MODS, PLEASE MAKE THIS A STICKY POST - BRUM FAQs *READ BEFORE POSTING*

[Captain_Carrot]

This post will eventually cover FAQs, questions that are asked repeatedly in this forum. Please DONT post a question that has been answered on this post. Someone will just point you back here. If your question doesn't match anything here, then please do post, and we'll try our best to help you

Carrot

In order, this post contains:
1) Entry Requirements
2) PBL/Dropout rates
3) Assessment
4) Prosection.
5) Is ???? better than Birmingham?
6) What's the new course like?
7) Can I intercalate?

1) Entry Requirements:

How many A*s at GCSE, required A level subjects, etc, can be found in the links below.

Guidance for applicants can be found here: http://www.medicine.bham.ac.uk/prosp...b/guidance.htm

Online prospectus here: http://www.bham.ac.uk/course_details...00010002&id=22

Admissions Tutor: C.J.lote@bham.ac.uk

2)PBL/Dropout rates
Discussion on PBL (or lack thereof) at birmingham is here:
pbl and 'chuck out' rates in birmingham!

3)Assessment
The posting on assessment at Brum can be found here: Assessment

4) Prosection
Discussed here: Prosection/Dissection

5) Is ???? better than birmingham?

No. Birmingham is best. The point I'm trying to make is that each med school has it's own strengths and weaknesses. But because the people in this forum are here...we're obviously biased (there's your first critical reading skill - spotting bias).

Brum strengths:
-Early clinical exposure
-Good social life. Really good.
-Active student societies
-Shiny new facilities
-Birmingham is actually a nice city. No, really it is. See here:
http://www.comedyrevue.co.uk/birmingham.wmv

Brum weaknesses:
-Anatomy not as good as some other schools.
-Separated from rest of campus.
-Could be sent to Wales, well, Hereford, which is a trek.
-Poor admin support (School office anyone?) (but apparently common to other schools...)

6) What's the new course like?

I dunno.

7) Can I intercalate?

Yes you can. But don't do it cause you want to get a point on a job application form. It's a real slog. And, quite stressful. But hey, it wouldn't be worth doing if it wasn't.

At bham, you can intercalate in either; biological sciences, clinical sciences or 'medicine in society' (including ethics and law, public health, occupational health and ?molecular medicine?).
If you can think of something else, please list it below and I will try to write it up soon.

[kittykat025]

thank you!!!
when i have the chance i'll do some links to other threads too, in the mean time people can use the "search" facility to search the forum!

[dsn]

Poor admin support (School office anyone?) (but apparently common to other schools...)

There's some general information (if any one is interested) on the - School Office's old website but it's quite out of date.

[arabella]

Hi sorry I didn't know where else to post this. At the admissions talk on the open day, they said that a) the gcse requirement would likely be 8A*s this year and b) that they don't look at the personal statement when selecting for interview, and c) you really need 3As predicted. Does this mean that if I have more than 8A*s and am predicted 3As that I'm basically guaranteed an interview?? Sorry, I just wanted to check this, thankyou xxx

[equium]

I'd guess so if they dont bother looking at PS, which I think is really weird

[Gizmo says -]

well dun, Captain, its a brave move.

still wont stop the nunces wif 12 A*s trying to theorise that they ave a better chance of admissions than those wif the minimum gcses though, such is the depth of their stoopidity.....
curiously, they beleive this is through entirely circular reasoning - ier becos they ave 12 A*s....if they didnt ave this, they wuldnt beleive it....

[waveygravey]

Could be sent to Wales, well, Hereford, which is a trek.

Oooooh watch it laddy! Ill forgive you since it is a trek to hereford, and you recognised that we are not in wales lol!

[hshan]

hello, i already confirmed my place at the university so i was wondering what books we'll be needing for the first year? my bro's was a med student so i was thinking i could save money on books and bring his with me if we're using the same books? thanks very much

[Hughman]

Got a family friend who's on the B'ham selection panel.
Apparently they'll just dump your application if have anything less than 7 A*s at GCSE.
Just my 2p.

[technicolor_girl]

I have 6 A*s and 5 As at GCSE, and I got an interview and offer =s ?!