Further to an earlier answer about SSC. They do vary a lot in terms of content and assessment (any SSC is hard to fail really). The first SSC is a random allocation but if you get a low choice the first time it helps you in the next round.
Most modules have an essay component of some sort and an oral presentation, some have weekly tests. Other modules in second year are medics in primary schools, sign language, child protection, doctors and drug reps, exercise and applied physiology. I found some aspects of the modules ok and even if you want to get away from medicine type topics the science ones do help in other modules eg i gained info on biologic drugs and neuroendocrine tumours in the peptide module that helped me with PODT in 2nd year. The modules can be a pain as they will be the main source of coursework each semester, whereas the core curriculum may have just one oral presentation per module. Third year will offer more clinical based SSCs and instead of running the full term they just run all september and all janurary.
Good luck with getting in, its the hardest part and from then on everyone in your year will be in the same boat.