Posted on 25 August 2011
Will Parton, a former dancer who has made the leap to medical school, with his psychology tutor Nicky Fairless.
The rollercoaster ride of A Level results day took an extra twist for a Guildford College student who at first found he had been rejected by medical school despite getting his grades.
Will Parton’s joy at discovering he had the straight A grades he needed on Thursday morning turned to despair when he checked the UCAS website to see that his conditional offer from Southampton University Medical School had changed to “application unsuccessful”. The devastated 24-year-old former dancer and personal trainer from Shamley Green immediately began investigating the situation, made more difficult as the UCAS website had crashed. A call to Southampton established that Will’s chemistry A Level result had failed to reach the university in time from the examining body and he was reassured that he had the place he so desperately wanted. But procedures that had already been set in place meant he still had to enter clearing that evening.
“What should have been the best day of my life turned into one of the worst,” said Will. “I got the grades but I felt as if I was still battling to get in and it was really stressful. Both Southampton University and Guildford College were really supportive though and once my place was confirmed I relaxed and had a great celebration with my friends and family. Now I’m really looking forward to starting a new life as a medical student.”
Will’s journey towards becoming a doctor began five years ago, when injury cut short a promising career as a dancer. He then became a personal trainer and physiotherapy assistant but gradually realised that his real interest lay in medicine. “I hadn’t thought I was academic enough but I was encouraged by a colleague at Royal Surrey County Hospital and decided to go to Guildford College to do A Levels, in the hope of doing well enough to get in to medical school. It’s been a long haul and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my partner Emma Pedrick, my family and my tutors at the college.”
It was a record A Level results year for Guildford College with a 98.6 per cent pass rate, up from 97 per cent last year. A grade students included former Mayor of Guildford Jennifer Jordan, who studied for an A Level in psychology. A former geography teacher, she has been studying a subject a year since retiring “to prove that I could still use the grey matter”.
Subash Pun, 27, of Aldershot gained a sought-after place to study Actuarial Science at Cass Business School after getting an A* in Maths and A’s in Further Maths and Accounting. Subash, the son of a former Ghurka said he had lost his way and “felt like a loser” before he enrolled at the College. Straight A’s should also put Melissa Hart, 18, of Woking, on course for a career in medicine. Home educated until she enrolled for A Levels at the College, Melissa is working with HIV patients in Kenya during her gap year.
Young mother Rachel Stone, 21, of Farnborough, did intensive Maths A Level in one year and got an A, paving the way to studying Geographical Information Systems; Daniel Davison-Vecchione, 19, of Bookham will study Law after getting two A*s and an A; Melissa White, 19, of Ripley did Law AS and A levels in one year gaining an A* and A;
"I am very proud of all our students’ achievements,” said Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality Nasrin Farahani. “Their excellent results have contributed to a 100 per cent pass rate in 16 subjects, testament to the dedication of students and staff alike.”
Guildford College still has places available through clearing on degree courses starting in September in Business, Early Childhood Studies, Hospitality Management, Leadership and Management, Travel and Tourism. At Merrist Wood College there are places on degree courses in Equine Management, Garden Design and Golf Management.