental practice. Im not sure if unis would hold not applying to dentistry in the original application cycle against me. I could apply in the next cycle and take a gap year, im wondering if i should try and defer entry to my courses now and then apply in that gap year, with a space on a biochemistry degree still available if i get rejected. Ive heard some people start a course at uni and apply while already studying something else, idk how this works or of its a viable option. Next option is grad entry which ive heard is more compeititive and has limited locations. Another option is i applied to newcastle biochem and they have a transfer optiom, but its very compeititve so i dont think i should rely on it I would really appreciate some advice on this whole situation!

Keep as many options open as you can. So go forward for the time being with this year's biochem, and when you get your A level results you can choose whether to withdraw, and take a gap year and apply for dent (it won't count against you because plenty of people take a gap year!), or, for example if you have lower grades than you thought, go for biochem with a view to transferring (v competitive). Or, if lower grades then go down the GED route anyway.
Gap year - get people facing work experience, it will make your application stronger

Reply 2

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

18

Original post

by mintls

Im in y13 and ive submitted my ucas to study biochemistry already. Ive applied to oxford as one of my choices and should be preparing for interviews but i feel stressed with the idea i may have chosen the wrong course. I have 10 grade 9's achieved and a*a*a* predicted in alevel chem bio and maths. I also have a weeks worth of work experience in a dental practice. Im not sure if unis would hold not applying to dentistry in the original application cycle against me. I could apply in the next cycle and take a gap year, im wondering if i should try and defer entry to my courses now and then apply in that gap year, with a space on a biochemistry degree still available if i get rejected. Ive heard some people start a course at uni and apply while already studying something else, idk how this works or of its a viable option. Next option is grad entry which ive heard is more compeititive and has limited locations. Another option is i applied to newcastle biochem and they have a transfer optiom, but its very compeititve so i dont think i should rely on it I would really appreciate some advice on this whole situation!

Hey @mintls

Many people get to this stage and doubt their university choices; it really depends on what course you feel is best for you. If you feel that dentistry is your passion, then go for it! University is hard work, and studying a course you aren't passionate about can make it much more difficult.

Lots of people take a gap year before uni, just make sure to show your passion for the subject and justify 'why now?' in your application. The fact that you already have dental work experience is great, and you could use the gap year to get some more experience.

If you were to start a course, then try and transfer to dentistry, there's no guarantee that you would 100% be able to transfer, and you would be using up a year's worth of student finance loan, meaning if you were to fail a year of the dentistry course, you may end up having to self-fund a year.

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies
"How to work out what funding you’ll get
If you’re eligible for a Maintenance Loan or grant, you’ll usually get it for every year of your new course.
Any Tuition Fee Loans you’re eligible for will be applied to the final years of your new course. You can calculate how many years you’ll get them for by taking the total number of years you’re applying for and adding one year. Then, take away the number of years you studied for previously. If you studied for part of a year, you should count it as a whole year.
Example
If you’re applying for a 3-year course and have studied 2 years of a different course, you’ll get a Maintenance Loan in year 1 and Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans in years 2 and 3."

I don't really know much about the graduate entry route, so I can't advise on this, but take your time, decide which career path you want to go down and which is best suited to you. If you were to achieve those grades, then you could go down any route.

Best of luck with making your decision, and don't stress, it's completely normal to have second thoughts as it's such a big decision!

-Molly
BCU Student Rep

Regretting uni course choice, want to apply for dentistry

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