why st andrews??

**kenshin** · 26-12-2006, 08:56 AM

jst asking..esp those who already got offers..

**Gizmo says -** · 27-12-2006, 08:47 PM

thats a good queston.
on its own, i can fink of seeral answers... its marketed as an oxridge alternative wif a lot of those societies and stuff to boot. its in scotland. its golf.

but compared to other bonafide choices, i cant really fathom a good answer for accepting it instead of them.

**Fonzie** · 28-12-2006, 02:59 AM

Oh dear. Golf is so tedious. If you want a gentleman's game, play cricket instead.

**TartanTottie** · 28-12-2006, 08:22 PM

There are many reasons to choose the Bute Medical School over others, and I wouldn't class golf as a particularly important reason, despite it of course coming in handy for some

I could type up all day about what makes me want to go to St Andrews, but I think essentially it's what makes you want to go there, not anyone else. However I suggest you have a look on previous pages where people have shared experiences of the Bute and maybe that will give you an idea or 2.

If possible try and get to one of the open days which occur relatively frequently throughout the year. I believe there are 2 in february, but check that up on the website. I think St Andrews is a place you really have to visit to get a real feel for it. When I went to an Open Day I just knew it was for me!

**Gizmo says -** · 28-12-2006, 10:16 PM

sorri, aye i'm not a Bute fan.
maybe postgrad though. a year in that part of Scotland wuld suit me right down to the gound, allowing me enuff time to fire up every mountain bike track in the area....

**Helen_485** · 29-12-2006, 01:20 AM

I could probably write an essay on why I think St Andrews is the best place to go.... I'll just try and make a few quick points though!!

- It's a beautiful, small town with a lot going on and a real student feel (rather than the anonymity you can get in a big city - you see students and uni buildings etc in every bit of St A's)
- The medicine course is pretty much unique - obviously only oxbridge and St A's still do the old-style, pre-clinical/clinical divide so if you like the idea of that (which I think is a fantastic way to learn medicine) then obviously that's a plus point
- We get more dissection than most other british med schools, INCLUDING oxbridge. I didn't make that up (even though it's probably the kind of thing I would do), I know someone doing medicine at Oxford. They don't get that much dissection, it's all prosections (pre-dissected specimens to look at. We have them too, they're really useful and interesting but it's still not the same as doing it yourself and exploring it for yourself.)
- The staff at St Andrews are great. They all care about their subjects so much, and a lot of them do research and stuff as well on the top floor of the Bute. They're helpful, approachable and try to make things understandable and interesting

Hope I helped, ask away if you have more detailed questions and someone will try to help I'm sure!

**kenshin** · 30-12-2006, 09:10 AM

thx helen,tartan n others..
one more thg..why does it take 3yrs to complete d clinical yrs??..most of uk medical schools only take 2yrs..

**Helen_485** · 03-01-2007, 11:28 PM

it's always 3 years for clinical as far as I know...it's the pre-clinical where the difference is.
Most medical schools have 2, but as we do a BSc(hons) in Medical Science as our pre-clinical bit (the bit we do in St Andrews), it takes an extra year - but you end up with an extra degree and a far better scientific grounding before starting the clinical years.

**mairi** · 05-01-2007, 09:20 PM

I want to go to St Andrews because I like the town so much. Having lived in a big city (Glasgow) all my life, I don't really want to go to another one, a breath of fresh air would be nice. Plus St Andrews is really, really pretty and the shops are great (never a bad thing!). I've been going there on holiday every year for ages, so I know the place quite well. What's more is the Bute have the same course structure as Oxbridge, which I quite like and having just been rejected from Cambridge, my hopes are now set on St A's!

St Andrew's is also in Scotland which means I'm moving far away from home to be comfortable but not TOO far, I'll still be able to get home quite easily. My sister is also in the neighbouring city of Dundee (also doing medicine) so I could go and meet up with her sometimes

**TartanTottie** · 05-01-2007, 09:30 PM

^ I like to see someone sharing my enthusiasm for going to St. Andrews!

Have you had an interview there yet? I am definately going in September, I really can't imagine myself being at any other universtiy and yes I know I keep saying that

From the minute I walked in the Bute, as cheesy as it sounds, I knew i was meant to be there. The staff are incredibly nice and seem to relate to you on a more personal level from what I have experienced at other universities and this really came across at my interview.

How many interviewers actually have a conversation with you going downstairs from the interview room!? The passing students were also exceptionally nice too, I think they sensed our nerves and tried to put us at ease by chatting away to us.

As for the town itself it is absolutely stunning. I'm also from Glasgow, Mairi, and I really want to get out of such a busy city. I also go to St Andrews quite often and I really love the little traditional shops and cafés etc!