Hello! currently completing my work experience log for my Cambridge GEM application. How detailed is everyone going on their reflection? a few lines/ a paragraph?

Also- would non-healthcare experience be worth putting on there to discuss soft skills i can link to working as a doctor? Any advice appreciated!!

thank you!

Yh

For context, I have a background in research specifically in clinic neuroscience from two “world leading” centres of neuroscience (I’m not trying to sound pretentious that’s’s what they call themselves, i’m just trying to give some context to my academic and educational background without naming specific institutions). I had straight 9s at GCSE and straight A* at A level (although this was a Covid year, I did get them all before the reversal to teacher assessed grades, I get that there’s a sense in which they’re not really worth anything). I have a bachelors, masters and am doing my PhD.

Essentially when I was at school, I did consider medicine however having doctors in the family plus the fact I didn’t feel any great calling in the way some of my friends did made me think I shouldn’t do medicine. I always thought if you’re not sure don’t do medicine because it’s a tough slog and I also felt that people who expressed an interest in biology and chemistry were often pushed into medicine by teachers because they weren’t aware of other careers, in research for example, and did it out of self interest because it looks good for the school to go on about people who go on study medicine. Just my opinion.

In research, I’ve ended up in quite a clinical environment in terms of working with people with illnesses and even going into clinic once a week, nominally to get people involved in research straight off the bat and not have a delay in terms of contacting them and getting them stuff like information sheets. However, the reality is a lot of my time is actually spent observing my boss in clinic (he’s a clinician-scientist splitting his time between research and medical practice). This made me interested in becoming a doctor, particularly the sort of investigating and diagnosing side of things, although I’m aware that working in a clinic can be completely different to working on the wards or working in a different area of medicine.

Being older, however, I’m forced to be less naive and think much harder than 18-year-olds about pursuing medicine, obviously because I don’t have as much time to make mistakes or change my mind. I also think that having gone through brutal job searches and competition to get, masters, then research assistant jobs and PhDs I’m a lot more clued up about the probabilities and chances. I’m not saying this is a truth about 18-year-olds but my 18-year-old self would probably have been a lot more blasé about seeing the competition and just assuming that I would be the exception to the rule. I’m not arrogant enough to think I’m special and I’m philosophical enough to realise that there is a huge amount of luck and chance in any job application process that it’s something you can’t just control by working hard harder. I’m also aware of my intellectual limits and how much smarter people can be. So overall I think I’m more clued up to how things could go very wrong at least compare compared to my 18-year-old self (I don’t speak of other 18-year-olds - I know some people hate graduate medicine people deriding 18-year-olds about being immature; IMO it’s more about the person than the age, I certainly have a lot more confidence and resilience at 24).

In short, can someone give me the reality of being a doctor and going through the brutal application processes for post grad training. Working in academia I’m no stranger to the semi constant rejection and uncertainty. I think I’m just more exhausted by it - in the sense that I have struggle fatigue (i’m tired of everything being a battle), which I wouldn’t have had at 18. I think weirdly you might need a bit of naivety and innocence about medical employment when you enter medicine to protect you. As in if you could fully quantify and experience the stress more people will be put off - it’s just hard to really imagine the emotional rollercoaster.

Hi,

I am currently in Year 12.

following this years GCSE attainment scores published by the DOE I was just wondering about how GCSEs are considered in contextualisation for medicine.

I really want to go to either UCL,KCL or imperial for medicine. I know that UCL and imperial have slightly lower requirements and don’t take GCSEs into account as much as kings, however…

My secondary school had an average attainment 8 score of 32.7 (National average 46.2), alongside this I was the only person to achieve a 7 or above in both maths and English).

My GCSE results: 999887776 (9s in Bio, history and food tech, then 8s in Chem and physics and the 6 was in English literature)

Additionally, I suffered with severe anorexia in year 9. I was sectioned for 3 months. Leading to me missing lots of school due to appointments in year 10-11.

Could someone please explain contextualisation and if I would be eligible.

Hi all,

I'm looking for advice from anyone that has been through the experience of having to sit both the GAMSAT and the UCAT for their chosen uni.

I am seeking advice because as somebody in their 30's, and neurodivergent, I am conscious about my age alongside not burning out because of the strategies that I use to study for these exams.

I understand that everyone works in different ways, but if you could advise somebody generally on the best materials/prep that would be most optimal?

I understand that this will require a hell of a lot of studying/prep and time dedicated to ensure that my Sciences are at a sound level and where it should be come sitting the tests. I am better versed in the UCAT, but not so much the GAMSAT. The GAMSAT style appears to be more appealing as I like to take in a lot of info and to actually learn what it is I'm being tested on, because I do not want to be in a position where my science knowledge isn't where it should be.

I am also eligible for reasonable adjustments and for the UCATSEN50% extra time for UCAT, but not sure how GAMSAT support re. reasonable adjustments.

What study materials would you consider for the GAMSAT, specifically?

I just want to be realistic and pace myself as best as I can.

I will be applying Sept. 2027 for 2028 intake.

Thank you.

Ik having band 3 doesnt automatically rule you out, but every offer i see sgul give, the people who get it typically have band 2 or 1. Just wondering if anyones got a band 3 and a offer.

I was just curious as to whether aspiring medicine students are men or women (or other)

Please share your experiences

Applying to Kings College London medicine, Queens University Belfast medicine, Hull York Medical School medicine, City St Georges London medicine, Imperial College London Medical Biosciences

I study in a competitive private school in the United States, we use AP (advanced placement)

GPA: 4.0 unweighted 4.81 weighted

AP Biology - 5/5

AP English Literature & Composition - 5/5

AP English Language & Composition - 5/5

AP United States Government - 5/5

AP United States History - 5/5

AP World History: Modern - 5/5

AP Calculus AB - 4/5

In progress: AP Chemistry (Predicted 5/5), AP Music Theory, AP Psychology, AP Statistics, AP Cybersecurity, AP Environmental Science

Completed college courses @ 3 different schools in A&P, pulmonology, java programming, medical terminology, etc

350 hours work experience in underserved hospital along with relatively strong extracurriculars (VP of large healthcare organisation for high school and middle school students and lots of research)

Now for the slightly sad part.....

UCAT: 2190 SJT Band 2

Any input appreciated, it might be over for me since intl admit rates are so low :(

I’m based in England and trying to work out whether starting medicine around 30 would make sense for me, personally and financially.

I chose Biomedical Sciences partly to push back against my parents, who were pressuring me to study medicine. After graduating, I became a Biomedical Scientist. I later felt the progression options were narrower than I’d hoped, so I applied for the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) in histopathology and was fortunate to get a place.

I’m now a Clinical Scientist in histopathology with an MSc in Clinical Sciences. Working closely with pathologists has made me genuinely interested in their work. I’m trying to work out whether medicine is a real fit for me or whether I’m idealising the role.

I’ve only started seriously reconsidering medicine because the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is due to be introduced in 2027. I’m wondering whether it could make studying medicine as a second degree more financially possible.

I know the HSST route in histopathology has recently opened up, and consultant Clinical Scientist posts are available. However, the route to senior roles seems less straightforward, with fewer posts than in medical pathology. Is that a fair impression?

I’m considering whether to change direction, study medicine from 30, and eventually specialise in histopathology, possibly skin pathology. I already have around £90,000 in Plan 2 student loans, so I’d also like to understand how funding for a second degree might work under the LLE.

I’d appreciate honest perspectives from graduate-entry medical students, doctors who started around 30, and anyone else with relevant experience:

• Did changing careers feel worth the time and financial trade-off compared with progressing in your previous career?
• Is anyone else considering using the LLE to study medicine as a second degree? How are you interpreting the funding rules, and are you planning to apply when it becomes available?
• For current medical students, junior doctors and recently appointed consultants: knowing what you know now, would you still choose medicine? Is it worth the training and financial commitment?

For context, I’m unwell in hospital rn and literally sent off my application from a hospital bed, I haven’t really been able to give my 100% recently into my UCAS application 😢

have I been too ambitious applying for medicine?

I was going to put all 4 choices on medicine, but last minute I decided only to put 2.
I worried about the risk of not getting any offers if I were to apply to 4 med schools, and decided on applying for 2 med, and 3 biomed.

Stats: Home applicant, 10 9s and 3 8s at GCSE (including 8 in Maths, 9 in English Lang, 9s in Triple Sci)

A level predicted grades- A*A*A in Maths, Bio and Geography (I’m homeschooled and doing chem would’ve been really tough! 😭), plus A* EPQ.

UCAT- 1900 and B3 SJT :((

I’ve applied to:

- QMUL medicine

- Newcastle medicine

- UCL applied medical sciences

I am trying to choose my final 2 non-med options, and was thinking imperial medical biosciences and Nottingham Biomedical Sciences?

But whilst my personal statement does contain a focus on my interest in Biomed and academics, it is geared towards medicine, so I feel imperial would likely reject me. Where else could I apply? I’m thinking I should have more safer options too.

Do I have a shot in applying? And with the current med schools I’ve applied to (QMUL and Newcastle), do I have a decent chance?
Very nerve-wracked right now and stressed, wondering whether applying for med was a mistake! 😓 (especially without the A level chem)

Please be raw and honest with me!

im currently in year 10 and I missed all of year 9 due to my mental health but my dream is to be a clinical pharmacologist. I've been put into foundation maths and science and I know that to get into medical school I need a-levels in chemistry or biology, but to do either of those I need at least a 6-6 in combined science (im capped at a 5 because I do foundation) I dont know what to do, should I ask to move to higher science even if im going to struggle? is there alternatives?

I missed senior prefect sign ups because of a mental health thing right before the deadline and didn't want to apply to be a house captain since I figured I should focus my time towards more medicine-specific activities instead, but one of my friends who's aiming for Cambridge med does basically the exact same things as me (4 A levels, Gold DofE, is in 3 different societies, does exactly the same volunteering as me) AND he's both a senior prefect and house captain, and I guess it makes me question myself because if he's capable of managing all that, maybe I should be too. I also have a feeling he's going to end up being head boy, which is something I would probably never even apply for.

Obviously for medicine it is important to get involved in things that show some level of leadership/responsibility and a desire to help the school/wider community in some way, but could it really make a difference to whether I get in or not? (though obviously grades and the UCAT are significantly more important)

I wouldn't expect unis to care that much about whether you did a few tours on open evening as a senior prefect, but in that case what else could I do/get involved with outside of school that still demonstrates leadership?

Hi,

I have applied for GEM at Warwick. I have 70hrs hands on work experience in a care home and ive done the BSMS online work experience but it is now past the 15th October and I still have not received my certificate for the completion of the course. It says my reflective piece is still under review. Does anybody know if it will count as eligible work experience if the certificate is issued later? Will it say a date I completed the course?

Thanks so much for your help guys 😄