Life as a Birmingham Medic
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Original post by pink pineapple
Were you nervous the week before going?
I was VERY nervous, I was sure that I was going to be the weirdo or something because I don't drink and that I wouldn't make friends, but then I made friends really easily and there's so many people that there's bound to be people that you get along with wherever you go
Original post by izzaha
Reading this has made me so excited, im applying to birmingham and have an interview coming up, thanks for sharing!
Yay, good luck! Thank you
Alright, I'm not very good at actually posting regularly. I have so much to write about!
First of all, and most importantly, I now own a sari. I cannot walk in it, but it's amazing, and it's a blue colour. There is an event that goes on every year called "Roshni" - this is organised by the HinduSoc and is basically an event that every Asian person loves to go to. You get Indian food, see Bollywood and Gaana dancing, see fashion shows... It's amazing. I'm English, but there was no way I was missing it! The advantages of having an Indian flatmate.... Please note, I am not meaning to offend anyone, if this can be taken in any way in a racist way.
Second of all, at the moment the work is insane. I have just finished my essay due in for Tuesday, but I also have a group assignment due for a couple of weeks time that isn't even started, a formative assessment tomorrow to revise for, and just general lectures and anatomy that I really need to catch up on. I also have a presentation to prepare, and filing. So naturally I am procrastinating hard like the good medical student I am. Just to say, there is a lot of work, and you cannot go through medical school without working (unless you're insanely clever, so jealous if you are). I do work, but I am one of these people that cannot work for hours on end and does always know what's on iPlayer just in case I have a little break in time to watch something (Mrs Brown's Boys, Miranda, The Great British Bake Off, University Challenge, Sherlock, Dr Who...).
Third of all, I may have seen some of you! I have been doing tours around the medical school, I have done 3; one yesterday, one the day before that, and one on the 10th February. If any of you had an interview then, do message me to say who you had for a tour, I'm always very interested to find out! And if you did have me, then I do apologise for the amount of information I had to spew out. There was a lot.
Also, I have a house sorted for next year. It's right by Sainsburys, which is obviously useful, and a bus stop with buses that go to the QE hospital (right next to med school and campus!). It also has a garden, and is very odd in that it has 1 toilet but 2 showers. However, it is a nice house, and I'm so glad it's sorted now!
Uni is still amazing, by the way. A lot of work does not mean you can cease to enjoy uni life. Obviously it can be stressful, but I think it's key to make sure that you do relax and enjoy as much as possible; if you stress less, you live longer, which is why laughter is exceptionally good for you. I made cookies at one point because the essay was draining me, and I felt better for doing so. This wasn't just because they tasted good (if I do say so myself), but just because it was something a bit different. It's good to do something other than medicine! Talking to people who don't do medicine is so good, actually, and joining societies in something you enjoy is always a good idea!
On the note of societies, there are loads to join. I'm a member of Talking Hands (learning sign language) and the Philharmonic Orchestra, but there are sports societies, music societies, cultural societies, religious societies, academic societies (within MedSoc for medics), chess club, KnitSoc, re-enactment society, LGBTQ society, fetish society (yeah, not my cup of tea), Humans vs Zombies, baking society... Basically, there's something for everyone. If there's something you want that you don't see, you can always set one up! By the way, there's already a PotterSoc, for any Harry Potter fans (books are better than movies though, just saying).
If anyone has any questions to ask me, please post on here or PM me. I'm better at replying to them than writing a blog, so please feel free to! And good luck with your applications and so forth. Over and out!
First of all, and most importantly, I now own a sari. I cannot walk in it, but it's amazing, and it's a blue colour. There is an event that goes on every year called "Roshni" - this is organised by the HinduSoc and is basically an event that every Asian person loves to go to. You get Indian food, see Bollywood and Gaana dancing, see fashion shows... It's amazing. I'm English, but there was no way I was missing it! The advantages of having an Indian flatmate.... Please note, I am not meaning to offend anyone, if this can be taken in any way in a racist way.
Second of all, at the moment the work is insane. I have just finished my essay due in for Tuesday, but I also have a group assignment due for a couple of weeks time that isn't even started, a formative assessment tomorrow to revise for, and just general lectures and anatomy that I really need to catch up on. I also have a presentation to prepare, and filing. So naturally I am procrastinating hard like the good medical student I am. Just to say, there is a lot of work, and you cannot go through medical school without working (unless you're insanely clever, so jealous if you are). I do work, but I am one of these people that cannot work for hours on end and does always know what's on iPlayer just in case I have a little break in time to watch something (Mrs Brown's Boys, Miranda, The Great British Bake Off, University Challenge, Sherlock, Dr Who...).
Third of all, I may have seen some of you! I have been doing tours around the medical school, I have done 3; one yesterday, one the day before that, and one on the 10th February. If any of you had an interview then, do message me to say who you had for a tour, I'm always very interested to find out! And if you did have me, then I do apologise for the amount of information I had to spew out. There was a lot.
Also, I have a house sorted for next year. It's right by Sainsburys, which is obviously useful, and a bus stop with buses that go to the QE hospital (right next to med school and campus!). It also has a garden, and is very odd in that it has 1 toilet but 2 showers. However, it is a nice house, and I'm so glad it's sorted now!
Uni is still amazing, by the way. A lot of work does not mean you can cease to enjoy uni life. Obviously it can be stressful, but I think it's key to make sure that you do relax and enjoy as much as possible; if you stress less, you live longer, which is why laughter is exceptionally good for you. I made cookies at one point because the essay was draining me, and I felt better for doing so. This wasn't just because they tasted good (if I do say so myself), but just because it was something a bit different. It's good to do something other than medicine! Talking to people who don't do medicine is so good, actually, and joining societies in something you enjoy is always a good idea!
On the note of societies, there are loads to join. I'm a member of Talking Hands (learning sign language) and the Philharmonic Orchestra, but there are sports societies, music societies, cultural societies, religious societies, academic societies (within MedSoc for medics), chess club, KnitSoc, re-enactment society, LGBTQ society, fetish society (yeah, not my cup of tea), Humans vs Zombies, baking society... Basically, there's something for everyone. If there's something you want that you don't see, you can always set one up! By the way, there's already a PotterSoc, for any Harry Potter fans (books are better than movies though, just saying).
If anyone has any questions to ask me, please post on here or PM me. I'm better at replying to them than writing a blog, so please feel free to! And good luck with your applications and so forth. Over and out!
this is so interesting to read!
it's definitely really helpful for someone considering medicine (such as myself), to be able to read a genuine and honest account of what the first year of medicine involves! Please keep blogging- when you get the time ofc
it's definitely really helpful for someone considering medicine (such as myself), to be able to read a genuine and honest account of what the first year of medicine involves! Please keep blogging- when you get the time ofcOriginal post by l.evans124
this is so interesting to read! it's definitely really helpful for someone considering medicine (such as myself), to be able to read a genuine and honest account of what the first year of medicine involves! Please keep blogging- when you get the time ofc
it's definitely really helpful for someone considering medicine (such as myself), to be able to read a genuine and honest account of what the first year of medicine involves! Please keep blogging- when you get the time ofcHaha, I'm glad you like! I'll do my best, it's not always easy, but I certainly have plans to write again soon
Original post by Zaphod77
I'll do my best, it's not always easy, but I certainly have plans to write again soon
it sounds like you're super busy/you have a crazy (in a good way) workload, so you're doing well posting as much as you do!
I've got a quick question... why did you pick Birmingham (what made it stand out for you) and where else did you apply (sorry if you've already mentioned it somewhere/have a stats page- i'm a bit forgetful
)?Original post by l.evans124
it sounds like you're super busy/you have a crazy (in a good way) workload, so you're doing well posting as much as you do!
I've got a quick question... why did you pick Birmingham (what made it stand out for you) and where else did you apply (sorry if you've already mentioned it somewhere/have a stats page- i'm a bit forgetful)?
I've got a quick question... why did you pick Birmingham (what made it stand out for you) and where else did you apply (sorry if you've already mentioned it somewhere/have a stats page- i'm a bit forgetful
)?Birmingham was one of the universities where I looked at their prospectus and thought "Yeah, I'll check it out", and then when I went on their open day I fell in love with it. I'm afraid to say that it is as cheesy as that, but Birmingham was one of those places that I liked despite the fact it was tipping it down with rain, so I figured it would be a place I'd like to study. It was always one of my favourites.
I applied to Cambridge, Dundee and Nottingham as well. I got an interview at Dundee, but rejected afterwards. Both Cambridge and Nottingham rejected me straight off. However, I'm not sad about that now... I was disappointed when the rejections came through, but I loved Birmingham so to get an offer from them was amazing for me! Dundee was nice but far away, Cambridge I know as a city but they were too research-based for me, and Nottingham... Nottingham was nice too, but they didn't give me very good feedback, I think I'd have chosen Birmingham over Nottingham anyway.
I think it's important to be in a place where you can live and work and be happy. I'm not going to say that Birmingham's the place for everyone (although it's amazing, so it should be), but certainly Birmingham I think has something that suits everyone, and that's why I like it so much. Noone judges me for not drinking or going out clubbing, people are interested when I talk about the music I play, people are fascinated by how frightfully English in character I am but willing to teach me about their cultures as well. I love it
This was a great read and I hope you keep it up! This week we're all finding out if we're getting an offer or not so after reading this, I'm even more desperate to get in. I can relate to what you said though - I fell in love with Birm too! I stayed there for 2 days with a friend in your year (a medic) last week and everything was just simply amazing!
Original post by MLeach
This was a great read and I hope you keep it up! This week we're all finding out if we're getting an offer or not so after reading this, I'm even more desperate to get in. I can relate to what you said though - I fell in love with Birm too! I stayed there for 2 days with a friend in your year (a medic) last week and everything was just simply amazing!
Thank you! Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine, but I remember how scary it was last year, try not to stress too much. Ooh, really? Do PM me who it was, I may well know them!
Hello everyone! Long time no write. I am sorry.
Since I last wrote on here, I have taken too many exams (4, but three of those were 3 hours long), and passed them all. In other words, I am now a 2nd year medic! What have I learnt? That I'm really bad at anatomy, and that I am better at Sociology than originally thought. I can tell you all about a tension pneumothorax, and I'm brilliant with mid-shaft humeral fractures. Forearm and leg muscles are a pain to remember, and pain should be examined using SOCRATES. In other words, I've actually learnt quite a lot, but not enough at the same time. It's scary to think that I'm a year in, and that potentially in four years time I could be a doctor. I still feel like I know nothing, but it is reassuring to know that I know a lot more than I did this time last year.
So, what happened? I did all of my exams, which were extremely scary and had entirely too many typos. We then had a couple of weeks off before coming together to do a final group presentation, which wasn't marked properly but had to have effort put into it to "pass" that bit of the year. After that we got results and could go home (results were given online, so you could go home before results came out if you were really keen to get back!). I stayed around a little longer as I had a sign language exam to do and others to film, as I am now Vice-President of the Talking Hands Society! If you are coming to UoB or are at UoB in September, please check us out, we're an amazing society I discovered more of Brum this term than I have all year, because I had so much more time to spare. Socialising was the order of the day, and trust me, it was good.
Now I'm on my summer holidays, I'm thinking I do need to go over anatomy a little more before 2nd year starts - we need to remember it all, and next year the anatomy exams do continue. However, all of the older years have told me to relax. I managed to buy a PS2 controller, so I can finally play Jak and Daxter again, and I'm enjoying cooking and baking again (it's so nice to have a gas oven, I had electric at uni). I have also applied for jobs, but with no luck so far. It's weird to think that last year I was worrying about A-levels and having Hep B vaccinations and so forth; sixth form seems ages ago! So much has happened this year, I've met so many people, and all in all it's been fantastic.
I wish everyone good luck with results etc and will write again soon (now it's the summer I might actually keep that promise!). Ta-ta for now!
Since I last wrote on here, I have taken too many exams (4, but three of those were 3 hours long), and passed them all. In other words, I am now a 2nd year medic! What have I learnt? That I'm really bad at anatomy, and that I am better at Sociology than originally thought. I can tell you all about a tension pneumothorax, and I'm brilliant with mid-shaft humeral fractures. Forearm and leg muscles are a pain to remember, and pain should be examined using SOCRATES. In other words, I've actually learnt quite a lot, but not enough at the same time. It's scary to think that I'm a year in, and that potentially in four years time I could be a doctor. I still feel like I know nothing, but it is reassuring to know that I know a lot more than I did this time last year.
So, what happened? I did all of my exams, which were extremely scary and had entirely too many typos. We then had a couple of weeks off before coming together to do a final group presentation, which wasn't marked properly but had to have effort put into it to "pass" that bit of the year. After that we got results and could go home (results were given online, so you could go home before results came out if you were really keen to get back!). I stayed around a little longer as I had a sign language exam to do and others to film, as I am now Vice-President of the Talking Hands Society! If you are coming to UoB or are at UoB in September, please check us out, we're an amazing society
I discovered more of Brum this term than I have all year, because I had so much more time to spare. Socialising was the order of the day, and trust me, it was good.Now I'm on my summer holidays, I'm thinking I do need to go over anatomy a little more before 2nd year starts - we need to remember it all, and next year the anatomy exams do continue. However, all of the older years have told me to relax. I managed to buy a PS2 controller, so I can finally play Jak and Daxter again, and I'm enjoying cooking and baking again (it's so nice to have a gas oven, I had electric at uni). I have also applied for jobs, but with no luck so far. It's weird to think that last year I was worrying about A-levels and having Hep B vaccinations and so forth; sixth form seems ages ago! So much has happened this year, I've met so many people, and all in all it's been fantastic.
I wish everyone good luck with results etc and will write again soon (now it's the summer I might actually keep that promise!). Ta-ta for now!
Hello everyone!
First of all, I hope that anyone who recently got results got what they wanted and are happy. If you're coming to Birmingham then you never know, you might see me around! This post is going to be about what you need to do to prepare for uni, because I understand that it's quite a scary and exciting time.
I understand that the new medics of Birmingham have now received information regarding Welcome Week, the STETHOSCOPE (I'm still excited about mine) and "How to Succeed at Medical School". If I remember rightly, that's quite an informative email, which can scare you about the following years but tells you what you need to know to start with. About the stethoscope; last year it was cheapest from Medisave.co.uk. This may not still be the case, so I'd recommend that you look around, because they are not cheap objects. You can get whatever colour you like; mine is Caribbean blue with a rainbow bell, because I like to have a bit of colour, but other people got raspberry pink or just the classic black colour. It's completely up to you. You will be using them from your very first GP placement, because the first day you learn how to take blood pressure using your stethoscope, so it is advisable that you get them before term starts. If you can't, the GP will lend you one or you can borrow someone else's on the placement, as you have to take it in terms anyway, so if you're likely to have problems getting it beforehand do not have a panic moment.
"How to Succeed at Medical School" is highly recommended by the university. A lot of students do not like it. It's basically a book that advises on how to cope with the workload and different methods with which to do so. Some people find it interesting, others do not. Some people (me) don't like paying money and therefore never bought it. What I'm trying to say is by all means get it, but you don't have to if you really don't want to. Of course, the ideal situation is probably to borrow it from a library first to decide whether you like it or not, but that's not always possible.
The Welcome Week reading task is a bit of fun. I don't know whether you have the same articles as I had, or even if you have articles, but it's basically a way of getting your brain in gear slowly and getting to know your M group a little bit. It's not bad at all, and it's not assessed so it's nothing to stress out about. When getting to know your M group you should not be scared to speak up or be yourself; everyone's in the same boat, and it's the quickest way to make friends!
In terms of textbooks, you will be recommended loads within the first week. What is essential is an anatomy book, a histology book and a pharmacology book. The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine is also really useful. However, before you buy any books, try them from the med school library - medical textbooks are extremely expensive, and it's not worth you buying a book for £50 that you're only ever going to use once! In terms of the recommended ones, different people like different books. For the Pharmacology book Rang and Dale's is the one recommended by staff and I find it amazing. For Anatomy the choice is basically between Gray's and Clinically Oriented, and for Histology staff recommend Junquiera's but others do prefer Wheater's.
During Welcome Week itself I'd recommend you go to the societies fairs on campus as well as just the MedSoc one, because there are so many societies and it's nice to integrate with people doing other subjects once in a while. You'll probably have less time than other subjects to go to the fairs because of the Welcome Week task, but it's worth it (for the pizza and freebies if nothing else!). Again, be yourself; it doesn't matter what you're interested in, there'll be someone with the same interest, and noone cares if you have an unusual hobby or come from another country or have bright blue hair (just trying to think of anything haha).
Probably quite a rubbish post, but I was trying to answer some of the main questions; please don't hesitate to ask me anything I've missed! Enjoy Freshers, it's amazing
Over and out
First of all, I hope that anyone who recently got results got what they wanted and are happy. If you're coming to Birmingham then you never know, you might see me around! This post is going to be about what you need to do to prepare for uni, because I understand that it's quite a scary and exciting time.
I understand that the new medics of Birmingham have now received information regarding Welcome Week, the STETHOSCOPE (I'm still excited about mine) and "How to Succeed at Medical School". If I remember rightly, that's quite an informative email, which can scare you about the following years but tells you what you need to know to start with. About the stethoscope; last year it was cheapest from Medisave.co.uk. This may not still be the case, so I'd recommend that you look around, because they are not cheap objects. You can get whatever colour you like; mine is Caribbean blue with a rainbow bell, because I like to have a bit of colour, but other people got raspberry pink or just the classic black colour. It's completely up to you. You will be using them from your very first GP placement, because the first day you learn how to take blood pressure using your stethoscope, so it is advisable that you get them before term starts. If you can't, the GP will lend you one or you can borrow someone else's on the placement, as you have to take it in terms anyway, so if you're likely to have problems getting it beforehand do not have a panic moment.
"How to Succeed at Medical School" is highly recommended by the university. A lot of students do not like it. It's basically a book that advises on how to cope with the workload and different methods with which to do so. Some people find it interesting, others do not. Some people (me) don't like paying money and therefore never bought it. What I'm trying to say is by all means get it, but you don't have to if you really don't want to. Of course, the ideal situation is probably to borrow it from a library first to decide whether you like it or not, but that's not always possible.
The Welcome Week reading task is a bit of fun. I don't know whether you have the same articles as I had, or even if you have articles, but it's basically a way of getting your brain in gear slowly and getting to know your M group a little bit. It's not bad at all, and it's not assessed so it's nothing to stress out about. When getting to know your M group you should not be scared to speak up or be yourself; everyone's in the same boat, and it's the quickest way to make friends!
In terms of textbooks, you will be recommended loads within the first week. What is essential is an anatomy book, a histology book and a pharmacology book. The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine is also really useful. However, before you buy any books, try them from the med school library - medical textbooks are extremely expensive, and it's not worth you buying a book for £50 that you're only ever going to use once! In terms of the recommended ones, different people like different books. For the Pharmacology book Rang and Dale's is the one recommended by staff and I find it amazing. For Anatomy the choice is basically between Gray's and Clinically Oriented, and for Histology staff recommend Junquiera's but others do prefer Wheater's.
During Welcome Week itself I'd recommend you go to the societies fairs on campus as well as just the MedSoc one, because there are so many societies and it's nice to integrate with people doing other subjects once in a while. You'll probably have less time than other subjects to go to the fairs because of the Welcome Week task, but it's worth it (for the pizza and freebies if nothing else!). Again, be yourself; it doesn't matter what you're interested in, there'll be someone with the same interest, and noone cares if you have an unusual hobby or come from another country or have bright blue hair (just trying to think of anything haha).
Probably quite a rubbish post, but I was trying to answer some of the main questions; please don't hesitate to ask me anything I've missed! Enjoy Freshers, it's amazing
Over and out
Hello everyone! Are you interested in learning British Sign Language and a student at University of Birmingham? If so, come along to the Talking Hands Society stall today at the societies fair! If you can't make that we are also running a taster session next Thursday in the Learning Centre at 9pm (UG10), so if you think you'll be interested why not come? Would be good to see some of you!
Original post by Zaphod77
Hello everyone! Are you interested in learning British Sign Language and a student at University of Birmingham? If so, come along to the Talking Hands Society stall today at the societies fair! If you can't make that we are also running a taster session next Thursday in the Learning Centre at 9pm (UG10), so if you think you'll be interested why not come? Would be good to see some of you!
Hi Zaphod
I have a deferred place for Birmingham Med but want to start preparing etc... What sort of books will I need? I've got a part time job and want to know what books I need to buy and what they will cost. Is there anything else I should prepare for pre hand? Thanks
Original post by 0612
Hi Zaphod
I have a deferred place for Birmingham Med but want to start preparing etc... What sort of books will I need? I've got a part time job and want to know what books I need to buy and what they will cost. Is there anything else I should prepare for pre hand? Thanks
I have a deferred place for Birmingham Med but want to start preparing etc... What sort of books will I need? I've got a part time job and want to know what books I need to buy and what they will cost. Is there anything else I should prepare for pre hand? Thanks
Hello!
The most important book you will need is an anatomy book. Most people go for Gray's Anatomy or Clinically Oriented Anatomy; both of these are good books, the difference is in the style. I suggest you look at them both before you decide, as different styles suit different people. Unfortunately medical textbooks are not cheap, but the anatomy ones should cost around the £40 mark if I remember correctly. Otherwise it's useful to have a pharmacology book and a histology book; for pharmacology I recommend Rang and Dale's, but for histology there are several that are good, so again it's best to look at them first!
The other book that is good and you could get now is the BNF. It doesn't have to be the latest edition, so if you know any medical people it's worth asking them for their old copies, because they all get new ones every 6 months! They're often quite happy to give away their old ones because otherwise they're just hanging around the house or whatever.
Hope that helps
Thanks for all of the info. If you don't mind, could you go through what you like least and most about the following aspects of
Birmingham?:
Course (systems-based, teaching styles etc.)
City (includes pastimes etc.)
Colleagues (general demographic etc.- you might not dislike anything)
Thanks in advance.
Birmingham?:
Course (systems-based, teaching styles etc.)
City (includes pastimes etc.)
Colleagues (general demographic etc.- you might not dislike anything)
Thanks in advance.
Original post by diseasedneckbeard
Thanks for all of the info. If you don't mind, could you go through what you like least and most about the following aspects of
Birmingham?:
Course (systems-based, teaching styles etc.)
City (includes pastimes etc.)
Colleagues (general demographic etc.- you might not dislike anything)
Thanks in advance.
Birmingham?:
Course (systems-based, teaching styles etc.)
City (includes pastimes etc.)
Colleagues (general demographic etc.- you might not dislike anything)
Thanks in advance.
Hello! Here goes...
Course: I like the fact that there isn't much PBL and the way that lectures and small group sessions (SGTs) always contain very clinical components. SGTs are good for backing up knowledge. However, anatomy and SGT tutors can vary in how good they are for particular modules; this is obviously less good and can be very frustrating if it's a module you find difficult or has a lot of small group teaching sessions! Systems-based is good, and the lecturers do refer to other modules sometimes in their lectures to try and get you to integrate your knowledge.
City: I love the diversity of the city. I am from the country, and so it's amazing to me that I can go to Soho Road to buy a sari, have a meal in China Town and then go round the German Christmas Market. It literally has something for everyone. The Bullring is amazing for shopping as well. However, it is not the prettiest city - I prefer to go for walks around Bristol or Cardiff in terms of cities rather than Birmingham.
Colleagues: Again, diversity is a thing. No matter what hobbies you like or what background you come from, there will be someone in a similar position or with similar interests. It doesn't matter if you do or don't drink alcohol, it doesn't matter if you're white, black or asian, and it doesn't matter if you're from a state or private school! The only thing I will say is that it's not actually all that different from schools in some of the groups that form, but everyone is very friendly.
Hope that helps, feel free to ask any more questions!
Original post by Zaphod77
Hello! Here goes...
Course: I like the fact that there isn't much PBL and the way that lectures and small group sessions (SGTs) always contain very clinical components. SGTs are good for backing up knowledge. However, anatomy and SGT tutors can vary in how good they are for particular modules; this is obviously less good and can be very frustrating if it's a module you find difficult or has a lot of small group teaching sessions! Systems-based is good, and the lecturers do refer to other modules sometimes in their lectures to try and get you to integrate your knowledge.
City: I love the diversity of the city. I am from the country, and so it's amazing to me that I can go to Soho Road to buy a sari, have a meal in China Town and then go round the German Christmas Market. It literally has something for everyone. The Bullring is amazing for shopping as well. However, it is not the prettiest city - I prefer to go for walks around Bristol or Cardiff in terms of cities rather than Birmingham.
Colleagues: Again, diversity is a thing. No matter what hobbies you like or what background you come from, there will be someone in a similar position or with similar interests. It doesn't matter if you do or don't drink alcohol, it doesn't matter if you're white, black or asian, and it doesn't matter if you're from a state or private school! The only thing I will say is that it's not actually all that different from schools in some of the groups that form, but everyone is very friendly.
Hope that helps, feel free to ask any more questions!
Course: I like the fact that there isn't much PBL and the way that lectures and small group sessions (SGTs) always contain very clinical components. SGTs are good for backing up knowledge. However, anatomy and SGT tutors can vary in how good they are for particular modules; this is obviously less good and can be very frustrating if it's a module you find difficult or has a lot of small group teaching sessions! Systems-based is good, and the lecturers do refer to other modules sometimes in their lectures to try and get you to integrate your knowledge.
City: I love the diversity of the city. I am from the country, and so it's amazing to me that I can go to Soho Road to buy a sari, have a meal in China Town and then go round the German Christmas Market. It literally has something for everyone. The Bullring is amazing for shopping as well. However, it is not the prettiest city - I prefer to go for walks around Bristol or Cardiff in terms of cities rather than Birmingham.
Colleagues: Again, diversity is a thing. No matter what hobbies you like or what background you come from, there will be someone in a similar position or with similar interests. It doesn't matter if you do or don't drink alcohol, it doesn't matter if you're white, black or asian, and it doesn't matter if you're from a state or private school! The only thing I will say is that it's not actually all that different from schools in some of the groups that form, but everyone is very friendly.
Hope that helps, feel free to ask any more questions!
Thanks a bunch. What I saw does seem to agree with what you've said. I also really liked the free printing and the study facilities available to medical students.
I was kind of put off by the general appearance of Birmingham when I came out of New Street station but it was hardly an issue tbh.
I think that's all for now (I'm currently wallowing in self-pity as I'm likely going to have to wait til March to hear back regarding an offer/rejection).
Cheers.
Original post by diseasedneckbeard
Thanks a bunch. What I saw does seem to agree with what you've said. I also really liked the free printing and the study facilities available to medical students.
I was kind of put off by the general appearance of Birmingham when I came out of New Street station but it was hardly an issue tbh.
I think that's all for now (I'm currently wallowing in self-pity as I'm likely going to have to wait til March to hear back regarding an offer/rejection).
Cheers.
I was kind of put off by the general appearance of Birmingham when I came out of New Street station but it was hardly an issue tbh.
I think that's all for now (I'm currently wallowing in self-pity as I'm likely going to have to wait til March to hear back regarding an offer/rejection).
Cheers.
Yes, the free printing is amazing! It saves sooooo much money. Don't worry if you have to wait until March, it's annoying but if you get the offer it'll be worth it! Good luck
Original post by Zaphod77
Yes, the free printing is amazing! It saves sooooo much money. Don't worry if you have to wait until March, it's annoying but if you get the offer it'll be worth it! Good luck
Yep yep, fingers crossed and all.
Only thing I'm apprehensive about with the printing is that my non-medic friends would surely leech off me and demand that I print documents off for them.
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