Name: Tara Bawden
Subjects studied: A Level Biology, Chemistry and Psychology with the Medics’ Academy
Former school: Redruth
What’s next: Plymouth University to study Medicine.
My story:
With the support of the College’s Medics’ Academy Tara has received an offer to study Medicine at Plymouth University in pursuit of her dream career, despite challenges with her grades in Chemistry.
Set on a career in Medicine, but knowing she struggled with Chemistry, Tara was supported to improve her grades and explore ways of achieving a university place without an A or A*.
Tara received help to explore a six-year Medicine course offered by select universities, that includes a foundation year and slightly lower entry requirements that kept her dream career in reach.
Tara said: “I really struggled with Chemistry, I was getting quite bad grades to begin with, and I’ve slowly improved those grades. This opportunity has allowed me to apply for Medicine.”
Tara also attends the Medics’ Academy, part of the College’s Enrichment programme, which supports students who wish to apply for Medicine with information on what to expect from admissions interviews, as well as help applying and writing personal statements.
Tara explains: “With my application I had a lot of support from the Medics’ Academy, I was given guidance and support on my personal statement and where to apply.
“I was able to speak to tutors such as Emily Myatt who gave me a lot of advice on what to do in my situation. She was able to accommodate my problems and find a route for me to go down.
“I’ve had every odd against me, but I’ve got an offer!”
Tara says her favourite thing about College life is being able to rely on her peers for support: “I’ve met a lot of new friends throughout my classes, if I don’t understand something, they will help me, and I will do the same for them.”
Her advice for any future students considering what to study at College is to: “Talk to other people who do the course. If you already know someone who goes to College, ask for their perspective on what the work involves.”
Once she has finished Medical School, Tara hopes to enter a career as a GP or in Paediatric Medicine.
