Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

UCL or Imperial

Monarose

So, same offer from both- which shall it be, folks?

Reply 1

jarasta

Original post by Monarose

So, same offer from both- which shall it be, folks?

UCL

Reply 2

im7

I have offers from both and I firmed UCL and insured Imperial. This was based on a number of factors:
- The atmosphere seems better at UCL. The people (based on the open day and the people who were with me at the interviews) seemed to be a lot more friendly at UCL.
- Better social life (supposedly) at UCL
- Student feedback is much better at UCL than at Imperial.
- Wider range of BSc choices at UCL (this isnt a major factor but it was a consideration)

And a couple of more personal reasons:
- My UCL offer was higher than my Imperial offer
- I know a few people who are going to UCL

Reply 3

jarasta

Original post by im7

You are the guy who goes to king's that I see on the bus everyday. mwuahahaha. I wont tell you who i am. Small world though

Reply 4

jarasta

UCL because of this.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicalschool/undergraduate/about-medicalschool
Watch the video on the RHS. It seems UCL medicine students have pretty nifty facilities etc. I hear they even there own student Union, so prepare for a lot of favoritism if you go to UCL medicine. I will be firming UCL also, I wish my department had that sort of funding :/

Reply 5

carcinoma

Original post by Monarose

So, same offer from both- which shall it be, folks?

Honestly, they have more similarities than differences.

Where would you prefer to be for the next 6 years? Which location do you prefer?

Which hospitals do you prefer for clinical years? (Not that this matters in the slightest)

Which selection of iBScs do you prefer? Seeing as you have to do one.

Are there any parts of each course that you particularly like or dislike?

(Personally I would choose UCL just because of Professor Sir John Tooke - but then again I'm biased. He is very good at ensuring medical education remains modern and relevant)

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(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 6

im7

Original post by jarasta

You are the guy who goes to king's that I see on the bus everyday. mwuahahaha. I wont tell you who i am. Small world though

Ha yeah small world indeed! I think I know who you are though :wink:

Reply 7

MENDACIUM

Original post by jarasta

You are the guy who goes to king's that I see on the bus everyday. mwuahahaha. I wont tell you who i am. Small world though

I'm also in boro lads :wink:

Very small world.

Reply 8

jarasta

Original post by MENDACIUM

I'm also in boro lads :wink:

Very small world.

:O I dont know who you are :frown:

Reply 9

jarasta

Original post by im7

Ha yeah small world indeed! I think I know who you are though :wink:

hmm i dont quite believe you. PM who you think i am

Reply 10

MENDACIUM

Original post by Monarose

So, same offer from both- which shall it be, folks?

Firstly, well done on your offers, and i would say that Imperial College London would be my choice.

I have to add that medicine anywhere is worthwhile, and UCL is a great medical school. However, here are a few reasons why I firmed Imperial:

[video="youtube;xqiEG-koReg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqiEG-koReg[/video]

Excellent Course Structure:

There is a mix of lectures (a lot but not too much),Laboratory work, full body dissections, PBL to build up skills , early contact with G.P's and patients in their homes.

Imperial is a powerhouse for medical research. You're going to be taught by experts, and have a great chance to engage in medical research too.

You have access to London’s Hospitals during your clinical years as well.

Imperial allows you to under-take in independent medical research via the URPO, via summer schemes or doing term time. You can even get grants to do this. That speaks for itself.

In addition, Imperial has an entire library floor in it's university library dedicated just to medical students.

Course Structure:

Spoiler

The BSC degree you do must be related to medicine in some way. (not sure if they allow you to go elsewhere. However, why do a degree in theology or arts ? The bonus is you’re doing a scientific degree , in a research powerhouse, where you are surrounded by world leading scientists.

Great pastoral support and medical societies:

In addition to getting support from lecturers, you also gain quite a lot of pastoral support from what i have gathered. Every student is assigned 'medic parents' who are there to support , help, and guide them, in addition to the obvious support by faculty staff ect. In addition imperial has quite amazing societies which enrich and support ones learning, which i don't think exist in the way they do else-where.

Med-Ed society,

Where you receive great pastoral support during clinical years (after year 1 and 2)

https://union.ic.ac.uk/medic/meded/

Surgical Society,

Open to all years, where you can gain skills in anatomy and go to conferences and other very exiting things.

https://www.union.ic.ac.uk/medic/surgicalsociety/

Neurological Society

This is also open to all years, and all departments. Again, you get to be part of research, conferences, ect . You're learning from the best.

https://union.ic.ac.uk/medic/neuro/

Social-Life at Imperial is superb from what I have heard, and seen.

Imperial college London have one of the largest student unions – a proper one.

In addition, Imperial has over 300 societies from skydiving to water diving. From football to tennis. From philosophy to poetry. These are rigorous well run societies with chances to go abroad, ect.

Take a look for yourself: https://www.imperialcollegeunion.org/activities

To add to this, Imperial College London were voted for having one of the best first year accommodations in the country.

The 'bad social life' myth probably comes from the fact there are quite a few more boys than girls at imperial(although it is close to even for medicine), or that less probably engage in drinking alcohol, getting intoxicated, and dancing awkwardly But you're in London. In addition, i am sure imperial has Bars (i have seen them) although it is not for me.

ETHOS

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/sports/facilities/ethos/ethosfacilities

Ethos is an absolutely fantastic Gym area at Imperial. Here are the main things it has.

Brand new state of the art, expansive Gym: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/sports/facilities/ethos/ethosfacilities/energiagym

Large swimming pool:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/sports/facilities/ethos/ethosfacilities/poolandspa

The cost for using a swimming pool and a state of the art gym for six years is £30. That is all you pay as a 6 year MBBS student.

There are however, other services at ethos which may have an additional fee:

•

The brand-new, state-of-the-art Energia fitness gym

•

A 25 meter deck-level swimming pool

•

A sauna, steam room and spa pool

•

An air-conditioned exercise studio with semi-sprung flooring

•

Three squash courts

•

Five-badminton court sports hall

•

9 metre climbing wall

•

Sports therapy treatment rooms

•

Licensed cafe bar

Generous Financial Support

https://www.imperialcollegeunion.org/activities

Imperial give generous grants for students who have a household income of up to 60,001 pounds. If your parents earn a combined of 50,000 and less, you get 2400 pounds a year.

To add, there are a number of scholarships up for grabs in the MMBS degree.

My gut-feeling on the atmosphere

I think this is a subjective thing, and you will have to make your own decision. However, I personally really liked the tour. The tour guides were so down to earth, friendly, and welcoming.

The students I was waiting with were incredibly polite and friendly – i.e applicants.

In addition a few medical students actually spent half an hour helping me to find one of the medical tour guide organisers –or something they thought would know. These students were so welcoming and friendly.

I loved South Kensington. The Natural History Museum is right at imperials door step, as well as other beautiful buildings.

I also liked Imperial itself, from the laboratories, to the facilities and buildings which we were shown on the tour. The spirally-lecture theatre also seemed cool.

To add, the lecturer interviewing me(the middle guy apparently was one of the main staff and chaired the interview) was so polite and friendly. You get what you give back. If you are diligent, friendly, down to earth but have emotional intelligence, most of the time you get the same respect back.

I have no doubts there will be bad sides, but that's life, and no university is perfect. Whatever your choice, i posted this to allow you to make a more informed decision, and wish you and anyone else who reads this the best of luck getting into any medical school :smile: