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Original poster

To consider training to become a GP?

116 replies

Inpersuitofhappiness · 11/01/2021 20:56

I can't believe I'm posting this, I have pretty low confidence in myself, and this is something I've always thought was beyond me, but I have always had an interest in all things medical.

I've just turned 30, and a few times I've been told that I should consider getting into the medical profession. I've always shrugged it off, because I don't view myself as smart enough. One person who recommended it was a GP himself and said that its just hard work to get there.

Is it really doable for the fairly average person if they work hard?

Is it too late?

Is it a career even worth having? I know there are so many GPs leaving the profession with the way the NHS has been over the past several years atleast.

There's part of me that feels like I could really help people.

I already have a career that I don't mind, its genuinely the interest in helping people a bit more thats making me want the change.

I'm hoping I might be able to speak to people who have maybe done it, or know people who have. What do people do if they fail their training?

OP posts:
daisypond · 12/01/2021 18:05

For those who have a degree but in an unrelated subject, you can now also do a foundation year at some universities. I don’t know anyone who did this, but this is what Manchester say:
“We welcome applications from graduates or those in their final year of study towards an undergraduate degree. You should have achieved or be predicted a minimum of an upper second (2:1) honours degree and should have achieved a minimum of BBB at A-level (32 in IB) in your first sitting.”

I know quite a few doctors who trained/have been training in the last few years. Only one did the “straight from school with A levels to university” route.

MaddieElla · 12/01/2021 18:25

Just a few of the hoops...

Either all GCSEs at grade 8/9 or equivalent (for Unis that are GCSE heavy in their interview selection process)

And/or very high UCAT/BMAT score (for those Unis that select for interview using thresholds)

Universities have entry criteria on their websites but these mean nothing. For example, Nottingham wants 5 x A at GCSE. In reality, you need all 8s/9s to stand a chance of interview. They are so over subscribed that they have to score and only invite the highest scoring applicants.

3 x A Levels at grade A

Work experience (if you're lucky enough to get an interview, good experience will get you over the line.

Not sure about access to medicine courses but normal entry to medicine is ridiculously competitive. This year there were nearly 30 thousand applicants, up 20% from last year.

Graduate entry is even more competitive.

You have a long road.

CherryRoulade · 12/01/2021 18:45

I guess with minimal academic achievement, it might be useful to sit UKCAT or BMAT to see how you score before putting all your eggs in one basket and starting down a path you may find too much.
That doesn’t require any commitment, but would give an idea of whether you have the right aptitude.

daisypond · 12/01/2021 19:56

@MaddieElla

Just a few of the hoops...

Either all GCSEs at grade 8/9 or equivalent (for Unis that are GCSE heavy in their interview selection process)

And/or very high UCAT/BMAT score (for those Unis that select for interview using thresholds)

Universities have entry criteria on their websites but these mean nothing. For example, Nottingham wants 5 x A at GCSE. In reality, you need all 8s/9s to stand a chance of interview. They are so over subscribed that they have to score and only invite the highest scoring applicants.

3 x A Levels at grade A

Work experience (if you're lucky enough to get an interview, good experience will get you over the line.

Not sure about access to medicine courses but normal entry to medicine is ridiculously competitive. This year there were nearly 30 thousand applicants, up 20% from last year.

Graduate entry is even more competitive.

You have a long road.

And yet, only one of the people I know who have done medicine degrees in recent years, have done it that way - straight from school with A levels. There are many more accessible ways into medicine these days. Local university, a certain background, a similar degree, foundation course, access course. University websites will explain the route for those coming through a non-traditional route and any accessibility routes they have.
MaddieElla · 12/01/2021 21:10

Yes they are. And they are extremely, extremely competitive. Far fewer places than normal entry. Not impossible, but medicine is a beast whatever way you try.

Kendodd · 13/01/2021 10:20

One thing I've learnt from this thread, and all the very knowledgeable posters on it, is that we should massively expand training places for doctors and nurses. There has always been a shortage of doctors in the UK, ever since I was a kid, 50 years ago, just train more. If I was king of the world, I would make training free, on the condition you worked for the NHS for three years, for each one year of training. I know its massively expensive to train a doctor but if they don't do the NHS service, just give them a bill for the true cost of that training. It's a good deal for them I think. I think successive governments have just made the calculation that it's cheaper to import medics than to train them ourselves though.

Anyway, OP, it's not just about the destination, it's about the journey as well, you might really enjoy the journey and end up going off in a completely different direction half way along. I say make a start on the road. Best of luck.

mumnowformerrockstar · 13/01/2021 15:06

Most of the 'advice' aimed at the op is rather nasty.

GretaSheen · 13/01/2021 15:29

OP, I had a child very young and left school with no GCSE's.

I never thought of myself as academic but I am emotionally intelligent and a hard worker.

Although I didn't want to go into the medical profession I did want to go into social care.

I stared at the bottom and did an NVQ3, 4 and 5 then moved to a degree in Social work and finally a post grad. It took along time (post grad at 41) but it was well worth it.

I don't know if you can achieve your goal, only you know that but it is possible.

Good luck.

MilkMoon · 13/01/2021 15:31

@mumnowformerrockstar

Most of the 'advice' aimed at the op is rather nasty.
In what way is it 'nasty' to tell the OP about what she will need to do even to be accepted onto a medical degree course, and the realities of the geographical moves which will be necessary later on in her training, and which may be incompatible with the education of a teenager?
verticality · 13/01/2021 15:41

I went through the same thing at your age. The real barrier for me was not academic (actually, I found the science side of things really quite straightforward - it's not hard to understand in the way Ulysses or Levinas is difficult, it's just detailed). No, the real barrier for me was financial.

I worked really hard to get onto the course, studying part-time for an OU science degree while working two jobs. Then they changed the rules on tuition fees and put my goal beyond my reach.

Five years of medical school went from being affordable for me to incurring a ton of debt. Tuition fees in England are now £9k, plus the course is full-on, so you might not be able to take on huge amounts of part-time work to fund your living costs. Unless you're married to a high-earning partner or have a lot of savings/inheritance, it might just not make sense. Sorry to be on a downer, but just wanting to share my experience as a cautionary tale!

MilkMoon · 13/01/2021 16:15

(actually, I found the science side of things really quite straightforward - it's not hard to understand in the way Ulysses or Levinas is difficult, it's just detailed)

Sorry, OP, am derailing your thread to say to @verticality that I loved this sentence. Grin

Best wishes with whatever you decide!

KirstenBlest · 13/01/2021 16:20

@Inpersuitofhappiness, not RTFT, but you need to speak to medical schools. One or two of the replies I have read are from people who entered med school as mature students, and these are the replies that you should focus on.

I could say that my cousin's daughter is doctor married to a GP, but it isn't relevant, as they went in straight after A-levels.

You might need A-levels, you might not, but there is someone who can advise. Try the BMA or a local med school as a starting point.

30 is young. 10 yrs will fly by.

orangenasturtium · 13/01/2021 16:36

Is it really doable for the fairly average person if they work hard?

Some medical schools use the UCAT (University Clinical AptitudeTest) exam for selection @Inpersuitofhappiness It's an aptitude test so it doesn't require any previous knowledge. Why don't you buy a preparation book and try some practice papers? It might give you an idea of how easily attainable your goal is for you.

The other entrance exam is the BMAT. The first paper is problem solving and critical thinking so you could probably give that a go too.

Twilightstarbright · 13/01/2021 16:41

Not sure where you are OP but Birkbeck in London do a HE Diploma in Life Sciences allied to Medicine which you can do in one year in the evenings around work. It is intense but possible. They have students go into medicine every year. It's in a completely different category to a general access course. The students who went there also had relevant work experience (paid or voluntary).

The admissions team can give you the latest stats but in my year there were four people who went into medicine- bearing in mind we weren't all applying for medicine! Lots of us moved into biomedical science, physiotherapy and dietetics.

Cerulean60 · 17/01/2021 14:52

I don't have a medical background but do have experience changing career. In your initial post you're asking questions that will have different answers for different people. It is only YOUR answer to these questions that matters. I'd recommend thinking about what factual info you need to find out in order to answer the questions for yourself - e.g. what qualifications/experience/personal qualities you will need, what potential challenges you might face, whether any assumptions you're making are correct.

I'm strongly of the view that you only get one life and that it's never too late, but it's a big decision to go into with your eyes open, so focus on fact-finding at the moment so that you can make an informed decision either way.

Good luck!

Cerulean60 · 17/01/2021 14:56

@Twilightstarbright

Not sure where you are OP but Birkbeck in London do a HE Diploma in Life Sciences allied to Medicine which you can do in one year in the evenings around work. It is intense but possible. They have students go into medicine every year. It's in a completely different category to a general access course. The students who went there also had relevant work experience (paid or voluntary).

The admissions team can give you the latest stats but in my year there were four people who went into medicine- bearing in mind we weren't all applying for medicine! Lots of us moved into biomedical science, physiotherapy and dietetics.

I have an MSc from Birkbeck, and my OH has a CertHE and BSc - it definitely opens doors!
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