Is Bham right for me?

**Snoopy_Rules** · 01-08-2007, 09:31 PM

Sorry if this topic pops up every two weeks, but I want to make sure I apply to the unis that are right for me!

Well, Birmingham is on my shortlist (of about 6) and here are some of the reasons why I might choose it:

Close to home, as I live in the Midlands. just an hour and a halfs train journey away

Good integrated course(?), with limited PBL, as I think I'm more suited to lectures and all things traditional.

I've heard that every qualifying student is guarunteed a clinical placement in a hospital near Bham?

Havent been to an open day though, planning to go in September though

And if kind person would like to tell me more about the course (eg. pros and cons) it would be much appreciated

**equium** · 02-08-2007, 03:05 PM

With your GCSE grades and I'm assuming you've been predicted at least AAB, you'll be guaranteed an interview at Bham, so I'd say def put it down as an insurance choice. And if you do end up going to Bham which may be your 'insurance' choice, it's a pretty damn good med school!!

**dsn** · 02-08-2007, 04:53 PM

Especially since it has a portrait of the Great Leader "Il Duce of the Midlands" Joseph Chamberlain!

**arabella** · 02-08-2007, 05:15 PM

I absolutely loved the whole uni at the open day, and the med school seemed really good, it's all lovely and new on the inside so good facilities. For some people it might be a con that they don't do dissection, but that doesn't really bother me. Like you said, it didn't sound like PBL was a big thing, but there are plenty of lectures. The MedSoc seemed really good too, they have their own stuff and teams that can fit into the busy schedule...xxx

**dsn** · 03-08-2007, 01:10 PM

And you get to live it out in the Vale/ Selly Oak/ Harborne. How could it be better?

**Snoopy_Rules** · 03-08-2007, 09:34 PM

Hey arabella, you following me around?

I suppose you would have noticed my evilness of copying and psting

And yes I figured out that Birmingham isnt PBL!

Yeah my predicited grades are pretty good, I should get an interview, so it would be a good choice!

Hows the accomodation in Birmingham? I'l get to look round, but if someone could tell me beforehand thatd be fab

But... call me stupid, but whats "Vale/ Selly Oak/ Harborne"? Sorry... I'm stupid...

**dsn** · 03-08-2007, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by Snoopy_Rules

Hows the accomodation in Birmingham? I'l get to look round, but if someone could tell me beforehand thatd be fab

But... call me stupid, but whats "Vale/ Selly Oak/ Harborne"? Sorry... I'm stupid...

The Vale is the biggest area in which uni accommodation is - it's the area around the lake.

Selly Oak and Harborne are areas of Birmingham (like Edgbaston) where a lot of students live - mostly terraced housing. Personally I prefer King's Heath - which is some way from Edgbaston, but the High Street there kicks ass compared to Harborne High Street!

**Snoopy_Rules** · 03-08-2007, 09:45 PM

Ahhh, I see...

So is the Vale first year accomodation and then the rest for later years? And is it expensive? It cant be as bad as London....

Bad luck that you're online, I'm gonna bombard you with questions

**dsn** · 03-08-2007, 11:58 PM

Anyway, if you're from the Midlands shouldn't you know all this. Even in the far flung corners of the Midlands like Hereford (which is practically in Wales) they pay tribute to Birmingham.

All the university accommodation is described here. Vale is generally considered to be the more desirable than other areas, but it's up to what you like, really. Rents for 42 weeks are roughly £3,000-5,500. from the uni website

"Average Rent for 2006:
Single room (flat share with 3 to 4 rooms) £50 - £60 per week (bills extra)"

So that's probably significantly less than in London.

! · 04-08-2007, 02:36 AM

academicalyl i can only speak for the preclinical part:
biggest con for me is the anatomy teaching - v dodgy and you need to have good motivation to put in the work yourself to get good at it (though this is not a necessity) and also the apathy of the school office which is v poorly organised

clinical though has a very good reputation (so i hear)

socially brum has everything you need.

on the point of housing:
1st yr accom includes the vale (best place to be imo but im biased) but also other halls like hunter court which is also nice.
2nd yr onwards 99% students get their own shared house usually in selly oak or few in harbourne. in selly oak average rent is around £55-£65/week for a decent house thats close to uni (further away cheaper, obviously). i have a friend at london medschool who pays £110/week