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UCL medicine 2013 entry

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Original post by AtomicMan
Thanks for answering my question, it all sounds fo great at UCL :biggrin:

Roughly how many people are allocated to cadaver during dissection, assuming you are split into groups?


~8 per cadaver
Original post by purplefrog
x


What's your weekly timetable like?

How many hours do you spend privately studying per week?
Subscribing :smile:
Original post by SaintSoldier
What's your weekly timetable like?

How many hours do you spend privately studying per week?


Good question :tongue: Our timetable changes weekly at UCL. In first year, you have roughly 19-22 hours of contact time a week.

The time I spent studying per week would depend on the lecutres of the week. If they were clear and easy going, I get good notes written in the lecture leading to almost nothing done afterwards other ensuring my writing is legible. If the week was a bit crazy or I was nodding off in a lecture, it can easily get to 45 mins - 1.5 hours per lecture. It really does depend on the topics with me, I don't flat out study regardless.
Original post by purplefrog
If anybody has any questions about UCL, UCLMS, the course structure (and comparisons to other medical schools), applying, living in London, expenses etc. etc. feel free to contact me. If you think your question would serve public benefit, please quote me in this thread so others can read my response - however I do reply to PMs too. Feel free to ask about pros/cons too, I'll be frankly honest and impartial.

I'll be starting 2nd year of medicine in September and will be on the new curriculum and shall be applying for my iBSc this year too.


Hi,
I'm going to be applying to UCL as well, I was just wondering if you had any idea how the optional language component is structured and if students find it hard to balance learning a language with the medical course. Also does the grade you achieve in the language component affect your progression to the next year.
Reply 45
Avatar for Revent
Revent
10
Original post by purplefrog
Good question :tongue: Our timetable changes weekly at UCL. In first year, you have roughly 19-22 hours of contact time a week.

The time I spent studying per week would depend on the lecutres of the week. If they were clear and easy going, I get good notes written in the lecture leading to almost nothing done afterwards other ensuring my writing is legible. If the week was a bit crazy or I was nodding off in a lecture, it can easily get to 45 mins - 1.5 hours per lecture. It really does depend on the topics with me, I don't flat out study regardless.


Hi, I just wanted to ask if you can ask to opt in to do a MFL. I already have a B grade in GCSE french, however, I would really like to learn some more French or some basics of some Italian.
Original post by purplefrog
Good question :tongue: Our timetable changes weekly at UCL. In first year, you have roughly 19-22 hours of contact time a week.


Does contact time include dissections etc or is it just lectures?
Original post by Revent
Hi, I just wanted to ask if you can ask to opt in to do a MFL. I already have a B grade in GCSE french, however, I would really like to learn some more French or some basics of some Italian.


Yes, UCLMS does a fantastic job with providing language SSCs (student selected components). You can choose from the common european ones to things like mandarin, arabic and others. The courses are really good, but they're no walk in the park. They get you up to speed in reading, writing and speaking the language. The courses are pitched at different levels to suit different levels of experiences (complete beginner, GCSE C+, GCSE A+, A-level etc.) so you can go in the appropriate stream. It's really good to have, but requires commitment. If you do it as an SSC, you have people from the specialist language centre come and teach you and the course lasts around 16 weeks with a weekly session lasting anywhere from 1 to 3 hours.

Original post by Hopefulmedstudent
Hi,
I'm going to be applying to UCL as well, I was just wondering if you had any idea how the optional language component is structured and if students find it hard to balance learning a language with the medical course. Also does the grade you achieve in the language component affect your progression to the next year.


I'm not sure what 'optional language component' you're talking about, unless you mean the SSCs at the medical school where languages are an option? If its something that is run throughout UCL for all courses, it won't be possible to do with medicine as our degree is standardised and you can't sit modules of other programmes the MBBS (except for the intercalating year where you can chuck in a language with some science programmes).

Original post by SaintSoldier
Does contact time include dissections etc or is it just lectures?


It means all timetabled time that is led by a UCL member of staff. So lectures, dissections, small group sessions, tutorials, clinical skills, professional skills development etc.

Sometimes they set "self-paced learning" sessions in your timetable where a exercise is put online for you to work though. I haven't included those. But those aren't too frequent.
Original post by purplefrog
Yes, UCLMS does a fantastic job with providing language SSCs (student selected components).


Can you learn British Sign Language?
Original post by purplefrog
The courses are really good, but they're no walk in the park. They get you up to speed in reading, writing and speaking the language. The courses are pitched at different levels to suit different levels of experiences (complete beginner, GCSE C+, GCSE A+, A-level etc.) so you can go in the appropriate stream. It's really good to have, but requires commitment. If you do it as an SSC, you have people from the specialist language centre come and teach you and the course lasts around 16 weeks with a weekly session lasting anywhere from 1 to 3 hours.


Are SSCs optional extras, or are they mandatory?

Are most SSCs medically based?

Are SSCs generally quite hard?
Original post by Natalie21
Can you learn British Sign Language?


Not for an SSC (I know at KCL you can), however there is a BSL course run at lunchtimes on Mondays for free which you can go to and eventually get certified should you be really interested in pursuing it. A good friend of mine has done so, and found it rewarding. But once again, as its skill based, it is demanding but the instructor lady is apparently fantastic from what I hear.

However UCL do allow you to create your own SSCs. So should be really passionate about something and not be intrigued by anything on the extensive list (I'd be surprised if somebody said NOTHING interested them) you can ask the co-ordinator who'll work with you to tailor a programme together and find a tutor to assess you to create the SSC (either as a single block, an 8 week one; or as a double block, a 6 week one).
Reply 51
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AtomicMan
OP
13
Original post by purplefrog
Not for an SSC (I know at KCL you can), however there is a BSL course run at lunchtimes on Mondays for free which you can go to and eventually get certified should you be really interested in pursuing it. A good friend of mine has done so, and found it rewarding. But once again, as its skill based, it is demanding but the instructor lady is apparently fantastic from what I hear.

However UCL do allow you to create your own SSCs. So should be really passionate about something and not be intrigued by anything on the extensive list (I'd be surprised if somebody said NOTHING interested them) you can ask the co-ordinator who'll work with you to tailor a programme together and find a tutor to assess you to create the SSC (either as a single block, an 8 week one; or as a double block, a 6 week one).


Is there a list of SSC's at UCL somewhere? I cant seem to find them on the UCL website.

(sorry, we seem to be bombarding you with questions)
Original post by SaintSoldier
Are SSCs optional extras, or are they mandatory?

Are most SSCs medically based?

Are SSCs generally quite hard?


SSCs are compulsory. Every medical school will do them, but UCL offers some of the most diverse ranges. I know at Oxford the range is limited to a short list, of which all a strictly biomedically related (booooring!). Most are indeed medically based, I'll list a few titles in a spoiler shortly (will edit the post) but there is a huge spectrum of 'medically based' from the standard medical sciences, to medical practice, lab based ones, advanced dissection, clinical orientated ones, medical humanities based, and even library research projects. You can also pick up languages or do 40 hours of volunteering.

Depending on the SSC you pick will determine how hard it is. Depending on the tutor and your SSC will depend on how its assessed:
- a short test
- essay where they set the title or you can create/pick one from a list
- powerpoint presentation
- oral viva exam
- assess your lab work
- or a combo of the above weighted differently
obviously some tutors are more harsh than others, but usually the nature of SSC makes up for the pain it sometimes is.

SSCs provide a great opportunity to diversify yourself from the core-curriculum and often is a good way to escape medicine sometimes.

SSCs are compulsory. You have 2 in first year. Each one lasts eight weeks unless you pick a double block one, which lasts 16. You must pass your SSC (usually straightforward) to progress to the next year - however the SSC counts for nothing towards your grade (unlike some other medical schools; i know BSMS and KCL it counts for like 3-5% or something).

I'll edit shortly, once I find the list of SSCs I had this year. Bear in mind they do change every year as its entirely down to the tutors whether to run them or not in their spare time.

Spoiler

(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by purplefrog
Not for an SSC (I know at KCL you can), however there is a BSL course run at lunchtimes on Mondays for free which you can go to and eventually get certified should you be really interested in pursuing it. A good friend of mine has done so, and found it rewarding. But once again, as its skill based, it is demanding but the instructor lady is apparently fantastic from what I hear.

However UCL do allow you to create your own SSCs. So should be really passionate about something and not be intrigued by anything on the extensive list (I'd be surprised if somebody said NOTHING interested them) you can ask the co-ordinator who'll work with you to tailor a programme together and find a tutor to assess you to create the SSC (either as a single block, an 8 week one; or as a double block, a 6 week one).


That's brilliant! Thanks for that information :biggrin:. Do they do Japanese?
Original post by Natalie21
That's brilliant! Thanks for that information :biggrin:. Do they do Japanese?


Honestly cannot remember I'm afraid, so I'll refrain from commenting either way. Sorry!
Original post by AtomicMan
Is there a list of SSC's at UCL somewhere? I cant seem to find them on the UCL website.

(sorry, we seem to be bombarding you with questions)


I made a post earlier with them, scroll up or flick to the next page - trying to answer these asap :tongue:
Original post by purplefrog
Honestly cannot remember I'm afraid, so I'll refrain from commenting either way. Sorry!


No worries - it's not very important! Thank you :biggrin:
Original post by purplefrog
You can also pick up languages


(This is probably unlikely but,) do they an Afrikaans language SSC?

For the volunteering ones, would it be like care home volunteering and stuff like that?
Original post by SaintSoldier
(This is probably unlikely but,) do they an Afrikaans language SSC?

For the volunteering ones, would it be like care home volunteering and stuff like that?


Not sure on the Afrikaans unfortunately.

Volunteering is good one to do. You basically can do ANY volunteering whatsoever. The only thing needed is that you must total at least 40 hours by the end of the year. Our Volunteering Services Unit at UCL is AWESOME. They have a super massive directory of local places and volunteering projects to suit like anything (and I mean anything, there are some crazy projects going on). And you can do a combo of 'one-off' sessions to a long-term thing too. Or you can arrange your own and get somebody at wherever you volunteer to sign off your hours for you.
If you're interested, I suggest you poke around the VSU site to see some of the stuff they have links with and some of the student run projects too. I myself take part in the VSU though not for a SSC. http://uclu.org/services/volunteering-at-uclu

Edit: almost forgot :tongue: in addition to the volunteering you must also write a short (maybe a page or two) reflective piece on the volunteering you've done across the year and how its helped you. Very touchy-feely and really impossible to fail unless you fail to do the hours tbh.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by purplefrog
Not sure on the Afrikaans unfortunately.

Volunteering is good one to do. You basically can do ANY volunteering whatsoever. The only thing needed is that you must total at least 40 hours by the end of the year. Our Volunteering Services Unit at UCL is AWESOME. They have a super massive directory of local places and volunteering projects to suit like anything (and I mean anything, there are some crazy projects going on). And you can do a combo of 'one-off' sessions to a long-term thing too. Or you can arrange your own and get somebody at wherever you volunteer to sign off your hours for you.
If you're interested, I suggest you poke around the VSU site to see some of the stuff they have links with and some of the student run projects too. I myself take part in the VSU though not for a SSC. http://uclu.org/services/volunteering-at-uclu


Cool, thanks :smile:

Would you say volunteering outside of your studies helps with F1 job applications? (Not saying I'd do it solely for that reason, but I'm just wondering...)

How much do you get through during an SSC? How in depth is it?
Take the CVD one for example, would you make it through a whole textbook or is it fairly light?

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