‘I want to be a doctor, but I don’t have the grades’: how to advise students

Working with students who aspire to become doctors but do not have the required grades to apply can be problematic. Counsellors will need to be diplomatic and provide a range of options.

Most counsellors have been in a position where a student has exceeded expectations: a student whose academic profile is not strong may manage to succeed in the end, thanks to their determination and sticking power. Therefore, advice should be broad and provide a range of options that might (or might not) lead to their ultimate goal of entering the medical profession.

When exploring potential options with students, the context of their culture, family expectations and the career potential in their specific country need to be considered. It is important to emphasise that, once students have a degree that equips them with a strong set of transferable skills, there is flexibility in terms of further training and career progression.

It is useful to try to narrow down the aspects of medicine that initially attracted the student to the profession so when you are looking for alternatives you have something to focus on. Is it the scientific element? Is it the patient interaction? Is it the impact they can have on people’s quality of life? Is it the research aspect? Drilling down into the detail will enable you to present alternative options that will also satisfy their motivation.

Potential options for a student who missed the grades for medicine

1. Take a gap year and reapply

Is it worth the student taking a gap year and retaking their examinations? If so, they need to check very carefully to see if the medical schools they want to apply to will accept retakes.

Their gap year should be structured in terms of adding additional volunteering or caring work to their application profile, as well as gaining more experience in a range of healthcare settings if possible.

2. Apply to medical schools that offer admissions tests

Look into medical schools that place more emphasis on their own admissions test than a student’s final school grades.

A number of medical schools globally have their own admissions tests – in Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Greece and Bulgaria, for example.

It is very important, however, to ensure students recognise that although these universities may offer them a place based on these admissions tests, actually succeeding on these courses and graduating at the end of six years is known to be very difficult.

3. Take a foundation course

Some countries offer the opportunity to enter a foundation-year course for medicine – but the entry criteria are usually very specific. For example, in the UK these courses are not designed for students who have underachieved in the required subjects. Instead, courses such as the international foundation at the University of Manchester are usually designed for students whose country’s academic system has not allowed them to achieve the correct entry level.

It is important to note that completing a foundation year does not guarantee a place on a course for medicine.

4. Take a science degree with a transfer option

If a student has narrowly missed the grades and is aiming to study in the UK, they may try to find courses that allow transfers if their first-year grades are high enough.

A few examples to research would be the biomedical sciences transfer option at Newcastle University and the clinical sciences BSc at the University of Leicester – or  look at the list on the Medic Portal, which also includes some international options.

5. Consider the graduate-entry route

Several countries offer a graduate-entry route into medicine. This usually takes four years if the student has a relevant BSc degree.

Students need to bear in mind that it is still a very competitive option and it may work out rather expensive. Students who begin their BSc studies aiming for this route may, however, find other career options that are more attractive while they are doing their undergraduate studies.

6. Go into medical research or academia

Often, students’ interest in a career in medicine stems from their desire to want to help people and make a difference, particularly if they have witnessed a family member or friend suffer from a medical condition.

A career in research, which incorporates the element of helping people, could be an option. Students can explore career options as biomedical scientists or look into research in a specific area that interests them, such as cancer research. Or they could join a faculty teaching a section of the science curriculum on a medical course.

7. Become an allied healthcare professional

Encourage students to research the range of allied healthcare professions and find the most suitable based on their interest and goals. A lot of information is available on the NHS website.

Allied healthcare professionals play a crucial role in helping people live their lives as fully as possible, and many of the skills required are similar to those needed for medicine.

Once they have found a path that is suited to their ambitions, students can begin to research the course or professional path in their own country, because it may be slightly different from options abroad.

8. Look at careers in pharmacy

Careers in pharmacy open many doors if students are interested in science and healthcare. According to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, “An emerging model of care delivery involves utilising the skills of pharmacists in GP practices.”

So, for a student initially interested in medicine, this could definitely be of interest.  

9. Train to become a nurse

Students who aspire to become doctors do not usually consider nursing. However, more information on this career path is available via the Royal College of Nursing. There are also specialisms within nursing that students can investigate.

A brief summary of other healthcare careers

Health economics

A health economist studies the functions of healthcare systems and aims to find maximum value for money through improving the cost and clinical effectiveness of healthcare provision.

Health informatics

This involves the transfer of fast and accurate information to the right people at the right time. Technology-based, it is suitable for those with an analytical and inquisitive mind.

Medical communication

Medical communications agencies provide consultancy services to the pharmaceutical industry, helping raise awareness of medicines. It may include writing advertising copy or sets of instructions, or preparing patent applications.

Medical devices

This industry covers the research, development and manufacture, plus the regulation, marketing and selling of all medical devices. These range from devices with one specific use to complex surgical robots.

Medical devices are crucial in healthcare and may be used to diagnose, prevent and treat a number of conditions, illnesses and diseases.

Medical illustration

Creative and artistic graduates can forge a career in medical illustration. A medical illustrator interprets and creates visual material to help record and disseminate medical, biological and related knowledge to staff and patients.

Medical illustration may also include clinical photography, for accurate and objective images that truthfully represent illness, injuries and the progress of operations and procedures.

Medical sales

Medical sales reps are a key link between medical and pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals. Strong medical knowledge is an advantage.

The professional landscape for students interested in healthcare is vast and rapidly evolving. Even if students do not become doctors, there are many other interesting career paths for them to follow, which will provide the satisfaction of making a positive contribution to healthcare.