[Abi_18]

http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...ngs?s=Medicine, http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...guide-medicine

I am becoming slightly worried about the position of University of Glasgow in the league table for medicine (#28). I'm going to start medicine there in September.

The university has a high rank in the general league table (non-subject-specific) so that's great! I'm just slightly concerned that it is ranked so low for the course I'm doing.

Anyways, it's medicine so obviously you're unlikely to struggle finding a job after graduating. And medicine is medicine really. I'm just wondering whether the course itself will be okay, and the support available, teaching methods etc.
I am aware that the MBChB course is currently undergoing some changes, so maybe that's why it has been ranked low?

Do I need to be weary of this or do league tables not really matter? I mean most of me doesn't really care lol since I've finally got the opportunity to do the course I want to do. Just a thought really.

I'm very excited to start nevertheless

[Carpediemxx]

In my humble opinion, the only thing that counts at all in a league table for medicine is the student satisfaction. Everything else tends to be pretty irrelevant to whether or not you are at a " good school " or not. (and i remind you a " good school" is only good on a subjective level.
In terms of getting employment, league tables have no baring on your future career prospects whatsoever

[iamcharliewalsh]

I'm going to go with a 'no'. They're pretty terrible actually in my opinion.

1) Entry Standards: This has nothing to do with how good the place is. I could set up a university that demanded 5A*s and it would automatically be doing well according to this, despite the fact that I would be a terrible teacher.
2) Research Assessment: Importance highly dependent on what course and discipline one is studying. For some, this is near useless until postgrad.

BONUS: A staff:student ratio is sometimes used, which is ridiculous as it gives no indication of how good the teaching is

[Hippokrates]

Don't be worried, if you like the uni and the course suits you will have a good time and succeed.

[TheInvincibles14]

University league table's mean nothing, they're subjective and fluctuate every year. It's the reputation the University has with employer's that holds the most importance.

[Hippokrates]

(Original post by TheInvincibles14)
University league table's mean nothing, they're subjective and fluctuate every year. It's the reputation the University has with employer's that holds the most importance.

There is no reputation rankings in medicine. Getting a job is based on where you placed in your year, not which uni you went to.

[hoonosewot]

As has been said, Student Satisfaction is the only thing in these tables that means anything really.

[ninuzu]

Every single university league table will be different. For example a university could be 7th in one table, and 25th in another. I'm not saying to ignore them, but they shouldn't be something to base an application on, for example.

[Orinincandenza]

(Original post by Abi_18)
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...ngs?s=Medicine, http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...guide-medicine

I am becoming slightly worried about the position of University of Glasgow in the league table for medicine (#28). I'm going to start medicine there in September.

The university has a high rank in the general league table (non-subject-specific) so that's great! I'm just slightly concerned that it is ranked so low for the course I'm doing.

Anyways, it's medicine so obviously you're unlikely to struggle finding a job after graduating. And medicine is medicine really. I'm just wondering whether the course itself will be okay, and the support available, teaching methods etc.
I am aware that the MBChB course is currently undergoing some changes, so maybe that's why it has been ranked low?

Do I need to be weary of this or do league tables not really matter? I mean most of me doesn't really care lol since I've finally got the opportunity to do the course I want to do. Just a thought really.

I'm very excited to start nevertheless

As people have said student satisfaction is the only thing that really matters, that said, Glasgow is last or 2nd last in student satisfaction with only 64%, so personally, i would've been a little concerned. I'd wait until you get there and see or talk to current students, you're kind've into it now

[ViceVersa]

The league tables do not matter, so you'd be silly basing your choices on them. If you want to consider just one of the things they measure, I guess you should go for Student Satisfaction rates

[Penguinsaysquack]

As has already been mentioned by some users, league tables mean sweet **** all for medicine.. they're all regulated by the GMC to make sure the standard of doctors they produce is high enough so it doesn't matter where they are placed on the tables

[Democracy]

Glasgow is clearly a quality institution with a rich history of medical education and teaching. It really is amazing how a group of hacks with no medical qualifications whatsoever can induce such confusion and panic on TSR year after year...

As has been said by others, apply where you think you'd most like to study and live in for the next 5 or 6 years

[graemematt]

(Original post by Penguinsaysquack)
As has already been mentioned by some users, league tables mean sweet **** all for medicine.. they're all regulated by the GMC to make sure the standard of doctors they produce is high enough so it doesn't matter where they are placed on the tables

This. Absolutely this. The GMC come in every year and check how medical schools are teaching/assessing students. I had a GMC person in my finals exam assessing my examiners. If your medical school is GMC approved, you've nothing to worry about...Aberdeen is the same as HYMS, which is the same as Warwick, same as Cambridge, Bristol etc etc

[Happydude]

I'm tempted to agree with others and say the league tables are essentially worthless.

Although, this is medicine at Glasgow we are talking about. They were absolutely my first choice for ages. All of my friends were going there and it is close to home so it had everything going for it!

Unfortunately, after a little research consisting of talking to current students there and asking questions at the interview the picture became a little muddied. Despite having invented PBL (I'm quite sure they did!) they seem unable to include it in the course in moderation. One student described it as a "DIY medical degree". Of course, I don't think anyone can disagree with PBL as a fantastic learning and teaching tool but the fact that a very large portion of their course is entirely PBL put me off.

It is a shame, as I really did want to go there. Admittedly I have no first-hand experience of the uni but there would be no incentive for students to describe their course like they did unless it really was that bad.

Edit: Hi negative rep guys, I'm totally fine if people disagree with me I'd just like to know why! Cheers

[Doobzz]

(Original post by Abi_18)
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...ngs?s=Medicine, http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...guide-medicine

I am becoming slightly worried about the position of University of Glasgow in the league table for medicine (#28). I'm going to start medicine there in September.

The university has a high rank in the general league table (non-subject-specific) so that's great! I'm just slightly concerned that it is ranked so low for the course I'm doing.

Anyways, it's medicine so obviously you're unlikely to struggle finding a job after graduating. And medicine is medicine really. I'm just wondering whether the course itself will be okay, and the support available, teaching methods etc.
I am aware that the MBChB course is currently undergoing some changes, so maybe that's why it has been ranked low?

Do I need to be weary of this or do league tables not really matter? I mean most of me doesn't really care lol since I've finally got the opportunity to do the course I want to do. Just a thought really.

I'm very excited to start nevertheless

FORGOT THE LEAGUE TABLE.

you got into medical school, and now, if you want to, you will become a doctor

[hoonosewot]

(Original post by Doobzz)
FORGOT THE LEAGUE TABLE.

you got into medical school, and now, if you want to, you will become a doctor

Being worried about the league table is silly yes. Being worried about a medicine course having a satisfaction rate of 64% when the national average is in the high 80s/low 90s region is a perfectly valid concern though.

[CalumBlack]

Does anyone know how the guardian actually conduct their research? I'm thinking that maybe they ask graduates if they were satisfied with the course, if this was the case then they wouldn't have experienced the changes to the course (ie. the cutting back of PBL) ?

[Renal]

(Original post by CalumBlack)
Does anyone know how the guardian actually conduct their research? I'm thinking that maybe they ask graduates if they were satisfied with the course, if this was the case then they wouldn't have experienced the changes to the course (ie. the cutting back of PBL) ?

http://www.thestudentsurvey.com/

I would be cautious about reading too much into this score. Universities know that it's important and 'game' it. Some universities reward students for completing the survey, others threaten and remember that if it is filled in the week before finals at one school the result will be worse than if it is filled in the week after finals at a different school.

[Sambo2]

(Original post by Renal)
http://www.thestudentsurvey.com/

I would be cautious about reading too much into this score. Universities know that it's important and 'game' it. Some universities reward students for completing the survey, others threaten and remember that if it is filled in the week before finals at one school the result will be worse than if it is filled in the week after finals at a different school.

Yeh they're very pushy about us filling it in in the 'right' way - I think it's a load of nonsense tbh

[RollerBall]

My university isn't even on there.