Haha, well to start I am biased... Peninsula and BSMS have a little rivalry going on you could say, both new but with VERY different teaching methods. I loved Peninsula myself, but in hindsite BSMS is definately best for me (couldn't be doing PBL or their silly assessment techniques
) . Anyway:
Assessments are regular and challenging, but very achievable if you put in the work. In first term 50% lies on a big test in December which is just basic science, building slightly on A level biology. There are also a few essays and presentation type things to check you're up to scratch. The good news is that if you're not great with writing there is a lot of support and help available. Second term is similar but with regular tests (4 throughout the term) aswell as the big end of term, but these are so helpful as a revision technique that I'd be stuch without them! So yes, assessments are regular and don't expect much time where you have nothing to be doing, but hard work is rewarded because A/A*s are definately achievable if you work for it. Resit policy- you resit during the summer if you fail. If you fail the resit, you can apply for mitigating circumstances and some people are allowed to retake the year [Gee, don't be worrying about resit policies... not really the right mindset for a future doctor! You don't get to 'resit' cardiac surgery!!]
Positives.... Pretty much everything. Lots of structures teaching so you know exactly what you've got to know, encouragement for self study, a good level of clinical practise from day 1, really small and know most people, med school is really really close knit and have lots of socials, lots of different teaching groups so you meet people, examined in a way which suits me, snazzy new medical school, dissection of course, brighton and the city itself... I could go on
Negatives.... Lots of work needed especially if you're a perfectionist like me and want top grades (but thats all med schools), med school is a little way away from town (unlimited bus travel is only £8 a week though), monday morning 9am starts lol... Running out of negatives.
I don't really know anyone at my med school who isn't very very happy they're there