Didn't manage to become a doc and in so much debt! Still life could be worse i guess!

Lucy-Lu_3

Twiggy, I just wanted to say well done for posting your situation on MSE. It's a very difficult one to write about and one, which I can to some extent understand. I am in a similar situation, not in medicine, but in law. I feel like I completely wasted my degree and my time at law school and am also sat here wasting my life away in an office job. I also racked up huge debts and although it's taken a huge amount of time to pay off, I am now all clear. I would agree with other posters in that if you can possibly work and study at the same time, this will not only keep you sane, but solvent as well. I did a Birbeck course and it was great to get the brain working again, and although the course was not really to my taste (another bad decision perhaps on my part- but definitely not a waste of money!) it did give me self confidence and the knowledge that I'm not "thick" and that I am able to study and do well if I put my mind to it.

Try to work out your next steps which will allow you to incorporate earning some money alongside some kind of study. Try not to look too enviously at the doctors you see. I know it's difficult, as I look on enviously at my old law school friends who are all doing amazingly well both as solicitors and as barristers, but I know that envy is a very destructive emotion and this isn't good for you while you are coping with your debtl.

Good luck with everything and keep us posted! Lucy-Lu

Twiggy007

Hi guys and thank you all for your warm responses, kind words and support! I really appreciate it, thank you. In a way it was therapeutic putting all of that in writing because it kinda let some of the steam in my head escape a bit. With things like facebook, I am constantly reminded of what I've missed out on because my former uni mates have qualified and moved onto greener pastures. Still, despite the heartache and debt, I can't say my time studying Medicine was a complete waste of time... it has changed me as a person I guess, and I was able to meet so many different and amazing people in so many different circumstances and situations, from the drunks we attended to when I was on a placement with the paramedics to the terminally ill lady who knew she wasn't gonna survive to see the next month, but still was happy to give me 10 minutes of her precious time.

As I feel I was unfairly treated by my university, I've enlisted the help of a solicitor. That's another expense, but I am kinda lucky in that my family will give me an interest free loan every time the solicitor's kitty empties every time I communicate with her. The university have been very slow to respond and I've waited a whole year already to hear from them. In this year I've worked as a medical secretary... but its got to the point where i think i need to think about plan B. The masters I want to do is at Imperial and I think it will be quite full on and there isn't a part time alternative. That's why I am looking for some form of part time work... just to pay off the Natwest loan.. my Natwest loan term is 5 years, so by January 2011 I will have another 4 to go! Perhaps I'm being too optimistic, but I'm hoping after the Masters I'll find a better job and then I can speed up repayments and even pay off the new loan.. which I am yet to find and apply to!

I will post up a SOA as soon as I can.

Thank you all so much for your warm welcome and support. Its good to know I'm not on my own.

PasturesNew

Is there no way you can retake your final bleurgh moments ... and qualify?

Did you obtain any qualifications along the way that you could utilise to earn money?

I just think it's nuts to go from "having/knowing so much" down to zero - and maybe you're missing a trick... maybe there's a tiny medical niche you can slip into...?

Something that pays well per hour, or better per hour, so you don't need to work so many hours and can still do the MA, or retakes?

skintdragon

Surely you could resit the module/ exam you failed? it just seems a real shame to be jacking it all in now.

Also I thought if you completed at least 3 of the 5 year degree you could still qualify for a BSc in something like biomedical sciences?

Please don't give up. I am only too familiar with the level of debt medical students can get themselves into!

Don't settle for second best; go and chase that dream! :A

Oneday77

Everyone else has given valid advice.
I do think one aspect has been missed. Do not take out another loan under any circumstances.
Even though £60k+ is a load of debt and seems unsurmountable, adding another £5k-£20k will make it so much worse.
Can you not ask Family to help with the masters, maybe time to stop keeping up appearances. It's hard but worth it in the long run

slummymummyof3

Have you considered physio or radiography? It is highly likely that you could enter as a 2nd year with your previous 'medical' background. Is there not anyway you could transfer your existing medical studies to another uni albeit if you have to resit a year?

Twiggy007

Hi everyone;

Just an update on my situation. I have started my Masters. Applied for a Profession Career development loan with Barclays and was rejected. My brothers have agreed to lend me the money for fees, but want me to pay in installments immediately, which I'm happy to do, better than paying interest and having another loan added to my credit history!

Anyway, it does still mean i will be too poor to pay back my Natwest loan at their £500/month rate. I spoke to CCCS and told them Natwest are due to take £500 from me in the next few days. He advised me to take all my money out of the Natwest account and transfer it to an account i'm not in arrears in, which I've done. And on top of that Halifax will give me £50 for opening an account with them, which is fab. Anyway, the CCCS advisor also said I would have to speak to Natwest while I am sorting out my employment status. I've been training with Arise, so hopefully will start earning from November. I have about £700 in my new Halifax account to keep me going, I was gonna give £500 to Natwest, but I'm not sure now how much I will end up giving them this month. With the rejection of my loan application, i figure my credit score is pretty bad, so why sweat blood and try meeting repayment when my credit will remain affected until I sort out my debt repayment?

Anyway, I did call Natwest, and boy, after spending the morning talking to Halifax, who were being ever so nice on the phone (as I was joining them), it was a shock when the lady at Natwest spoke to me rudely. I've never had anyone speak to me rudely on the phone, i guess this is just the start of the hassle i can expect? I'm glad I didn't go into the branch, if they treated me like that there then I think I would burst into tears! Anyway the Natwest lady said I have to speak to my graduate advisor, whose answer machine message states she will be back in the office on Monday (yesterday), obviously she's still away. I guess I will just have to keep trying this week.

I am filled trepidation as it will be my first missed payment on Friday. I'm scared it might backfire, but my situation is pretty bad so I can't imagine how much worse it can get. Do you think I should pay off my Barclaycard (£400), just so I only have one creditor when I do eventually sort out a Debt Management Plan?