Stow College - Access To Medicine

[dr?]

Hi,

is anyone on this course, been on this course or applying?

I would love to know what it is like as I have applied for myself for Aug 09

Thanks!

[craighoisington]

Hi, I completed the course in 2008. Thoroughly recommend it to everyone and anyone. The year i did it everyone got a guaranteed interview for glasgow uni med school. Not sure if this is always the case. From the class of 15, 13 were applying to med school and 6 or 7 got in to glasgow or dundee/st andrews (cant remember where she went). Any questions or queries feel free to ask.

Cheers
Craig

[dr?]

Hi CraigH

thanks so much! I have a couple of questions if you don't mind? D

- what do you think my chances may be of getting in based on the following negatives: I don't have a lot of health care experience (except looking after my mother for years, but that was a psychological related illness that did have physical effects), I do plan on getting some experience in a hospital etc. in the summer holidays 2009 (im currently at uni)

- How would I get funding? SAAS? Bursary? Self financed?

- How medicine related is the course content?

- When did you hear about an interview?

Sorry, that was more than a couple of questions lol. I really appreciate it

[Disraeli Gears]

Hi, I completed the course in 2008. Thoroughly recommend it to everyone and anyone. The year i did it everyone got a guaranteed interview for glasgow uni med school. Not sure if this is always the case. From the class of 15, 13 were applying to med school and 6 or 7 got in to glasgow or dundee/st andrews (cant remember where she went). Any questions or queries feel free to ask.

Cheers
Craig

Glasgow interview everyone with adequate predicted grades.

What happened to the other 6/7?

[Zedd]

If it wasn't for the living expenses I would be applying to Stow. I have a question about the course though, what is it that sets it apart from simply a HNC Biomed course which the Perth course appears to be more or less.

[craighoisington]

Right, I'm going to try and summarise everything I can remember about the Access to Medical Studies course at Stow College. Hope this helps

REMEMBER ALL THE FOLLOWING INFO IS BASED ON MY CIRCUMSTANCES AND EXPERIENCES. THINGS LIKE BURSARY APPLICATIONS ARE DEALT WITH ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. ALSO A LOT OF THINGS MIGHT HAVE CHANGED, EG GUARANTEED INTERVIEW AT GLASGOW UNIVERSITY OR ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT AT ABERDEEN/ST ANDREWS.

REMEMBER ALSO I FAILED THE INTERVIEW AT GLASGOW UNI AND DIDN@T GET AN INTERVIEW FOR ST ANDREWS, MY 2ND CHOICE. HASN'T STOPPED ME REAPPLYING THOUGH.

Before going onto this course I started Sports Medicine at Glasgow University and left after 2nd year. Mentioning this as there is a section on funding.

1: Basics

The course is open to over 25's and there was no entrance test, just the interview. It is a full time course lasting from August till May/June.

2: Applying

Applications go straight to the college. I applied in September '06, didn't hear back till January '07, got an interview in March '07 with Robert Risk from the College and Kenny Anderson from SWAP. Heard back pretty quickly I was on the course to start in August '07. The questions were pretty straight forward, things like: why medicine? Why now? What have you done up till now?

3: The subjects

1st term: Higher Biology, Standard Grade chemistry, Standard Grade Physics, Higher English, Standard Grade/Higher Maths,

2nd term: HNC Biology modules (Biochemistry, Human Physiology and Cell Biology), Higher Chemistry, More Higher English, Chemistry Labs, Higher Maths and Prep for further education,

4: Med School applications

This course has been developed by Robert Risk closely with Glasgow University. The year I was on the course everyone got a guaranteed interview at Glasgow and could apply to most other Uni's. Some, like Edinburgh, wouldn't accept the course so call before wasting a place on your UCAS form. Also places like Aberdeen and St Andrews were awkward about people with a previous degree; they would only accept applications from people with a 2:1.

Out of my class of 15

1 dropped out (the less said about her the better)
1 went to St Andrews or Dundee to do Medicine, can't remember which.
1 Went to Strathclyde to do Pharmacy
1 Applied to do Dentistry
5 were accepted into Glasgow to do Medicine

The people that were unsuccessful, 2 have reapplied to do Medicine, 1 is trying to get into teaching and another is doing something arts based. Not sure what the others are going to do.

5: Funding

I didn't have to pay fees, don't think anyone in my year paid fees. I got a very helpful bursary of £400ish a month. Most people, as far as I can remember, got a bursary.. I wasn't expecting a bursary as I'd studied previously but it was a welcome surprise.

6: PBL

We got a chance to go up to Glasgow Uni, meet some lecturers and took part in a PBL session which was very worthwhile.

7: Overall

A good course, starts off at a slow pace then picks up for the second half. Might have been better if we had more self directed learning time, PBL style but still a good course, friendly, approachable lecturers and recommended to all.

Once again, if there is anything I haven't covered or mentioned please email/message and I'll reply.

(The course at Perth I know absolutely nothing about, sorry, can't advise on that)

[Zedd]

I have to say that sounds like a really good course, infact it sounds a little bit like the access to biomed course I'm on now which also is too directed leaving folk scratching their heads when something is mentioned in an assessment or test that was never taught or skimmed over too quickly.

I'm not sure if they tell you but could someone on the course please post up the individual units names and codes so that I can compare them to the biomed course I am on now?

[elz]

iv never heard of this course before but if only 50% ish got in you should be prepared that theres a good chance you wont get in first time round. if u can travel; look at statistics for other courses?

zedd if ur doing bio med and get a 2:1 u shouldnt need to do an access course should u?

[Zedd]

I am doing access to biomedical, not a biomed honours degree...I could not take 4 years of that.

[Zedd]

I don't usually bump threads but I feel like doing it with this one.

I've decided to apply to the course as it sounds as though I'll have more chance of getting into medicine with it than my other choices plus it sounds quite fun.

Is there some sort of pass rate which suggests an interview or place at Glasgow or Aberdeen is likely?