Yr10, wants to do medicine but struggling with biology

[Thisismynewname123]

DD has her heart set on studying medicine and no matter how many times I say she should consider alternatives in case in doesn't work out. She won't. There is nothing else she wants to do. The problem is that although she is capable of 8s/9s is most subjects, she seems to be struggling with biology. I could get her a tutor. She'd probably be predicted a 6/7 if I asked her teacher today. But even with a tutor, is it worth pushing her to something which isn't her strength? How can I inspire her to something which uses her strengths - I think she capable of 9s in physics/chemistry/maths. Has anyone's child been in a similar position and what route did they end up taking?

Tell me about it. I am sitting in Ireland working on mine! Three more years before I can apply!

@Thisismynewname123 I would caution that the downside of going the biomed (or other science degree) route is that it is even harder to get a place on graduate medicine courses (4 years) than it is on the an undergraduate medicine course (5-6 years). Also, although there is some funding available, it is less. It's not enough to cover the full costs, plus she will already have student loan debt from her biomed degree.

I agree with PPs that she probably hasn't understood the technique for answering the questions if she is excelling in physics and chemistry and is good at remembering facts. I would also suggest that she might be making the same mistake that a lot of bright students make - forgetting to state the obvious because it seems too simple/easy to them.

Agree about thinking hard about taking another degree with the hope of getting into Post Grad Medicine. If they do a years work experience instead they'll have a much better chance with Unis like Keele and Sunderland. The latter also offer a free year's accommodation, so worth investigating.

Has she got any plans for her volunteering @Thisismynewname123?

Getting into postgrad medicine is really hard, DD had a first in biomed from Middlesex, and lots of volunteering, Duke of Edinburgh etc etc. Still didn't get in anywhere.

Interesting, this hasn't been our experience. All 3 of DD's friends who were doing biomed specifically as a back route into medicine have got onto medicine degrees.

That said, at least 2 of them haven't had a year's exemption, ie they are still having to do the full 5 years – the biomed undergrad helped them get onto the course, but didn't shorten the course.

Also they did do work experience in hospitals during their holidays so I guess the fact that they seemed really committed must have counted for something.

@theDudesmummy please let me know does she then do more courses to qualify as a doctor in the UK? If so, how many years? Or qualification is recognised here? Thanks

Five years med school plus two years internship (which she could do there or in the UK, or EU). Yes she can register with GMC after that (and in EU countries etc).

Vet school in Poland is six years

Thanks! x

Hi @Thisismynewname123

Take a look at www.coresciences.co.uk. This is an online platform where pupils can perform GCSE Science experiments virtually and learn about the theory behind the experiments. All of the required practicals for Biology are there, as well as Chemistry and Physics.

Students can also play games and take tests based on what they have learned.

I hope this is useful!

@Bloomsburyreader

Biology teacher here. As PPs have said, she needs to learn how to answer the questions using the key words. There is definitely a technique to it. But not all tutors teach this way so they don't always help. She needs to go onto physicsandmaths tutor.com and print of a load of biology last papers (they are arranged by topic which is useful for practice for end of topic tests). She needs to do the questions then mark them herself using the mark scheme. Whilst marking them she should look for the use of the key words that are awarded the marks and underline them. Any key words in the mark scheme she needs to write onto her original answer (in a different colour). This will help her get used to the key words. There are only so many ways a question about a topic can be asked so the same key words are looked for. It is a skill she can learn!!

Thanks for this. I'm sharing that website with her

@BunnyRuddington

I’ve no type read the whole thread so sorry if I missed repeating. If she does want to do medicine my top tips are her joining the Medicine 2024 thread on TSR, asking school if they have a Med Soc and if not, are they willing to set one up?

And for you, follow the Medicine 2022 entry in Higher Education on here.

My DS is applying for this year and I just can’t begin to thank the MNers on that thread for all of their incredibly helpful advice.

sorry for my ignorance, but what is TSR?

[quote chesirecat99]@Thisismynewname123 I would caution that the downside of going the biomed (or other science degree) route is that it is even harder to get a place on graduate medicine courses (4 years) than it is on the an undergraduate medicine course (5-6 years). Also, although there is some funding available, it is less. It's not enough to cover the full costs, plus she will already have student loan debt from her biomed degree.

I agree with PPs that she probably hasn't understood the technique for answering the questions if she is excelling in physics and chemistry and is good at remembering facts. I would also suggest that she might be making the same mistake that a lot of bright students make - forgetting to state the obvious because it seems too simple/easy to them.[/quote]
That's ok, we're not anywhere near that stage yet :)
II have been telling her that if it comes to taking a year out for relevant work experience, that won't be a terrible thing.

@BunnyRuddington

Agree about thinking hard about taking another degree with the hope of getting into Post Grad Medicine. If they do a years work experience instead they'll have a much better chance with Unis like Keele and Sunderland. The latter also offer a free year's accommodation, so worth investigating.

Has she got any plans for her volunteering @Thisismynewname123?

yes, we talk about volunteering. She is still a bit young, but is doing Duke of Edinburgh (silver this year) and we have identified volunteering opportunities for next year, or the year after, when she's over 16