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Will Pitts

"Despite three As and a B, Will Pitt has been unable to find a degree place to study medicine so he has decided to get some medical experience in India with Medforce.

When Will Pitt learned that all of his university applications to read medicine had been turned down, his first feeling was disappointment at becoming one of the estimated 130,000 students who have this year failed to find a degree place after a recession-fuelled surge in interest.

Now, after achieving three As and a B in maths, further maths, chemistry and economics in his A Levels, Will, 18, from Surrey, is joining the 25,000 extra students who will be taking an unexpected gap year.

Last Thursday, just a week after the clearing system for allocating leftover university places started, nearly all vacancies had been filled, according to the admissions service, Ucas. Usually, clearing lasts for about a month.

So, putting his studies on hold for a year, Will is heading to India with the gapper scheme Medforce to gain medical work experience. He then plans to earn some cash as a tennis coach in the UK, before teaching himself biology AS-level to boost his chances with his second Ucas application.

Demand for gap year spaces may be soaring, but there are still plenty of options out there.

So if you're worried about what to do with the university-shaped void in your life for the next year, do some research and consider taking the plunge to join the growing gang of impromptu gappers."

Medical placement options: www.medforce.info                                         Lucy Tobin Guardian Newspapers.

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Medforce offers three levels of placement: Either; A level, university medical electives or post qualified placement.

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Medforce has now linked up with the International Red Cross. This adds a third area of operations.

You can select between being a Doctor or medic on a Gap Year Expedition. Alternatively you can undertake your elective providing vital medical assistance in one of the Green Force communities. Now, you also have more specialized placement options within the Red Cross of Ecuador centers. This new addition allows you to specialize in child care, dental, traumatology and psychotherapy - full details in the Ecuador section.

New: As part of the Gapforce family Medforce staff, after completing your first placement, can apply for positions on our Corporate Expeditions and also our Film and TV placements options. BBC, Ginger TV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 have all filmed with our crews and all needed medics.