Is it worth applying? Medicine 2019 or 2020

[HopefulMedicOnWheels]

I’m really wanting to go ahead and apply for medicine through the graduate entry courses. My degree is a humanities degree so that means King’s, Imperial, Bristol, Birmingham, Leicester and Liverpool are ruled out. So far, predicted 2:1/1st.

The unis I want to apply for are St George’s, Barts, Warwick, Nottingham but mainly SGUL and Barts as they are closest to home.

I had a rough school time because health reasons and that affected my attendance and overall my GCSEs weren’t the best but they were alright in that I did as good as I could. My school didn’t apply for special consideration which would have benefited me.

SGUL has now upped their GCSE English language from no requirement to a B. I got close to B (2 UMS marks off) but they would see it as a C however could I use my extenuating circumstances so they can look at the rest of application? Also, my borough where I live isn’t the greatest with education. When I was taking my GCSEs, I had a lot of surgery prep happening so that left me with not much time to revise.

Also, I am in a wheelchair and whilst I have seen doctors in a w/c especially in SGUL. I was wondering if that would hinder me before the interview stage. I mean I can walk and sit unaided, I just need the w/c for long distances.

I would talk to the admissions people at SGUL.

My recollection is that most websites had something on disability, but it was along the lines of they did not discriminate but expected prospective students to be realistic about their capacity to cope with a demanding course and career. I would assume that if you were able to meet or find out about sucessful students with similar disabilities, along with examples of how you manage with your own, with perhaps an acceptance of which specialisms might be out of reach, you could turn the disability into a positive narrative on the PS or at interview.

On the GCSE, definately ask the University. They might allow you, say, to take an alternative test, in the same way that Internatonal students often have to.

Have you got any relevant work experience? I tried and didn't get in and the reason I was given was a lack of work experience in the relavant field. I'd get in touch but you may find that you need to take a year to work in a relevant field to get a better shot. It was incredibly oversubscribed when I applied and I had to sit special entrance exams too.

@FridgeCut - I’ve got a few hundred hours of voluntary experience but I’m trying to get some healthcare experience. I’ll be taking the GAMSAT and the UKCAT for the unis but yeah, I am aware of that. I think it’s better off that I apply for 2020 so I can get a full year’s worth.

@Needmoresleep - I’ll do that. It would be great if I got some advice from the ex wheelchair users without looking stalkerish . I really hope they ask me to do one of them test as my GCSE doesn’t reflect my true self.

The BMA website has a number of case studies like this one:
www.bma.org.uk/advice/work-life-support/your-wellbeing/reasonable-adjustments/reasonable-adjustment-case-studies/cate-wight or this:
www.bma.org.uk/advice/work-life-support/your-wellbeing/reasonable-adjustments/reasonable-adjustment-case-studies/joanne-rugen

It's the old trick of presenting a solution at the same time as presenting a problem. There is almost certainly an interest in taking on disabled students, but it helps if the applicant has clearly thought it through and indicates they have considered potential problems and are ready to make the extra effort to make it work.

@HopefulMedicOnWheels - Your disability and any other health issues will be looked at separately from the normal selection process. Decisions on whether someone should be made an offer are based purely on merit. If someone scores well enough to get an offer and has a significant disability, it's only at that point that reasonable adjustments will be looked at: it's not going to be a factor in deciding whether you get an interview but it might be a factor in deciding whether you can safely undertake hospital placements.

Regarding the St George's GCSE requirements, you need to discuss this with them before you apply. The new requirement is a grade 6 on the new scale, which would be the upper end of the B range under the old system, so you're a bit below it. However, the web site only specifies this requirement for applicants whose first language isn't English, so it's worth asking for clarification. My own institution is very strict about English & maths grades (I've had lots of rows with graduates and their mothers about this) but St George's might be more flexible.

I was at an event organized by Medic Mentor (medicmentor.co.uk/) a while ago, where one of the speakers was a junior doctor in a wheelchair and with several chronic health problems. I don't know whether Medic Mentor would be able to put you in touch with her but there's no harm in asking. If you mention that the event was in Birmingham in November, they should be able to identify who the speaker talking about doing medicine with a disability was. I'm afraid I can't remember where she studied but I've a feeling it was in London.

www.dundee.ac.uk/news/2017/medical-student-defies-the-odds-to-become-a-doctor-.php
Take a look at this article for inspiration....Dundee do a great graduate entry scheme

@Skiiltan - Ah, I understand now. I think I took that too literally because English isn't my first language but I was at school here since primary school so, it's my thinking language. So, that solves the GCSE thing if they mean what I think they mean.

That just leaves me having to find work experience and I also have to study GAMSAT and UKCAT to get to the interview stage. I've emailed medicmentors so hopefully should get that info! Thank you!

@Needmoresleep - Those stories really help out! I would certainly show the admissions team what kind of specialities I know I wouldn't get into like orthopaedics and A&E. Thank you!

@Stopyourhavering64 - That's really inspiring, I do relate to that young doctor with how I felt about medicine as a degree but now I know that it should be possible. I might also check out Dundee :) Thanks for that!

You still need to check with St George's about the English. Sometimes these things are worded poorly and don't actually mean what they appear to mean.

The graduate-entry programme at Dundee/St Andrews (ScotGEM) has a few additional entry requirements (academic and non-academic: I think it needs A-level chemistry) and is specifically designed to train doctors to work in rural Scotland, so the placements are a bit different from other medicine courses. You should check it carefully: it will be very good at what it does (Dundee is highly innovative and very professional) but what it does is something quite specific.

@Skiiltan - I've called them up and they confirmed that they would only look at my degree and the GAMSAT. The English requirements are just for the international students. Which is good news.

And yes, I'll have a look at that but I might just stick with the four that I've chosen.

Hi,
I was just wondering whether you are going ahead and applying for medicine this year HopefulMedicOnWheels? I took the UKCAT last week (urgh!) and am preparing to submit my UCAS application (applying to Warwick, Newcastle and Barts).

I’d love to hear from fellow (hopeful) mummy medics!

Beth x

Hi guys,
DS is in Year 12 and wants to do medicine next year, he's got his heart set on Leeds.

Just wondering how you helped your kids out, anyone in a similar situation?

There's a few courses available that offer UCAS proof reading and practise interviews - what are your thoughts on them? Would you consider putting your child through them? I have been told there are already a wealth of free resources available - can you imagine there being a demand for paid courses? If the free courses are so abundant and effective then why do paid courses even exist? Asking because there's a skype-based course that has limited spaces!

On another note, does the application/interview process vary a lot between universities? What is the consensus between universities, if any?

Thanks guys .

@undergradhopeful, There are many other threads on MN about applying for medicine, and most yrs there is a thread specific to the start year (you'll be looking at 2020). I suggest you look thru older MN threads for info. I think at least 50% of ppl would say don't bother with an expensive paid course; they are reassuring rather than irreplaceable.