u/hedgeback2301

Hey All,

Made a post in this forum before but as time goes on I'm considering my application more and more.

I was looking to apply for GEM 2028 Entry but the more time goes on the more 2028 seems so long away, and the thought of staying in my job and living at home for that long just terrifies me. I'm also exceptionally worried about not getting an offer in my first attempt and then having to reapply and not being at Uni until 2029 (if I even get in then) and starting just before I turn 30.

Is it too late to just fuck it and apply for the UCAT to do this year? (I saw a test available still 23rd September in my hometown) and apply for 2027 entry?

I work full time in Music so would only have say 2-3 hours a night to study at most. I also have lots of festivals I will be attending in July/Aug (as part of work - meaning no weekends spare really) though my calendar will be free for all of September

My other concern is the fact that I have NO experience right now other than the BSMS online school. (So Warwick etc defo out the picture). If I can get some shadowing or some volunteering work would that help?

Also will be in Australia from Mid December to Early January so can only apply to those who interview very early/very late.. e.g. Southampton, Portsmouth etc.

Quick one r.e. my stats -->
1st Class Pharmacology MSc from KCL (with year in industry working in pharmaceutical marketing - Class of '23)
2A*2A A Level - Bio, Psych, Chem, EPQ(2 retakes, previously C grades)
2A*, 4A, 5B - GCSE

- LONG STORY SHORT.... Is me applying for this cycle just super risky and not worth the last minute-ness? I don't want to get myself worked up for no reason at all but I assume people have been even more last minute before? Obviously I will be way more prepared for 2028 entry applications, but I thought maybe it's worth trying this cycle too so I can get myself familiar with the UCAT and potential interviews? (or is that also dumb)

Thank you!!!!

Might be a stupid question but I'm just interested in the percentiles for UCAT and how they're seemingly pretty even - despite the fact I'd assume most who sit the UCAT are intelligent people who have studied for weeks/months

Am I right in thinking it's only potential medicine/dentistry students who sit it? Given that for Medicine from a get go you kinda need AAA+ at A Levels (or for GEM at least a very good degree) I'm confused as to why the grades aren't a lot higher for all the percentiles?

I'm wording it poorly but basically - Surely only the top percentage of students / most academic would be applying to these courses and needing the UCAT; so why aren't all the percentiles even higher? Maybe it's just because of issues on the day or exam anxiety?

When I think of everyone I know who applied to Medicine, I definitely am not in the top 10/15% of them academically; so I'm just worried how the hell it's possible to get a score good enough for UCAT?

Again, Feels stupid for asking. It's just - having to be in the top 10% of all people to basically get a place at Medical School seems impossible lol.

Looking into GEM for 2028/29 to see if it's a viable option for me!

It seems obviously the higher degree classification than the more favourable your chances are; however I'm curious as to whether my degree would be classed as a Masters or not? (This may seem stupid of course, but my degree was Undergrad, not Postgrad)

I have a Pharmacology with Professional Placement Year MSc (1:1) - Despite it being a undergrad degree; would this be viewed by Med Schools as a Masters degree or just a bachelors?

I know it says MSc in the title but I know because it was all done at undergrad and is intercalated, some places can be more strict about it. It's also marked in honours; not distinction/merit etc so I'm just curious!

Hi All!

As the title states, I've always had thoughts of pursuing a career within Medicine, yet just never gone through with it and my head is at a loss right now.

I'm currently 25 (26 in two weeks, yikes) and working full time in the Music Industry (a wild career change, I know).
I'm nearly 3 years in and I absolutely love the job (I've always thought about a career in Music but never saw it as possible) but it's getting to the point now where the pay is just abysmal and I'm treated like absolute shit for it by stuck-up musicians and I'm kinda over it. Yeah the perks were great but it doesn't feel worth it at all anymore.
I know many say the pay in medicine is terrible too, however right now I'm pretty much on call 24/7, I work my 9-5 5 days a week but always have to be on call for artists at all hours of the day for just above minimum wage for a pretty much OFFICE job which lets be real, isn't a life and death role... Additionally to that, I just don't feel intellectually stimulated enough.

I absolutely adored Uni, not for the partying and social side, but for the educational aspect of being able to devote my entire time to studying and learning new things. I enjoy my work a lot but I feel consistently bored and I feel as though my brain isn't being utilised enough. I'm constantly trying to find things to do to keep my brain active (studying German currently); however I hate the feeling of all my knowledge in Uni just slowly fading away and being replaced with "Band members favourite type of alcohol"

In terms of my grades/education:
> First Class Integrated MSc Pharmacology from KCL (Class of 2023)
> 1 year Pharmaceutical Marketing Associate @ Major Pharma Company
> A Levels: A*A*A(A) Psychology, Biology, Chemistry and EPQ respectively (though unfortunately Biology, Chemistry were retakes (previously got C grades) + EPQ was also taken in my resit year)
> GCSEs: 2A*, 4A, 5B

I've always had thoughts of Medicine in the back of my mind. In School I didn't think much of it due to the fact I was seen as too dumb from the get go. My school mainly focused on the extremely academically gifted and the rest of us kinda got pushed away.
In Uni I thought about it again but I was also worried about the financial aspects of Medicine + again, the thought of not being intelligent enough.

The thoughts of not being intelligent enough is also something that's on my mind - I don't think I'd be able to consider any GAMSAT options as I can barely remember my GCSE bio/chem yet alone university level + I also worry about getting a high UCAT score

Realistically, I'd be thinking of applying in either 2028 or 2029 entry. Is this too late in my career? Am I worth just continuing a career in Music and maybe finding other ways to keep my brain stimulated? I have a constant fear of living in regret and I'm worried that this might be one of those regrets I have. I'm constantly looking at courses to undertake at Uni, more MSc's etc and just anything to keep my brain preoccupied.

I hate being one of those overly negative people but really I just want to know if this is realistic. My resit a-levels is what worries me and the thoughts of getting a low UCAT. I'm pretty good at Interviews so I feel that would be ok.

Work experience also worries me too - it was always something I remember people struggling to find in my area so I'm not sure how I'd go about that.

Is it worth a shot? I feel like so many Doctors I know came out the womb wanting to study it so is this just a quarter life crisis? It's eating me up right now and just need some advice lol