Newcastle A101 GEM 2025 Offer Holders

Hey guys! just realised I could search this thread up instead of asking for a link. Really excited about recieving an offer for Newcastle, as it was always my top choice, although now I'm on the fence between Newcastle and Swansea. I'm thinking about going to an offer holder day but it's a very long way for me, so I'm wondering if anyone has been to one already and could let me know if it's worth the money for a train and hotel?

Hey guys! just realised I could search this thread up instead of asking for a link. Really excited about recieving an offer for Newcastle, as it was always my top choice, although now I'm on the fence between Newcastle and Swansea. I'm thinking about going to an offer holder day but it's a very long way for me, so I'm wondering if anyone has been to one already and could let me know if it's worth the money for a train and hotel?

I went yesterday, and here are my thoughts:
Unfortunately there weren’t any reps from the graduate entry course, and I didn’t have time to speak to the lecturers much, so I’m calling/emailing this week to find out more about first year. But aside from that, it was a great day. We had a good talk about the course, then an hour of clinical skills and an hour in the dissection room with cadaveric specimens - basically a mini CBL session across those 2 hours. It was really interesting and the lecturers were fantastic. Then we had 2 half hour taster lectures and that was it! Really informative and gave a good feeling of what it would be like. I’m only disappointed I didn’t get to chat to a graduate student!

I went yesterday, and here are my thoughts:
Unfortunately there weren’t any reps from the graduate entry course, and I didn’t have time to speak to the lecturers much, so I’m calling/emailing this week to find out more about first year. But aside from that, it was a great day. We had a good talk about the course, then an hour of clinical skills and an hour in the dissection room with cadaveric specimens - basically a mini CBL session across those 2 hours. It was really interesting and the lecturers were fantastic. Then we had 2 half hour taster lectures and that was it! Really informative and gave a good feeling of what it would be like. I’m only disappointed I didn’t get to chat to a graduate student!

thanks so much for the update!! It sounds like a great day, really informative. How were the taster lectures? It's been a while since I did my undergrad but I remember lecture quality being highly variable. Also, how did you find the CBL style? I'm a little unsure of how it differs from PBL, but I'm pretty sure CBL would be better for me from what I've read. Sorry for all my questions haha, I don't think I'll be able to get the time off work to go to the one in May so trying my best to get as much info as I can, no pressure to reply!
It is a shame you didn't get the chance to chat with a grad student, as I think it would be really helpful. Are you planning to firm Newcastle after the offer day?

I thought both lectures were good, but the first was more interactive and engaging. I think wherever we go there will be a very wide variety in terms of quality of lectures! I’m also a bit unsure about how CBL and PBL are different, but I really like the idea of CBL and the offer day confirmed it for me - focusing everything within a body system, focusing all the learning around a real or imagined case helps to contextualise the information for me. I’ve since spoken to a couple of graduate students and they’ve said very positive things! Contact hours seem to be around 20 hours a week, sometimes a bit more, nearer exams a lot less, which to me is not as much as my undergrad! They say it’s intense but definitely not insanity-inducing, especially once you get into a stride. And uni provides coaches for placements in first year (of which there are 8 days) which is really good. The graduates are also kept together in years 2-4 for placement areas 🙃

I thought both lectures were good, but the first was more interactive and engaging. I think wherever we go there will be a very wide variety in terms of quality of lectures! I’m also a bit unsure about how CBL and PBL are different, but I really like the idea of CBL and the offer day confirmed it for me - focusing everything within a body system, focusing all the learning around a real or imagined case helps to contextualise the information for me. I’ve since spoken to a couple of graduate students and they’ve said very positive things! Contact hours seem to be around 20 hours a week, sometimes a bit more, nearer exams a lot less, which to me is not as much as my undergrad! They say it’s intense but definitely not insanity-inducing, especially once you get into a stride. And uni provides coaches for placements in first year (of which there are 8 days) which is really good. The graduates are also kept together in years 2-4 for placement areas 🙃

ooh wait what do they mean by keeping graduates together for placement areas? all sounds so good!!

thanks for replying!! I'll be bringing my car but it's great they do coaches too. It's also good to know they keep grads together - I felt like a grandma at the interview surrounded by 6th formers, can't imagine it would be much different being with 20 year olds on placement 😂

They have what they call “learning communities” so the undergraduates are split into small groups for CBL sessions, and then stay with those groups to placement areas (not necessarily the same ward etc but the same zone or area) and then the A101 course is one learning community so one group 🙃 I really like the idea too! Going to Warwick’s offer holder day tomorrow, so I’ll see but I really liked Newcastle, only sad I didn’t get to meet any of you guys. I met one prospective graduate student who seemed really nice but only for a second and she had to go. It seems really tight knit, and Newcastle itself is very friendly and has everything you need and more.

ahh i seeeee very cool!! so does that mean we all would have to be at say RVI or James Cook or can we still be sent to different placement areas/ swap them?

I think we’re all in the same zone, so if one of us is going to Middlesborough, we all are 😂 Then there will be space to be in different hospitals in that area, and there’s capacity to swap.

thank you, yeah makes sense. i kinda thought we’d be like the undergrads and be able to swap with each other coz i know a lot of people were always happy to swap out of middlesbrough. did the curriculum seem interesting?? and did the med school seem like a nice place to study?

Yeah I don’t think we can swap out of the area which is a shame but if you have extenuating circumstances you might be able to (but then you’d be with all the undergrads). Personally I think it’s quite good because even if you get sent somewhere you don’t particularly like, you’ll be with 24 ish other people you know well at least, which will help for finding places to live etc! The curriculum is the same everywhere really, but they work through one case at a time, with pre-work to do before CBL sessions/seminars, lectures, anatomy in the dissection room, and clinical skills - all for most cases. The med school is really nice imo, but I don’t have much to compare it to - I’ll let you know after I’ve seen Warwick tomorrow. The cafe is lovely and has hot and cold food, the library is great - open and airy but also cozy and quiet, with loads of books and many copies of each (and you can borrow things from there like otoscopes, reflex hammers etc to practice). Lots of greenery around too.

I went yesterday, and here are my thoughts:
Unfortunately there weren’t any reps from the graduate entry course, and I didn’t have time to speak to the lecturers much, so I’m calling/emailing this week to find out more about first year. But aside from that, it was a great day. We had a good talk about the course, then an hour of clinical skills and an hour in the dissection room with cadaveric specimens - basically a mini CBL session across those 2 hours. It was really interesting and the lecturers were fantastic. Then we had 2 half hour taster lectures and that was it! Really informative and gave a good feeling of what it would be like. I’m only disappointed I didn’t get to chat to a graduate student!

Thanks for this! Looking forward to the May one. Please let us know if you get to see an example of their timetable! I’m trying to decide between A100 and A101 and I think seeing the timetables will be my goal for offer day 😅

Hey everyone, is anyone planning to attend the 10 May offer holder day?

Absolutely! I just firmed my Newcastle offer, looking forward to seeing anyone else from here who does as well.