Alternative Paths to a Medicine degree

[WalnutKitten]

DS is on a gap year with a Medicine place deferred until 2024.He is currently having a slight wobble and is considering switching course.It could just be apprehension about all the state of the NHS news and that he reverts to this path but his current thinking is possibly a straight Chemistry or Chemistry and Maths degree instead. It's quite a shift and I don't know what careers these subjects could lead to. He is not interested in engineering and enjoys the the pure aspects of both subjects. His A-Levels taken this year were all A stars in Maths, Biology and Chemistry.Any thoughts very welcome.

Thing is, medicine is one of those degrees that you can do as a postgrad after doing a first degree.

Honestly, I think a bit of life experience and perhaps a different subject wouldn’t harm him at all. Probably would do him the world of good in the long run.

DH medical professor.
Lots of time helping graduates try and get into medical school. That path is a hard one and if he has a place now and has any thoughts of doing medicine then he should do it.
Medical careers are more varied than he knows at the moment. Even if he leaves after qualifying, he can train for careers using more maths or Chemistry. Just a thought.

Thank you for commenting.@17to35 I think there are a lot of big feelings about it at the moment.He is beating himself up that he was lucky to get a number of medicine offers and friends got none and does he deserve to be there if he is having doubts.He knows graduate medicine is even harder to get into so it is now or never really.I've seen how much he wanted this over the past few years and it is hard seeing him conflicted but I am also relieved he has this time to reflect and that he isn't sleepwalking into it.I have told him that he doesn't have to have all the answers now at eighteen. I've also reminded him that intercalation in a maths/chemistry field is always an option down the line when he has more life experience.I don't mind what he chooses to do as long as it is the right decision for him but I don't want him to regret giving up a medicine place later in his life.

I agree
As long as he realises that it is harder to get in post grad. Some people are erroneously pointed in that direction.

If he does decide to try something else instead of medicine, it could be worth looking at either neuroscience or pharmacology. Both relate to medicine and both are quite chemistry heavy, often requiring chemistry A level.

I work in recruitment in the pharma industry. Many many doctors who worked for the nhs briefly but ended up working for pharma companies in a range of roles who’ve had fabulous careers. They work hard but have been well rewarded financially.

As to what to do with a chemistry or maths degree…well, almost any graduate career that doesn’t require a vocational qualification. I’ve got a chemistry PhD and am an accountant. DH also has a chemistry PhD and is assistant head in a big school. My colleagues at work in a Finance team have a huge range of (usually STEM) degrees. Friends on my undergraduate course are lawyers, consultants (of the non medical variety), teachers, civil servants, bankers, accountants etc etc.

@WalnutKitten medicine has a huge imposter syndrome problem. They get an offer and then many think they can't do it. They can as otherwise they wouldn't have got an offer.
The NHS is a mess. It will be for a while. But my DD is loving her first F1 placement and enjoyed med school. Yes, it was hard work with stinky exams, but she now has 2 degrees which are accepted all over the world. Medicine is a global profession. Think v v hard about giving up that offer as, had been said, graduate medicine is incredibly competitive (45 applications for each place compared to about 15 for non grad).

And things are rumbling in medicine I believe. Doctors know their worth and are fighting back !!

DS was at one point considering biochemistry and then post-grad medicine. Biochem sounded great as he could have gone into pharma, - so medically linked but better pay and less stress.

He ended up doing a very lab-based experimental psych course which at his uni equated to sort of half or a third of a medical degree so he could have transferred some credits.

Doing a medical degree absolutely doesn’t mean that you’re confined to being an NHS doctor for your entire life. If that’s what he wants to do then great. But I’m an accountant and we took on a grad trainee straight from medical school a couple of years ago. Plenty go into research, and plenty of others into completely unrelated fields.

Yes the medical degree is long and tough, but the opportunities at the end of it are huge, grad medicine entry is by my no means guaranteed and will mean 7 years of hard study, not just 5 (assuming grad medicine is still 4 years).

DD was wavering between medicine and engineering. In the end she decided that it would be easier to switch out of, as opposed to into, medicine.

She intercalated in biomedical engineering and did her elective in a research lab. She is now an F1 and enjoying hospital medicine, but the option is still there for her to switch if she wanted. Her medical qualification and clinical experience would not be wasted.

Very briefly. If his uni offers intercalation (I think they all do...?) then keep to med, and use the uni years to see if med is the real goal. Don't feel remotely guilty about it - intercalating and discovering something else is your passion is NOT wasting a med place. He can use it to open another worthwhile door.

Not all offer external intercalating, but those who can have a wide range of opportunities: law, management, ethics as well as various branches of science. https://www.intercalate.co.uk/

DD studied her engineering at Imperial so ended up on their graduate recruitment database. There are some very well paid opportunities.

FWIW I think it is normal to have doubts. Deciding on medicine at 18 is a big decision, as it can be a challenging, albeit rewarding career. Equally it is not unknown for those who have “always” wanted to be a doctor to reassess once faced with the realities. Starting medicine but having a realistic Plan B if it does not work out would see sensible. DD was told that if she wanted to continue with engineering she could go straight onto the standard Masters course (and the research lab she was in also suggested they would consider her for a PhD if that is what she wanted to do). So 7 years in total for a medical degree and a MEng. Perhaps a better way round than seven years for a UG degree then graduate medicine.

It's completely normal for individuals on a gap year to reassess their plans and consider alternative paths. DS seems to have excelled in his A-Levels, particularly in subjects like Maths, Biology, and Chemistry, which opens up various possibilities for his future. If he's contemplating a shift away from Medicine toward Chemistry or Chemistry and Maths, here are some potential career paths he might explore:

Research Scientist:
A degree in Chemistry or Chemistry and Maths could lead to a career as a research scientist. This involves conducting experiments, analyzing data, and contributing to the development of new materials or technologies.

Pharmaceutical Industry:
DS could work in the pharmaceutical industry, where his background in Chemistry and Biology could be valuable in drug development, quality control, or regulatory affairs.

Analytical Chemist:
Analytical chemists use their skills to analyze substances and identify their composition. This role is crucial in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, environmental science, and forensics.

Chemical Engineer (with a focus on pure chemistry):
While DS might not be interested in engineering, there are roles in chemical engineering that involve working closely with the pure aspects of chemistry. This could include designing processes to manufacture chemicals or developing new materials.

Data Scientist:
The combination of Chemistry and Maths could also open up opportunities in data science. DS could apply his analytical skills to work with large datasets, potentially in fields like healthcare, finance, or technology.

Environmental Scientist:
A background in Chemistry is valuable in studying environmental issues. DS could work as an environmental scientist, contributing to efforts in pollution control, conservation, and sustainability.
Quality Control/Assurance Specialist:

Many industries, including manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, require professionals to ensure the quality and safety of products. DS could work as a quality control or quality assurance specialist.

@WalnutKitten

Hope these help.

My Dd always says that getting a place/A Levels was the hardest bit. She did not find the degree itself that difficult from an academic point of view. Obviously a lot of the assessments are more clinically based.

Taking the place with a view to doing an intercalated year is a good suggestion. Dd did hers in Pharmacology.

My school friend had wanted to do medicine as long as I knew her. Then had a last minute wobble (possibly affected by a family friend who was a GP telling her the negative aspects). She decided to do something different but within a few weeks realised she’d made a mistake, dropped out & managed to get a place for the following year. Not sure she would have managed that now with it being more competitive

ACGTHelixAHas some good suggestions.

In the area DD is interested in, medical devices like artificial shoulders or hearts, she was advised that qualified doctors within research teams were often better paid/valued because their broader qualification allowed them other options within clinical medicine. DD also like the idea of having practical medical skills to inform her knowledge.

That said she has found that she is really enjoying F1, and so will probably decide she is a medic rather than a researcher. She did not know this when she was 18/19.

My daughter is doing graduate entry medicine having first completed a MSc in natural sciences. I think it's hugely beneficial to study medicine when a bit older and more mature. Interpersonal skills are much better at 23 compared with 18 and she's had more time to really think about her career choice. As is her ability to cope with hard work and intense study. On paper it's more competitive to get in but I'm not sure you're up against the same calibre applicants - possibly they are people who didn't get a place on an undergraduate course and are having another go. Her student loan repayments are going to be eye-watering though

Bear in mind that medicine is a great degree to have even if you don't want to go into clinical practice. Lots of transferable skills and demonstrates that you are a high calibre candidate.
I leg I was him I would do the medical degree, but think outside the box of what to do after graduating. And, as some pps have said, intercalate.

*If I was him🙄

Or maybe he'll find he loves being a doctor.

Thank you all so much for all the insightful comments.

Look at many threads on student room

It's very much harder to get into medicine as a graduate, completing against very able people, lots with actual medical experience.

Do it now if any interest.

One of DD's friends did a degree in maths and economics and then a masters in public health statistics. Very happy with her choice. That could be an alternative path for your son to consider, perhaps.