Aberdeen Medical School from a 1st Year's Perspective

[callumpierce]

Hey guys! I bumped into some people waiting on their medical school interview in the Polwarth building the other day, which made me remember how nervous I was this time last year and therefore has inspired me to write this wee post so you have a better idea of what you've got to look forward to when you come to Aberdeen.

First of all, you've got to look forward to a lot of Biochemistry for the first couple of months, but it's really not bad - you have an amazing lecture (Prof. Long) for it - who really tells you everything you need to know ... stick with his notes and you wont go far wrong.

Secondly, I guess you've got to look forward to a lot of Anatomy.

Most of course we've done so far (9 weeks in) is taught at Marischal College, this really old, grand building in Aberdeen city centre. It's feels a bit like Hogwarts because you have to descend through this set of stairs through an archway to the Anatomy part of the building housing the lecture theatre and dissecting room, but it's all good fun.

Anatomy is really interesting and takes up a lot of the first year course, even though you learn to hate it around exam time ... , and it seems to be taught quite well in Aberdeen, with a lot of emphasis on the practical side - prosection being the main teaching method.

The other thing that should be mentioned about Aberdeen is their didatic approach to teaching, which means you sit down in a lecture theatre and learn it - and then if practicals are needed for any given subject they are given along side the lectures ... which means you can be sure you know what you're meant to know.

Outside teaching periods etc, MedSoc have a big part to play in the social life on Aberdeen Medics and they never let us down!!! Beerinteering is one of the social events of the year that everyone looks forward to, and it is so much fun!! Although, so far it seems MedSoc have random parties every now and then for no reason, but none of us complain! haha

Aberdeen was also number 5 in the UK for Medicine in this year's league tables (No. 2 in Scotland), which means you'll be studying at really quite a prestigious Med School...

In terms of interview advice, I would generally just be yourselves and take the interview as an opportunity to show the panel what your personal statement didn't. My interview wasn't 'tactical' at all, they seemed to just want to get the best out of me ...

Don't worry about your interview invitation, because I didn't get mine till April, and don't worry if you get rejected ... actually, if you get rejected first time round - SEND THE REPLY SLIP BACK - they very often reject too many applicants and then have to write to them to tell them they've been succesful - it happened to me so please do it!

What else? Oh yeah, if you have Dr. Kath Greaves as an interviewer, then bear in mind that she runs a breast clinic - so it might be worth reading up about breast cancer research or keeping an eye on breast related news in the media.

Oh, and if they ask you what you like about Aberdeen, well --- this is what I personally have liked ...

The Regent's Evening - where you're paired with a consultant who looks after you for the next 5 years
The Parent's Evening - where you get paired with a second year mum and dad who are absolutely amazing and give you so much good advice (and past papers!!)
MedSoc Nights Out
General Aberdeen Nightlife

If you have ANY questions at all - feel free to post them on here and I'l do my upmost answer them!!

Good luck everyone!!!

[amor1]

Hey callumpierce

thanks a lot for giving us, me i mean, some advice on the interview techniques at aberdeen. i have got an interview there on wednesday (28 nov). so fingers crossed for me lol.
so how do you like the system based teaching at aberdeen? is it easier than PBL? my mate is doing medicine at LIverpool uni and she finds it pretty hard to motivate herself lol

anyway good luck with your studies and take care


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'Amor vincit omnia' yes, L.da Vinci, any one?

[Keeno]

Anatomy is really interesting and takes up a lot of the first year course, even though you learn to hate it around exam time ... , and it seems to be taught quite well in Aberdeen, with a lot of emphasis on the practical side - prosection being the main teaching method.

Which anatomy sessions have you been going to Callum? It must be a lot different from what us group B people have to do And you will learn to hate anatomy from the first second you glance at an embryology board Even before the first OSPE...

But yeah aside from that little deviation I would generally agree with what has been said.

[natamac]

Hi,

I was just wondering about being rejected then accepted again.
Is this a common thing with Aberdeen? Also does this usually happen after you have already confirmed your firm and insurance unis? Aberdeen is my top choice and I wouldn't want to firmly accept one uni if I would eventually get an offer from them.

[Keeno]

Hi,

I was just wondering about being rejected then accepted again.
Is this a common thing with Aberdeen? Also does this usually happen after you have already confirmed your firm and insurance unis? Aberdeen is my top choice and I wouldn't want to firmly accept one uni if I would eventually get an offer from them.

There are loads of people this year who were initially rejected... I don't know exact figures obviously I reckon it is at least 20 or so.

Well if you have already firmly accepted an offer I don't see how you can really back out of it. Most people I know who were initially rejected got offers in May. Some were getting second interviews and offers in August.

[callumpierce]

Well, what happened with me was I got invited for an interview in April.

I got rejected shortly after my interview, and then got an email about 6 weeks later saying that Aberdeen was now in a position to make me an Unconditional Offer. (woop woop!!) So, sometime in mid March.

In answer to your question, I would say that it does happen a quite a lot at all medical schools while they juggle people about and wait on replies etc. I know a lot of people had the same deal with Dundee.

If Aberdeen is your first choice - and you get an offer from somewhere else - I would just hold onto the offer without replying right up until the deadline of the offer expires... that way you can hold back and see if Aberdeen are going to give you an offer.

How did everyone get on at their interviews so far?

[Keeno]

Just a quick message to say, after expecting a horrific set of exams and utter failure, they were not that bad really.

So yes it just shows, if you put the work in you can pass the first term, which the second years have been telling us all along is the most difficult.

[WeWereTheSpecialTwo]

Do you get to do full body dissections at Aberdeen?

[Keeno]

Do you get to do full body dissections at Aberdeen?

You can do it in later years as a Student Selected Module ( SSM ) but as part of your anatomy learning no, it is all prossection in first year

[elz]

hey guys,, did u both stay in halls in 1st yr? what do u think of them? do u get a book list, or is there any books we need to get before going, or is it best to wait til u get there?? cheers