Liverpool vs lancaster medicine urgent!!!

Original post by safa-lx

Okay so I basically need to decide between liverpool and lancaster medical school. I’ve visited and like both, but I just cannot decide which to firm and insure (one of my offers were changed so I got an extension of my UCAS deadline to decide) BUT I REALLY CANNOT MAKE MY MIND UP. Can anyone who’s been to either give some advice pls?😭😭😭 I like both countryside and city, and both are relatively close to home which is also important for me (lancaster is a little closer). I’ve been through so many aspects of each course and made lists but I’m just finding it so hard to make a decision. I’m indecisive in general so this is a bit of a nightmare. I swear each one is balanced in terms of pros and cons. People keep saying I should have a gut feeling but I really don’t to be honest😭.
The logical thing to do would be firm lancaster and insure liverpool as liverpool accepts A*AB as well as AAA. But all of my exams went relatively okay so I think I’ll be able to manage AAA and that means I’m basically definitely going to lancaster. If I firm liverpool though then that means I’m definitely going to liverpool or nowhere if I don’t get the grades.

Any advice at all would be so appreciated!!

Hi there!

I'm a student at Lancaster University. I did a BSc in Natural Sciences here and I'm currently studying an MSc in Mechanical Engineering here too. I have loved it here. It is a campus university so has a really nice community feel to it and there are loads of societies to get involved with too. Lancaster works on a collegiate system so you will choose a college when you start which will determine who you live with in your first year. I made friends with my flat but also with the people who I met on my course, and those from my societies. Lancaster itself is quite a small city, but very well connected to Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds, which are nice to visit. It is also super close to the Lake District which I have visited many times over my degree!

In terms of a Medicine degree, you could look at league tables to give you an idea of some aspects of the university, and potentially where you might end up on placement at both universities, as this will end up forming a large part of your degree. Liverpool is a far bigger city than Lancaster so will potentially feel less "student-y" but will also have more events/shops/places to explore within the city itself.

It sounds like you might be happy at either if you have visited both and do not have a clear preference so hopefully whichever you choose will be a good option! Best of luck with your choices and let me know if you have any further questions about studying at Lancaster :smile:

- Bethan (Lancaster University Student Ambassador)

Reply 3

Luca1229

5

Original post by safa-lx

Okay so I basically need to decide between liverpool and lancaster medical school. I’ve visited and like both, but I just cannot decide which to firm and insure (one of my offers were changed so I got an extension of my UCAS deadline to decide) BUT I REALLY CANNOT MAKE MY MIND UP. Can anyone who’s been to either give some advice pls?😭😭😭 I like both countryside and city, and both are relatively close to home which is also important for me (lancaster is a little closer). I’ve been through so many aspects of each course and made lists but I’m just finding it so hard to make a decision. I’m indecisive in general so this is a bit of a nightmare. I swear each one is balanced in terms of pros and cons. People keep saying I should have a gut feeling but I really don’t to be honest😭.
The logical thing to do would be firm lancaster and insure liverpool as liverpool accepts A*AB as well as AAA. But all of my exams went relatively okay so I think I’ll be able to manage AAA and that means I’m basically definitely going to lancaster. If I firm liverpool though then that means I’m definitely going to liverpool or nowhere if I don’t get the grades.

Any advice at all would be so appreciated!!

Overall I think your in a very nice situation having 2 offers at great medical schools and whatever you pick you will have a great time. I am going to Lancaster med school in September and currently live in Liverpool so I can answer any questions about the place however only have limited knowledge on the unis.
Personally there was many reasons i firmed lancs. I thought the medicine course looked really good and had very early hospital and gp placements in good hospitals. Also being a smaller med school i feel like it will be easier to make friends and get a more community feel. It might also be easier to ask qs and get help and support if needed. The campus also looks very nice and in the suburbs where there lots of greenery. All the societies and colleges look a lot of fun and overall the uni looks like a very chill place to study medicine. I always wanted to be at uni in a big city but when reading more about campus uni like lancs i feel like i will have a better uni experience being apart of a close community and easier to access facilities as everything is close. The uni is also very high ranked atm which probs indicates good teaching and high student satisfaction. I think only negatives for me is the nightlife which apparently isn't great however its not a make or break thing since theres loads of pubs and events on campus
I don't know much about Liverpool uni but i know the city is great for students and there is plenty to do.
If you have any other questions, let me know :smile:

Reply 4

Ghostlady

21

Original post by safa-lx

Okay so I basically need to decide between liverpool and lancaster medical school. I’ve visited and like both, but I just cannot decide which to firm and insure (one of my offers were changed so I got an extension of my UCAS deadline to decide) BUT I REALLY CANNOT MAKE MY MIND UP. Can anyone who’s been to either give some advice pls?😭😭😭 I like both countryside and city, and both are relatively close to home which is also important for me (lancaster is a little closer). I’ve been through so many aspects of each course and made lists but I’m just finding it so hard to make a decision. I’m indecisive in general so this is a bit of a nightmare. I swear each one is balanced in terms of pros and cons. People keep saying I should have a gut feeling but I really don’t to be honest😭.
The logical thing to do would be firm lancaster and insure liverpool as liverpool accepts A*AB as well as AAA. But all of my exams went relatively okay so I think I’ll be able to manage AAA and that means I’m basically definitely going to lancaster. If I firm liverpool though then that means I’m definitely going to liverpool or nowhere if I don’t get the grades.

Any advice at all would be so appreciated!!

Different subject, different unis but youngest was in same position. everything the same. It was the logical decision with the grades you mention is why she chose what she did.
Hers was chester/reading for zoology. BBD v BCC

Reply 5

Original post by safa-lx

Okay so I basically need to decide between liverpool and lancaster medical school. I’ve visited and like both, but I just cannot decide which to firm and insure (one of my offers were changed so I got an extension of my UCAS deadline to decide) BUT I REALLY CANNOT MAKE MY MIND UP. Can anyone who’s been to either give some advice pls?😭😭😭 I like both countryside and city, and both are relatively close to home which is also important for me (lancaster is a little closer). I’ve been through so many aspects of each course and made lists but I’m just finding it so hard to make a decision. I’m indecisive in general so this is a bit of a nightmare. I swear each one is balanced in terms of pros and cons. People keep saying I should have a gut feeling but I really don’t to be honest😭.
The logical thing to do would be firm lancaster and insure liverpool as liverpool accepts A*AB as well as AAA. But all of my exams went relatively okay so I think I’ll be able to manage AAA and that means I’m basically definitely going to lancaster. If I firm liverpool though then that means I’m definitely going to liverpool or nowhere if I don’t get the grades.

Any advice at all would be so appreciated!!

Hey @safa-lx,

You have probably made your decision (I am a wk late 😌), which is the RIGHT decision because you were weighing up the pros and cons of both!

But if it helps, I'll just summarise a few points about both medical schools - I go to Lancaster and my brother goes to Liverpool (both are in yr 3 now!)

Lancaster:
- Campus university (you are more likely to interact with students from other subjects and all the societies activities are more accessible ie gym, football pitches),
- Smaller cohort (so you get to know most of your year),
- PBL teaching (SO WAYYYYY MORE INDEPENDENT meaning you will need to study more than what is taught in lectures 😑),
- Regular placement from Yr 2 (so can be motivating to learn and SEE pathology early on BUT can be draining),
- Lancaster is a small town but has alot of greenery around (lake district, EDEN project soon!)

Liverpool:
- City university (more opportunities and will most likely be always active)
- Larger cohort (so more diversity in your year)
- Lecture based and CBL (this is a blessing for a med student because they know what ever is in the lectures is the only content they can be tested on)
- LESS EXAMS in yr1 & yr2 (and non are written/typed)
- Better/ more specialist hospitals (more research opportunities with leading doctors)

These were just a few points that I think are important to think about (I'm sure you considered most of these PLUS distance from home and accommodation etc). Let me know if there are any questions!

Hope this helped. Good luck!
Shaheer (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

Reply 6

username5791579

OP

2

To everyone who answered, thankyou so much for your replies!!

(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 7

GGIN

13

Original post by safa-lx

To everyone who answered, thankyou so much for your replies!! They were very helpful. I did end up firming lancs and insuring liverpool, so I guess I will see what happens of results day!!

Fingers crossed for results day, and well done on the offer!

Original post by Lancaster Student Ambassador

Hey @safa-lx,

You have probably made your decision (I am a wk late 😌), which is the RIGHT decision because you were weighing up the pros and cons of both!

But if it helps, I'll just summarise a few points about both medical schools - I go to Lancaster and my brother goes to Liverpool (both are in yr 3 now!)

Lancaster:
- Campus university (you are more likely to interact with students from other subjects and all the societies activities are more accessible ie gym, football pitches),
- Smaller cohort (so you get to know most of your year),
- PBL teaching (SO WAYYYYY MORE INDEPENDENT meaning you will need to study more than what is taught in lectures 😑),
- Regular placement from Yr 2 (so can be motivating to learn and SEE pathology early on BUT can be draining),
- Lancaster is a small town but has alot of greenery around (lake district, EDEN project soon!)

Liverpool:
- City university (more opportunities and will most likely be always active)
- Larger cohort (so more diversity in your year)
- Lecture based and CBL (this is a blessing for a med student because they know what ever is in the lectures is the only content they can be tested on)
- LESS EXAMS in yr1 & yr2 (and non are written/typed)
- Better/ more specialist hospitals (more research opportunities with leading doctors)

These were just a few points that I think are important to think about (I'm sure you considered most of these PLUS distance from home and accommodation etc). Let me know if there are any questions!

Hope this helped. Good luck!
Shaheer (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

Sorry to hop on this, but was interested in the differences between the teaching styles. Specifically that CBL in Liverpool, they can only test you in exams on what you have been physically taught? Not broader reading etc and presumed knowledge ? Is that just Liverpool or anywhere non PBL?

PBL its what they have taught you and what you have learned ?

Not a student just a parent being nosy and learning as I go !

(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 8

Original post by GGIN

Fingers crossed for results day, and well done on the offer!

Sorry to hop on this, but was interested in the differences between the teaching styles. Specifically that CBL in Liverpool, they can only test you in exams on what you have been physically taught? Not broader reading etc and presumed knowledge ? Is that just Liverpool or anywhere non PBL?

PBL its what they have taught you and what you have learned ?

Not a student just a parent being nosy and learning as I go !

Hi @GGIN,

Sorry for the very late reply 😌 and it is great that you are interested as a parent!

So, in short, you are correct – in most lecture-based universities (like Liverpool or Nottingham), the learning objectives (which is what you are tested on) are ALL covered in the teaching provided (so there will be way more compulsory lectures than a PBL case). If you don’t understand something in a lecture or if it was briefly mentioned – you would have to read other resources to grasp the concept so it is exam level ready. CBL is there to facilitate application of that knowledge to cases for consolidation. They might ask you to read a bit more around the topic for CBL but that will not form the majority of the exam questions or you may find that the additional reading content was briefly covered in the lectures.

However, at Lancaster, PBL is where we make our own objectives based on the given scenario (this is facilitated by a tutor so that we stay on track), following this we read recommended resources to answer the objectives and there will be lectures that will cover SOME KEY learning objectives so that a good foundation can be built for every student. The exam will cover all objectives so for instance you can be tested about “incontinence” but may not have any lecture for this BUT the recommended resources will encourage you to read about this, plus during feedback sessions in PBL (when all students in small groups share what they have learnt) you can fill knowledge gaps.

Ultimately, any medical student from any university should be able to do another medical school’s exams as the medical content is the same.

I really hope that made sense. In summary – *most of the time* lecture based = learning objectives are given and lectures cover all of them (even if they briefly mention it in the lecture). PBL based = students make their objectives; they find answers to the objective questions by reading or formal teaching and then share what they have found to help each other.

Shaheer (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

PS - sorry this was long 😊

Reply 9

GGIN

13

Original post by Lancaster Student Ambassador

Hi @GGIN,

Sorry for the very late reply 😌 and it is great that you are interested as a parent!

So, in short, you are correct – in most lecture-based universities (like Liverpool or Nottingham), the learning objectives (which is what you are tested on) are ALL covered in the teaching provided (so there will be way more compulsory lectures than a PBL case). If you don’t understand something in a lecture or if it was briefly mentioned – you would have to read other resources to grasp the concept so it is exam level ready. CBL is there to facilitate application of that knowledge to cases for consolidation. They might ask you to read a bit more around the topic for CBL but that will not form the majority of the exam questions or you may find that the additional reading content was briefly covered in the lectures.

However, at Lancaster, PBL is where we make our own objectives based on the given scenario (this is facilitated by a tutor so that we stay on track), following this we read recommended resources to answer the objectives and there will be lectures that will cover SOME KEY learning objectives so that a good foundation can be built for every student. The exam will cover all objectives so for instance you can be tested about “incontinence” but may not have any lecture for this BUT the recommended resources will encourage you to read about this, plus during feedback sessions in PBL (when all students in small groups share what they have learnt) you can fill knowledge gaps.

Ultimately, any medical student from any university should be able to do another medical school’s exams as the medical content is the same.

I really hope that made sense. In summary – *most of the time* lecture based = learning objectives are given and lectures cover all of them (even if they briefly mention it in the lecture). PBL based = students make their objectives; they find answers to the objective questions by reading or formal teaching and then share what they have found to help each other.

Shaheer (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

PS - sorry this was long 😊

Thank you so much for taking the time to type all that out.

It is really helpful and informative. I thought I broadly understood the concept of PBL/CBL but hadnt worked it through to its logical conclusion in terms of learning objectives and exams.

Am sure it will be useful to others too !

Reply 10