To think I can apply for post grad med school with a 2.2 in languages from 15 years ago?

[Changednameadviceneededxx]

Please be nice to me 🙈

Name changed but I'm a mumsnet lover.

I've been thinking about studying medicine. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a doctor. But I just never thought it possible.

I've got an english language degree and by the time i apply, would (fingers crossed) have a c2 cert in French.

But i only got a 2.2 😔, and I haven't worked since a corporate grad job that I did after uni, and haven't worked for close to a decade due to raising dc.

I'm a single mum so would study around raiding dc. I can't currently get work experience whilst I raise them, but would be able to study.

How crazy am I to think that a med school, somewhere in London, would accept me, with these circumstances.

I don't have science a levels either, just languages.

Tia x

Have to disagree with you there- I was always much better at humanities than sciences/ maths. People told me I simply wasn't suited for science/healthcare. I went on to do an undergraduate science degree then I went and did graduate entry dentistry ( arguably a tougher course than medicine). I got through because of work ethic and enthusiasm.

OP- it would be a very extensive slog and I can't weigh in as to whether it's worth it in the context of your life. But it would be a shame to be discouraged by strangers on a forum. So I'm going to go against the grain and say look into it. There is a doctor who posts her story on youtube who left school without qualifications, did GCSEs in her thirties and started med school at 37! She's now a (presumably) perfectly capable doctor in her forties even though she wasn't a typical candidate at all. (Although for you children may be a complicating issue).

Thanks everyone, i am a bit embarrassed now but better to be embarrassed on here than in a phone call with an admissions advisor 🙈

Those who work the crazy hours whilst raising dc, especially alone, are amazing xx

Thank you @catlovingdoctor ❤️

I was about to upload a photo of my cat but I remembered my name change!

This was my thinking. I love writing and reading but can grasp the science aspects but just not a maths whizz. My love of reading does make me a romantic though, which I feel I'm doing about this journey

Will search the doctor on YouTube

i just have this vision of my dc being 18 and going off to see the world and me graduating med school

Let go of any regrets about your degree classification. It is just a number, ultimately, and doesn't reflect on who you are or what you can do.

It's fine to want to pursue your own career. You just need to find something that is attainable given your current circumstances.

I may be wrong but I think funding is available for second degrees in nursing, so that might be an option to consider? However, you'd still have the challenge of childcare and shift work etc, so that might not be feasible at the moment either. How old are your dc?

honestly, people are getting hung up on the science thing and you really don't need to be a science whizz to get through medical school (even when I started in the last century you didn't need 3 sciences... and while I was at medical school I studied a language for a while). George's does appear to accept any undergrad degree, but a 2:1 and more recent than OPs for their grad entry programme. It is much better recognised these days that people from non science backgrounds do bring really interesting useful perspectives and possibly make more 'rounded' doctors, and with increasingly diverse patient populations having doctors with additional language skills has to be a good thing. Medical school is the easy bit though... the real work starts once you qualify.

There is nothing even remotely embarrassing about wanting to pursue a dream, OP. It is a good thing to have aspirations.

I’m a doctor and I’m sorry this is an absolutely terrible idea. I don’t mean to be rude I just can’t see why you would want to out yourself through this. I don’t think you have any clue what the reality is like, might be worth doing some work experience or talking to someone.

I mean none of us (probably) are admissions tutors. But I imagine they'd want to see a plan in place re. an access course/getting work experience, or at least that that is where the conversation would be leading. I wouldn't think there is any harm in ringing/emailing them but just be realistic about your current situation-including any positives! Also maybe look into other HCP training which might be more realistic for you currently, but only you can know if you'll always wish you'd gone for medicine!

Good luck OP.

I absolutely agree.

No science a levels, a 2:2 in English. I wouldn't want you as my doctor. Even people with good grades don't get into medicine, you should be realistic with yourself.

Just to add that any HCP training will expect recent qualifications (even if that's not your actual degree) and experience, in my experience.

This is interesting! I train folks in a different profession and have had people coming through in their 50s. Generally they're fine with classroom side of things but practicums floor them. Having an age limit would make sense, we spend a lot of time training people so you want to get value for money.

Lots of people on this thread don't actually know what they're talking about.
Nottingham will definitely accept people on the Graduate Entry course with a 2.2 in a non-science subject.

You will need to learn enough science to pass GAMSAT, and a high enough IQ to get a really high overall score. Have a go at some sample papers. If you get high scores easily you have a good chance of getting in.

For the doctor you mention, her age maybe wasn't typical but it sounds like she probably applied to medical school immediately off the back of 3 good and relevant A levels, so in that respect yes she was a typical candidate.

As someone who wanted to do medicine, I had to let the dream go.

I have a 2.1 undergrad degree in science, merit graded science masters and a science PhD - but no GCSE’s or A levels and that meant I couldn’t get into medicine.

My friend managed it, with a 2.1 undergrad and after training and self funding PA course, they then had to self fund a 5 year medical degree

graduate medicine is tough, like, really tough.

I hope you saw the post about language teachers?

If you love the thought of healthcare (i haven't yet seen you describe what it is about healthcare that appeals) and are a languages specialist, I'd say look seriously at speech and language therapy. There's careers info at www.rcslt.org.uk or PM me if you have any questions.

But please stop worrying about that blooming Desmond! It was presumably a few years ago. Who cares?

Don’t be embarrassed. There’s no shame in exploring interests and having ambition. I think you could make yourself competitive if you really wanted to, it would probably take at least two years of work before applying (access course, or A-levels, and work experience), but you really need a good understanding of what life will be
like and whether that is really for you. and I’m getting the vibe it might not be as you e learned a bit more on this thread.

what is it about medicine that attracts
you? There’s very likely another way to scratch that itch that doesn’t involve a five year degree and all that comes with it.

That's a good point, medicine does run differently to everything else in that respect.

That was me at school down to a tee! Maths and physics were my worst subjects by a country mile. Now I'm " dr cat" and the people whose teeth I take out would never guess what my science homework was like! Being strong in humanities gives a lot of skills that are valuable. Also an older 2:2 is probably the equivalent of a more recent 2:1 due to grade inflation. Im not saying "omg definitely go for it" as it's a huge decision, but I hope you at the very least don't get totally discouraged by most other posters.

Nope, I think she did / retook her GCSEs in her mid-thirites then did an access course. She had no formal education beyond that of a school-leaver.

This is probably a harder path than you realize. There are other related paths though that have lower barriers to entry. You might explore medical careers other than being a doctor. I’m not saying it’s impossible, just that it is going to be an incredibly intensive path of study.

if you have an aptitude for languages, you could also consider something like learning sign language and becoming an interpreter.

I think you are massively underestimating the amount of scientific background learning you will need. If you didn’t even do Biology and Chemistry GCSE then you won’t grasp the basics. I think you need to spend some time doing science A levels , and seeing how you get on at that level, after learning the GCSE courses to give you the basics pre A level.

It was 2009. When my ex applied with a 2.2 in chemistry and was declined on the basis of the fact that he was 44 and they would only get 20 years of work out of him which didn’t justify the cost of training him in ROI terms. Of course that might’ve been bullshit but that was the reason given.

Hi, I think you should look into it if it is what you want to do. Some medical schools allow graduates with non-science backgrounds and 2.2s if they pass the GAMSAT or similar exam (+ interviews ect too of course). You might be eligible for St Geroges in London for instance, although I think you might have to show recent engagenent in education (see their website for details). However to pass the GAMSAT you might find it helpful to take biology or or chemistry A levels anyway (unless you already have them) and I think these would count as recent engagement in education. Please check their website to check I am right though and also look at other medical school websites too. If you do get onto the course you may also qualify for NHS bursaries as well as student loans (I am not sure of the details but might be worth looking into if relevant to you).

Graduate medicine and any future medical career can of course be really tough, but please do not be discouraged to at least investigate a bit further if you think it may be your vocation. Good luck!!

I know nothing about medicine degrees, but what I really read from your post is that you want an intellectual challenge. Why not focus on something you could do, and which would build on your strengths, such as learn another language, privately tutor in a language you have, or maybe do an Open University degree?