Alternatives to medicine

[Newgirls]

Hi wise people

DD is in y12 and hoping to apply for medicine. She’s done good work experience and is hoping to be predicted As after the recent mocks and is entered for the ucat. My question is what courses do students apply for as ‘back-ups’? Did your teens put down say 3-4 medicine options and then one eg Biology? She’d like to work with people/children rather than laboratory work so she doesn’t think bio sciences is quite right? Midwifery appeals but seems v focused so young? She is realistic that even with good grades etc she needs a back up plan - any advice from people who have been there would be v welcome! Thanks!

Fair point llk and thanks already.

Clinical psychology sounds fascinating will mention 🙏

Just a further note on BioMedical degrees, in that they are all very, very different, depending on where you study. The course name covers a multitude of disciplines, from fairly basic NHS accredited research/lab preparation, right up to courses which offer in depth Neuroscience, Immunology, Cell and Systems Biology etc etc. Specifically some BioMedical degrees start their first year on the same basic course as the medics, and these are the ones you can move over from, if possible. So look carefully at the course specs, and the possible progression to Medicine.

Clinical psychology is a profession that is massively oversubscribed and those wishing to become clinical psychologists need a lot of experience, often gained in poorly paid work. It's probably easier to become a doctor.

The principal difficulty with Clinical Psychology is actually getting on the post grad training. Most university only take people with a First and a lot of work experience (which is also difficult to get - I used to shortlist for Assistant Psych posts and would have over 100 for a very poorly paid post).

As a GP I think the current system of only allowing 4 medicine choices is stupid. I got in before that rule existed. When I applied my teachers were pushing me to put down a non medicine option but I knew that if I didnt get in I needed to have a major rethink about my career and might have reapplied the following year.
This was before university was as expensive as it is now. Taking a year off to reconsider is a better option for many

Interesting about the psychology thanks all

And about the 4th choice debate. A year out of doesn’t work does sound a good option in this case to really think about the options. Thanks all - hope others are finding this useful too 👍

Echoing PPs about BioMed. Definitely check course content, accreditation and placement year options.

If her heart is set on medicine, then i wouldn't bother with a back up. She's probably not going to be happy with it in the long term and a year repeating her exams would be a better option if it was needed.

But if she is seriously thinking about alternatives I'd recommend pharmacy, there are loads options open to you once qualified, lots of pharmacists are prescribers and running clinics amongst lots of other varied roles.