AFTER Medical School :D

Hey guys Im starting medical school in Sept (congratulations to all those who have gained an offer :biggrin:

) and ive just got a few questions about the "admissions" process for F1 and F2 years after medical school. I know its a LONGG way ahead but im really interested in how it works.

1) I heard that you get 3 choices (correct me if im wrong) of hospitals and you will only get one reply? So if one were to use ALL 3 choices on hospitals in London, Manchester or Glasgow, for example, will you definitely be going there? Also will there be any barriers or disadvantages for English medics to go to a Scottish hospital and vice versa?

2) Furthermore, Ive heard of a couple of British medics moving to Australia for their medical career. Is there any conversion course/exam? Is it possible for you to do your F1/F2 years or is it for specialising or consultancy?

3) Im aware of the fact that one would need to sit a 3 stage conversion course in order to be a doctor in the US. What years of your medical school do you sit it and is it difficult to pass? Will your score dictate where you gain internship? And is it a disadvantage being a British medic in general to gain internship?

Thank you VERY MUCH for your attention :smile:

Reply 1

Hygeia

1) have a look at http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/pages/home
3) http://www.usmle.org/ You can sit it at any point though the general advice seems to be to take step 1 at the end of preclin.

Reply 2

apotoftea

WanHei

I can only answer this one and that's to say what you've heard is total rubbish. You apply centrally listing all 26 (odd) deaneries in order of preference and it's then done on how good your application/how many points you get. So if your application is top notch with the most points based on your results, the answers to the questions you have to fill in, references, whether you've inter-calculated etc, you're most likely to get your first choice deanery.

Within a deanery, you then get placed at one hospital for the first year, and I believe a second hospital/local GP placement for the second year. You don't get to choose the hospital you want and given that the deaneries cover vast areas, you could be anywhere :smile:

For example this list is the hospital trusts found within one deanery, that of the South Thames http://www.stfs.org.uk/trusts

PS. this may well all change by the time you've qualified :smile:

Reply 3

Becca-Sarah

WanHei

1) I heard that you get 3 choices (correct me if im wrong) of hospitals and you will only get one reply? So if one were to use ALL 3 choices on hospitals in London, Manchester or Glasgow, for example, will you definitely be going there? Also will there be any barriers or disadvantages for English medics to go to a Scottish hospital and vice versa?
:smile:

That sounds vaguely like the process for Academic FY programmes...

Reply 4

graemematt

apotoftea

For example this list is the hospital trusts found within one deanery, that of the South Thames http://www.stfs.org.uk/trusts

PS. this may well all change by the time you've qualified :smile:

This. Exactly this. Things will have changed by the time you apply, that is an absolute guarantee. Hell theyve changed twice since I started medical school in 2008!

One thing I'd add to this. When you make your choices, think veeeeeery carefully about your first choice. Basically, everyone's first choices are considered initially BEFORE anyone's second/third/26th choices. So...if you dont get your first choice, there will be a very limited number of spaces available for your second choice and third and so on so forth. Theres a few people I know who are in sunny places like Stoke and Wolverhampton because they didnt get their first choice...

Reply 5

fairycakes

WanHei

2) Furthermore, Ive heard of a couple of British medics moving to Australia for their medical career. Is there any conversion course/exam? Is it possible for you to do your F1/F2 years or is it for specialising or consultancy?

you can do your f2 abroad instead of doing it in this country, depending on if your deanery allows this. if you go abroad for that year, it will still be on par with everyone else doing f2 in the uk, and apply to specialist training posts without any disadvantage.

most people who do f2 abroad go to australia, and i think it's just a matter of finding a hospital who will take you and will be able to train you according to the guidelines for the f2 year.

Reply 6

Egypt

Some people also spend their second year abroad and then come back to do F2. One of the draw backs of doing this is that you tend to get the leftovers for you F2 job.