Results Pt2

So I realise that nobody actually reads this blog. Hmph.

However, this blog is the black box of where things are likely to go wrong. Yes folks, I reckon it's all likely to go downhill from here - because I enter the workforce, and the mighty workforce of the NHS, right at the bottom.

But I have began to consider my future if I fail to get anywhere this year.

Looking back over the past year, I can see where I may have gone wrong (though I still don't know how good my old personal statement is, help anyone?). Ultimately I have decided that this is another shot at medicine, and unless something really changes, my last chance. I'm going to university regardless of medicine in 2010 entry.

I've learnt this year, looking at how things turned out for me, my mates going through results day, phoning unis and clearing, that my plans shouldn't be as fixed as I have them in my head currently.

Yes, I've seen quite a few people get into Bristol, Newcastle and Sheffield with lower grades than their offer (not for medicine), but some weren't as lucky.

Which is probably why I think I'm likely to be able to stomach graduate medicine. Odd, I know, but normality is overrated. Plans change, my plans, goals, priorities, view on the world; everything changes. I think if I entered for another degree, everything would change. It's hardly an unreasonable assumption to make. I think I would invest myself in my new subject, and medicine would fall away.

Or maybe not. Maybe I'm just sleep deprived, still feeling rough from results day drinking and then some, feeling cynical or just crazy.

Oh Cynicism, Thou Art a Heartless Bitch....

Many a wise person has told me to never trust the media. And Politicians. And Hitachi. (It's because they never had luck with Hitachi hard drives....)

And more importantly statistics. Because statistics can be manipulated. And they always are.

Still, a rather 'lower' key news event this week (because swine flu has decided to scare everyone) has been about social mobility and how some of the top professions are still closed off to anyone but the rich, typically, including subjects like medicine and law.

BBC News have covered this and I had the telly on in the background as they were reporting it the other day. In summary, about 55%(ish) of medics are privately educated (independent schools) and this hasn't changed since the 1980s. In contrast, other professions such as in the law profession, that percentage has dropped, and in journalism has swung the other way.

Hmmm... not sure if I should take this with a large pinch of salt. Or is there no room for the state schooled, low income, ethnic minority who's taking a gap year to reapply for medicine then? I could save my money (if I ever start as a HCA), go for the no-fees uni system (if that ever gets implemented) and try my luck at SGUL, because I'd be able to pay most of my way throught. Surely that's appealing right? Right? (but the thought of being that close to home wants to make me shove a biro through my temple)

Might be worth my while having a look at something else I could do in Sep/Oct 2010.