Rejection: What to do next

If you have been rejected from everywhere, I want to start off saying this is not a reflection on you.

You can look at my last post to view some frightening figures in the world of UCAS this year, and (hopefully) you'll see that it's just been a pretty nasty year, and I'm certain that in years before, you all would have got in.

Right, so what next?

If you have a backup

If you have an offer from another University as a "back-up" (e.g. Biomedical sciences) seriously consider whether to accept this place or not. Competition next year will be nowhere near as severe as it was this year. Not many people can not stomach up to £9000 fees for 5/6 years, and many people who intended to take a gap year will have applied this year instead.

If you are on target for A's or perhaps A*'s, seriously consider re-applying for Medicine and taking a gap year.

Many people have to re-apply, and it is not at all uncommon.

If you do accept your back-up offer, you may want to think about whether or not you are going to apply for graduate medicine or re-apply for undergraduate medicine.

Graduate medicine is EXTREMELY competitive, and makes UG look like childs-play. But it you reapply for UG medicine, you will be doing 8/9 years at university.

However, you do have to take into consideration that if you took a gap year and re-applied you would then be paying the higher fees. Also, many people cannot afford / really do not want a gap year, and you would be forced to take one.

Sorry I am not trying to confuse people, just playing devils advocate and considering all the arguments.

If you have no back-up choice

If you don't have a back-up offer for whatever reason, there is UCAS Extra. This is a system open until July (June?) which allows candidates with no offers to apply for a course with spaces left. You are allowed to apply for one course at a time, and I would highly recommend calling / emailing the Universities you apply to if you have any revised targets / resit grades.

All the same arguments as above apply here, would it better to go on 3 year course with cheaper fees, or re-apply?

I think it is very much down to individual circumstance, but the option is there for you.

One issue I would raise is that science courses tend to become full fairly quickly, so there may be limited selection. However with an open mind I'm sure there is a course for everyone.