2009 minimum GCSE A*S

[Kinkerz]

Originally Posted by dsn

Oxbridge aren't necessarily the best universities - depends on what you're after.

But they are... Even if you're after a lively city experience, they're still the best universities - just not in your ideal location.

Originally Posted by dsn

Birmingham isn't the best medical school in the world. I have no idea what is, but probably Birmingham isn't. However, it is good enough for anyone going to it to be able to become the best possible doctor, as good as if you went to any other medical school.

I agree with that, but isn't that the case for most UK medical schools?

Originally Posted by dsn

Believe me, most of it is up to you. It's not like school where going to a good school means you'll probably get excellent grades. At medical school it's 80% (or whatever) up to your own effort.

I hope so! Seems more like a level playing field.

Originally Posted by dsn

With regards to research, which it is easier to compare across universities than undergraduate teaching, Birmingham is certainly in the top 3 or 4 or 5. We have the third largest research spend in any case.

Birmingham is a big city with a big university, so that doesn't surprise me. Research surely has alot to do with funding - more funding = more opportunity for research.

[dsn]

Originally Posted by tilleyk02

Otherwise what would be the point in putting 7A*'s down on the prospectus?

Is it? not online...

GCSE requirements: candidates are expected to offer a good range of GCSE subjects at high grades (normally at least five at A*) Medicine and Surgery MBChB - Undergraduate Prospectus - University of Birmingham

The key word being normally - i.e. it is no guarantee what the A* quota will be.

[dsn]

Originally Posted by Kinkerz

But they are... Even if you're after a lively city experience, they're still the best universities - just not in your ideal location.

Birmingham is a big city with a big university, so that doesn't surprise me. Research surely has alot to do with funding - more funding = more opportunity for research.

Don't delude yourself about Oxbridge. Just because some people say they're the "best" doesn't mean they are. Do they have the "best" teaching?

If you want that style or teaching yes, if not, then obviously no.

Do they have the best facilities? Obviously not when compared to the new medical schools or even, dare I say, Birmingham.

Do they have the best staff? Probably not, after all clinical staff will gravitate towards the hospitals with the best reputations. Addenbrookes has a very good reputation, but not better than UCH or UBH, so no reason why they should go there in particular.

Is Cambridge prettier than other places? It's ok, but really in many ways I prefer the UEA campus. And Edgbaston isn't bad either.

Does it have a more prestigious past? I'd say definitely not. It has a legacy of conformism, misogyny and being the establishment in personification. It's all very well being 800 years old, but exactly what did they achieve in those first 650 or so years? Thus, I'd say places like Birmingham, Manchester and Sheffield are far more admirable from a historical perspective and have been as influencial.

Is the town exciting? Believe me, living in East Anglia as I do... nobody goes to Cambridge for shopping or a night out if Norwich or London are vaguely within commuting distance.

Is the town interesting in terms of its diversity? err, no.

That's my opinion. You might have a different opinion. It's totally subjective as it depends on what you want. Therefore, there is no universal truth - you can't proclaim Cambridge the best, because even if it is for you, it probably isn't for most other people. Which is why it's so annoying when newspapers call Cambridge the top university. Undeniably it's "a" top university, but not at all necessarily "the" top university.

[Kinkerz]

I don't want to go to either of Oxford or Cambridge.

I am however, of the opinion that they are the best universities in the UK - crazy me!

My ideal university is Leeds - it offers the course I want to do in the format I want to study it. I really like the city. The accommodation is generally good. It's easy on the wallet in comparison with many other cities. Does this mean Leeds is the 'best' university to me? No. I still feel Oxford and Cambridge are better universities, I just don't want to go to them as they are less suited to moi.

[George713]

I'm not applying to Cambridge either, but I did spend 3 days shadowing a medical student there.

And let me tell you they do have the best teaching there, I still remember everything I was told several months ago. The tutorials are amazing!

So in my opinion Cambridge is the best in the UK

[dsn]

Hrrrm, you spent three days at one medical school... I can only claim to know Birmingham, but we have a fairly mixed curriculum, so I can see in to the pros and cons of both traditional and more modern courses. Basically, it is my opinion that traditional courses are not all they're cracked up to be. Pure PBL might not be very good, but pure lectures with no clinical contact aren't much fun either.

[Kinkerz]

Originally Posted by dsn

Hrrrm, you spent three days at one medical school... I can only claim to know Birmingham, but we have a fairly mixed curriculum, so I can see in to the pros and cons of both traditional and more modern courses. Basically, it is my opinion that traditional courses are not all they're cracked up to be. Pure PBL might not be very good, but pure lectures with no clinical contact aren't much fun either.

Has anyone said that pure lectures with no clinical contact is much fun? Truth is, I don't think that's a great way to study medicine. I think it's old fashioned and out dated - it won't teach students to be doctors, it'll only teach students the knowledge.

[dsn]

Originally Posted by Kinkerz

it won't teach students to be doctors, it'll only teach students the knowledge.

Well, therefore, is it really the best medical course if it doesn't "teach students to be doctors" - that is sort of the point of medical school, as opposed to a BMedSc course.

[Kinkerz]

Originally Posted by dsn

Well, therefore, is it really the best medical course if it doesn't "teach students to be doctors" - that is sort of the point of medical school, as opposed to a BMedSc course.

I don't think it is the best medical course. I think there's actually a possibility that it's one of the weaker ones. Although that does depend on how you like to study.

But I wasn't saying that it was the best medical school, I was saying that it's the best university.

George - do you think you remember the things you were told because it was a different experience, and you found it interesting, rather than the brilliance of the teacher?

[heatherxelizabeth]

i always thought it was 5 A*'s, looks like birminghams a no go then