A STAR student who has always achieved top results will not give up on her ambitions to be a doctor, despite being rejected by four medical schools.

Both of Fatima Malik's parents are doctors at Darlington Memorial Hospital, and she had dreams of following in their footsteps.

But when she applied to study medicine at Oxford University, Imperial College, in London, University College London, and Nottingham University, she was not even offered an interview, despite having acheved 11 GCSEs at grade A* and six As in her AS levels.

Yesterday, as Fatima, 18, from Darlington, collected her A-level results -four A grades in maths, chemistry, biology and general studies, and two Bs in further maths and physics -she vowed to reapply next year.

In the meantime, she hopes to get some work experience at home and abroad.

She said: "I was really upset when I did not even get an interview, but maybe it happened for the best and I can really utilise the next year.

"I have wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. I know what the job entails; the working hours, the environment. I either want to work in this country or back home in Pakistan."

Fatima and her family came to England when she was five.

Her parents, Malik Mahmood Alam, a paediatrician, and Nafeesa Malik, a gynaecologist, moved to this country so their three daughters would get a better education.

Yesterday, Mrs Malik said: "I am very proud of Fatima today. She was devastated when she did not even get an interview, but she has a lot of enthusiasm and determination."

Oldest daughter Sarah, 23, is studying for a PhD in nuclear particle physics at University College London.

Youngest daughter Ayesha, 17, joined her sister Fatima yesterday as she picked up her AS results at Polam Hall School, in Darlington, where they are pupils.

Ayesha achieved four grade As and two Bs in her AS levels and hopes to become a lawyer.

Polam Hall headteacher Marie Green said: "I admire Fatima's determination to carry on despite this disappointment. She will be an absolutely fantastic doctor. You recognise qualities in students and she has what it takes."

Yesterday, the medical schools said they received so many applications that they sometimes had to turn down exceptionally bright students.