Barts vs. Kings

**Will S** · 26-04-2007, 06:16 AM

Has anybody had an offer from Kings and Barts? I am unable to go to any post offer open days as I am currently living in Melbourne.. Trying to weigh up which one to choose as we speak. Any thoughts etc on this!
Will

**mikefor2006** · 26-04-2007, 02:18 PM

Wel.... King's has shinier buildings but Barts is more old skool.

Without going to an open day it will be hard and many member here will be biassed. go by the syllabus and how it suites you.

**Anthony0987** · 26-04-2007, 03:13 PM

kings hands down! lol as much as i love barts youd have to be crazy to turn down kings for queen mary

**$ingh** · 26-04-2007, 04:25 PM

This isn't going to help you at all mate. Like mike said people here will be biased so look at both websites for the unis, read the prospectus and weigh up which one would suit you best.

Personally Barts is the better uni.

**f_debelder** · 26-04-2007, 04:40 PM

kings hands down! lol as much as i love barts youd have to be crazy to turn down kings for queen mary

Turning down Kings for QM, yes....Kings for Barts on the other hand?

Really, it won't make a difference where you get your degree from, as long as you get it. What the toss up here is whether you would like a PBL orientated course that teaches you the degree or a more traditional approach.

If it helps, I'll trot out the golden three that makes Barts so good academically imo...apart from the good sense of community medics get in Barts, shown by the fact that Barts consistently raises the most money for charity in RAG week than any of the other London medical schools, the membership of three unions if you count ULU, cheaper costs compared to Kings.

1.) Oldest medical school in the UK/Barts hospital is the oldest in the UK, founded in 1123.
2.) Best NHS teaching trust in the UK
3.) Produces best junior doctors as said by the GMC in 2005.

I know which one I would, and am going to choose!

**Isaac** · 26-04-2007, 08:41 PM

I'll just write down my two cents, if anyone cares.

Firstly, in terms of reputation, I feel that KCL probably has better global recognition. I'm from Canada and when I decided to apply to medicine in the UK, King's topped my list. I read up on it and was impressed by many things, including the location. I hadn't, truth be told, heard of Barts before, though it also has a very long history of academic excellence.

I applied and interviewed at both KCL and Barts and was suprised to see that my expectations changed. Having flown in for both interviews from overseas, I expected both universities to want to sell themselves (though this could be a more American concept). Instead, I found that KCL did indeed have a good location, but I was told I could give myself a self-guided tour of the facilities if I picked up a brochure from the appropriate office (which I did). Barts was completely different. Instead of feeling like a tourist when I visited, they had a student to meet me and show me around. I also found myself impressed with the level of community that seemed to exist and the ecclectic location in East London.

In short, when faced with the decision, I find myself really drawn to Barts and the London.

**Gizmo says -** · 26-04-2007, 08:51 PM

yey its no coincidence that kcl ave the international recognition.

becos by and large they need it mor....

**ankit.kumar1** · 26-04-2007, 09:05 PM

location location location

okay, the heart of central london

costs more but its worth it

im going to barts and i still say kings all the way

**bennett** · 26-04-2007, 09:10 PM

I will always be more Kings than anything else but I have to say after talking to many GKT med students that the teaching size is too large at Kings, its difficult to get allocated to Hospitals close within the trust and the support for students is lower when you are having difficulties.

On the plus side it has 400 plus students in a year, an excellent international reputation, nicer area and a better halls life IMO. If you cant get to visit before you start I think GKT would be a safer bet.

**Gizmo says -** · 26-04-2007, 09:15 PM

i wuld only apply to a central london uni as a last resort, so brats over kings everytime.

whats more important, an extra twenty pound note in your pocket every week for five years or the prestige that counts for nuffing... even when you apply for a job.... except when you go to skool reunion parties?