UK applying for medicine question

Factual Questions
1

Hi, I’m a current lower sixth student who wants to apply for medicine when I finish college.

I’m taking physics, chemistry, maths and biology. I know I can do well in the sciences, but not quite so well in the maths, and hence will drop it at A2. Getting a low grade in maths, if the others are 'A’s is not really a problem in applying for medicine, as I’ve found out.

Unfortunately, a couple of weeks ago, I was run over by a workmate as I left my work, and been in hospital for two weeks. No serious damage fortunately, but my head was smashed quite badly, and my memory is a little hazy about some things, but it’ll improve.

Since I’m not going back to college until after the easter holidays, I’ll have four weeks of work to catch up (if I say one month instead of four weeks, it sounds less, but it’s the same really). This is going to be hard, but the holidays are going to be an ideal time to work really hard and get them up to speed.

I went to the neurologist today, and after phycology tests, they discovered some of my memory problems with long-er term recalling, and realised that this will hinder my progress in catching up my subjects.

I was thinking since I’m going to get a low grade in maths anyway, I may be able to drop it so I can focus on the sciences.

This would be a great idea, and would help me a lot. However, medical schools expect four/five As grades (if they get any As grades, since some colleges dont certificate for As). I’ll only have three, but they’ll be three good ones.

Will they really object to my situation with grades, if I put a cover letter my UCAS form explaining what happened, and that I found studying hard with four subjects after the accident.

Does anyone here know if this will be acceptable, since I’m not going back to college till monday and wont find out from my tutor until then.

Thanks all, Harry

2

Um, sorry to hear about your accident, but what makes you think we know whether this is okay? Why don’t you contact the school in question and ask them? :confused:

Otherwise, all we can give you is our opinions.

My opinion is that it would be much, much better to go and talk to the college admission officer in person, taking with you an official letter from your doctor, on his letterhead, explaining about the accident and the neurological damage.

Simply sticking some kind of cover letter from you in with the transcript would look to me, if I were a college admissions officer, as though you were just trying to make excuses for poor grades.

3

Sorry, I was just hoping that maybe some of the people here would be knowlegable in medical school application. It was a long shot, but I’m quite desperate.

I haven’t asked anyone who would certainly know the answer yet because I haven’t had a chance. I’m not going back to college until monday, so I was just wondering if anyone here could let me know a few days earlier.

Talking to the admission officer would be a good idea, but I’ve learned from courses such as medlink and by talking to my tutor that it wouldn’t really work. Far too many people try to talk to them, and I’d never get them to listen. So, unforunately, a cover letter to the UCAS form is going to be the best way to do it. My interview would be a better time to explain what happened properly.

My physics teacher will know fortunately, since she handles the Med School applications, and I’ll see her on monday.

If no-one here has a clue then never mind, I’ll find out soon, it’s just that I’ve been worrying about this and I’m desperate to find an answer soon.

Thanks, Harry

4

We’re not ignoring you, it’s just that it’s a pretty narrowly specialized question to ask. Apparently nobody so far knows anything about UK medical school admissions, that’s all.

5

Since you are under medical care in the UK, ask your doctors what they would do in your situation.

Just a thought…

6

It’s cool, I understand that I’m not being ignored, and I was aware that it was a slim chance to find any med school admission officers on the SDMB.

Thankfully, j.c., I’ve managed to get out of hospital now, and I didn’t think of dropping the subject until I was free, so I couldn’t ask a doctor unfortunately.

Thinking about it, it really shouldn’t be a problem. If they do find it odd to have only 3 As levels, then I dont have to submit them, since some colleges dont certificate for them. Problem solved - no more maths. That’s a relief, I did kinda suck at everything but mechanics!

Cheers all, Harry