[dbox]

So is it true that there's an exchange program with MIT in the third year. At the open day (specifically, the medical lecture on the university open day) they mentioned it, but I've heard absolutely nothing about it since then so maybe they were embellishing a bit.

Are there any medic-only social events/dinners/things or is it mainly a college thing?

Also Helenia did you get to live in Old Court in your 2nd/3rd year? If so, was it as awesome as it sounds?

[winj96]

clare college old court is ugly...

[sTe\/o]

(Original post by dbox)
So is it true that there's an exchange program with MIT in the third year. At the open day (specifically, the medical lecture on the university open day) they mentioned it, but I've heard absolutely nothing about it since then so maybe they were embellishing a bit.

Yep, it's true. Bear in mind that if you go on the exchange you'll have to go to Cambridge clinical school - this restricts your options, but on the other hand it's an automatic place at a competitive clinical school.

[Helenia]

(Original post by winj96)
clare college old court is ugly...

Each to their own I suppose. I think it's very pretty but I never lived there. I was too low in the 3rd year ballot. When I was in 3rd year, some of the rooms were amazing, but mostly on the 3rd floor = lots of stairs! There were also some staircases without bathrooms. There's been a lot of renovation since then though, so I'm not quite sure what they're like now.

[*Liana*]

(Original post by sTe\/o)
Yep, it's true. Bear in mind that if you go on the exchange you'll have to go to Cambridge clinical school - this restricts your options, but on the other hand it's an automatic place at a competitive clinical school.

You also have to do the Preparing for Patients stuff early and you have to apply in 2nd year (obviously). Bit more hassle.

Btw, I had a discussion with my tutor about 3rd year options and there is actually an official list - pg 449 of the Statutes and Ordinances if anyone's interested.

[invisibleforest]

Sorry, what's this about an exchange? I hadn't heard of it before, could anyone explain?

[visesh]

http://web.mit.edu/cmi/ue/cme-cam/cam-home.html

[invisibleforest]

thanks!

[*Liana*]

This is more of a question of curiousity rather than anything else... did there used to be a Part II MVST? It's referred to in the statutes, but I can find no reference of it now.

[sTe\/o]

(Original post by *Liana*)
This is more of a question of curiousity rather than anything else... did there used to be a Part II MVST? It's referred to in the statutes, but I can find no reference of it now.

Yep, that's what they called Part II BBS back in the day.

[greenerwhiterblacker]

If you do choose to stay at Cambridge for clinicals, I assume you are still connected to a college, but do they still provide accomodation? I wouldnt expect so, seeing as all the areas are defined as in which year out of 1-3 they tend to be for. Also, when new applicants join/places become available do new students get allocated to colleges or choose them, so would it be possible to end up in a different college to the one you did pre-clinicals in?

Having said that, I'm sure a college becomes much less a part of your life when you are being taught on wards etc.

[sTe\/o]

(Original post by greenwhiteblack)
If you do choose to stay at Cambridge for clinicals, I assume you are still connected to a college, but do they still provide accomodation? I wouldnt expect so, seeing as all the areas are defined as in which year out of 1-3 they tend to be for. Also, when new applicants join/places become available do new students get allocated to colleges or choose them, so would it be possible to end up in a different college to the one you did pre-clinicals in?

Having said that, I'm sure a college becomes much less a part of your life when you are being taught on wards etc.

You are normally treated like any other graduate student in college, which usually entails some college accommodation being provided. Some colleges may make special arrangements - I know that Clare medics tend to live out near Addenbrookes for clinicals, so I guess that counts as a special arrangement.

[Helenia]

(Original post by sTe\/o)
You are normally treated like any other graduate student in college, which usually entails some college accommodation being provided. Some colleges may make special arrangements - I know that Clare medics tend to live out near Addenbrookes for clinicals, so I guess that counts as a special arrangement.

I guess so. We're not the only ones - Emma have houses on Hills road which are equally convenient. Other colleges usually offer grad accommodation, but this may be really far away from Addenbrooke's so quite a lot of people choose to rent privately. Some colleges offer a subsidy for this, others don't.

I am still a member of Clare and use the MCR on a semi-regular basis, but it's nothing like when I was an undergrad.

[Nasher and Basher]

How many mature undergraduates are there on the course ?

[Helenia]

(Original post by Nasher and Basher)
How many mature undergraduates are there on the course ?

On the undergrad course, not very many. On the grad course, most of them are mature students - some are only 21 or so and have come straight from a first degree, others are a bit older.

[mhairi_10]

this is a bit of a strange question, but how relevant/useful would a knowledge of physics to the medical course at cambridge?

you see i'm doing a crash higher (im scottish, so its equivalent to AS i think) this year, having never done any physics before, and my offer is AAA in advanced higher chemistry, biology and maths. I want to do as well as i can in all four, but would focusing on the the other three instead of physics leave me at a disadvantage do you think?

i just don't know how much i'll need it and getting a B, or C in physics would mean that i still meet my offer, but have more time to concentrate on the other three! :]

sorry for such a weird question... i'm doing far too much non-academic stuff this year, and i guess i'm just panicking a little but it would help to know what you think! :]

[Vesicle]

(Original post by mhairi_10)
this is a bit of a strange question, but how relevant/useful would a knowledge of physics to the medical course at cambridge?

you see i'm doing a crash higher (im scottish, so its equivalent to AS i think) this year, having never done any physics before, and my offer is AAA in advanced higher chemistry, biology and maths. I want to do as well as i can in all four, but would focusing on the the other three instead of physics leave me at a disadvantage do you think?

i just don't know how much i'll need it and getting a B, or C in physics would mean that i still meet my offer, but have more time to concentrate on the other three! :]

sorry for such a weird question... i'm doing far too much non-academic stuff this year, and i guess i'm just panicking a little but it would help to know what you think! :]

I'm sure it won't matter if you get a lower grade in physics as such, but I do think physics helps a lot (until you get to the really hard mathsy stuff that you just leave to the actual physicists )

I found that my AS physics (well the main principles anyway) helped me quite a lot with understanding aspects of Biology such as action potential progagation and the details of diffusion etc. And I have been told by many people that it really helps with physiology first year. Though, currently struggling through electromagnetism's far from fun.

[Helenia]

(Original post by mhairi_10)
this is a bit of a strange question, but how relevant/useful would a knowledge of physics to the medical course at cambridge?

you see i'm doing a crash higher (im scottish, so its equivalent to AS i think) this year, having never done any physics before, and my offer is AAA in advanced higher chemistry, biology and maths. I want to do as well as i can in all four, but would focusing on the the other three instead of physics leave me at a disadvantage do you think?

i just don't know how much i'll need it and getting a B, or C in physics would mean that i still meet my offer, but have more time to concentrate on the other three! :]

sorry for such a weird question... i'm doing far too much non-academic stuff this year, and i guess i'm just panicking a little but it would help to know what you think! :]

I dropped Physics after GCSE, and I've coped fine. I don't think you'd struggle too much without the extra qualification, so the important thing is to focus on meeting your offer - getting a good grade in Physics too would be a bonus but if it's not included in your offer, I wouldn't worry too much. You'll still be able to handle the course

[visesh]

There is some physics involved, especially in 1A Hom (physiology for those not in the know) but you can manage fine without As/A2 physics (or the Scottish equivalent). It's some basic stuff on circuits and capacitance (time constant, length constant(?) etc.)

You really need to know your standard form/scientific notation/SI-prefixes etc though, if you want to stand any chance passing MIMS and MODA (biochem and pharmacology respectively) but again, that isn't too difficult and the respective departments run online courses to help the less mathematically inclined.

[mhairi_10]

ah, thank you helenia, visesh and vesicle... i know that i'm kind of just panicking, but it really helps to know/hear what you guys think. i think i'll stick with the basics for physics, and focus on getting to grips with the other three if it isn't that central to the course - although i should probably look over my circuit notes and get to grips with what exactly electricity is!

The way advanced highers work is slightly different to A level i think, we don't have modules or anything, and there is just one final exam, so an AAA offer is supposed to be 'quite difficult' or as my chemistry teacher put it 'unfair' but then it is cambridge, and one of the best universities in the country so i was kind of expecting it... must go revise for prelims now :]

thank you again, i love tsr