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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

WWYD my average grade teenager has decided she'd like to do medicine!!

86 replies

mosschops30 · 16/03/2011 20:53

Would you wholly support their decision even if you knew that academically they werent up to it?

Dd is a bright girl, but doesnt woek to herfull potental. She is aiming for c's in most of her gcses and may get an A/B in a couple of subjects.

She always wanted to do teachin which is well within her capabilities, but now shes got her heart set on medicine and knows she has to really raise her game at gcse and then get 3 A's minimum to get into university.

I am supporting her, and would be proud whatever she does, but should i discuss with her the possibility that it may not happen?

OP posts:
Original poster
mosschops30 · 16/03/2011 20:54

Sorry meant 3 A's at A level

OP posts:
smokinaces · 16/03/2011 20:55

what does she want to do in medicine?

only ask as my friend was similar. she wanted medicine, but didnt get the grades and so thought it wasnt possible.

Then she looked into ambulance work. She was a technician, and then paramedic and is always doing more exams to further herself.

Medicine does not have to mean Doctor. What about nursing? Midwifery? Paramedic? What exactly does your daughter want to do?

hogsback · 16/03/2011 20:56

You should support her. If she's willing to pull her socks up, get the grades in GCSE and get the correct A-levels (Maths, Chem, Bio) then she deserves your support. She will also need to do a lot of extra-curricular/voluntary/work experience activities to be in with a chance.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 16/03/2011 20:59

I am a nurse so she knows all about that, she has no interest in nursing. She wants to be a pathologist!

I have poken with a doctor fiend an he also suggested voluntary work.

Her science teacher wasnt very positive when i mentioned it at parents eve

OP posts:
Original poster
mosschops30 · 16/03/2011 21:00

Lol at doctor fiend Grin

Meant friend, my typing on the ipad is shocking

OP posts:
smokinaces · 16/03/2011 21:01

Volunteering is a great way for her to discover how much she enjoys it. The is no reason even with her grades she cant do it - it may take her longer, and more exams but support her and she could surprise everyone.

hogsback · 16/03/2011 21:02

smokinaces; generally "doing medicine" is understood as doing an MBBS. As you rightly point out, there are many other routes into healthcare, but they are not medicine.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 16/03/2011 21:02

Support her through gcse and into the relevant A levels. She may change her mind and with those a levels there maybe other aras of medicine that interest her

Our DD currently says medicine too, but her passion is chemistry. It Will evolve.

littleducks · 16/03/2011 21:02

where abouts are you? are there any non traditional routes in you could explore?

It used to be that if you went to state school, then went to Thames Valley Uni for some kind of biomedical coursed and did really well after the first year you could transfer to medicine at Imperial.

Might be worth exploring if there is a route like that near you

PixieOnaLeaf · 16/03/2011 21:04

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Chaotica · 16/03/2011 21:05

You can also do medicine after doing a non-medical degree.

TheFallenMadonna · 16/03/2011 21:05

What is she doing in level/grade-wise in Science atm? And what year is she in?

Goblinchild · 16/03/2011 21:06

If she's lazy and not working to her full potential, she won't make it as an NQT.
Has she thought about working for Boots?

Gottakeepchanging · 16/03/2011 21:06

It is unlikely that a school, would let her do 3 challenging a levels with only c grade passes.

slartybartfast · 16/03/2011 21:08

how about working in a lab, you can get quite high up jobs there.

PixieOnaLeaf · 16/03/2011 21:09

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slartybartfast · 16/03/2011 21:09

its also a bit of an old6 boys network^... are you in the masons? Wink

alwaysdancing · 16/03/2011 21:12

Honestly, it's nigh on impossible to get a place studying medicine, even for students with all As and A*s at GCSE, all As at A-level and with several bits of relevant work experience. You really need all of those just to be in with a fighting chance.

All is not lost though - support your dd (as I'm sure you would anyway) to get the best grades she can, then look in to related biological science degrees followed by a post-grad medical course. Perfectly possible that way Smile

I'm a science teacher btw - high school and 6th form - very much involved with this sort of stuff at work!

littleducks · 16/03/2011 21:13

I dont think they do the course any more but it was this course which shows you can get into medicine via untraditional routes

reallytired · 16/03/2011 21:14

PixieOnaLeaf,
I think that its a little harsh to suggest that a lazy teen won't make it as an NQT. She has loads of time to grow up.

If I was you, I would support her dream, but give her lots of info about allied careers. For example audiology, physio, midwifery, speech and language theraphist occupational theraphist etc. etc. She will realise by year 11 whether medicine is a realistic dream or not.

It is the scientific aspect or working with people that attracts her to medicine?

TheFallenMadonna · 16/03/2011 21:14

It is without question easier to get onto some teaching courses than it is to get onto medicine courses. I assume mosschops was referring to entrance requirements rather than dissing teachers...

PixieOnaLeaf · 16/03/2011 21:16

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iskra · 16/03/2011 21:21

Yes, there are Access to Medicine courses in a couple of places if she doesn't get the grades she needs. Manchester do some sort of "foundation year".

Goblinchild · 16/03/2011 21:26

'I think that its a little harsh to suggest that a lazy teen won't make it as an NQT. She has loads of time to grow up.'

That was me, not Pixie. It may be harsh, but I don't care, it's only my opinion.
I objected to

'She always wanted to do teachin which is well within her capabilities'

Her capabilities as an underachiever? Read some of the threads here complaining about those who drift into teaching because they can't be bovvered to do better, and see how OP's opinion does my profession a disservice.

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