Regret not applying to medicine

Im in my 1st year of my MPharm degree, and currently 19. I took a gap year after A-Levels as i originally wanted to go to dental school but i failed to get in. When I was applying to unis in year 13 and even when reapplying in my gap year, I was adamant on not applying to med, because of the working conditions for junior doctors, and the competition to even be able to specialise. I didnt think it was worth it. But now, I just have this burning desire to do medicine. When i think about my life being pharmacist its just not what I want to do and I am so sure of it. Even if the benefits of pursuing medicine aren't that great in the UK, I want to help people in the way doctors help people (which I know sounds basic but is the true reason why I want to do this degree in the first place). Not to say that a pharmacist doesnt play a crucial role in patient care, but its just not what im passionate about. I can't imagine any other career for me than being a doctor. It may seem like im indecisive, which i cant say isnt true, but my desire to be a doctor feels different to the other careers Ive considered. I honestly only considered dentistry and pharmacy as alternative options because of the pay and better work life balance, without being passionate about either of them.
I feel like I've missed my chance to become a doctor. I am unsure if med schools would accept me for their undergrad course because if I applied to it in for 2027 entry, I would have completed my 2nd year of my degree, and I've heard they're less likely to accept you if you're already considerably far into one degree. I also achieved AAA at A-levels and the standard offer for med schools are A*AA, so I'd have to possible resit one of my A-levels, which a lot of med schools also don't accept. Due to all of these obstacles, I considered Graduate entry medicine, but I'd be 23 when I graduate MPharm, and if I qualified to become a registered pharmacist I'd be 24 when I start GEM, and 28/29 when I graduate. I just am unsure at that point if its worth it, financially. I come from a working class family, so I would have to support my GEM course on my own, and I'd hope to locum as a pharmacist while completing GEM. The workload for GEM is huge and with the current state of the NHS, it's like id be digging my own grave. But I just cannot imagine any other career where I'd be happy, and when I think about just giving up and being a pharmacist, I do not feel fulfilled.
Can anyone give me advice?

Im in my 1st year of my MPharm degree, and currently 19. I took a gap year after A-Levels as i originally wanted to go to dental school but i failed to get in. When I was applying to unis in year 13 and even when reapplying in my gap year, I was adamant on not applying to med, because of the working conditions for junior doctors, and the competition to even be able to specialise. I didnt think it was worth it. But now, I just have this burning desire to do medicine. When i think about my life being pharmacist its just not what I want to do and I am so sure of it. Even if the benefits of pursuing medicine aren't that great in the UK, I want to help people in the way doctors help people (which I know sounds basic but is the true reason why I want to do this degree in the first place). Not to say that a pharmacist doesnt play a crucial role in patient care, but its just not what im passionate about. I can't imagine any other career for me than being a doctor. It may seem like im indecisive, which i cant say isnt true, but my desire to be a doctor feels different to the other careers Ive considered. I honestly only considered dentistry and pharmacy as alternative options because of the pay and better work life balance, without being passionate about either of them.
I feel like I've missed my chance to become a doctor. I am unsure if med schools would accept me for their undergrad course because if I applied to it in for 2027 entry, I would have completed my 2nd year of my degree, and I've heard they're less likely to accept you if you're already considerably far into one degree. I also achieved AAA at A-levels and the standard offer for med schools are A*AA, so I'd have to possible resit one of my A-levels, which a lot of med schools also don't accept. Due to all of these obstacles, I considered Graduate entry medicine, but I'd be 23 when I graduate MPharm, and if I qualified to become a registered pharmacist I'd be 24 when I start GEM, and 28/29 when I graduate. I just am unsure at that point if its worth it, financially. I come from a working class family, so I would have to support my GEM course on my own, and I'd hope to locum as a pharmacist while completing GEM. The workload for GEM is huge and with the current state of the NHS, it's like id be digging my own grave. But I just cannot imagine any other career where I'd be happy, and when I think about just giving up and being a pharmacist, I do not feel fulfilled.
Can anyone give me advice?

Hey im in a pretty similar situation to you so Im not the best informed but personally im talking to my uni advisors next week and also planning on reaching out to some med schools if they accept applications during second year in another course. My backup is definitely to do GEM and i dont think its worth stressing over the money too much becauae realistically we only need to pay back sfe when we're earning enough to do so and by that time we'd probably be consultants 🤞

Im in my 1st year of my MPharm degree, and currently 19. I took a gap year after A-Levels as i originally wanted to go to dental school but i failed to get in. When I was applying to unis in year 13 and even when reapplying in my gap year, I was adamant on not applying to med, because of the working conditions for junior doctors, and the competition to even be able to specialise. I didnt think it was worth it. But now, I just have this burning desire to do medicine. When i think about my life being pharmacist its just not what I want to do and I am so sure of it. Even if the benefits of pursuing medicine aren't that great in the UK, I want to help people in the way doctors help people (which I know sounds basic but is the true reason why I want to do this degree in the first place). Not to say that a pharmacist doesnt play a crucial role in patient care, but its just not what im passionate about. I can't imagine any other career for me than being a doctor. It may seem like im indecisive, which i cant say isnt true, but my desire to be a doctor feels different to the other careers Ive considered. I honestly only considered dentistry and pharmacy as alternative options because of the pay and better work life balance, without being passionate about either of them.
I feel like I've missed my chance to become a doctor. I am unsure if med schools would accept me for their undergrad course because if I applied to it in for 2027 entry, I would have completed my 2nd year of my degree, and I've heard they're less likely to accept you if you're already considerably far into one degree. I also achieved AAA at A-levels and the standard offer for med schools are A*AA, so I'd have to possible resit one of my A-levels, which a lot of med schools also don't accept. Due to all of these obstacles, I considered Graduate entry medicine, but I'd be 23 when I graduate MPharm, and if I qualified to become a registered pharmacist I'd be 24 when I start GEM, and 28/29 when I graduate. I just am unsure at that point if its worth it, financially. I come from a working class family, so I would have to support my GEM course on my own, and I'd hope to locum as a pharmacist while completing GEM. The workload for GEM is huge and with the current state of the NHS, it's like id be digging my own grave. But I just cannot imagine any other career where I'd be happy, and when I think about just giving up and being a pharmacist, I do not feel fulfilled.
Can anyone give me advice?

I’m 20 and will be 21 when I start med school, and I definitely was the youngest there at the interviews! There was ages from 20(me)- up to 45! A career in medicine is life long anyway, so if your going to be a doctor, it doesn’t really matter how late you start, and your going to get to that age anyway so might as well be a doctor at that age too!! Student finance and nhs bursary support a lot for GEM, and most unis want a good UCAT score, atleast a 2:1 and passionate applicants for interview, and hands on work experience. You have soso many options, if age is a big issue for you, try to transfer to a 3 year degree, book and sit your ucat in the summer between second and third year, and then apply by the October of your final year. Hope this helps!

I really appreciate your advice, an congratulations on receiving a GEM offer! I plan to talk with career advisors at my university to explore my options. Can I ask what you did to strengthen your GEM application? I'm aware that GEM is extremely competitive so if I do have to go down that route I don't want interviews to let me down