To think medicine at university is unlikely with these GCSE results?

[Beaubeagle]

My DS has just entered 6th form to study A levels in two sciences and English. He is wanting to study medicine and hasn’t got a back up plan, but I’m worried he wouldn’t have a chance because of his GCSE results. He got 1 x 9, 1 x A*, 2 x 8, 2 x7 and 4x 6. Unfortunately all his sciences were 6’s, although we are looking at having them re-marked (handwriting issues). I’m really worried he won’t stand a chance applying to medical school, even if he does get AAA in A levels. I don’t want to upset him by saying this to him but I need him to be realistic. Aibu in this? I really don’t know what to say to him.

Do you want to be treated by a doctor whose commitment to science os so slight that they can only get mediocre grades at GCSE and can't even be arsed to do 3 science subjects at A-level?
At least media studies grads can't kill anyone.

Really Ethylred? Can’t be arsed? I’m not sure how doing physics would make my son a better doctor but thanks for the input.

A new med school in Lincoln is encouraging 6 formers to attend interaction and information days, might be worth having a look at?

Wow Lincoln doing med school it used to be a crap university. Must be coming up in the world.

Lincoln is a gold award university now! It’s really coming up the ratings. The med courses are joint with Notts. Op he could look at something like this lincoln.ac.uk/home/course/MDCMFYUB/

I know a couple of doctors who originally studied physio and biomedical sciences respectively before transferring onto Medicine after their first year.

His GCSE results aren't a deal breaker, but he does need to put favourite places out of his head and pick based on likelihood of offer given his grades, likely A level grades, and likely UKCAT/BMAT results.

Personally I think its unlikely that if he got B's(6s) in his GCSEs that he be able to get an A for A level in the same science subject.

With 6s in the sciences, would he get the predicted grades for medicine? Even if the minimum is AAA, a lot of people he's up against would be predicted higher grades.

I don't think you should discourage him at this stage, though- but maybe gently encourage him to look at other options- such as other healthcare careers etc.

However, with the new med schools opening, medicine will be a bit less madly competitive by the time he comes to apply.

This year, there were even a few med schools entering clearing and accepting people with lower A-level grades than you might expect e.g. A*AB etc.

He's got a year to keep thinking about it, and a lot can change in a year, but if he keeps the dream of doing medicine, at least it will keep him working hard for his A-levels!

I was going to suggest nursing too, and with that a career in the forces wound be unobtainable.

It's a long road through a levels so I would not be stressing about any of this now. Even if he gets the grades he could fail the assessment. I would suggest you start making him aware of his other options in similar fields, and I would be doing the same if he had got straight 9s. Medicine is not just about academic ability, it's also about the kind of person you are.

wouldnt be unobtainable

Also, there’s a great shortage of GPs, so saying that’s his aim may help.
That could actually be a disadvantage, even though there's a shortage. When dsis did medicine she found telling course tutors she wanted to be a GP went down very badly with some of them basically not bothering to help her because they said there was no point unless she was aiming higher.

That's obviously a bad attitude to have, but if you have an interviewer with that attitude you'll be in with no chance.

@Ethylred I’ve been a doctor for twenty years. Only two science subjects at A level. Made not a scrap of difference to my ability to study medicine, or to my intercalated BSc, or to my ability to be bloody good at what I do.

Would he consider an Irish university? When I went they didn’t take GCSE results into consideration, might be worth checking out. You applied after the A level results came out and it was a computerised selection system

Also meant to add, if he would consider Ireland, check out RCSI Dublin. It’s one of 3 medical schools in Dublin (the others being Trinity and UCD). It’d depend on your financial situation, but it was always well known for being the one that students who got lower grades could get into if they had the money.

I would suggest he also look at the nurse practitioner role - I know several and the role seems much more patient oriented than a GP.

Graduate entry would be his only realistic hope of medicine.

Several of the medical schools who run these courses either don't look at school results.

Graduate entry would be his only realistic hope of medicine.

Several of the medical schools who run these courses don't look at school results.

Here's a good example:

warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/med/study/ugr/applying/entryreqs

Most med schools want an A in Chemistry A level. There are a small number that will offer a B. Do you / your DS think he could achieve this?
(Experience of my niece who is off to med school next week, with a high B in chemistry and a relevant gap year doing voluntary work).

I really believe he should go for it, there is no point in worrying now, he will only be 18 years old when he finishes. He may well do well enough and get in somewhere and he'll have to deal with it if not. He will have many options if he does reasonably well at A levels. He will presumably know after a year whether he results will be good enough.

I made poor decisions based on crap advice, I rushed into something I wasn't fussed about doing and it turned out fine in the end and I have a good professional job but I do really wish I had pushed to do what I really wanted to do, I still have huge regrets over 20 years later. I could have got into my current profession at any time but my original dream I would have had to do then, can't get back into it now.

My DD is going through this she's in U6. She says he DOES meet min entry reqs for a number of unis but would need to apply carefully. Things to help would be:-

• widening access background = lower entry reqs
• excellent UKCAT score
• good predicted A level grades
• excellent work experience would help
• read the admissions policies for each uni v carefully and avoid ones that rank or weight gcses highly and how they admit.

He could also resit some of high science GCSEs like bio and chem as they weight these ......if he can't be bothered to resit those I'd actually question the strength of his desire for medicine. He has to have a back up plan too.

Try Leicester
If he isn’t at a private school he may be at a slight advantage anyway as he won’t have been coached through in smaller classes.

Gap year and apply after results is such a good idea in any situation. What's the rush?
And re subjects. I know someone with 2 sciences and an Art A level (stellar GCSEs and grades mind you) who is currently studying medicine. It shows a breadth of talent.
But research uni requirements thoroughly - don't waste one of your choices on a no chancer. From memory of friends kids give applied - Sussex may be a good bet as might Cardiff. but steer clear of Birmingham who want top notch GCSEs. This is only glean d fo m general chit chat tho so get your DC to call admissions depts

Bear in mind too that some schools only offer 8 GCSEs and are a bit ropey too. Med schools have to try to be diverse. So with good A levels and volunteering and test results thing a should
Be fine - but again, that points towards a gap year. Big fan of those!!