Cardiff vs Leicester Medical School

I had 2 medicine offers come through recently as I was on their waiting lists so I need to choose one. The issue I am having is choosing which one.

One is a much more vibrant city, 3 hours from home, and you cannot intercalate until 4th year of study.

The other city is a bit boring and drab, 1.5 hours from home, and I can intercalate in my 3rd year.

The reason intercalation is important to me is because I always like to have a backup plan. If I hate the course or am struggling I will be able to intercalate and leave in the normal 3 year degree period. I also don't mind being far from home in the early years, you get long holidays. However when the holidays are shorter (eg. no Easter holiday at all in clinical years) it is quite a while for me to be away from home and a struggle to get back.

I am really struggling to make this decision and would appreciate any advice with this.

I had 2 medicine offers come through recently as I was on their waiting lists so I need to choose one. The issue I am having is choosing which one.

One is a much more vibrant city, 3 hours from home, and you cannot intercalate until 4th year of study.

The other city is a bit boring and drab, 1.5 hours from home, and I can intercalate in my 3rd year.

The reason intercalation is important to me is because I always like to have a backup plan. If I hate the course or am struggling I will be able to intercalate and leave in the normal 3 year degree period. I also don't mind being far from home in the early years, you get long holidays. However when the holidays are shorter (eg. no Easter holiday at all in clinical years) it is quite a while for me to be away from home and a struggle to get back.

I am really struggling to make this decision and would appreciate any advice with this.

You're anonymous anyway so why not tell us the unis involved? It might make it easier for people to advise you

Cardiff and Leicester

I had 2 medicine offers come through recently as I was on their waiting lists so I need to choose one. The issue I am having is choosing which one.

One is a much more vibrant city, 3 hours from home, and you cannot intercalate until 4th year of study.

The other city is a bit boring and drab, 1.5 hours from home, and I can intercalate in my 3rd year.

The reason intercalation is important to me is because I always like to have a backup plan. If I hate the course or am struggling I will be able to intercalate and leave in the normal 3 year degree period. I also don't mind being far from home in the early years, you get long holidays. However when the holidays are shorter (eg. no Easter holiday at all in clinical years) it is quite a while for me to be away from home and a struggle to get back.

I am really struggling to make this decision and would appreciate any advice with this.

at Cardiff you can intercalate in year 3 and 4.

Cardiff is super vibrant, fun and there is so much to do (most within walking distance).

I wouldn't see intercalating as an exit qualification, it is actively discouraged to view it as one..

like after year 3 and year 4 of medicine?

i got offers for both cardiff and leicester and they were both my top choices !!! i chose leicester over cardiff due to it being closer to home but honestly i love it so so much! really hoping i get the grades on results day! but i had this thing of thinking “isn’t leicester such a dead city?” and i still do tbf but i think uni is what you make it and if you get the right group of friends there’s never ending things to do!! besides the med school in leicester is absolutely amazing and i loved the amount of student support they give (which is something i saw in no other uni! they understand the struggle we’ve been through with the entirety of the application and truly commend us!) if you choose leicester and fingers crossed i get the grades might see you there !! good luck with your choice

Completely agree. Good luck with results- I hope you get the grades! Are you feeling confident about results?

What accommodation have you applied for?

How far from home is Leicester for you?

Also my mum has been saying exactly the same thing to me about how it's the people you meet which make the experience. I enjoy staying in with my friends sometimes rather than going out all the time anyway. And yeah I agree about them being so friendly and supportive as well.

I met some such nice girls on my interview day (4th Jan anyone??) as well.

hey! good luck to you as well( assuming you’re getting results and haven’t already got them haha!) i’m not feeling awful but not great either it varies each day, edexcel maths will be the end of me : ((( i hinestly couldn’t tell you my accommodation omg it was so long ago i domt remember what i put down but it was in the student village place ! leicester’s only around 50 mins from me bc i’m in birmingham so not too bad at all! wbu? is leicester your first choice? and honestly i’m 4th/5th year going out won’t be as much as a big deal like yeah i love a night out but i bet there will ben loads to do and it’s what you make of it - defo what my mums been saying as well!