Is it worth taking a gap year even if I get a med offer?
I have not got any offers yet but even if I do, is it worth taking a gap year to go to a better university? I would be grateful for any offer of course. I would have to retake the UCAT and start my application again which is a lot too. Thoughts?
Reply 1
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Reply 2
It depends on you really, do you want to take a gap year? I sometimes wonder if the application wouldn't be easier doing A levels first, so the grades are achieved and you don't have to worry until August that you might not get in anyway, but since you have done well so far I would wait all the universities decision and only then decide
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 3
12
What have you done/will you do to improve your application between now and October compared to your current application? What do you plan to do in your gap year? How good was your UCAT score?
I would be very wary about turning down any offer and reapplying. In terms of career in the nhs there is very little difference between attending different medical schools - their medical degrees are all considered comparable. Presumably you were happy with the choice you applied to? There is no guarantee you would get offers from ‘better universities’.
If you get rejected ask for feedback so you know what you need to improve if you reapply. Then if you are rejected from everywhere and unsuccessful at clearing you are in a better position to assess your chances from reapplying next year. Medical schools do look for a planned gap year, not just faffing about. But if you get an offer, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
I would be very wary about turning down any offer and reapplying. In terms of career in the nhs there is very little difference between attending different medical schools - their medical degrees are all considered comparable. Presumably you were happy with the choice you applied to? There is no guarantee you would get offers from ‘better universities’.
If you get rejected ask for feedback so you know what you need to improve if you reapply. Then if you are rejected from everywhere and unsuccessful at clearing you are in a better position to assess your chances from reapplying next year. Medical schools do look for a planned gap year, not just faffing about. But if you get an offer, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Reply 4
9
Original post
by FiBoxWhat have you done/will you do to improve your application between now and October compared to your current application? What do you plan to do in your gap year? How good was your UCAT score?
I would be very wary about turning down any offer and reapplying. In terms of career in the nhs there is very little difference between attending different medical schools - their medical degrees are all considered comparable. Presumably you were happy with the choice you applied to? There is no guarantee you would get offers from ‘better universities’.
If you get rejected ask for feedback so you know what you need to improve if you reapply. Then if you are rejected from everywhere and unsuccessful at clearing you are in a better position to assess your chances from reapplying next year. Medical schools do look for a planned gap year, not just faffing about. But if you get an offer, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
I would be very wary about turning down any offer and reapplying. In terms of career in the nhs there is very little difference between attending different medical schools - their medical degrees are all considered comparable. Presumably you were happy with the choice you applied to? There is no guarantee you would get offers from ‘better universities’.
If you get rejected ask for feedback so you know what you need to improve if you reapply. Then if you are rejected from everywhere and unsuccessful at clearing you are in a better position to assess your chances from reapplying next year. Medical schools do look for a planned gap year, not just faffing about. But if you get an offer, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Reply 5
9
Original post
by pincopallino72It depends on you really, do you want to take a gap year? I sometimes wonder if the application wouldn't be easier doing A levels first, so the grades are achieved and you don't have to worry until August that you might not get in anyway, but since you have done well so far I would wait all the universities decision and only then decide
Last time I only took 2 weeks to prep for the UCAT which came with its consequences lol. So, I think I will take it again and see how it goes.
Reply 6
12
If you get an offer, you could take UCAT before results day, then you would know if you need to accept your offer. Though even then I would be careful about rejecting definite space in exchange for no guarantee of another offer.
Original post
by scarygirl2I have not got any offers yet but even if I do, is it worth taking a gap year to go to a better university? I would be grateful for any offer of course. I would have to retake the UCAT and start my application again which is a lot too. Thoughts?
If you get an offer then i would take it. In that case i wouldnt reject an offer with no quarantee of getting another one. Especially with medicine being a competitive course.
Reply 8
If you get an offer, you can contact the university and ask them if they will defer your offer to next year so you don't have to reapply. You have a good chance of them agreeing to this if you ask soon after offer and if you can give a reasonable summary of what you would like to do with your gap year.
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