Sixth form help for Medicine at cambridge
Hi everyone,
I'm a Year 11 student currently at a non selective school and want to do these a levels: Maths, Further Maths, Biology, Chemistry and want to pursue Medicine at Cambridge. This is the dream goal.
Im struggling to decide between staying at my school or going to a grammar school sixth form to get into cambridge. Here is some info and thoughts about each:
The grammar school:
Pros: proven track record for Oxbridge/Medicine, used to students taking 4 demanding A-Levels, dedicated support and pipeline.
Cons: I'm worried about the intense pressure and competitive environment. I come from a non-grammar state school and fear I might not cope with the stress or feel behind.
my current school:
Pros: Familiar environment, known teachers who can give me lots of 1-to-1 attention. Less intense pressure, which might be better for my wellbeing. They get 2-3 students into medicine each year (but not Oxbridge).
Cons: No track record for Cambridge. Very few students attempt 4 A-Levels (most drop one and no has successfully done 4 STEM a levels). I'm scared the lack of calibration and high-level competition might mean I don't realise I'm not at the Cambridge standard until it's too late.
My main dilemma is that my heart leans towards staying at my school because it's familiar and supportive, and I believe I can supplement my own learning.
But my head (and everyone's advice) says that the grammar school's sixth form is the "safe bet" for Cambridge because of its proven system. My biggest fear is that if I don't get into Cambridge, I'll always blame myself for not choosing the grammar school.
I'm a Year 11 student currently at a non selective school and want to do these a levels: Maths, Further Maths, Biology, Chemistry and want to pursue Medicine at Cambridge. This is the dream goal.
Im struggling to decide between staying at my school or going to a grammar school sixth form to get into cambridge. Here is some info and thoughts about each:
The grammar school:
Pros: proven track record for Oxbridge/Medicine, used to students taking 4 demanding A-Levels, dedicated support and pipeline.
Cons: I'm worried about the intense pressure and competitive environment. I come from a non-grammar state school and fear I might not cope with the stress or feel behind.
my current school:
Pros: Familiar environment, known teachers who can give me lots of 1-to-1 attention. Less intense pressure, which might be better for my wellbeing. They get 2-3 students into medicine each year (but not Oxbridge).
Cons: No track record for Cambridge. Very few students attempt 4 A-Levels (most drop one and no has successfully done 4 STEM a levels). I'm scared the lack of calibration and high-level competition might mean I don't realise I'm not at the Cambridge standard until it's too late.
My main dilemma is that my heart leans towards staying at my school because it's familiar and supportive, and I believe I can supplement my own learning.
But my head (and everyone's advice) says that the grammar school's sixth form is the "safe bet" for Cambridge because of its proven system. My biggest fear is that if I don't get into Cambridge, I'll always blame myself for not choosing the grammar school.
Reply 1
Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum.
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.
Megathreads (Please read the first post before posting any further questions you have within that thread.)
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
GANFYD's "Which medical schools accept retake A-Levels" list
2026 Applicants :
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2026 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2026 Entry
Medicine 2026 entry for resit/retake/gap year applicants
International Students for Medicine 2026 Entry (overseas students applying to the UK)
UCAT 2026 Entry Discussions Megathread
GAMSAT Megathread 2026/2027 entry
GAMSAT Megathread 2025/2026 entry
2026 entry A100/ A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2026 entry
Medical Schools Index 2025 entry
UCAS Extra and Clearing:
Medicine UCAS Extra for 2025
Medicine UCAS Clearing for 2025
Other application years:
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2027 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2027 Entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2028 Entry
Current Medical Students and Doctors:
Guidance on posting in this subforum
So, you're going to medical school.... MKII
OSCE Tips and Advice
Increase in the NHS Bursary and expenses for placement
The postgraduate exams thread
Useful Articles:
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
Our Community:
Medicine Community Feedback and Suggestions
Medicine Gap Year Stories
Project: Minimum UCAT Score Trends
If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked above, 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.
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.
Megathreads (Please read the first post before posting any further questions you have within that thread.)
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
GANFYD's "Which medical schools accept retake A-Levels" list
2026 Applicants :
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2026 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2026 Entry
Medicine 2026 entry for resit/retake/gap year applicants
International Students for Medicine 2026 Entry (overseas students applying to the UK)
UCAT 2026 Entry Discussions Megathread
GAMSAT Megathread 2026/2027 entry
GAMSAT Megathread 2025/2026 entry
2026 entry A100/ A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2026 entry
Medical Schools Index 2025 entry
UCAS Extra and Clearing:
Medicine UCAS Extra for 2025
Medicine UCAS Clearing for 2025
Other application years:
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2027 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2027 Entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2028 Entry
Current Medical Students and Doctors:
Guidance on posting in this subforum
So, you're going to medical school.... MKII
OSCE Tips and Advice
Increase in the NHS Bursary and expenses for placement
The postgraduate exams thread
Useful Articles:
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
Our Community:
Medicine Community Feedback and Suggestions
Medicine Gap Year Stories
Project: Minimum UCAT Score Trends
If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked above, 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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