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Original poster

Applying for medicine with very polarised GCSEs

33 replies

Neednewwellies · 07/07/2020 12:12

I’m not sure where to put this so I’ve put it both here and in further Ed.
DS1 has his heart set on studying medicine. Personally I think he’s extremely well suited to it both academically and in temperament. He’s Y10. He is mildly dyslexic and predicted the following in His GCSEs:
Maths-9
Chemistry-9
Physics-9
Biology-9
Geography-8
RS-8
English Lit-6/7
English Lang-6/7
French-6
He really didn’t want to do a language but it was school rules. He struggles with French and indeed English due to his dyslexia. It also impacts the written element of his humanities subjects too.

So, if he does end up with the predicted 9s for maths and sciences but gets 3 x 6s for English and French, will that preclude him applying for medicine? He is looking at 4 Alevels in maths, chemistry, physics and biology. His current teachers are as sure as they can be that he is A/A (but more likely A) in each.

Any advice on what he should do? Will his results mean he will be unlikely to secure a place to study medicine or do some universities look at the skew towards the required subjects and his predicted Alevels?

OP posts:
Witchend · 07/07/2020 13:00

I suspect (hope) that universities will give more leeway on GCSEs this year because they are predictions rather than actual results. I wouldn't have thought that would rule him out anyway, but especially this year.

He can do things that will help him, experience if possible, reading round etc. For example I know there are first aid courses you can do on line currently. That's not the same as face to face contact, but showing that he's done something while being stuck at home would be a positive.

Do be aware that A-levels are a different kettle of fish, though. I'm surprised that teachers are willing to stick their necks out at this point and say he should get top grades. I've one at uni and we did know people who were top end sailing at GCSE who just never made the step up in A-levels, especially chemistry, but also maths.

BlackPuddingEggs · 07/07/2020 12:55

I think you need to check with each medical school to see what their ranking criteria is. I went to a ucas talk for one of my dc and the speaker from I think Nottingham uni said that for medicine the assigned points for A and A* at gcse (now 7/8/9 I assume) and only if you scored above a certain threshold would they then go on and look at the next steps. It was just a way of limiting the number of applications they had to spend lots of time on. They said other places used different things as the first criteria so were more suitable for people with less than perfect gcse grades.

Original poster
Neednewwellies · 07/07/2020 12:51

Thanks everyone! Yes, with such good predicted Alevel results it may be worth him applying after he receives these (assuming he gets them) He could then use the year to get as much voluntary work in as possible. Something to think about.

OP posts:
Whatwouldyoud1 · 07/07/2020 12:46

He could always apply again after his a levels if he isn’t successful before the results and take a gap year? (If you see what I mean?)

I have two friends who did a science degree first and then medicine after as they were unsuccessful applying for medicine the first time around. (But that was back in the late 90s / early 2000s when university wasn’t so expensive!)

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 07/07/2020 12:44

Definitely worth going for imo. Medicine places have been available through clearing in the last couple of years. If he secures 8/9 in all the science and maths I can't see there being an issue particularly. My DS just finished yr13 and one of his year has got an offer at Cambs to study Physics with a 5 in English. In DDs year group (she just finished 1st year at uni) they has one accepted for medicine - he missed his grades but went to his back of medicinal chemistry (if I remember correctly he got ABB in the end) So even if he applies for medicine he'll be encouraged to have a non medicine back up course. For medicine there are also special tests at most unis now, which test for genera knowledge and the right sort of thinking skills they're looking for. So there are lots of hurdles but also chances to understand whether it's actually he right thing to apply for BEFORE he actually has to apply & commit his uni choices to medicine.

TheVeryHungryTortoise · 07/07/2020 12:39

Hi, OP! I'm currently studying graduate medicine so will try and advise a little, but won't claim to be an expert. There are a couple of exceptions, but I think most medical schools wouldn't rule someone out based on those GCSEs. The most important thing now is for him to hit the necessary A level grades and do well in the BMAT/UKCAT.

Best of luck to him, studying medicine is an incredible opportunity! Smile

Original poster
Neednewwellies · 07/07/2020 12:35

Thank you @SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito. This is my worry. The irony is that we have never encouraged him towards medicine as it’s the one subject that I always felt you need to have an almost visceral love for rather than it ever be suggested either at home or by teachers. This has all come from him. His general knowledge and scientific knowledge is outstanding. On top of that he’s the most compassionate person you could meet (unlike his brother who’s the year below but all about what job will will earn him most money). No contacts but we’ll try and arrange something. He’d actually enjoy that so it wouldn’t be lip service.

OP posts:
SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 07/07/2020 12:25

Sure someone more knowledgeable will come along in a bit, but here's my two pence worth.

I think it will be an uphill struggle. I used to teach in a school that had a huge number of sixth formers applying for medicine (cultural bias & parental pressure) and very few got in. The ones with borderline grades often didn't even get an interview. Many with perfect grades (all A and A at GCSE, all A or A predicted at a level) didn't get past the interview stage. It is really, really competitive.

Many of those who didn't get in to a medicine course went off to do Biological Sciences degrees with the intention of switching across to medicine after the first year. Some managed to do this, but not most.

He will need to try to get some work experience. Obviously with Corona this is a non starter right now but he will need to be on it straight away if it becomes possible again. Any kind of medical or care setting, for as long as possible, not just a week's stint. If you have any connections to someone in medicine, you need to use them.

Finally, be realistic about which unis to apply to. Get him doing some research about which universities are more likely to take him (the student room website would be a good place to start), find the phone number for the relevant admissions department, and get him to call them to discuss it. Him, not you! Does he have any adjustments in school / for exams for his dyslexia? (Extra time etc.) It would be worth discussing this with the university admissions people as well.

There are various books about how to do well in the uni interviews for medicine, if he goes ahead with an application make sure you get a couple.