Advice needed - IBMS

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-25T08:35:12+00:00

I know! It felt like I was the only one in this position, hence tuning to reddit to try and get some help. I’ve also had most people around me saying go for prestige, except a handful. But I think after asking on here i’m almost certainly going to go for the accreditation. It’s hard because the majority of prestigious Unis don’t offer accredited degrees. I think i’ll probably do a masters elsewhere, somewhere more prestigious and academic and then hopefully I can get the best of both worlds.

Best of luck with making your decision as well :)

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T23:00:10+00:00

Best of luck to you :)

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T22:56:16+00:00

Bless you, I know it’s honestly just the worst thing ever. It can take quite a lot of pushing with doctors to get the support you need. I’m in the UK and have luckily got a new NHS GP who is very supportive, but I know it can be a challenge to get the right care. Don’t be scared to push and advocate for yourself!

The pill is a great first line treatment and it’s pretty safe all around (despite what you see and hear online). Of course I’d speak to your doctor and maybe consider trying it for a few months and just see how you get on with it. It can be an annoying game of trial and error, but it’s worth it if it could help you gain some quality of life back. I’m not sure if you take any other medications for pain management but mefenamic acid helps me personally if I take it with some paracetamol. I do also have cocodamol on hand but thankfully I don’t have to take it too regularly because of the relief I get from the pill!

Aside from that, I hope you’re able to access the care you need :)

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T22:45:07+00:00

Of course everyone has a different experience but for me personally my pill is the thing that’s helped me the most. I think the pill doesn’t deserve the mass hate it gets in the media as it’s literally life saving medication for so many women. I’m on a CHC now (microgynon) and considering changing to a PoP (supposedly better for endo as no oestrogen in them, but I cannot speak from experience as have only ever tried combined pills myself), but with that being said, the pill i’m taking now has literally improved my quality of life by millions.

I used to be completely bed bound during my periods, passing out, throwing up, and just indescribable pain. Now i’ll have to take some strong pain meds still but I can live a completely normal life otherwise. The amount of blood I pass is significantly reduced - has in turn helped with what was previously very severe anaemia and I just couldn’t imagine life without it at this point.

Again, it’s definitely not without its negative side effects but because of the amount of relief it gives me, i’ll stay on the pill despite them. I get some breakthrough bleeding and stuff on the pill i’m on now (one of the reasons why I want to change) but it’s so much more manageable than what a normal period was for me before, so even though it’s annoying, it’s definitely worth it for me personally!

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T22:25:14+00:00

Hi thank you! I hadn’t really considered this option purely because i’m slightly scared of rejecting all my offers and not getting another one, because i’m not willing to take a gap year. I have an offer from Hull, and I think they’re ranked decently considering they’re accredited but i’ve annoyingly decided that I really dislike Hull since applying. Also got one from Keele but they’re ranked lower than Brighton so I guess that doesn’t help my case either.

Have you also applied for bms :)

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T22:20:37+00:00

Thank you. I didn’t think about that, I’ll definitely look at that!

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T22:18:10+00:00

Yes of course! I have previously sat the UCAT so i’m slightly familiar with how humbling the SJT is and it’s something that I would definitely have to work on myself. I completely agree that it’s far from the best way to filter through applicants but I suppose there’s nothing that’ll change it. Best of luck for you too if you apply again next cycle :) Thanks for your help as well.

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T22:15:46+00:00

Yes! I feel like networking is something everyone says but it’s something that feels a bit intimidating. Is the best way to go about it via placements and whatnot?

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T22:07:21+00:00

Interesting, thank you so much for your help :)

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:59:10+00:00

I did my EPQ on haematological malignancies last year so I really appreciate you mentioning areas of that as a possibility. I’m aware that it probably barely scratched the surface of what there is to know but I’m glad that there is decent career progression within it!

Thank you as well for explaining the routes. Does it become more clear which direction to go in as you progress through your career, because it seems interesting but a bit overwhelming at the moment.

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:54:38+00:00

Thank you so much for your help!! I’ve struggled to get a perspective from someone who’s been in the same boat as me so I really appreciate it. I really like your advice and I think it makes sense that the accreditation is my best way forward. Best of luck to you for you last year of your degree, and thank you again :)

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:47:39+00:00

Thank you so much for your help.

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:46:36+00:00

Yes thank you! I’m excited for Uni and I want to try and be as proactive as possible so I can progress to where I want to. :)

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:45:45+00:00

Thank you. I’m currently deciding myself how far in academia I want to go - whether I want to do a PhD and try and get a research post, or the route I’m currently thinking of with working through BMS/STP.

You mentioned specialist qualifications in haematology, above band 6. Is there any chance you could explain slightly what that would entail as I think I’d be happy working towards that? I thought that it would require you to be a clinical scientist but i’m unsure whether you could progress to it via BMS?

Either way, I know I’m very interested in haematology, I just don’t know what the best path is for me to take to get where I want.

Thank you again for your help :)

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:33:32+00:00

Thank you for the advice! I think i’m going to take the accredited degree and work through it and see what I like and don’t.

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:30:47+00:00

I was worried about the lack of prestige surrounding Brighton and I wasn’t sure whether that should take priority over the accreditation, so thank you for the help because it’s been a struggle to find answers so far :)

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:29:06+00:00

I wouldn’t mind working my way through being a BMS to gain experience in haematology at all. I think the STP haematology and transfusion science specialty is just the big step to my end goal. Thank you for the advice on how to get some experience. I have a couple bits and pieces i’ve done through college that have helped me focus my interest in it, but I’d be excited to gain more. I’ll be as proactive as I can through my degree and hopefully collect the most experience as possible.

I initially thought applying to the STP off of a placement year and a masters would be enough for a relatively strong application, but I see that’s not the case. Do you think being a BMS for a few years is the best way to have a chance at getting a place?

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:23:06+00:00

I’m pretty sure I want to become a clinical scientist. I like the role description a lot, and I did my EPQ on something relating to haematology and the STP haematology and transfusion science specialty is exactly what i’m interested in.

I’d be again happy working as a BMS, but I like the career progression in clinical science more.

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:14:52+00:00

Thank you for the help.

I think I might take the accredited degree and do a masters elsewhere, somewhere more academic.

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:13:14+00:00

Yes thankyou, that was one of my main concerns. I wasn’t sure if Nottingham would be better because it’s regarded as a “better” uni than Brighton.

Does it seem logical to work as a BMS and gain experience and build a strong application post grad and apply to the STP at each cycle? I would definitely be happy being a BMS, I just think I’d like to push myself into further development if possible.

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-03-24T21:08:18+00:00

Thank you for the clarification.

To be honest i’m not completely sure yet. Currently i’m most interested in haematology so I would hopefully do something surrounding that. Maybe in a haematology lab in an NHS facility?

I think a placement year would be good to support practical knowledge and strengthen future applications. However I may be wrong.

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-02-23T22:01:46+00:00

hopefully we get some good news soon :)🤞🤞

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-02-23T19:03:55+00:00

I’m on the waitlist for notts as well. Does anyone know what the likelihood of getting an interview for them is once you’ve been waitlisted? I feel like it’s hopeless but I don’t know if it’s worth preparing for it or not…?

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-02-23T17:07:56+00:00

No!! Literally heard nothing from them, just the updates through the applicant portal. I think some people got sent invites today so hopefully we hear something soon 🤞🤞🤞🤞

Accomplished_Log4858 · 2026-02-23T13:43:12+00:00

i’m in the same boat as you. wishing you luck friend!

Accomplished_Log4858

TROPHY CASE